Revelation
|
||
Letter to the Church at Laodicea
The city of Laodicea was in the southwest of Phrygia, on the river Lycus, not far from Colosse, and lying between it and Philadelphia. It was destroyed by an earthquake, A.D. 62, and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state. Laodicea means people's rights or the justice of the people. Another meaning is the church of People’s opinions. The people of that city were wealthy so it would seem as those in the church were wealthy also at least compared to the poorer chuches of that day. We see that today. There are many churches that are rich and many throughout the world that are poor.
We must not make the mistake of saying that Jesus was the first to be created. He is eternal with the Father but is actually the Head of all Creation. He is the first to rise from the dead in a body that cannot die. He became a man but before that time He existed with God the Father so we can actually describe Him as God that came into human flesh. In other words. Jesus was there at the creation. Notice God saying in the book of Genesis, "Let us make man in OUR own image."
I would describe these as being a church that believed in live and let live. It seems to me that they believe in making their own decisions on how they live. Perhaps like kust believing in Jesus but from there live as you please. An attitude to go along to get along. This would be a sign of being lukewarn about our spiritual condition. Believing in God but at a distance. A Ho hum, whatever attitude. No fervent prayer life, no burden for the lost, just get an education, go to college, get a good job type of thinking and Christ walking in their midst but they do not acknowledge Him.
Some writers compare this church to the latter day prosperity churches who get people to attend with great music productions and dramas. They have many things for everyone of all ages. They teach sowing the seed of giving to receive things from God. This might possibly produce within us greed instead of teaching us to give because we love to support the work or God. It is actually a joy to give if we give in joy thinking, "I want to be part of spreading the gospel, helping pay the bills of the church and supporting those that labor in the Lord." Some pastors are called to labor for the Lord and do not have secular jobs. This is true also for many missionaries. To support them is a joy. If we are pressured into giving. theatened with doom and gloom if we do not give, and if we give to get, we are robbed of giving because we love God's work and really want to be a part of it. We must be a cheerful giver. We may have the best clothes, the most update automobiles, fine houses and our conversation be about the latest fashions, the best sports teams or the best entertainment instead of Jesus Christ. It would then seem that we have to always be entertained in some way rather than to just to study or listen to God’s word. However, the things in this life does not satisfy, and we soon tire of it and want something more. This church is rich and increased with goods and they think they are okay spiritually and have no need to seek God any further. They got it all according to their own thinking. They may be the ones who are surprised when they see Jesus favor the poor Philadelphia type of church. Worldly things do not satify and bring peace to our inner soul. They were lukewarm spiritually. Lukewarm water is unpleasant to drink. It is neither hot or cold. If I taste lukewarm water by accident, my reaction is to spit it out. I like it cold or hot as in hot coffee or ice tea. Perhaps they just want large numbers and on the surface, be nice to everyone, accept everyone, and have an appearance of being happy. It appears that this church had no first love, no sound doctrine and probably didn't care less whether anyone was saved or not. It was a literal church but resembles many today and probably many throughout the history of the church. I would describe this as those that didn't get into the deep controversial things. They probably would have avoided Revelations if it had been published in their day. In today's world, they probably have plenty of social gatherings, dinners, game times and musical productions. By the way, many still avoid teaching on the book of Revelation. They may want to grow in numbers and increase in that way but with no burden for the lost, no conviction for sin, no deep down joy but most probably had an outward appearance of joy, and no fruits much less gifts of the spirit among them. They probably didn't war and fight because they didn't care enough to stand up for anything. Nothing to them was worth fighting for it would seem. They could also represent a church that lived by their own opinions and desires rather than what God's word taught. Some of this is my assumption and speculation so allow the Lord to lead you to another meaning if that church has other attributes. My words are never to be taken as Thus saith the Lord. I would say that those that represent that particular church may have once knew the word but had substituted programs, man's books, drama, entertainment, fund raisers and everything else but lacked the in depth teaching and preaching of God's word. This is not to say and some of the above is wrong once in a while but to replace the teaching of the word with those things are not good. This church could represent a sort of apathy. Looking happy on the outside but not really caring about anything in particular. There are popular teachers today who justify using entertainment to get people into church. One popular person believes that the word must be watered down to reach the unsaved because they will not understand terms like repentance. However, how did Peter preach? He preached the very first sermon in the book of Acts.
How did Jesus preach? “Except you repent, you will likewise perish.” “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand?” How did John the Baptist preach?
Those that adhere to the church age theory believe this to be the period from 1925 until now. They believe the joining together of certain groups like the World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement are signs of a lukewarm church that would be willing to lay aside the word of God and sound doctrine to agree in unity and unite churches. However, we can be unified in the Holy Spirit and in truth without joining into a big organization with one leader at the top. Our leader should be Jesus. Unity not based on truth is a false unitly like they had at the tower of Babel. God busted up that unity.
Gold was pure and genuine. Our faith should last through trials and even persecution. Gold represents true and lasting faith. Whether we are poor or rich in this life should not change our faith. This does not mean we should go out and buy gold in order to have security. I'm not saying one can't buy gold literally but this passage is not about buying literal gold. In fact our faith is more precious than gold. Here is what Peter says:
I also don't believe this means we have to dress in white robes to appear to be holy. Holiness is on the inside. We will receive robes of white after our resurrection but for now our clothing should be modest not to bring attention to ourselves as being rich and increased with goods, but just dress to cover our bodies. White clothing here means we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ when we are living for Christ. When we come to Jesus, He clothes us with His righteousness. No way can we be righteous without receiving Him into our lives. The bible will interpret itself:
Anointing with eye salve simply means to be enlightened by the word of God. Oh my how that blesses my soul. Substituting the word of God with the opinions of man, even in videos, books and sermons that may be motivational but have no real deep message that stirs the inner person within us, may not be the way to do it. We may leave empty rather than spiritually strong in the Lord. Read the word for yourself. Sermons and bible studies should make us hunger and thirst for more of God in our life. Our spirit either becomes alive and on fire for God or be convicted of sin in our live and in turn, that will bring us to genuine repentance. There is no substitute for God's word.
The church in Laodicea is rich and increased with goods. That really resembles some latter day churches. We still have poor churches, in fact I attended those in the past, however many churches have become very wealthy. I'm not saying a wealthy church has to be void of doctrine and lukewarm but they might be just that. A poor church may be great in sound doctrine but it also could be poor because the people are lukewarm and no longer give their best in worship, support and studying the word. So we must not make assumptions when we can't see what is in the heart but we can see the fruit that they bear. What are they teaching or preaching? In saying all this though, I don't like to criticize pastors or churches that I've never been to or heard what they teach and preach. How would I know? So we need to be careful of assumptions that we hear on social media or news media because they might be hearing from someone else that makes assumptions. Rumors spread very quickly. Our hearts must seek restoration and healing, not fault finding and accusing. Jesus said not to lay up treasure here and seek the things of this life. Many try to set up the kingdom here and now. We are to preach the kingdom but not literally set up the kingdom before Jesus comes in person. They've already tried that in the Middle ages. Jesus has to literally set up the earthly kingdom. Right now the kingdom of God comes within us when we are born again by His spirit. There is a dangerous move to get us concerned about the good life here as opposed to seeking the coming of Christ and the kingdom to come. If the gospel we teach and preach can't apply to the poor Christians in other countries, then it's not the gospel. The prosperity teaching would sound very strange to the persecuted churches in countries today where the gospel is rejected by those in power. Some preach that we should be happy and laugh all the time. Where is the mourning for sin, the burden for the lost and the desire for the Lord to return? We can laugh when Jesus comes. Now is the time to mourn and weep for many are still lost. This doesn't mean we can't have joy. There is a joy in the Lord that the world can't understand. There is a joy that can be within us. It can't be compared to the temporary joy of the world. It is a joy that comes by the spirit of God. It's an inner peace that is beyond our limited understand but it is available when we walk with God in all we do. There are many times God helps us and gives us good things but we can’t judge someone’s walk with the Lord by what they possess. If that would be the case, why are there many rich people today who do not even believe in God or attempt to believe. There are those that do not believe in Jesus or God who are both poor and rich. Riches are not a sign of being in God's favor. He sees our hearts. We are counseled here to seek God for the true riches that no one can take away. These are spiritual things that come from God and pertain to eternal life and godliness. They are things given to us by the Holy Spirit after we come to Jesus Christ by faith. True blessings of God are spiritual, not material. He does bless with material things as needed but we are not to be consumed by those things so much that they become idols to us. The poor also can be guilty of the attitude of Laodicea by thinking he is okay and has no further need to seek God, rely on God, or seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit that is needed to spread the gospel. He may be content with using his own methods, doing his own thing and neglecting the things of the spirit that is freely offered to every believer in Jesus Christ. White raiment is the clothing of righteousness for those who have not defiled their garments by returning to unbelief, sin and compromise. This robe of righteousness is paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. This wonderful gift of salvation is given to those that receive Jesus and repent of sin. We resist the temptation to return to the sin they were saved from. Nakedness reminds us of sin and backsliding back into the filth of the world. Jesus gave His life to clothe us with His righteousness. This church just may resemble some of our latter day churches who have compromised with the world. It could also be those that just exist for social reasons and neglect anything that is controversial. It could be a church that starts programs to feed the hungry but pressure of the state or government causes them to avoid the teaching of the word and just do charity work. Some may just do charity work and get so rapped up in it that they do not have time to preach or teach God's word. Sound doctrine is never out of fashion. The word of God should always be pursued and studied in context. Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened. Sometimes we can get bible study books that get us sidetracked off the original meaning of scripture and just concentrate on the fluff and use the isolated scriptures to just teach being blessed by God in material things without any deep down teaching of taking up our cross and following the Lord. In Christ's commendation to the Philadelphia church he states: They had little strength, and has KEPT HIS WORD, has not denied his name. If any minister of the gospel makes light of the word, downplays the importance of the word, or tries to substitute the word of God for something else preferable, I will not read or listen to another word he or she has to say. The word is what we have to base what we believe on. If we throw it out, who are we going to turn to for guidance? How are we going to judge whether someone is speaking the truth? If we lay aside that word, we open ourselves up to the Jim Jones, the Joseph Smiths, and others who may start out good but get exalted in self and become greedy after power even using the name of Jesus. I read about Jim Jones. The day he threw the bible down should have been a day when everyone walked away. They might still be alive today. Any church body that teaches their particular body of believers are the only way to salvation, is to be avoided. Jesus is the way and none other. Local churches are to point us to the way but not attempt to "Be the way." The old bible has proven itself and stood the test of time. I don't believe it would have survived if God hadn't authorized it, planned, and preserved it for us. I will quote Raymond Pruitt: They led all other churches in giving; attendance was good, new people were coming every week; everybody was well pleased with their pastor, and with their church. No problems. YET WAIT! There were serious problems. It was just that nobody recognized that the church had fallen into a stupor of spiritual death, and was ready to expire. …This church had deluded itself into thinking that it was on firm footing. Similar to many churches today, they had material prosperity; they were involved with impressive projects which cost a lot of money. They could afford the best. Yet they had no real love for Christ, and were indifferent to the needs of the lost and the destitute around them. Such churches may point to their impressive buildings and their large, modern parsonages, and say, “Look how God has blessed us!” However, material things have zero value in the spiritual realm. The rich fool of Luke 19:16-21 learned that lesson to his great sorrow. Education obsessions, concerned with numbers rather than changed lives, show of wealth with the claim of God’s blessing and self-esteem and importance could be a factor in the Laodicea error." That was the end of Raymond Pruitt's quote abore.
Notice how Jesus always has a way out for all seven churches.
Jesus Christ rebukes these churches because He loves them. It is never God's will that any of us backslide and perish. He rebukes these churches because He loves them, He loves us and He doesn't want us to miss out on a future with Him that lasts forever. Again as it is with the other churches, the cure for this church's lukewarm condition and the sins in the other churches was to repent. Change, turn back to Christ, be sorry for sin to the point of being willing to change by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ knocks on the door of our heart (meaning the inner souls and spirit). We have the free will to open it or leave it shut. He stands at the door to all sinners who have never yet received Him as Lord. He stands at the door to all believers who may have once received Him but have let the cares of this life cause them to grow lukewarm or cold in spirit. Repent and do the first works.
Those that overcome will reign with Christ when He comes (literally) to set up His kingdom.
We can hear or we can refuse to hear. It is our choice. DC
|
||
|
HOME |
SITE MAP |
BIBLE STUDY INDEX
©2025 oldpathlighthouse.com |
||