Jesus gently reminds us, finally, of his supreme power and glory. Each has prophetic and spiritual applications and each represents a period of time in church history. of
The symbol of lukewarmness applied to the Laodicean Church is thus very appropriate. We can buy the necessary virtues just by asking, by simply coming and receiving, giving nothing in return. He has no beginning. Isaiah 64:6 says "All our righteousnesses are a filthy rags." There is a very lovely thing about the way this is put. Buy of me... Jesus has described the Laodiceans as "poor and blind and naked" (verse 17). The only advice worth taking, comes from God. Remembering the "great things the
LORD hath done" (Mark 5:19) for them, they were to "repent, and hold fast". Luke 12:37; John 14:23. "Eyesalve" represents spiritual discernment that is quickened by the Holy Spirit. A thunderstorm gathered on the mountains at a distance while this traveler was examining the ruins of Laodicea. Praise his name! – Revelation 3:14-22, NAU. This is exactly what we want to happen to each of us. From its ruins, ‹which are numerous, consisting of the remains of temples, theaters, etc., it seems to have been situated on six or seven hills, taking up a large space of ground. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Commendations: Nevertheless, there were many in the Sardis period who were eager for Biblical truth and were eager for a vibrant experience with Christ. Elect-But-Lost Israel will also repent at the LORD's Second Coming. 14And 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; 3:14 Laodicea was situated 60 kilometers southeast of Philadelphia and was a famous health resort. .Jehovah Jesus I will dine...; Christians love to eat together, and often do, because sharing a meal and sitting at table together is a symbol of fellowship. In Luke, Christ was promised the throne of David on which to reign, and this throne is included in the capital city, New Jerusalem. So then, what Jesus is really telling them is to put true faith in Him. 23 Turn you at My Reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit
unto you, I will make known My Words unto you" (Proverbs
1:22-23). >Seventh Message, Laodicea. "White Raiment" represents Christ's righteousness. Blind: “eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see”. For the other churches, it was the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1) or the church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8) or the church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1). The Lord intended that the Reformation would continue until the pure Gospel was restored, but the followers of the reformers refused to advance beyond the truths which their leaders had discovered. But you cannot receive company at present; you are worn out with labor; you have wheeled round the sofa; you are making yourself comfortable, and you send word you are engaged. Of the Apostle Peter
it is said: "And I
[Jesus] will give unto thee
[Peter] the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew
16:19). He offers us eyesalve, conviction graciously bestowed by the Holy Spirit, to help us see our condition. Just as the message comes from God through Christ to us, so does the power and the glory in which we will be Privileged to share, when we take our reserved place among the glorious throng who praise him in his very presence. They needed to be zealous and repent (3:19). The Revelation of Christ (Revelation 1-5) They had a desperate need to see behind the scenes, and discover the unseen reality of Christ and God. This information illuminates the charges which the Lord made against the church of this city, in his words, “Thou art miserable and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). "16 All Scripture is given by inspiration
[the breath, i.e., Spirit] of God" (2Timothy 3:16). That’s why Jesus didn’t want them lukewarm. 5 The church in Laodicea may have been founded through the ministry of Epaphras of Colosse (Col. 1:7; 4:12–13). He will return with His angels to take His people home to heaven. Purpose ||.What's New ], Though the Apostle John recorded the Revelation toward the end
of the First Century AD-- nearly 1,900 years ago-- our LORD did not think it out
of place to say, "I come quickly." Particularly noticeable was the wealth of Laodicea. In regard to being “refined by fire,” just as fire purifies gold of all the dross, so are we purified in Christ. Hence, they sit with him in his throne, that is, rule with him. So, the LORD's call to "strengthen" is to those who had "not defiled
their garments" (3:4), and it gives the sense of imminent
danger, if action is not taken quickly. Home Ask Adam and Eve if sin had consequences. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. Right away in His opening address, Christ gives the Church a warning, implying the Church had a false sense of security, and an element of death or hypocrisy. The merchants sold fine clothing made from soft, glossy, black wool. Christ introduced himself to the church at Laodicea as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” (3:14). (Matthew 10:32,33; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:8,9) What an honor it is to be approved before all of heaven by Christ Himself - to be owned by the Lord as ones who have fought the good fight, and honored Him before men. Many old truths were rediscovered, such as: salvation by faith in Jesus, the Bible as the only rule of faith and doctrine and Christ as the only Mediator between God and man. Jesus uses very descriptive language in describing where they were spiritually. The ministry of these priests was a shadow of the ministry of Christ in the sanctuary in heaven. Being clothed with “white raiment” is a symbol of exchanging sin for righteousness. And of course, this never happens overnight, it’s a gradual process as false teaching develops and true Christians leave over time. In their belief system, it doesn’t matter. Blaiklock speculated that this probably came from dried mud from one of the numerous hot springs in the area. It was the only church Christ did not commend for anything. He doesn’t want people professing to know Him, and then live in a manner that dishonors His name. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for
what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? The people of Laodicea were spiritually blind. They had come to believe that they could have both, professing Christ as Savior while enjoying the pleasures of the world. I accept you as my personal Lord and Saviour, and claim your free gift of eternal life. In 1817, Robert Moffat carried the message to Africa and John Wesley challenged the doctrines of Calvin. The way to become an overcomer is to remain faithful and continue to grow in Christ. So when Jesus threatens to spit the Laodiceans out of his mouth, he emphasises their failure to abide by, and be zealous of, his word. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. To the casual observer, the Church seemed to be alive, but in reality it was dead. The works they had, did not match what they professed, assuming they professed Christ at all. 261-264. The whole rising ground on which the city stood is one vast tumulus of ruins, abandoned entirely to the owl and the fox. He returned to Eski-hissar, and waited until the fury of the storm had abated, but set off on his journey again before it had entirely ceased to blow and to rain. The world system of evil to which many were falling prey will be judged by God and replaced by his eternal kingdom, the New Heavens and New Earth.