Eschatology Where Are We Now?

Applications of the Letters to the Seven Churches Provincial Application Personal Application Practical Application Prophetic Application

Structure of the Seven Letters Superscription to the church addressed Description of the divine Author Analysis of the spiritual condition of the church Message of praise or censure Promise to the overcomer Call to attention

Laodicea

The Assembly (14a) Laodicea was only a few miles distant from Colosse and Hieropolis. Interestingly all three cities are mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians. (Col. 4:12-16) Chronologically this is the last period of church history. It is doubtless the period in which we now live. The word "Laodicea" means "the rights of the people." Our period of human history is certainly an age of rebellion. This is the time of the "rights" movements.

True power cannot be taken, it can only be received as God’s people submit in faith to His authority. It is so sad that so few people understand that the church is not a democracy. It is a congregational theocracy. The head of the church is Christ. His will is supreme to the will of the people. At any given time the congregation legitimately can only ratify the will of God. Since the Laodicean period is the last part of the church age, we are living in the time frame in which our Lord will return!

The Author (14b) The majesty of Christ is demonstrated to a rebellious generation. He is the "Amen" or the "so be it." Only God is of such character that all He says or does can be confirmed with the title, "the Amen." He is also absolutely faithful in every aspect of both His character and His conduct. He is the "true witness" because He is truth in incarnate. He is the source and agent of all creation. (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:14-17)

Three Significant Creations A Natural creation over which God placed Adam as its head. A National creation over which God placed Abraham as its head. A New creation with Christ as its Head. - Lehman Strauss

The Appraisal (15-17) In contrast to the church at Philadelphia where there is nothing negative, there is nothing positive in God's assessment of the Laodicean church. They were: Self-Satisfied (15) The greatest blight to ever afflict a church is to become satisfied with things human inventions. There is no help for a self-satisfied church because there is no realization that help is needed.

“The lukewarm professor compromises God, in the eyes of the world, by all he does and says.” - C.H. Spurgeon

Sickening (16) This condition is intolerable to God Sickening (16) This condition is intolerable to God. He would rather the church of Laodicea to be cold or hot. Since they were neither, their apathy sickens God to the extent that He is prepared to vomit them up. Such a graphic picture ought to challenge believers who have fallen into a state of complacency. Self-Reliant (17a) Laodicea was a commercial center and very prosperous. In spite of inflation and recessions this generation of Christian live at the highest standard of living in history. Materialism is the idol of the hour.

Even God's people are carried away with the greed of the age Even God's people are carried away with the greed of the age. We've lost our dependence upon God. We seem to be able to figure out a way to accomplish our goals with or without His blessing. This independence is spiritually dangerous . (1 Tim. 6:17) Spiritually Bankrupt (17b) The independence of the Laodicean church has engendered a serious absence of essential ingredients for spiritual success. They were: - Lacking Power - "Wretched" means distressed. "Miserable" means pitiable.

How sad to be in such a state and think ourselves to be in "need of nothing." The lack of true spiritual power among believers in this day explains our failure to be salt and light in this wicked generation. - Lacking Faith - In the Bible the metaphor of true wealth is associated with the amount of faith one enjoys. What a shame for the church to be blessed with material wealth while experiencing spiritual bankruptcy. In such an environment material things become an end in themselves, rather than a means to the end of glorifying God. Without vibrant faith, the church is "poor" indeed.

These scales cannot be balanced! There is no poverty deeper than spiritual poverty, or more unnecessary. These scales cannot be balanced! Material Wealth Spiritual Bankruptcy

- Lacking Discernment - Blindness is consistently utilized in the Bible to picture spiritual blindness. To be aware of blindness is enough to create dependence upon God for insight. To be blind and unaware is to stumble about in a world of deepening darkness. - Lacking Righteousness - Clothing pictures the imputed righteousness of Christ. To be naked indicates the apostasy of this age when many people who profess Christ do not possess faith in Christ. There is no cure for apostasy but judgment.

The Appeal (18-20) The Answer (18) God has an answer for the great need of this church. The answer is to buy true riches from Christ. (Isa. 55:1,2) God is not looking for man’s money; He is looking for man’s heart. (Psa. 51:17 ) Gold tried in the fire is so as to prove its endurance is fireproofed faith. It is a refined faith. (1 Pet 1:7 ) White raiment is the imputed righteousness of Christ which covers the shame that self righteousness can never cover. The great need of this church is genuine conversion.

While Laodicea was oblivious to its nakedness, God saw its shame While Laodicea was oblivious to its nakedness, God saw its shame. Reference to eyesalve must has struck a familiar note to these people. Laodicea was famous for a certain eye powder. Eyesalve is a peculiar medicine compounded of generous measures of the Word of God and response to the Holy Spirit. The eyes anointed regularly with this salve can readily see spiritual principle and discern the spirit of the age. Without this anointing, blindness prevails.

The Anticipation (19) Chastening is the Scriptures is the exclusive lot of the believer. The word "rebuke" carries the idea of "child training." Sinners are judged but believers are chastened. (Prov. 3:11,12) The way to avoid chastening is to repent zealously, quickly, constantly, and seriously. The point is that during this Laodicean age there are true believers who are greatly influenced by the apostasy and need to be careful lest they be carried away to the point of God's rebuke and chastening.

The Approach (20) This is indeed a tragic verse The Approach (20) This is indeed a tragic verse. It is often used with the unsaved but that application is misplaced. This is a picture of Christ standing outside the door of the church for which He died. In spite of the terrible apostasy in the professing church, there is still the opportunity for individuals and individual churches to fellowship with Him. All that we need to do is to allow Christ free access and right of way in our hearts. This is a personal invitation to individual believers during the Laodicean period of church history.

The Appreciation (21,22) Overcomers are believers who have overcome through the blood of the Lamb. There is a distinction in thrones made here. Christ is currently seated at the right hand of the Father on the throne of the Father. He has overcome and now sits with the Father in a state of expectancy. (Heb. 10:12,13) The imagery dictates that the overcomers will sit with Christ on His own throne, which is identified repeatedly in Scripture as the throne of David. These overcomers will rule and reign with Christ.

The Panorama of Church History They will be part of His millennial kingdom. We ought to respond with listening ears. This last promise is a summation of all the promises made to the overcomers.   The Panorama of Church History ?