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!