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Showing posts with label Apostacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apostacy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

The Word of God is True

 The Coming of That Day

Book of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

We must understand that the best approach to what the Bible says is, to take every passage as its literal meaning, compare Scripture to Scripture and refuse to make claims that the Bible does not make.

There are some things that the Bible says that cannot for certain be understood. 

It is these places and all the rest of the Bible we are to accept by faith!

It is like the Holy Trinity; I cannot explain and the Bible does not try to, but I know it is real.

I know there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and they are all one person, one God.

I know a virgin named Mary found favor with God and had a child named Jesus. 

Isa_7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

I cannot explain it but I know it is the truth.

I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is that One sent down from Heaven to save us. (Immanuel)

I know that eye witnesses saw the Lord Jesus ascend back to Heaven.

I cannot explain it but I know it is the truth.

I know when the Bible speaks of the "Day of the Lord" it does not mean one single day in history.

The "Day of the Lord" covers a long span of time and some significant events that will take place.

There is a terrible time of trouble coming to this world we live in!

There is a day when the wrath of God will fall upon all the wickedness, all the meanness, and all the filthiness of mankind.

This day is not that far off because we are seeing the signs, but as Christians we are not to fear the "Day of the Lord".

Our hopes are for the future and not in the present!

*****2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this world.

1) To gather His Church.

2) To bring the wrath of God to all unbelievers.

But we are not to think of wild and unreasonable notions concerning His return.

We must not be troubled by the return of Jesus Christ. To the Church this is the best thing that can happen to us. We will be going home!

These saints of Thessalonica were being persecuted so badly that they thought the "Day of the Lord" was taking place at that time.

Many thought that the tribulation years had already begun.

There were some who claimed that some spirit or some angel had revealed to them that the "day of the Lord" had begun already.

They were listening to some false preacher calming to be the Messiah.

He claimed that he had received some special word that no one else had.

He claimed that that he had heard in a letter from Paul that the "Day of the Lord" was taking place.

Many believers became shaken in mind and troubled by all these things as they strived to believe in the Apostle Paul.

The important thing for all believers is, to look forward to the day the Lord gathers His Church and not to the judgment that comes later because the Church will not be a part of that judgment.

It is far more pleasant to focus on the day we go home to Heaven than the "day of judgment" that does not concern the Church.

Heaven is a beautiful place where we can rest from the persecutions of this world!

It is those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ who should be shaken in their minds and troubled.

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

We must be careful not to get caught up in false teaching, and anyone who says they have a special revelation from God, because God will never go against His Word that He has given to the Church.

There will not be any prophecy in the Church Age other than the Word of God that we now have!

We are not appointed to the wrath of God, but to the salvation that God has presented to us!

We must not be deceive by some false prophet or some false preacher at any time.

*****2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

There are two events listed here from the Apostle Paul.

1)The first event to launch the day of the Lord will be a great falling away of believers from God.

In fact that phrase "falling away" means "apostasy", "revolt" "rebellion".

Many from all over the world will be rebelling and revolting against God.

Before the Lord returns there will be a great day of apostasy, a great day of deception.

Just yesterday I read where the United Methodist Church were meeting to see if they could reconcile their differences as more than half of those had given in to the LBGTQ agenda, even having some leaders who were prophesied to be part of the gay movement and welcomed them all.

Now it is true that the Church is to welcome all who come but they are to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah and "Repent" to become part of the Church.

This may not be what the Apostle Paul was referring to but it is involved in this thing somewhere.

We simply cannot fall away from the truth of God.

For some man to decide he was really a woman. He is saying that my God made a mistake which is impossible.

For woman to say that she is really a man. She is saying that my God made a mistake and that is impossible.

For groups to give in to this they are calling God a liar and my God cannot lie!

Before the Lord Jesus will return to this earth there will be a great apostasy and I believe we are beginning to see this now in our lifetime.

What did Jesus teach us? Mat_24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

2) The second event that will launch the "Day of the Lord" will be the revelation of that man of sin, the son of perdition, the Antichrist himself.

This means that the Antichrist is on our planet somewhere today.

This Antichrist is a man of sin though he may first seem to be the savior of this world from climate change, war, and politics.

This means that the Antichrist will be that "son of perdition". He will be so evil he will actually be that son of doom! Doomed to destruction.

This means that the Antichrist will not just be another evil world leader that we see so often, but the Antichrist that has been prophesied.

He will come out into the open after hiding for such a long time, working his way through the politics of this world.

The evil that such men from our past that have caused, will not compare to the evil the Antichrist will bring.

Men such as Hitler, Stalin, and other dictators who themselves slaughtered millions of innocent people will be nothing compared to the Antichrist.

Those days will be like the days of Noah before the flood came.

Those will be like the days of Lot when the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 

What does this wicked man do?

*****2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

What are the traits of the Antichrist?

1) He is the "man of sin". All he knows is sin and lawlessness. He idealizes sin. He is the ideal sinner. He will fulfill the dreams of Satan.

He will lead a revolt against our Holy God and the world will follow him.

2) He is the "son of perdition". Perdition means doom and destruction.

He is the son of the most violent doom and destruction this world will ever see.

He is the son who deserves his own doom more than anyone who has ever lived.

He is the son of the Devil himself, the father of all doom and destruction.

3) He is the "opposer" of all that is called God.

He is the opponent of Jesus Christ and all believers.

He will show no love, no mercy, no grace, and no justice, but especially to those who profess the name of Christ.

4) He is the one who "exalts himself" above everything that God stands for.

He will lift himself above everybody that is alive in his day, in an antagonistic way.

All people will be his subjects or they will be killed or suffer severe consequences.

5) He will claim to be God.

He exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped.

He will attempt to sit in the rebuilt Temple as God to be worshipped as God.

Many people worship science and technology today and the Antichrist will use this to his advantage with some great miracle within his power.

He will lead the governments of this world into war with God.

There will be a one world religion based upon the rule of the Antichrist by the False Prophet.

There will be a one world government.

There will be a false peace for a season.

Remember Rome brought peace through destruction and fear, the Antichrist will do the same.

We must teach these things in the Church!

*****2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 

When a false preacher gets into to any church his message will always confuse some in the pews because people just refuse to study the Bible.

The Church must understand the truth of the Antichrist and it must be taught in the Pulpit and the Sunday Schools.

Just as Paul had to be careful what he said because he was a Roman citizen and Rome would silence those who spoke against it, it will be the same with those who speak against the Antichrist in his day.

So today is the day we must teach these things about the Antichrist.

The Lord Jesus will certainly return to gather His Church to Him. There will be a "Rapture" of the Church.

The Lord Jesus will return to this earth and that great and terrible day will come and it is sooner than most people want to believe.

The Antichrist will arise upon the world scene maybe just before the "Rapture of the Church" but certainly after the Church has been removed.

After the Church is removed by the Rapture, this world will turn into the most evil and wicked place that ever existed and the Antichrist will use this chaos to his advantage to make a false peace.

Remember the Church will be gone but Israel will remain and Israel will realize how wrong they had been about the Scriptures.

Rom_10:19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Rom_11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

*****2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

It should be clear that there will be a historical appearance of the Antichrist. His time is set and he will appear before all the world.

Right now there is some power that holds back the appearance of the Antichrist.

Once this power is taken out of the way then the Antichrist will be revealed.

Notice it says, "taken out of the way" and not "taken away" there is a significant difference in these two statements.

If this power of restraint is completely removed there would be no power of good left in this world.

So this power will only step aside enough to allow the Antichrist to present himself to this world.

This power is so strong that He can control events in this world.

In fact, this person is so strong that He knows the exact day to step aside to allow the Antichrist to appear.

So, just what is this restraining power? In the early Church, those people thought that Rome was this restraining power but this cannot be true simply because Rome's dominance is long gone.

It is not the power of the law because every nation has different laws.

The restraining power can be nothing but the power of God, through the Spirit of God, who came to this earth when the Lord went back to Heaven.

Joh_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh_16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

That word mystery refers to the mystery of lawlessness that works secretly in our world but when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way then this mystery of lawlessness will no longer be in secret.

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Those principalities, those rulers of darkness and that spiritual wickedness will finally be seen by this entire world.

Why do we do so many rotten things as we live and grow older?

That "mystery of iniquity" is that unseen, unknown power which is in our world dedicated to evil working against the will of God.

This is the thing that corrupts everything it touches causing misery in God's creation.

When did it begin?

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Who is this Antichrist?

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 

Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 

It is the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) who is the power behind the Church!

There should be no doubt that there is an Antichrist that is in this world, he has not revealed himself because the Holy Spirit will not allow it yet to happen just yet, but the Holy Spirit will take Himself out of the way of this Wicked man when the time is just right.

In the last days, when the time is just right for the Antichrist to rise, God is going to remove much of His restraint upon lawlessness and lawlessness will run rampant over this earth.

Men again will be allowed to do their own thing and live as they desire.

Men will get their wish and live without the influence of God.

Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

The Church will already be in Heaven, the Rapture having taken place, and the influence of the Church will be no more on this earth.

The Holy Spirit will still be within each believer in Heaven, but the Holy Spirit will begin another work here on earth.

The Lord will make quick work of the Antichrist!

The Lord will destroy the Antichrist with the brightness of His coming.

How will the Antichrist deceive so many?

*****2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

The Antichrist will carry on the activities of Satan upon this earth.

He will be the embodiment of Satan.

He will carry on all the lying power and signs and wonders of Satan.

He will carry out the activity and work of Satan on this earth.

Satan will energize him.

He will be totally surrendered to Satan.

All the unbelievers will think they have reached heaven upon this earth, but even the wicked do not approve of all wickedness.

He will bring a false peace to this earth for three-and one-half years.

He may make a way for all to have food and adequate provisions.

Rev_13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

He may solve the problems of health insurance, employment, homelessness, energy, and other problems, because Satan is the one who caused those problems to begin with.

He will then claim supernatural power for himself, his government, and his science and the last three-and one-half years will begin.

He will cause the world to worship him as god.

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 

No man can be god because that grave will make him to be a liar!

When the Antichrist insist that he is god many will rebel against him because they do not want any sort of god to worship.

This world will live in a lie for only a brief time because it has rejected the truth of God.

*****2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

We should understand that any follower of the Antichrist has rejected the truth already.

To receive is to welcome and no one at that time will welcome the truth, they will not want to hear any truth and we are almost there today.

This truth is the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

They do not want a way to be saved.

They do not want a way to escape death.

They do not want a way to live forever and ever.

They do not want a way to live a victorious life.

They have chosen to suffer at the hands of the Antichrist and Satan the Deceiver.

Joh 8:23  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

God will cause them to believe every lie of the Antichrist.

*****2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

We live today in a nation where there has been a persistent rejection of truth.

This behavior destroys the sense of the truth so much that it results in a fatal error.

The lies against the truth become the truth to those who reject the truth.

In other words they believe the lies are the truth.

This is the America we live in today!

Does this mean that God misleads unbelievers? 

That God deceives people?

That answer is no and a thousand times no.

No person is deceived apart from their own will.

No person is deceived against his will.

A person is only deceived because he chooses to reject the truth of God.

We need only to look at the lies of evolution to see how lies have changed our world.

Unbelief is governed by the laws of sowing and reaping.

If a person sows’ unbelief and deception, he will reap unbelief and deception.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

It is because people reject the truth of the Gospel that they will suffer strong delusion because of their actions, and they will believe the lies of the Antichrist.

Those who reject the Word of God will go further and further astray as we see in our own nation today.

So, God will use Satan as the means to punish them!

The Lord Jesus said to just leave them alone: Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

All the followers of the Antichrist will be those who are deceived about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The tragedy of this situation is that a person cannot reject Jesus Christ and expect things to stay as they are.

The truth will always prevail in the end!

God loves His Son too much to see Him rejected because of what He has done for the salvation of this entire world.

The "judgment" of the unbeliever is also drawing closer each and every day!

*****2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

All the followers of the Antichrist will be damned to Hell.

All those without the love for the truth will naturally believe a lie when it comes because there is no other choice for them!

People love their sin so much that will hold on to it even if it means they will spend eternity in Hell.

Go back and look at the sin of Adam.

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

It is the instinct of sinful man to flee from God and His truth!

When the wickedness of sinners is known of God, they will attempt to hide from the truth.

The Lord Jesus came to this earth for this reason.

Joh_15:22  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

This world cannot expect God to overlook its sin, especially those who take pleasure in unrighteousness.

Any person who rejects the work that our Savior has done for our salvation cannot expect God to overlook the dishonor done to His Son!

The world is full of sin!

1Jn_2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

These are the things that Satan has used since the time of Adam and Satan has never had to change his ways.

When the Antichrist shows up the world can expect for him to use these things to become its new world leader.

Man loves himself and himself alone and refuses to show true love to anything else but himself and this is the downfall of mankind.

Job 15:16  How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Psa 52:3  Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 

Psa 52:4  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 

Psa 52:5  God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah

These are the same ones who will cling to the Antichrist like he is some sort of god when he is nothing.

God will allow the Antichrist to lead this world for seven years and it will be a terrible time to live upon this earth, but Hell is even worse.

Amen

Sunday, April 19, 2020

The Message to Laodicea

The Message to Laodicea

Book of Revelation Chapter 3 Verses 14 through 22


This is the last church that is addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will see that the Lord Jesus will not commend this Pastor at all.

This is the Age of complacent Christians.

This is the Church of the early 1900's through today.

The Roman Catholic church had reached the peak of its power and the Jesuits had begun in this Age.

The Jesuits were a society that in title were formed to promote the Lord Jesus Christ, but they lost their way and forgot who they were supposed to be.

It is the Jesuits have cause many or I should say most of the problems between the Catholic Church and all other Church denominations.

In fact it is the Jesuits have doctored the Codex Sinaiticus so much, that it is so far from the truth it is like a book of lies.

This is the Scripture that is claimed to be the oldest recovered text that the Jesuits have added so many corrections that it has more corrections than it does original text.

Even this so-called protestant preacher who claimed to find this so-called earliest text was basically hired by the Pope and the Jesuits because he was a disciple of the Jesuits.

It is the Jesuits that have written the Catholic Doctrine used today.

It is this same doctored Codex Sinaiticus that is used for many English translations today including the NIV and even the NKJV and most all other perversions of the Scriptures.

The world needs to know the truth before it is too late!

You see the remnants of this society who still have control of the Catholic Schools.

The remnant of this society is in the UN.

You can find the Jesuits and the disciples of the Jesuits in every facet of government in almost every nation of the world today including here in America where they are also in our Federal Reserve that was a sellout of our own Banking Industry by Woodrow Wilson.

Methodism had begun.

The Protestant Church had begun.

Mohammedanism has gained in strength to be the number one religion in the world.

Religion was filling the world because the Christians had become Luke-warm!

Even today Christians refuse to take a stand even though we have the last of the remaining truth.

Sure there are Christians in every denomination, and we all need to take a stand on the truth while we are still able!

We must all make sure we have a copy of the true Word of God and not some doctored text!

I would never talk about people. I am not judging people their own works judge them. I am referring to Doctrine!

We already know that the Apostle Paul had a great concern for this church while he was still alive.

Col 2:1 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;
Col 2:2 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;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Here we see that already that Pastor was using enticing words to beguile this Church and they did not listen to Paul. They rejected the truth or became lute-warm

Now Jesus, the One true God, adds to what Paul had already told these Pastors. They had not changed!

This church in Laodicea was a self-complacent church.
This church in Laodicea was a lute warm church, the worst of all churches.

It is almost impossible for someone who is Luke-warm to ever give there all to the Lord.

A self-complacent individual will never pick up their cross daily and follow the Lord!

This is why Christians do not vote. Nothing changes for them no matter who is in power! They do not see the error of their ways!

They are alright with anything that seems to make the world be at peace with itself so, they do not concern themselves about the Lord's "or else" preaching.

Most of them do not even believe in Hell! This a teaching of the Jesuits.

God is only an old grandfather figure who allows just about anything. Another teaching of the Jesuits.

Laodicea was a banking center noted for its wealth.

Luxury was everywhere.

The city was also a medical center and even in that day Doctors were not cheap.

Most of these were eye doctors because an eye salve had been formulated there.

This area of Laodicea was also a center of the clothing industry.

It was easy to get a job and most all jobs paid very well for that day.

What did Jesus the Amen, say to this Pastor?

*****Rev 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;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Amen means Jesus Christ the faithful and true witness.

When we say Amen, we are saying we agree with everything about the "Gospel" the "Good-news" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will see that the Lord did not have anything good to say about this church.

We could use the word "complacent" when we talk about this church.

Complacent means self-satisfied. This people were satisfied with themselves!

Lute-warmness is the result of self-complacency.

It can be said that it is impossible for self-compliant people to be anything other than lukewarm!

The message is still sent to the Pastor of this church and I can just imagine how tough it was for him to preach this message because this message was aimed at him!

He was indifferent.
He was complacent.
He was self-satisfied.
He was half-hearted about his relationship with Jesus Christ.
He was neutral in his belief of the "Gospel" and it caused his church to be the same!

The Pastor of each church and every church leader have one job, and this is to lead their flock to the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Pastor of this Church could very well have been a man named Archippus.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

This could be the same man who is the son of Philemon who by the writing of the Apostle Paul was a fairly rich Christian.

Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though these facts are true this does not make the Pastor of this church to be Archippus, but in reality, the son of any rich man could be this type of person as the pastor of this church.

Whoever it was, they were neither cold nor were they hot in their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the type of the modern-day church leader. They have a cool relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ when we are all supposed to be "on fire" for Him!

This is the reason for this message to this Pastor.

*****Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jesus said, "you cause me to vomit". In other words Jesus said: "you make me sick"

If there is one thing that I never want to hear from my Savior, it would be "depart from me"!

Mat_7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mat_25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Luk_13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

The next thing I would never want to hear is "you make me sick to my stomach"!

Jesus said this to keep from saying the word "hate" because Jesus was still offering this Pastor and this church a chance to repent.

Why was this church this way? Just let the Lord explain what He means.

*****Rev 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:

This Pastor confused material wealth here on earth with Spiritual wealth that can only come through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual pride and lute-warmness are usually produced by worldly prosperity.

It is not enough for the wealthy Christians to just contribute his tithe and think that it is enough.

The riches given by our Creator are to be shared especially those who certainly have more than they need.

Today we see the superrich who make a big deal about giving millions of dollars to charities who only use 10% of that money for a good cause.

Many of them do not have a good cause at all!

We see them give millions of dollars to things such as the false science of climate change, that will produce no results but will just make other men rich.

It is not humans that cause our climate to change. It is wickedness, filthiness and sin!

If they gave to the missions to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they could change this world to be a far better place.

God's true people who are true to Jesus, will do more for this world that any of these other charities, period

Luke-warmness causes false professions of faith and a false reality of salvation!

You can ask people on the streets if they are saved and a majority will say they are, but then ask them which church they attend and most have no answer.

What we see in most so-called Christian circles today, it is enough to make us sick to our stomachs.

These people did not even realize they were wretched. They were despicable.

They were miserable for the Lord to look upon.

Even with all the riches upon this earth, they were poor compared to the riches of Heaven. They were missing out on God's gifts of "Grace"!

They were blind to the truth of the "Gospel"!

They were naked, not wearing the "armor of God"!

What is the same truth of us all? Listen to the Apostle Paul

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But 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.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I dare say that every true Christian has these same thoughts as the Apostle Paul.

The things done at this church in Laodicea were done to be pleasing to the public but not to Jesus Christ!

*****Rev 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.

Jesus said, "you are shopping in the wrong places".

What was the answer from Jesus?

Jesus said allow me to be your counselor and quit listening to the world.

Jesus said: Let me show you how to buy Spiritual Gold.

1) Laodicea was a banking center but all the instruments of wealth in those banks are temporary. Yes even gold will deteriorate and go away unless it is stored in the proper environment. You must keep in mind that in Heaven, gold is just paving material having very little value.

Spiritual wealth is eternal, worth far more than anything considered valuable that is upon this earth!

Rubies and Diamonds and all such things are just wall decorations and even pearls are just doors in the New Heaven.

1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Real value is in life and eternal life!

Ask those who have been given over to this virus of today if their riches kept them from catching this virus.

About the only thing the rich can do during this virus is to get to be tested before anyone else and there is no excuse even for this.

Ask those that have died if it were possible, if their riches kept them alive.

The reality of Heaven is far greater than anything upon this earth!

2) The people of this church needed to change the place they got their clothing.

Remember this city was a clothing center. A large textile and manufacturing center.

They lacked Spiritual clothing! They had no shame for their Spiritual nakedness! Sounds familiar for today's church.

They were exposed to the wickedness of this world without the armor of God!

The white robe represents the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Rom_13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal_3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Without that white robe you will not get into God's New Heaven nor New Jerusalem!

3) They needed some eye salve. Remember this city was a great medical center.

There was a medical school that concentrated on treating eyes and partial blindness, the best in all the world.

They were famous for their eye salve.

Jesus said that "eye salve" was no good because it could not open eyes of those who were blind to the truth of God.

They were Spiritually blind!

They could not see the "Light of the world" who is Jesus Christ.

Joh_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Joh_9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

They were so blinded by the world that they could not see the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What was the answer to all the problems this church had?
What is the answer to "lute-warmness"?

Repentance!

*****Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

There is only one answer to anyone who has lost their first love.
There is only one answer to for all those who have strayed from the truth.

"To Repent" Until we get to Heaven, we all need to repent everyday but that soul who is lost certainly must repent and call upon Jesus Christ.

This church at Laodicea needed not only to repent but to be zealous about it.

That word zealous meant: To be warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of that repentance.

To be ardent means: Having the appearance of quality of fire.

This my friends means to be "On Fire for the Lord".

There is no one on the face of this earth that the Lord Jesus does not love!

Sure He loves His Church.
Sure He loves those who love Him.
Sure He loves the believer.

We can be just as sure that He loves the lost or we would not be left here after our salvation. It would serve no purpose.

Rom_10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Why? Because we are all created in the image of our Savior!

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

There is only one difference between the saved and the lost. It’s called love!

Have you not noticed how much hate is in our world today and the instigators of hate, seem to be heroes to some.

To be saved is to open up your heart to receive the love of God, through His Son Jesus!

Do not be fooled by the United Nations or any other group, without the Lord Jesus Christ you will never get to Heaven and Hell is a real place!

*****Rev 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.

You tell a man to open up his heart to receive that special lady he has dreamed of having and finally found her, and he will understand exactly what you are talking about.

It’s like that with Jesus Christ!

We must open up the doors of our heart and receive the gift of love from our Holy God.

Sure this church needed to open up the doors and allow Jesus to come back in and fervently, on fire, to worship Him.

But it is each of us who are to open our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and most all of us have allowed our fire to grow dim.

After all, we are all in that Laodicean Church Age.

We need to turn up the heat within us and proceed to show the Love of God to this weary world!

There is no time greater than today as the world hides behind closed doors from a deadly virus.

Even Christians hide in panic behind closed doors in fear of this virus which in the end was not that deadly when you subtract all those who would have died if they had contacted the flu or any other virus. Not one death should be celebrated, Family members will still suffer.

We forget it is the Lord Jesus Christ who holds the keys of death!

In the end God will get the blame for this thing when we as Christians know we have already been warned by a loving God that these things would happen and none of us made the right preparations!

The world is not prepared for what is coming and the world seems to never learn from the mistakes that were made by that generation that was before this one.

God does not do these things to His own people, but He does have His reasons for not bringing it to an end!

The Scriptures will always prove to be true!

As Christians we must take our stand before we get swept under the rug and stomped on!

The Lord is knocking on the door of every heart, so it is we humans who have to make the next move!

Psa 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

We live in a world that will believe anything false but will reject most the truth!

Why am I not worried today? Because I believe!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

And what a wonderful promise the Lord Jesus makes to those who believe the truth and open the doors of their heart to receive Him.

*****Rev 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.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Our Savior, our God will not beg anyone to believe but He has presented us with the truth and He will plead with us to accept His truth and then this thing is in our own hands as to what we do with it.

The Lord will continue to knock until His patience runs out and it’s time to receive His Church into Heaven.

My home is prepared in Heaven! I hope yours is also!

Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The Muslim get it all wrong.
The Jews get it all wrong.

To be a child of Abraham you must allow the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart!
You must allow the Holy Spirit to come to you and live inside of you!

The Holy Spirit says we need to listen to what the Bible says, and this is all the Bible not just bits and pieces.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Good works after salvation means, being on fire for the Lord.

What are we to be today?

1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What is God's rule about the altar for these sacrifices?

Lev 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
Lev 6:13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

To allow our fire to go out is negligence!

To put our fire out is complete disobedience!

We had better heed to the Word of God, saved for us, and preserved for us by God the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Let's Pray!