THE CHURCH OF THE LAODICEANS

Rev. 3:14-22

Morning Meditation 10/28/16

Verses 14-22 say, "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 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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 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. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We will take a brief look at the Letter to the church at Laodicea. Most of those who believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ (me being one of them), believe that this church was not only a local church that actually existed in that day with the problems that are identified, but, also that this church is an example of Christianity just prior to the rapture.. In other word, the seven churches of Asia represent seven stages of the church as it passes through history until the rapture. According to this, the rapture is described in chapter four verse one, when Jesus says to John, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Lord, hasten that day!

The words, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write . . ." are addressed to the "angel" of the church." The word "angel" is "aggelos" and means "messenger." Now who is the messenger of the local church? The answer is the pastor. Imagine a pastor being called an angel! The word angel can either describe a created being identified by that word, or, it can be used to describe one as being what the meaning of the word is, i.e., a messenger. A pastor is a messenger for the Lord.

The word "Laodicea" translates "Laodikeus" and is a compound of two Greek words: "laos" which means "people, or, a group of people," and "dike" which means "custom, right, or, a suit of law." The meaning is "the rule of the people." The word "custom" carries the idea "We have always done it this way." The definition "a suit of law" introduces a democratic rule in the local church where the people rule by popular vote.

The church is not a democracy. It has a heavenly Head and He is to rule through His Word and by His Holy Spirit. He addresses Himself to the pastor who is the messenger of the church and exercises His leadership this way. I understand when you get a bad pastor this presents a problem. I really don't have answers to all the problems that creates. But in the church at Laodicea it is the opposite. It is the rule of the people and this is worse. Yes, I said it. It is worse. This is the only church in the seven where Jesus is OUTSIDE THE CHURCH KNOCKING WANTING IN!!! You say, "Well, I'm not going to have a dictator for a pastor." Yes, I understand. I don't have a problem with your pain over a Diotrephes (3 John 1:9). But many good God-called preachers have just about quit the ministry because they can't be God's man for the monthly business meetings where every Tom, Dick and Harry can get on the floor and discuss issues that are totally irrelevant to a New Testament Church. If your preacher can't get before the church and say, "I have prayed about this matter and I believe the Lord is leading us to . . ." whatever it is, his liberty as the shepherd of the local flock has been neutralized. That pastor will be as frustrated as a hen-pecked husband.

The only way for this combination to work right is for the preacher to pray and get the Lord's leadership and the people to pray and the ONE Who is leading the pastor will give the people who pray, peace about following him.

Jesus says, I know thy works . . ." Jesus does know what is going on in the church. He walks in the midst of the seven churches of Asia. He addresses each one. He does not say to the preacher, "Call a deacons meeting. Get all your committees together. We need to sit down and work some things out." Jesus is the Head of the church and He does not ask for our advise as to how He runs the church. He also says, " . . . that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Jesus did give His opinion on that, didn't He? And His opinion is law.

Jesus says to this church, "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 . . ." The words "thou sayest" is a present active indicative verb. This means that they were continually saying the following: "I am rich, and increased with goods . . ." As if the material possessions that we possess is a sign of being in the will of God. There is an affluent man. The way we look at it today, if he is a Christian, he is being blessed of the Lord. So let's put him in the leadership of the church. Many preachers and churches do this because they have their eye on his pocket book!!! This church was a rich church and it was not a help to their spirituality. It was a hindrance. You say, "We have a great church." I like to hear people who love and recommend their pastor and church. But I ask you, "What opinion does the Lord have of your church?" I will tell you this. He has an opinion. If you listen closely, He may shock you! Your reasons for saying you have a great church may not be Scriptural.

Then Jesus says, "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." The word "counsel" translates "sumbouleuo" and means "to give counsel." It is a present active indicative verb. It means "I am continually giving you counsel," which means that Jesus is in the habit of counseling His church as they move along in the present tense of their experience. Jesus had been talking to this church all along. No one heard because no one was listening. When you have all you need, why bother the Lord?

Then Jesus says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Jesus loves the Laodicean church. Jesus rebuked and chastened this church. Then after this statement, He calls on them to be zealous and repent. We should repent the moment Jesus tells us we are wrong about something. And Christians need to be zealous. The word "zealous" means "to burn with zeal." Remember Jesus said to this church, ". . . I would thou wert cold or hot." Well, His greatest wish is that we be HOT. Dead churches don't attract people and is not a good place for Christian growth. But if life is restored in a dead church, it needs to be done on one's knees. Many churches are trying to re-enact Pentecost in the strength of the flesh. This only worsens the condition of death. You say, "You can't be deader than dead." That's right but you can start stinking!

Then Jesus says, "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" (vs. 20). Jesus is knocking wanting in the Church at Laodicea. But I will tell you this. He will never come in on a vote. And this suggests that the dead Laodicean church will not let Him in as a whole. But, the good part is this, if any man in that cold lifeless church hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in to that man and fellowship.

Then He ends this letter by saying, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the CHURCHES" (vs. 20). Emphasis mine.

May the Lord bless these word to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White