The blindness of the church in Laodicea Revelation 1:11 Saying, What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies : to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Revelation 3:14 To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of Gods creation, says these things: Revelation 3:14-18 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of Gods creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. la-od-i-se-a (Laodikia): A city of Asia Minor situated in the Lycos valley in the province of Phrygia, and the home of one of the Seven Churches of Re (1:11). Distinguished from several other cities of that name by the appellation Ad Lycum, it was founded by Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.) of Syria, who named it for his wife Laodike, and who populated it with Syrians and with Jews who were transplanted from Babylonia to the cities of Phrygia and Lydia. Though Laodicea stood on the great highway at the junction of several important routes, it was a place of little consequence until the Roman province of Asia was formed in 190 B.C. It then suddenly became a great and wealthy center of industry, famous specially for the fine black wool of its sheep and for the Phrygian powder for the eyes, which was manufactured there (compare Revelation 3:18). Colossians 2:1-4 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of Gods mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. Colossians 4:13 For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. Colossians 4:16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 2 Kings 6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. GOD IS THE PROTECTOR OF HIS PEOPLE. Was Elisha so much dearer to Gods heart than His other children that for him alone the forces of heaven came down to earth? Cannot all Gods people say, The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge? do-than (dothayin, dothan, two wells, double feast; Dothaeim): A place to the North of Shechem whither Jacobs sons went for pasture for the flocks; where Joseph who followed them was sold to the Ishmaelites, after having been imprisoned in a pit (Genesis 37:17). Here in later days the eyes of Elishas servant were opened to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, guarding his master from the encircling Syrians (2 Kings 6:13). This is certainly to be identified with Tell Dothan, which lies on the East of the ancient road leading from Gilead across Esdraelon to the seacoast, and thence to Egypt. It is about 5 miles to the Southwest of Jenin. There are some traces of old buildings, two cisterns-Dothayin or Dothayin = two cisterns or pits-and one copious spring. Excellent pasture is found in the surrounding plain, and on the adjoining slopes. DOTHAN, now tell Dothan, 42 ms. n. of Jerusalem, 5 ms. s.w. of Jenin on the s. of a beautiful plain but with only a few ruins on a hill. 2 Kings 6:17-23 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man… The young mans eyes were closed. Me did not see the horses and chariots of fire that were round about Elisha. He did not realize that deliverance was at hand. How many like him are blind to the power of God, to the providences of God! How many are quick to see anything that concerns their temporal advantage, but slow to see that which concerns their immortal souls! How many see no beauty in Christ! This was a judicial act of God in response to Elishas prayer. So there is a spiritual judicial blindness. Seeing they shall see, but not perceive; hearing they shall hear, but shall not understand. It is a spiritual law which has its analogies in the natural world. If we neglect to use any of our bodily powers, the power itself is soon lost. Similarly, mental or spiritual powers, if neglected, will soon become useless. 188 They want the Holy Ghost. Oh, they say, We are--have gold. It was gold, all right, but not the right kind. They had plenty of gold but not the right kind. Now, so they were commanded by Jesus, I know youre rich, and have gold, and have need of nothing, but... 60-1211E-Laodicean-church-age I counsel thee to come buy of me gold tried in the fire,... (a different kind of gold, yeah, a gold thats tried in the fiery furnace, that went through the fire of death, that went through Calvary, come out)... 189 Lot of this gold you got now is tarnishey; itll canker; itll rust. If you can mark down this, James... Saint James 5:1 to 4, and youll get what it is, said, Go ye, you rich men, now at the coming of the Lord, weep and howl for your miseries is come upon you, your golds cankered in you. See, thats the kind of gold that cankers. But the gold that Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit, the golden Oil of the Spirit, pours into your heart. And--and, oh, my, counsel you, Come, buy of Me gold, if you want; get rich. Oh, yes. 191 Also they were blind. Now, thats a bad way to be. I dont think these Christians was so blind as they was nearsighted. I believe they were nearsighted. The only thing they could look at was their big buildings. Only thing they could look at was their big congregation. Only thing they looked at was a well-carnished choir with all of its big robes and things. I think they was just nearsighted; they couldnt see over their nose, hardly. I dont think they were blind; they were just nearsighted. All they could see was their... Well, you know what? We belong to the So-and-so. Their big denomination, their big crowd, many members, their Sunday school, their fine buildings... 192 But they had need of the Holy Ghost, Jesus said. They needed the Holy Ghost. So the Lord said to them, Eyes, you are... Eyes are so bad, and youre so nearsighted that you cant see nothing but your big building here and your big fine congregation, and your--the mayor of the city and all coming to your church, and you got the celebrity. And you forgot Me. But if you are that blind, and your eyes is that sore, Ill sell you some eyesalve. Yeah. See, its strange them doctors of divinity didnt have any of that, isnt it? They had a lot of perfume, had a lot of theology. But they needed eyesalve, Gods Holy Spirit, to massage their eyes and let them look for the coming of the Lord, let them look at the Bible, let them look at the Word. They know how to say aaaaamen just exactly right. They had the perfume; they had all the ointments; but they needed eyesalve, the Lord said. Said, You need a little salve to go on your eyes, and itll open them up. Revelation 3:18-21 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 60-1211E-Laodicean-church-age 223 Now, I believe we... Lets get about the--about the 19th verse now. I believe its about the 20th verse were on, the best I can see. Yeah, yeah, and closing on this. Now, be real quiet now and listen now while were doing this. Listen: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in... and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to set with me on my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with My Father in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. This is one of the most outstanding statements that Ive ever seen in the New Testament. I want you to notice, I stand at the door and knock. This is generally used, a quotation for the appeal for sinners. Is that right? We tell sinners, Jesus is at the door, knocking. But here Hes knocking at the church door for He once walked with them, but they with their organization and worldliness and coldness had excluded Him. Hes on the outside the church. 225 Now, remember, in the first of the church ages, as we close, He was walking among the seven golden candlesticks (Is that right?), the seven church ages. And at the end here, we find Him outside of what church? The Laodicean, the Laodicean church. Outside, they had excuse--excluded Him. Why, He was standing on the outside trying to get back in. What a pitiful picture, the Saviour of the world, standing outside of the church that He bought with His own Blood. Shame upon them. I stand at the door and knock. After being pushed out or ousted, then trying to get back in, crawls back and knocks at the door. This is the most striking record in the New Testament. I think theres nothing could be any more sadder than this, to see the Saviour of the world took out of His own church, the Laodicean age. After He done told them what they had did, their richness and everything, and what they were, and how they were lukewarm and so forth, and they--they had--they... He didnt have to spue them out; theyd spued Him out. And here, with all of that, still knocking at the door, trying to get back in. What for? To give them Eternal Life. The very ones that killed Him at Calvary, He was trying to save their souls. Its the most pathetic picture I ever seen in my life, ever thought of. This last church age is marked by the in-between situation; it is neither hot nor cold, but rather lukewarm. The Lord threatens that those who would not return to Him He would spew them out of His mouth. That is to say they will not hear His call at the first resurrection. The deceptive assertion that the believers have everything and possess the fullness, having need of nothing, the Lord Himself corrects with the following words, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.(3: 17b). If someone in the natural is poor, blind and naked, that is terrible. But if the person does not even recognise it and is not aware of the personal situation, then something is wrong with such an individual. The same applies to the spiritual condition. The tragic point in this last deceptive church age is that man does not realise he is fooling himself. He is living in an imaginary way and has not come to the understanding of his actual personal reality. According to the judgement of the Lord, the believers at the end of the time of grace do not have the right spiritual judgement. Its like living in a dream land and wishful thinking without knowing that whatever the Lord has put forth as a complaint is justified. In spite of all this He still knocks on the door of His Own and gives them the counsel, 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 salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent. (vv. 18-19). Only those who recognise and acknowledge their own condition and see themselves as the Lord sees them will take to heart what He says, receive what He promised and be prepared. Their eyes will be anointed with eye salve and only after this can they see the divine things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and receive the revelation of the Spirit as they acknowledge what the Lord said. He testifies of Himself, that He is standing at the door and knocking. Within the churches the singing and preaching about Him and the spiritual gifts continue. But He is on the outside. The church services take their course, but He is not permitted to speak within the church, and cannot reveal Himself therein. But His patience will of course run out. Therefore, He addresses the individuals as He knocks at their heart-door, 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. (v. 20). This is the description of the actual situation now. It is not the whole of churches that is addressed, but the individuals within the churches will hear His call, receive His counsel and open the door of their heart. Then He enters and sups with them. The table of the Lord was never in any church age as richly prepared as right now. The promise given is the greatest of all, 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. (v. 21). In Christ, God made the beginning of the new creation by begetting. Therefore, He initially introduced Himself accordingly in this church age as the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. All who are begotten by His Spirit (Jn. 3: 3-7; Jas. 1: 18; 1 Pet. 1: 23; 1 Jn. 5: 1-4), make up the first-born assembly (Heb. 12: 23) and are also the new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5: 17-19) and will overcome as He overcame and sit with Him on His throne and reign with Him. It is obvious that at the beginning of each letter, the thus saith the Lord is found. At the end of each message, the emphasis is to those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. That is precisely what counts, that is to say, to listen to the present speaking through the revealed Word by the Spirit. That is the actual message which is our special concern. In the first three messages, this statement is found before the promise; in the four last ones it is found after the promise. In Matthew 13 the Lord specifically emphasised the necessity to hear and to see. He declared the eyes and the ears of those who see and listen blessed. The overcomers from all church ages consist of those who at their time received and believed Gods message. Thereby, they had part in what God was presently doing. We also must hear what the Spirit has to say in our day through the timely message in order to participate in what God is doing now according to His promised Word. The true children of God do not only hear a messenger who would be the angel to the church age with the divine message, but will always hear the thus saith the Lord and believe the testimony of Gods Word and thereby be the overcomers and inherit all things.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 05:16:38 +0000
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