Shalom, veteran.
Might ought to read them again, for most of them contain prophecy related to the time of the very end of this world.
Rev 2:7
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(KJV)
Or maybe you think that "tree of life" and Christ's command for us to be overcomers doesn't apply to us today???
You need to pay attention to what I wrote, brother. I said, "Sure, they were given for all to read so that we can learn from the triumphs and mistakes of others, but they were NOT written specifically or directly to US!" Of course this is about the future. I never said it wasn't. What I said was that these verses were not written
TO US! That doesn't mean that we can't glean important information about the future from what Yeshua` said to each of them! It's the same in some of the prophecies of the Tanakh. Some prophecies, such as those of Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) and Yonah (Jonah) are even FULFILLED or MOSTLY FULFILLED prophecies, but even in them we can learn things about the character of God or about the future!
The letter to the messenger of the congregation at Ephesus was written TO HIM and his congregation! It was NOT written to any of us! However, because it was written down and preserved even until today, we can "look over their shoulders," so to speak, and see what was written to them. We can learn from their promises, and we can ASSUME that they will also apply to us; however, these words, from Revelation 2:1 to Revelation 2:7, were written "unto the angel of the church of Ephesus!" And, the ONLY way that we can assume that these words apply to us is to GENERALIZE what Revelation 2:7 said to include us, as well! But, to whom was the verse written? Is it right to ASSUME that they may apply to us as well? Is it right to GENERALIZE that we, too, can be such "overcomers?" Where is the mandate in Scripture that we have the liberty or the right or the duty to do either one? And, what was it that Yeshua` said they had "overcome?" Can we "overcome" the same thing? Is this indeed a command for US to "overcome?" And, if so, WHAT are WE to "overcome?"
Let's look at these seven verses:
Revelation 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
KJV
So, what was this congregation to "overcome?" Did you know that the Greek word so translated fits best with the term "Nicolaitans" in verse 6?