REVELATION 3: PART 3 • SPIRITUAL SELF-SATISFACTION: THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA
Laodicea—“peoples opinions or people judged”
Revelation 3:14
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.
To the last church, the church of judgment, Christ declares that He is the faithful and true witness. We can with confidence take hold of the testimony of the True Witness. It is Christ, who is the originator and author of God’s creation, for He is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega. Because of this attribute Christ is worthy to judge. He will eventually vindicate those who, in this age of feel-good religion and spiritual self-confidence, repent and turn unto the Lord.
“The beginning of the creation of God”
Beginning—that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause1
These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God’s creation. (Revelation 3:14 AMP)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1–3)
This text is not telling us that Christ had a beginning, but rather that He is the beginning or source from which all creation came forth. Jesus is the Creator, “the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.” He is the one “that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Christ is therefore uniquely qualified to be the judge of all mankind and to call to account the church of the last days.
Revelation 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Cold—in mind: one destitute of warm Christian faith and the desire for holiness.2 Frigid; wanting passion, zeal or ardor; indifferent; unconcerned3
Hot—metaphoricaly, fervour of mind and zeal4
“I know thy works”
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. (Isaiah 37:28)
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song [Moses’ last song in chapter 32] shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. (Deuteronomy 31:21)
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. (Psalm 69:5)
Throughout His messages to the seven churches, Christ has made the claim that He knows: He knew the state of the churches in John’s day, He knows the state of the church down through the ages, and He knows you and me, and what our works are today. Remember, He is the faithful and true witness. There can be no escaping His assessment of the condition of the church and of the condition of our own hearts at this present time.
Revelation 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
“Thou art lukewarm”
Lukewarm—not ardent; not zealous; cool; indifferent5
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:13–17)
Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? (Malachi 2:17)
I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to God, thinking he will let them alone. (Zephaniah 1:12 TLB)
In Jesus’ sight, halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels, for their profession of faith is deceptive and their uncommitted position leads others astray. The unbeliever and the backslider show their true character, while the lukewarm Christian deceives all, including himself. Worst of all, as it was for the literal city of Laodicea, pride of position lead the lukewarm to think they are right in the sight of God.
“Thou art neither cold nor hot”
Knowing our works Christ pronounces us to be neither hot nor cold. Many of the churches and people of this age are not hot with love for Christ, filled with good works. Neither are they hardened in heart as the abandoned sinner. Like insipid lukewarm water is the Laodicean condition and church era.
The tepid spiritual condition of the Laodicean church was and still is more dangerous than if the church had been cold. Lukewarm Christianity preserves enough of the form, and even the content of the gospel, to dull the perceptive powers of the spirit and render men oblivious to the earnest effort of “faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6) that is so necessary to attain a victorious life in Christ.
The typical Laodicean Christian is content with things as they are, and proud of the little progress they have made. It is almost impossible to convince them of their great need and of how far they are from Christ. The lukewarm professor, which is the majority in the Laodicean age in which we live, no longer seeks to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
“I will spue thee out of my mouth”
Spue—vomit6
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32–33)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
Only those right with God and seeking Him have their prayers mingled with the righteousness of Christ. Only as we confess Him can He confess us. To be lukewarm is to separate ourselves from Christ. When Christ spews individuals or churches out, it means He has given them up. Then our names are no longer taken up by the Savior with the plea for forgiveness and strength to be granted us.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) that the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. (Leviticus 18:26–28)
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. (Jeremiah 25:27)
From the above texts we can determine that when individuals or churches are “spued out,” they are lost, for Christ no longer intercedes for them, nor does He plead with them. When Christ says, “I will spue thee out of my mouth,” it means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He does not endorse your teaching or your spiritual work.
When individuals and churches are said to be spewed out, they will have reached a condition similar to the tribe of Ephraim. Then the decree goes forth, “Let them go their own way” (Hosea 4:17 TEV). When individuals or churches are finally and reluctantly “spued out” by Christ, they know it not. The Laodicean experience is to have religion without Christ. Therefore they do not miss His presence and grace when they are “spued out,” yet their forms of religion continue on.
Revelation 3:17
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.
“I am rich”
Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. (Zechariah 11:4–5)
Then said the Lord my God to me, “Go and take a job as a shepherd of a flock being fattened for the butcher. This will illustrate the way my people have been bought and slain by wicked leaders, who go unpunished. ‘Thank God, now I am rich!’ say those who have betrayed them—their own shepherds have sold them without mercy.” (Zechariah 11:4–5 TLB)
Canaan [Israel—whose ideals have sunk to those of Canaan] is a trader; the balances of deceit are in his hand; he loves to oppress and defraud. Ephraim has said, Ah, but I have become rich; I have gained for myself wealth. All my profits shall bring on me no iniquity that would be sin. [But all his profits will never offset nor suffice to expiate the guilt which he has incurred.] (Hosea 12:7–8 AMP)
[You behave as if] you are already filled and think you have enough [you are full and content, feeling no need of anything more]! Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts and graces]! [Without any counsel or instruction from us, in your conceit,] you have ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom without including us! And would that it were true and that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the kingdom with you! (1 Corinthians 4:8 AMP)
We see from these verses that being rich is equated with spiritual pride, living in sin and yet thinking we are acceptable to the Lord.
What is the cause for the lukewarm condition of the Laodiceans? They do not recognize their deep need of Christ. They declare, “I am rich and prosperous and have need of nothing.” Some of the churches today are physically prosperous. But this text speaks more to the pride of spiritual prosperity, a self-satisfaction in claiming to know the truth yet not living it out in the life.
Laodicea is like the five foolish virgins and the fruitless fig tree of Christ’s parables. The Laodicean state of mind is based on its own opinion of itself. Human standards have come to replace God’s standard; thus they feel quite self-satisfied. In reality they are far from God. The Laodicean problem is one of perception and understanding.
Laodicea represents a Christianity made up of individuals, churches, and denominations who pride themselves in their possession of spiritual knowledge and advantages. Even though their spiritual knowledge is often shallow, they are content to be called Christians, while in practice they deny the very One whose name they claim.
In this attitude of mind, the people and churches have not properly appropriated the unmerited blessings God has bestowed upon them. They have been full of rebellion, ingratitude, and forgetfulness of God. They have resisted His grace, abused His privileges, slighted His opportunities, and been satisfied in their condition of contentment, ingratitude, hollow formalism, and hypocritical insincerity.
This is the prevailing attitude and experience of the churches from the mid 1800s to today in the twenty-first century. It is similar to the ancient city of Laodicea, which was neither an exceptional city nor a bad one, but was an accommodating and relatively comfortable city filled with wealth. Laodicea was known for its trading and banking, for the production of rich black wool, and for its naturally occurring lukewarm mineral baths. All these comfortable features drew many to the city, which was rich with goods and had need of nothing. Sadly, as the city was, so was the church when John wrote these messages.
Even sadder is the loss of the rich experience of faith and love represented by the church of Philadelphia, which was so zealous for the Lord and earnestly looked for His soon coming. The Laodicean condition identifies the greater proportion of churches and professed believers who are satisfied with their spiritual attainments and think they are blessed of God, when according to God’s Word, they are far from Him.
The deceptive satisfaction that comes upon so many of the professed followers of Christ is the reason Jesus asked, “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). This is also why there are so many warnings of spiritual deception given in Scripture for these last days.
“Have need of nothing”
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. (Luke 1:53)
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2)
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Galatians 6:3)
As sinful human beings who can be saved solely by the grace of God, it is deceptive to think that we are not in need of the grace of God because we suppose we possess it already. We think we have something and are thus satisfied, yet really we have nothing. The deception upon Laodicea is that they do not know their great need.
“Thou art wretched and miserable”
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:23–24)
I will declare thy [pretended] righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. (Isaiah 57:12)
The belief of the Laodicean is that everything is relatively fine, and spiritually they are in an acceptable state, maybe even a prosperous state. Yet Jesus says that their condition is wretched and most miserable. The contrast between what Christ says we are, and the lukewarm believer’s and church’s own assessment of their condition, is extremely different. “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not” (Jeremiah 5:21).
Laodicea is not listening to God’s Word; they have no real spiritual perception or understanding. God’s Spirit is still there to “reprove the world [believers and the church] of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). However, Laodicea does not respond because they feel they have no need and are acceptable to the Lord already. God’s Word still speaks clearly, but Laodicea cannot hear the Word, for they have been spoiled “through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
“And poor”
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. (Jeremiah 5:1–4)
The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. (Proverbs 13:8)
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. (Proverbs 21:17)
The poverty of Laodicea is that of self-satisfaction, of not realizing their spiritual poverty caused by having more desire for pleasure than for following God. The poverty comes about because of ignoring or neglecting the Word of the Lord, and being unconcerned with God’s reproof, rebuke, and admonitions, thinking that such things do not apply to them. Therefore Laodicea cannot “be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” for they ignore, disregard, or lightly esteem “the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:17, 15).
“And blind”
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:5–9)
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. (Ephesians 4:17–18)
The prevailing spirit of our day is that of faithlessness and apostasy. There is a spirit of pretended illumination because of a supposed knowledge of the truth, while in reality it is blind presumption. There is an attitude of opposition to the plain Word of God, which is manifested by an almost idolatrous exaltation of human teaching above the revealed wisdom of God. Therefore our eyes of understanding are blinded, and our ears shut to the pleadings of God’s Spirit.
Laodicea is not growing in grace and Christian character, overcoming the world and partaking of the divine nature, developing faith and virtue and godliness and temperance. And because of this lack, Laodicea remains blind. The professed Christians and churches that constitute Laodicea claim to see and understand the Word and will of God, yet they do not truly follow it. What greater blindness could there be than to think we are serving God and going to heaven when we are yet in our sins and far from Christ? The True Witness declares this is the prevailing attitude of churches and believers in our age.
“And naked”
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Genesis 3:10. The nakedness is sin resulting in guilt and shame.)
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15. A lack of watchfulness and diligence to keep unspotted from the world makes us naked.)
The nakedness is the guilt and shame of unconfessed and unforsaken sin. With an attitude that everything is just about right, the spirit of conviction grows dim to the point of nonexistence. Thus Christ is depicted as not dwelling by faith in the heart of the lukewarm believer but on the outside, knocking, that He might be granted an entrance into hearts, homes, and churches.
• Christ’s assessment–Wretched and miserable
• Christ’s assessment–Poor and blind
• Christ’s assessment–Naked
Revelation 3:18
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.
“I counsel thee to buy”
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:1–3)
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)
The purchase Christ says Laodicea so desperately needs to make is free, yet it will cost Laodicea all the self-satisfaction she possesses. To be clothed means to be delivered from the self-righteous ease and satisfaction that has made her prosperous in her own eyes but poor in the Lord’s sight.
Salvation is free, and restoration and repentance are available for all, but the cost will be “like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46). Laodicea’s price for obtaining salvation full and free will be the laying aside of all the human pride and righteousness she has been acquiring for years. Remember that Laodicea is people, meaning it could be you and me. Are you willing to surrender to the will and way of the Lord and give heed to His testimony?
“Buy of me gold”
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7. Gold is faith tried by fire.)
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9. Gold is character tried by fire.)
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Proverbs 25:12. To buy gold is to gratefully receive reproof.)
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Proverbs 8:10. The receiving of the wisdom of God is of more value than gold.)
Throughout the ages gold has been considered of great value to mankind. Laodicea is incapable of buying pardon and forgiveness, as indeed is the case with all mankind. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19).
This gold “tried in the fire” is the currency of heaven—a valuable commodity that leads to eternal life. This gold represents a life of faith made pure and strong by the trials of life, overcoming in the name and grace of Christ. This gold is the faith and character of the one who humbles himself to receive the reproof and instruction of the Lord. This gold is bought with tears, humility, and brokenness of heart. It cannot be generated from within. This gold comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
The key to buying it is surrender. The cost is greater than any monetary sacrifice or outward form of religion, for “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
“Buy of me white raiment”
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10. White raiment is salvation.)
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:8. White raiment is righteousness.)
Christ’s Desire for His Church Is:
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26–27. White raiment is purity of heart and life.)
As we submit ourselves to Christ, our hearts are united with His heart; our will is to do His will. Our minds become one with His mind; our thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life by faith. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of Christ’s righteousness. Then, as the Lord looks upon us, He sees not the nakedness of Laodicea, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of God.
To receive this gold and to be clothed with the finest of garments requires a transaction, a purchase that rich and poor can equally afford if they will. It is “godly sorrow” that “worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
The purchase price is total self-surrender and sorrow for sin, a price beyond our reach if left to ourselves. Therefore Christ says that if we want to buy this experience we must “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Luke 11:9–10).
“The shame of thy nakedness”
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. (Proverbs 13:18)
We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. (Jeremiah 3:25)
For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God’s presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34 AMP)
What is it that constitutes the shame of our nakedness?
It is trying to do the work of God in the power and zeal of our own efforts, not according to the Word of God. It is to follow the world’s standards and ideas instead of the pattern given us by God. It is the shame of clothing ourselves with self-righteousness, a prideful satisfaction in our own attainments, thereby separating ourselves from God.
It is shamefully living in disobedience to God’s counsel, yet thinking we are doing God’s will. The only hope to redeem us from such a deep and deadly deception is for the eyes of our understanding to be opened so that we can see how naked we are and with broken hearts call upon the Lord for forgiveness and restoration.
“Anoint thy eyes with eyesalve”
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27. The anointing is the Holy Spirit which teaches us truth.)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Ephesians 1:17–19. Eyesalve would be understanding and enlightment in regards to the will and way and love of God.)
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8), (Eyesalve would be an understanding and will enlightened by the law and principles of God.)
The eye salve is spiritual discernment, wisdom, and grace, which enable us to discern between the evil and the good. It is an understanding of heart and mind brought to us by the anointing or work of the Holy Spirit that works in us to reprove. The eye salve is that spiritual discernment which will enable us to see the snares of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it.
Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rebuke—to bring to the light, to expose; to find fault with, correct, to call to account, show one his fault7
Chasten—to train up a child, i.e. educate, or by implication discipline8
Zealous—in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good to desire earnestly, pursue9
Those whom I [dearly and tenderly love], I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. (Revelation 3:19 AMP)
“As many as I love”
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11–12)
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:5–6)
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5–6)
“I rebuke and chasten”
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (Proverbs 9:8–9)
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5)
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. (Job 5:17–18)
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)
Jesus, the faithful and true witness, knows our true condition. He longs that we would know and understand it as well, that we might repent and be saved. Thus, with faithfulness and love, Jesus wounds, He rebukes. He allows trials and difficulties to come, all in hope that somehow our spiritual self-satisfaction might be broken up so that He can have a real relationship with His professed people.
Jesus understands this is a life-and-death issue, for if Laodicea is left in its condition it will eventually become destitute and void of any saving virtue. Thus it would be “spued out” and left to itself, self-satisfied and smug in its attainments and false hope, but nevertheless lost and dead in sins. When Jesus gives up the people who make up Laodicea it is with the same sadness He spoke to ancient Israel. “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:37–38).
“Be zealous therefore, and repent”
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Matthew 3:8–9)
To be zealous in our repentance is to be brought under the influence of the Holy Spirit and to no longer refuse correction. True repentance will show itself in genuine sorrow for sin and turning from the self-satisfied ways of Laodicea to earnestly seek the Lord. One who is zealously repentant acknowledges himself as a sinner, no longer hardened in self-satisfaction.
Let us not refuse this experience, for to do so will cause us eventually to perish and be lost for all eternity. In the mean time we live with the fatal delusion that we are Christ’s children and heaven is our home. This delusion will be broken one day when the voice of the Master says, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23).
Revelation 3:20
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.
“I stand at the door, and knock”
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (Song of Solomon 5:2–6)
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. (Proverbs 8:1–5)
Christ knocks at the doors of our hearts and our congregations, but we are spiritually asleep, unclothed yet not realizing the shame of our nakedness, wallowing in self-righteousness. We find it too inconvenient to heed the knock of Christ; therefore, He departs. The wisdom and Word of God speak to us through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit as a knock at the door of our conscience. Christ’s heart of love “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Despite this great love there does come a time in the lives of all individuals and churches when the call to repent may be neglected so long that Christ, the great heavenly lover, will walk away. Let this not happen to you. “I opened to my Beloved; but my Beloved had withdrawn Himself, and was gone: my soul failed when He spake: I sought Him, but I could not find Him; I called Him, but He gave me no answer” (Song of Solomon 5:6). Instead, “seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
Revelation 3:21
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.
“To him that overcometh”
The Laodicean church is called to overcome the following in order to receive the promises:
• Lukewarmness
• Nakedness
• Blindness
• Poverty of soul
• Self-satisfaction
Keys to Overcoming:
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4–5)
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1 John 2:14)
A Review of the Promises to Those That Overcome:
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. (Revelation 2:26)
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)
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)
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7)
Revelation 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
As we conclude the study of these messages to the seven churches, let us take a final look at the promises to those who will hear the Spirit and overcome. Everything lost through sin’s entrance into this world will be restored to us.
In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we find the record of Adam and Eve’s failure and its tragic consequences for mankind. However, in Revelation, the last book of the Bible, we see by the grace of God these failures reversed to him who overcomes in the strength of Christ.
• Sin deprived us of the tree of life. (See Genesis 3:22–23.)
Grace restores the tree of life to us. (See Revelation 2:7.)
• Sin put us under the death sentence. (See Genesis 2:17.)
Grace gives us victory over the second death. (See Revelation 2:11.)
• Sin causes us to earn our bread by sweat and hard labor. (See Genesis 3:19.)
Grace provides the hidden manna. (See Revelation 2:17.)
• Sin caused us to forfeit our dominion. (See Genesis 3:24.)
Grace promises power over the nations. (See Revelation 2:26.)
• Sin left us naked. (See Genesis 3:7.)
Grace clothes us in white raiment. (See Revelation 3:5.)
• Sin drove us from God’s presence. (See Genesis 3:23.)
Grace pledges we shall ever be with the Lord and no longer go out from Him. (See Revelation 3:12.)
• Sin caused us to die and to be returned unto dust. (See Genesis 3:19.)
Grace places us on an eternal throne with Christ. (See Revelation 3:21.)
Friend, I pray that you may experience the grace of God today and know the true joy of the Lord. There is no greater possession you can have in this world than to know Christ and His salvation. May you make that possession your own today by faith.
Endnotes
1. Greek Lexicon, in The Online Bible CD-Rom, Macintosh Version 2.5.3 (Niagara Falls, NY: Cross Country Software, www.online-bible.com, 1996).
2. Ibid.
3. Noah Webster’s First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language, (1828; reprint, San Francisco, Calif.: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967).
4. Greek Lexicon, op. cit.
5. Noah Webster, op. cit.
6. James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987).
7. Greek Lexicon, op. cit.
8. James Strong, op. cit.
9. Greek Lexicon, op. cit.
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