Before we move on to our next verse let us take a brief recap of our last two verses.
VERSE 15-16 “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.”
“For many, COLD means someone who is NOT THE LORD’S. They would, therefore, need not to be spewed out since they were never in. This is certainly a reasonable interpretation. However, an additional and helpful lesson can be drawn if the words be meant differently. These verses show lack of clear commitment in deeds.
This should be noted carefully. The Church had done WELL during Philadelphia. No ill is spoken of it. It had rejoiced in the opening of prophecy and understanding. After Miller, however, it had (according to Matthew 25) fallen asleep. This sleepiness is NOT ONLY in regards to prophecy and doctrine, but, MOST IMPORTANTLY, in character-building. It is the LUKEWARM CHARACTER with which the Lord is not pleased. He WISHES we were COLD OR HOT —Hot for RIGHTEOUSNESS, and cold toward INJUSTICE. See Heb. 1:9 and Psa. 45:7. See also 1 Tim. 6:17, 18.
This will likely be the reason for a great number of Great Multitude at this end of the age —these are CONSECRATED SAINTS (“you”) who are lukewarm.” (New Albany Notes on Revelation)
Now as mentioned previously this message can be viewed from two perspectives, as it applies to the nominal church and as it applies to the consecrated prospective members of the true church. Let us take a look at how it applies to the professing church first. Understand, we speak here of systems, not individuals.
"Unto the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea write." Laodicea is interpreted as "a tried, or judged people."
The description shows us that they were tried and found wanting. "These things saith the Amen." This is the word so often translated "verily" in the gospels, and used by our Lord as a kind of affirmation or solemn prefix to some important announcement.
From the peculiar use Jesus made of it, we should at once recognize the speaker and perceive that he is about to send a message of more than ordinary interest and solemnity.
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou were cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
Here is a picture of the nominal Church of to-day as our Lord sees her. They are not cold in one sense; they have a good deal of zeal; but it is not according to knowledge.
They boast in their understanding and point to their great schools of theology, and in their great educators, ministers and Doctors of Divinity as evidence, and yet they still lack true knowledge, their knowledge (or understanding) is but the wisdom of man, man-made theories and conjectures, their own pride in what knowledge they suppose they have has blinded them from the truth which they have not.
They have, with much labor on the part of some, organized their armies, developed their machinery, and multiplied their stores; but yet the enemy does not fall before them. They claim that their principal object and aim is to convert sinners; to (spiritually) beget children. The prophet puts these words in their mouth when they awake to a knowledge of the true situation:
"Like as a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have, as it were, brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the earth come to (spiritual) life." (Isa 26:17, 18)
“She is in pains (plural), trying to bring forth converts, works, fruitage. (This verse is not to be confused with the singular birth pang of 1 Thess 5:3.) The nominal Church expects to convert the whole world eventually, but instead the percentage of Christians in the world is shrinking. The nominal Church has “brought forth wind [gas, emptiness].” The inhabitants of the world have not “fallen” prostrate in acknowledging they are sinners and in recognizing Jesus as their Master.”
This however is said only after they have come to realized the presence of the Lord.
Neither hot nor cold, they incite disgust and are cast out as a hateful thing from being the mouthpiece of the Lord. (R505)
We continue with this discussion in our next post.
