The Church at Laodicea

Key Verses: Revelation 3:14-22.

Introduction:

This is the 7th and final letter from our Lord and represents the Church of the Apostasy starting from around 1900AD to the present day. It is a church entirely ruled by men as the Holy Spirit is not guiding leaders nor the people as the name Laodicea means, the people ruling or the rules of the people.

All the other 6 churches were given some form of Commendation from the Lord but this type of church does not.

We may define apostasy as the falling away from or the departure from biblical truth contained in Holy Writ. John writes in his first letter that they have gone out from us because they were never of us in the first place. Seldom do apostates have the truth within, they are never born again of the Spirit of God. They may have a profession of an affiliation to a church denomination but in their heart they will deny solid doctrinal creeds and the Lord knows this.

Paul predicts this falling away and apostasy in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and the character of it in 1 Timothy 4:1-3. The second time the character of this is given to us is in 2 Timothy 3:5.
Mockery and rejection of what is written is the fruit of these types of believers and leaders with their own doctrines or teachings. They press in and take the kingdom as usurpers!

Peter gives us a clear picture in 2 Peter 2:1-22 and the apostle clearly shows no tolerance to apostates as they would lead others astray and into error.

We can see a denial of the tri-unity in 1 John 2:22-23.
Then a denial of the incarnation is seen in 1 John 4:2-3. (cf 2 John 7.)
The deity of Christ is therefore also denied.

Hebrews 6:4-8 gives us an exact description of a person who becomes an apostate. Again Hebrews 10:29 speaks clearly and gives a warning to all who ignore the warnings given.

Commendation

None is given!

Condemnation

See separate sheet on ‘The Problems within the Last Church Age of Laodicea’ which our Lord shows us. There are six in number and six is the number of man!

Exhortation

This is found in verses 18-20 and is a call unto salvation.
1) They are exhorted to seek spiritual wealth in Messiah, not physical wealth in this life.
2) Because they are spiritually naked to the One who sees all they are exhorted to seek the white garments of salvation from their Saviour. cf. Rev 3:4, 5. Rev 6:11. Rev 7:9, 13-14.
3) Lastly they are seen as spiritually blind and are exhorted to seek the Lord’s eye salve to be able to see with spiritual eyes.

Promise

This is in verse 21 where they who over come apostasy are promised a share in the Messianic Kingdom of our Lord and our God. Verse 22 is the call to discipleship obedience.

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