The Seven Churches. Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Questions
1. What church of Asia is used to represent the very last stage of Christ’s church on earth?
Revelation 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 (Governor, Jesus is not created) of the creation of God;
Note: Laodicea signifies a “judging of the people.” From 1844 to the close of probation is the hour of God’s judgment. After this work of judging the people, the Lord will come. The message to the world in this judgment hour is the three fold message of Revelation 14:6-12, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and the preparation for His second return which had brought out the Seventh-day Adventist people.
2. Through what experience must believers in the last generation pass?
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Note: It is evident that the last two periods of the church—Philadelphia and Laodicea—cover one and the same time. The rise of the Advent movement and the special message of preparation for the end of the world was a signal that the opening years of the closing message had been reached, to whom was due God’s, final warning. Since the Philidelphian church is the last faithful church it must be the living church when Jesus comes. The final trials and experiences of, the last-day church are therefore described in the message to Philadelphia, while the special perils to the waiting church in the last generation are pointed out in the Laodicean message. The time of the Laodicean message is one of drowsiness, self-satisfaction, and peril, and the burden of the message is to escape from the Laodicean condition and become Philidelphian.
3. What is the promise to the overcomer in the message to Philadelphia?
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
4. Against what tendencies must the latter-day believers guard?
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow or become) cold.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
5. How is the speaker to the Laodiceans described?
Revelation 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;
Note: The title “Amen” suggests the final Word to the churches, the faithful witness that can not spare; for now the church must be made clean and pure to meet the Lord. It must return to the first love and first works, to the primitive purity of the first stage of Ephesus, and maintain constantly to the end that blessed experience enjoyed in the brief stage of the Philadelphia church, in which believers, joined in fellowship, waited for the appearing of the Saviour. Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. This means that the Philidelphian Revival will be repeated just before the end of the world.
6. What sad reproof is given?
Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
7. What makes this condition so deplorable?
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
8. What is the true condition of the Laodicean church?
Revelation 3:17 and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
9. What counsel is given?
Revelation 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.
10. What is the gold?
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Ephesians 2:7-8 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
11. What is the raiment?
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
12. What the anointing?
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
13. How will this experience come?
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
14. What encouragement is in the reproof itself?
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
15. Must the sinner search far to find the Saviour?
Revelation 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.
16. What is the needy soul to do?
Revelation 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.
Read Matthew 11:28-30 again
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
“Yes, I’ll open this proud heart’s door,
Yes, I’ll let Him in.
Gladly I’ll welcome Him evermore;
0, yes, I’ll let Him in.
Blessed Saviour, abide with me,
Cares and trials will lighter be;
I am safe if I’m only with Thee,
O blessed Lord, come in.”
17. What does Christ long to do?
Revelation 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 (dine) with him, and he with me.
Note: He will take our sin and give us His own righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” He longs to share our trials and share with us His triumphs.
18. What is’ the final promise and exhortation?
Revelation 3:21-22 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. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Note that all the promises and warnings and lessons of the messages to the seven churches are applicable to those in the last days, with the solemn call to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, and each time it says “hear what the spirit says” remember that the Speaker is Jesus. John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Truly last-day professors and unbelievers are left without excuse. Isaiah 5:4 “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?”
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