<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/3c99c62f-9cbe-42ac-ae77-c1f41770c5e8/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/3c99c62f-9cbe-42ac-ae77-c1f41770c5e8/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" width="40px" /> Ephesus, in the context of the first century, was a beacon of early Christianity, distinguished by its robust congregation and the profound teachings of the Apostles Paul and John. This ancient city, known for the majestic Temple of Artemis and its lively, diverse populace, was a crucible of faith, philosophy, and culture. Its streets, once echoed with the oratory of Paul, and its people, were the first recipients of the profound revelations that would shape the course of Christian thought.
The Church at Ephesus, as addressed in the Book of Revelation, presents a profound paradigm for theological reflection. This church, once commended for its steadfastness and doctrinal purity, is later rebuked for having forsaken its first love (Revelation 2:4). This shift underscores a critical theological theme: the primacy of love in the Christian faith. Ephesus, in its zeal for orthodoxy, had neglected the core Christian virtues of love and compassion, which are the very essence of the Gospel. This serves as a poignant reminder to the contemporary church of the danger of reducing Christianity to a mere adherence to doctrines or moral codes, at the expense of a vibrant, love-filled relationship with Christ. Therefore, the Church at Ephesus calls us to a faith that is as much about orthopraxy (right living) and orthopathy (right feeling) as it is about orthodoxy (right belief).
Ephesus, first of seven communities within the City of faith mentioned in Rev 2-3 whose guardian angel Alethiea stood against the spirit of religion and idolatry embodying the prophetic eye gift in the NT ecclesia representing the prophetic genius to decode and define the mysteries of God and patterns of modalities that unpack realities beyond the tables and chairs in the church. These are kingdom shifts that bring God’s people back into alignment with the will of the Father through gifts that energise and produce ever-increasing productivity where there was formerly blindness, darkness and apathy.
The prophetic genius of Ephesus, much like the city's own story, is a tale of duality and depth. It's a saga of the city's struggle and success, its dance with the divine, and its dalliance with the doctrines of the day. This genius, in the prophetic tradition, is not merely a passive recipient of divine will, but an active agent in its articulation and actualization. It's a call to the city, and by extension, to us all - to see beyond the surface, to seek the truth in the morass of the mundane, and to serve the divine directive with a daring that defies the doldrums of dogma.
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[seven] - Numerological significance, human genius, gift of Abba in contrast with the gifts of the Son & Spirit; congruent with 7parts1body paradigm in Adam; 7parts1tabernacle in the Exodus; 7spirits1godhead in Isaiah; 7archetypes1glory in Romans; 7endowments1faith in Peter; 7modalities1community in Paul; 7churches1city in John; etc
[City of faith] - A dynamic, time-tested unity of diverse gifts, the "City of faith" transcends denominational, national, and geographical boundaries. It's a robust, ever-growing community, not tied to a specific location, that embodies the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church" (Nicea, 325 A.D.) in its truest sense “where two or three (modalities) are gathered together in my Name, there am I among them…” (Matt 18:20, ESV).
[Alethiea]- The future tense of truth (sc. reality) beyond what the eye can see, something not yet present, seen or felt in present time, yet an assurance of a coming reality for the people of God in a future time soon to come; like the promise of fruit yet to be tasted, so also the ecclesial leadership waits in anticipation “for the manifestation of the sons of God” through doors of utterance and “groanings that cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26).
[spirit of religion]- Ruts and grooves of missed opportunity, failure to recognise times and seasons of divine favour; traditions that shift focus from heaven (ouranos) to man (anthropos); humanistic, self-centred systems that imprison freedom, creativity and innovation; suppression of truth, subversion of reality, goat-like thinking as opposed to spirit-directed learning environments that promote “out-of-the-box” (lateral) thinking modes that trigger the next move of God and attendant revival prayer.
[eye gift] - A key aspect of visual-spatial intelligence, the "eye gift" is one of 7 modalities in Adam. It plays a crucial role in hand-eye coordination, enabling us to navigate the liminal spaces upward, skyward according to the command to “life up your eyes for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
[prophetic genius] - This term refers to the ability to perceive beyond the obvious. It involves challenging norms, transforming traditions for a greater good, and identifying connections that elude the untrained eye. The genius of the Prophetiea lies in its capacity to initiate paradigm shifts, disrupt the status quo, and establish a new order that renders the old obsolete.
[energise] - This term refers to the dynamic shift that occurs following a prophetic revelation. As the news of the revelation spreads, it creates a surge of excitement and activity. The prophet, in response to this 'red-ocean' phenomenon of intense competition or saturation, will often step back to seek new opportunities in uncharted territories, or 'blue-oceans'. This strategic repositioning is a hallmark of the prophetic genius, demonstrating its ability to anticipate and adapt to changing circumstances.
Teaching series inspired by the sacrifices and devotion of the ecclesial community at ancient Ephesus as mentioned in the Book of Revelation, Rev 2:1-7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
Content creation by the EYE of ADAM in the original pattern of sevens and the natural endowment ARETE: moral goodness, future state virtue (2 Peter 1:6)
Brought to you by FIG (Ficus carica) alongside the colour PURPLE representing the prophetic genius of decoding and defining what is rarely obvious to others under the covering of the Angel ALETHEIA responsible for the future state of the ecclesial communities in the triumphal millennial rule of the heavenly Jerusalem.
