Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! Let’s conclude our journey through “Revelation:
Jesus Speaks to His Church!”
Revelation:
Jesus Speaks to His Church! (Chapter 3:14-22)
This week we will finalize our
reading of verses 14-22 in chapter 3 of
Revelation where Jesus Speaks to the Church of Laodicea…
As
we close our journey through these SEVEN
little “letters” to the “seven churches” addressed by Jesus Christ,
let’s consider a brief recap of what we’ve
discovered along the way – Jesus Christ and
His Church!
First
of all, these were “seven” actual “cities” in ancient “Asia
Minor,” modern-day Turkey and these “churches”
were established under the influence of the original gathering at “Ephesus” empowered through the “Holy Spirit” by “Gospel”
of “Jesus Christ” the “Word
of God” Himself, as was proclaimed along the main roads and
postal route from city to city – And eventually the ENTIRE
world!
Secondly,
these are “seven” actual and historical
“churches” that had been in existence for
about 30 years by the time the
Lord has this set of “letters”
sent to them of which He provided to the Apostle John on the “Isle of Patmos.” Each “letter” was in turn hand-written by John
and distributed to the representative “angel”
(pastor) of each “church” in which collectively
would become – The book of Revelation!
And
in this climatic conclusion, we find the “church”
of “Laodicea” to be the final fellowship
mentioned in our study. Sadly, among these “seven
churches” there are FIVE
found to be highly disappointing. In fact, “Laodicea”
is a mostly UNSAVED faltering “church” that is full of professing UNBELIEVERS and yet has the grim
distinction of being the ONLY
one to which Jesus Christ has NOTHING
good to say about ANYONE within its ranks.
It is through this concerning CONDEMNATION
that there are absolutely NO
righteous “redeeming” features noted.
As a result, this is a much longer “letter”
in contrast to the others and therefore we will study it very carefully.
WHY? Because it is the most threatening
and scathing
“letter” of REBUKE
out of them all – SICKENING to our Lord Jesus!
Therefore,
let’s hear what our Lord Himself has to say concerning this final FEEBLE and FALSE
religious “church” system:
And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; – Revelation
3:14
To
begin with, Jesus Christ introduces Himself here AGAIN
by references to His DEITY
and IDENTITY as “God”
Almighty. There are THREE divine
descriptions of Him noted here:
ONE: He is the “Amen”
~ This word is often used in Scripture to affirm the truthfulness
of a statement. Jesus Christ is the eternal “Amen”
to all of God’s COVENANTS outlined in
His Word– All that Jesus SAYS is true!
For all
the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by
us – 2 Corinthians 1:20
TWO: He is the “faithful
and true Witness” ~ Jesus Christ is “true,”
trustworthy
and perfectly accurate in validating what “God”
has PROMISED in His Word – All that Jesus PROMISES
is true!
And
what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His
testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true – John 3:32-33
THREE: He is the “beginning
of the creation of God” ~ Jesus Christ is the prōtotokos of all “creation” itself! NOT
the first created being. He is the archē and CREATOR of ALL
things – All that
Jesus DOES is true!
He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all
things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things
were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all
things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that
in all things He may have the preeminence – Colossians 1:15-18
It
is absolutely IMPERATIVE that we establish
the Biblical FACT that Jesus Christ IS “God”
Himself, especially in this “letter”
to the “church” in the “Laodicea” region. WHY?
Because of its close proximity to the – City of Colossae…
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The “church” in “Laodicea”
was located ten miles from “Colossae”
and it is very likely that the “false
doctrine” of which plagued the “Colossian”
fellowship found its way to “Laodicea”
as well. Although there’s no record concerning the founding of the “church” in “Colossae,”
when we study the book of Colossians
written by the Apostle Paul, we read that “Epaphras”
evangelized the Lycus Valley region. Perhaps he was the man the Lord used to
found this fellowship. We also learn that Paul writes the Colossian epistle to specifically
address the wicked Gnostic thinking of the “false teachers” of his day who were DENYING the DEITY
of Jesus Christ. This classic Christological
vein of rampant “heresy” had so infiltrated
and poisoned
the fellowship in “Colossae” they had particularly
reduced
Jesus Christ to a created being and mystical-angel of sorts.
Therefore, by comparing Paul’s epistle to the Colossians
with John’s book of Revelation, we can
connect some deadly “doctrinal”
dots! These “churches” had both
been affected by this – DEVISTATING
DOCTRINE!
And
apparently, Paul was never actually present “in the flesh” at the
“church” in “Laodicea”
itself. WHY? Because in the book of Colossians we find that Paul through “great conflict” in
heart addresses the “believers”
of whom were being affectionately “comforted”
and “knit together in
love” there:
For I
would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at
Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ – Colossians 2:1-2
In
fact, that is most likely WHY
Paul further instructs the “Colossian”
leaders to “read”
his excellent “epistle”
to the “church of the
Laodiceans” – And vise-versa:
Now
when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of
the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea – Colossians
4:16
Similar
to our modern-day heinous “heresies”
of the Jehovah’s Wittiness’s Watchtower Society
concerning the PERSON and WORKS of Jesus Christ, these licentious LIES ferociously found their way from the
“church” in “Colossae”
to the “church” in the neighboring
city of “Laodicea.” And sadly, if one
has a HERETICAL view of Jesus
Christ, it will lead to HORRENDOUS
eternal SPIRITUAL consequences –
UNCONVERTED religious CLAIMS!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The “church” in “Laodicea”
was located in a financially wealthy banking and merchant city in
southwest Phrygia. Antiochus II founded this city in the third century B.C. and
named it after his wife Laodice. The modern name of this
Turkish city is Eski-hassar of which means “the old fortress.” And
crucial to any city is its water supply and “Laodicea”
had built an amazing underground aqueduct in order to protect
it from their enemies. In fact, the city of Hierapolis was a place of
hot
springs (as it is today) and people went there for these healing
properties. The city also gained much respect and honor for its medical
school established in connection with a temple to the ancient FALSE “god” of healing Asclepius
and we see him again in the Corinthian
epistles. Famous medical teachers of that day had developed a famous and
highly-valued eye salve to be used for optical ailments. This was a
“wealthy” and “self-sufficient” city claiming to have NO
necessary “needs” and that “wretched”
ATTITUDE found its way into the “church” of “Laodicea”
itself – They
were spiritually BLIND!
By
the time John writes this severe “letter”
of WARNING to “Laodicea,”
we find that it’s the first formed “church” of the “tares”
and there’s NO solid “wheat” to be found ANYWHERE! In fact, there is NO
commendation offered here and thus Jesus Christ SHARPLY
relays His revealing REBUKE:
I know
thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth – Revelation 3:15-16
Jesus
Christ is SOVEREIGN over ALL things and the “church”
in “Laodicea” was “neither cold nor hot” but were only
“lukewarm” for Him.
This is the strongest statement of REBUKE
the Lord has made to any “church”
found in Scripture. This “lukewarm”
condition is synonymous with the nearby “hot”
waters of Hierapolis mentioned above that were famous for their healing
properties of rehabilitation and restoration. Similarly, in
the city of Colossae there were “cold” waters available of which were refreshing
and clear.
Sadly, the “church” in “Laodicea” wasn’t “hot”
enough to RESTORE and it wasn’t “cold” enough to QUENCH
anyone. Therefore, the Lord Jesus proclaims that this “church”
absolutely – Makes Him SICK!
Sadly,
this specific “church” had become an unregenerate
and unredeemed
rank “religious” system.
Incidentally, these folks were way PAST
the “dead” state of their earlier “church” counter-parts located in the “Sardis” region. And although the “Sardis” group was indeed “dead” in their “theology”
and “doctrine,” there were at least a FEW faithful “believers”
in Jesus Christ found there. However, NOT
in THIS case concerning the “Laodicean” group. They are by far… BEYOND dead!
Not
only are they sickening HYPOCITES
they are also fully DECEIVED!
They “sayest”
they are “rich”
with “increased goods”
and “have need”
of “nothing”
but they do NOT even “know” their TRUE
spiritual DEPRIVATION:
Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked – Revelation 3:17
That
is the CANTANKEROUS condition
of a “church” that is full of NONBELIEVERS and in reality, these
blatantly BANKRUPT “religious” charlatans are of the PROUDEST kind. They THINK
they are “rich”
and in “need”
of NOTHING but are “blind” and UNABLE
to actually – DISCERN
their spiritual POVERTY!
At
this point, our Lord Jesus “counsels”
these liars in “Laodicea” to “see” the “shame” of their own “nakedness” in stark CONTRAST to TRUE
eternal “riches”
found in Him ALONE:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see – Revelation 3:18
Here
is God’s great “grace” offered to these “miserable” and
ignorantly “blind”
& “naked”
hypnotized HYPOCRITES! In other words, Jesus Christ says to these
“wretched” wanders – What you REALLY need ONLY comes from ME!
And
then Jesus says something VERY
interesting concerning the caring “knocking”
of Jesus Christ:
As many
as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me – Revelation
3:19-20
This
statement has caused many to suppose that Jesus Christ is evangelizing at
the “door” to the heart of an individual
lost person in need of His “salvation”
gift. While that is certainly a possibility, the CONTEXT
here to “rebuke and
chasten” doesn’t allow for that interpretation. And while
Jesus Christ DOES indeed hold the
non-religious unbeliever accountable for their personal “sin,” He does NOT
address the two SPIRITUAL contexts alike
– What’s the difference?
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Jesus Christ is “standing” on the OUTSIDE of the “door” to this callous “church” and is “knocking” for an answer
from those INSIDE!
This is the “door” of the lost “church” metaphorically
speaking. This is the Phileō kind of “love”
represented here towards the “Laodicea”
folks. Jesus Christ does NOT
personally lavish them with an Agape kind of “love”
such as for a beloved SON.
Although He DOES indeed CARE for this charlatan “church” with a divine AFFECTION,
He does NOT care for them
through a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP to Him. Jesus is essentially
saying to this rank “religious”
system: “You’re on the SPIRITUAL precipice of a
conscience conviction to an eternal punishment in HELL and I find NO
pleasure in it!” Therefore, He exclaims: “be zealous therefore” and “repent” of your willful wicked “sin” of “rebellion”
against GOD and you’ll be
eternally – SAVED!
That’s
a CLEAR CALL of “salvation”
to “any”
man-made system that will “hear”
Jesus’ “voice”
and “open the door”
of their “church” to Him. Therefore,
Jesus says, “I will come in
to him” and “he
with me” unto “eternal life”
in Him. This is the COMPASSIONATE great “Gospel” for all UNSAVED
factious “church” members – REPENT!
And
then a faithful PROMISE is offered by
Jesus Christ:
To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne – Revelation
3:21
The
“overcomer” that “believeth that Jesus is the Son of God”
will prevail! Here AGAIN
Jesus is referring to a true “Christian”
of which John originally addresses in his first
epistle to the TRUE
godly “church” as a whole:
Who is
he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God? – 1 John 5:5
That’s
the message to the apostates, to the liberals, to the Christ-deniers
and the Bible-deniers who THINK
they are the elevated and scholarly intellectuals found
to be far above true “believers”
in Jesus Christ. Therefore, He WARNS
them: “You don’t know your TRUE spiritual
condition! You are really wretched, miserable, poor, blind
and naked!” Jesus Christ LOVINGLY
offers them His eternal – SALVATION!
And
AGAIN in true fashion composed within all
these convicting “letters” Jesus says:
He that
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches – Revelation 3:22
REAL
REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may it be OUR deepest DESIRE
to IMMITATE the “churches”
at “Smyrna” and “Philadelphia”
who were TRUE ”followers” of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ! Perhaps even through personal persecution may WE be like “Smyrna”
in their suffering and yet NEVER
ever denying
our Savior! And may WE be FAITHFUL followers like those in “Philadelphia” by keeping the “door” of the GOSPEL
to His “Kingdom” always “open” and AVAILABLE
to lost souls! Therefore, Jesus Christ asks one FINAL
time… Are YOU listening? REALLY
listening?
In closing:
“Laodicea” was a wealthy city, famous for
its abundant
riches. And the “church’s” opinion of its OWN identity was that somehow they
possessed not only material wealth, but also spiritual wealth.
Perhaps these people denied the DEITY
of Jesus Christ through the godless influence of pre-Gnosticism.
The “heresy” of Gnosticism
comes from the Greek word “to know” and represented people who claimed
to have a supposed SECRET elevated esoteric
“knowledge” found OUTSIDE
of God’s Word. This “church”
indeed had much worldly “riches”
and thus they saw themselves as TRANSENDING
to a source of higher “knowledge”
that was far ABOVE everyone else – SPIRITUAL PRIDE!
This
is the absolute WORST state a “religious” person can find themselves! In
fact, it would be BETTER to be a
self-professing ATHEIST and completely IGNORANT of the “church”
and the “gospel” of Jesus Christ.
This is the ultimate APOSTATE
hypocrisy. WHY? Because these fantastical
fanatics know about Jesus Christ
so to speak but they create a FALSE
quasi “christ” and they know about God but they create a FALSE goofy “god” of their imagination – Smug SELF-confidence!
Sadly,
this characterizes MANY self-professing “believers” across the RELIGIOUS
spectrum TODAY. This is
characteristic of the mass of “Christian”
universities
and seminaries
who THINK they’re materially “rich” and full of spiritual
“knowledge” but they don’t know their TRUE eternal condition! When major denominations
began to attack the DEITY of Jesus Christ in
modern times, it was clear evidence that the “church” in “Laodicea”
had become the NORM. Once these godless
men DENY the AUTHORITY
of “Scripture” and “Jesus
Christ” Himself, it’s “Laodicea”
all over AGAIN!
Therefore, Jesus Christ says they are eternally lost – Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind & Naked!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
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