LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES

TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA (Revelation 3:14-22)

 
ADDRESS
This letter is addressed to the church in Laodicea and the word Laodicea means peoples right or judgment of the people. They were identified as the rich-poor church, also known as the lukewarm, self-satisfied church, boasting of her wealth though poor, miserable and blind. It illustrates the final state of apostasy- ie to abandon one’s faith, principles or course, which the present Church is experiencing; it is the climax, total shift of the divine order.

Background
Laodicea was founded by a man named Antichus11, it was named after his wife, it appears to be a very common name for women at that time. Laodicea was a banking centre and possessed immense wealth, it boasted of an excellent and well known medical school, it was noted for the manufacture of wool and known for its production of an eye salve ointment. Laodicea was also known as a city of compromise. However, with all the wealth this city was known for, it lacked adequate water supply, letting us know that you cannot quantify what you lose by compromising. It is expensive to live a life of compromise.
 
ATTRIBUTES
Jesus introduced Himself as the Amen, Faithful, True witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Rev. 3:14.
Amen-one who is steady and unchangeable in all His purposes and promises.
Faithful-steady, consistent, loyal, not moving by the wind.
True witness-A witness is a martyr, one who will never compromise His stand or what He believes, and is willing to die for what he believes.
The beginning of the creation of God-He’s the doorway. All that God intends to do, is done through Him-Jesus is the beginning, the head of God's new order. Gen. 1:1, John 1:1.

There is no other life outside of Him because all life proceeds from Him. His life gives light, and that light is the answer to darkness and outside of Him we have no life, thus, we are nothing.
 
COMMENDATION
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth”. Vs 15-16.
There was nothing to commend, whether corporately or individually. God demonstrates His love for us when He brings His word to us. It is not usually a function of the environment to live above board or to compromise, it is a choice.  To live above board is a choice.
The Laodicean church was the worst of all the churches.
 
ACCUSATION
What they said they were, was not how God saw them- "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” Vs 17.

 It takes a lot to keep people humble after they have begun to acquire things, Luke 12:16-19. Many times, we point to things we have achieved physically rather than putting our trust and boast in God. If you put anything ahead of God, you will lose for it. Your true wealth is what money can’t buy. Our real problems lie in when we have now “become”.
To be lukewarm means you are complacent. They supplied nothing sweet or healing for the spiritually sick or weary.

They had become blind to what they lacked which they could use to judge their true state. 2 Peter 1:9.
God detests lukewarmness. 

Historical Era
This letter is talking about the last days and prophetically, it is talking about the present-day church.
 
Modern Era
Self satisfied modern churches.  -Jude 1:3.
They downplay biblical laid down doctrine.  The spiritual has shifted to physical things. The faith we have embraced is not the faith that was handed down to us.
 
KEY LESSONS
God suffers for long but not forever. The state we used to be is not as important as the state we need to be when He brings His word to us.
 
ADVICE
Rev. 3:18, 2 Cor.6:1-10
"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see”
- Gold tried in the fire, implies true living faith tried in the furnace of fire
- That they be clothed with white garment, this is to cloth with the garment of righteousness because sin exposes. They should anoint their eyes with salve. The judgment of God is real. If you are a son of God, you have to endure His chastening. Hebrews 12:5-8
- Eye salve -spiritual illumination.
 
ASSURANCE
Rev. 3:20-21
- Divine fellowship
- Spiritual enthronement
- An invitation to come to Him.
This is the last letter to the churches and this is an invitation to come to Him before the night of great tribulation.  All the time we have is NOW because tomorrow might be late.
 
In all of these letters, God didn’t promise blessings but reward. A blessing is a supernatural aid by the Lord.  A reward is something of value given in return for an act.  We must know that for everything we are doing, we will give an account of our stewardship.
 
PRAYER
I have ears and I hear
Lord I open up my heart to you afresh.

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES

 THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

ADDRESS

It was addressed to the church in Philadelphia. It existed between AD 1700-1900. Philadelphia means brotherly love.

Identity

They were known as the tried and faithful church, the weak but loyal church and the revival church which shows a state of spiritual advance.

History

The church was built at the centre of Greek culture. It is located 30miles off Sardis. Philadelphia was celebrated for it's rich wine.  Though having a Turkish name, they had five churches and a Christian population of about 3000.

ATTRIBUTES

Jesus introduced Himself as “He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens". In revealing Himself this way, it focuses on the fact that He is pure and holy, true (it is the truth that liberates), has the key (an emblem of authority, knowledge, access).

In essence, everything one is looking for is in Jesus, and if you have Him, you have all. Jesus was simply letting them know that their greatest need is Him, that amidst the distractions and trying times, He was all they needed. Only Jesus is constant.  He is the final authority.

COMMENDATION (Rev. 3:8)

"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name”.

God takes records, He doesn’t delegate this. He commended them for keeping His word and did not deny His name. These words to them are two of the most blessed words that can be said about a church or a person. They had no social or political standing.

In spite of seemingly having no title or standing, they remained faithful in much opposition though with little strength. The pagan authorities often tested Christians by commanding them to renounce the name of Christ or to face death.

ACCUSATION

There was none. It is possible to live in "perfection" without any condemnation, when you make up your mind that it is the word of God that regulates everything about your life.

Historical era

It was a period of reformation. Prominent figures like Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards (His sermons, sinners in the hands of an angry God is considered a masterpiece), John Knox, George Whitefield, John Carrey, Andoriran Judson, David Livingston, D.L. Moody, were a part of this era.

Modern era, all earnest spiritual churches holding the truth of Jesus at all times, in doctrine, practice and lifestyle, in spite of the temptation both subtle and confrontational to compromise or deviate. 

KEY LESSONS

- 2 Cor. 13:1- This letter shows it is possible to live above board. Your ability to stay right in spite of trials and oppositions is all that matters, that is, you are up and doing in every way possible as expected by God. Living above board is more than not doing wrong.

- The power of love and the power of togetherness. It is love that unites us- Agape.

Great things can happen where there is love, where there is unity. Where there’s love, there’s God, there’s power. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death”. 1 John 3:14, 1 Pet.4:8. Where there’s love, many supposed issues would not be issues. The power of love and togetherness makes the impossible possible. Deliberately work on growing in love.

ADVICE

Rev. 3:11, 2 Tim. 4:6

Jesus encouraged them to hold fast what they had. You keep the faith, when you have every reason to be bitter, but you stay in love.

ASSURANCE (Rev. 3:11-12)

 - I have set before you an open door - great opportunities, generally for preaching the gospel. That's why great missions and missionaries came out of this era. 1 Cor. 16:9     

- Jesus assured them of preservation.

"I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth”.  Verse 10

 “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God...”

 “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem...” Verse 12

Live and operate with eternity in view. Do not mortgage the temporal for the eternal.  Let's keep faith; if we are to see the faithfulness of God we must stay faithful.

PRAYER (Rev. 3:13)

I have ears and I hear.

I hold fast