Revelation Chapter 3
VERSE 20 continued “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.”
As taken from (The Keys of Revelation)
“The messages of the Lord to the six previous churches in Asia were sent forth to his followers from a far country (Matt. 25:14,15; Luke 19:12). Although absent from earth, yet he has, in one sense, been present and ever near to his followers by means of the administrative capabilities of his exalted office at the right hand of the Father. “All power is given unto me [Jesus] in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). Innumerable holy agencies, principalities, and powers are at the Master’s command to effectually safeguard his little ones from the least to the gravest danger—except for those experiences he purposely allows to filter through to test and develop them as new creatures.
His message to Laodicea differs from the previous messages in that it presumes the Savior is already invisibly present in earth’s atmosphere. Note that he does not threaten an imminent return, but instead speaks to his Church as one having already arrived, true to his promise (Matt. 24:45–47; Luke 12:42,43). He stands present, waiting for a response to his message, a reaction to his knock; that is, he providentially directs attention to various time-feature prophecies recorded in the Word of God that indicate the fulfillment of this event (Dan. 12:12). Only those who are searching for and are alert to the signs of the times—only those who, in addition, have been divinely guided to hear his voice—are in a position to open the door of their hearts and to be fed with the deep spiritual truths available now and promised to those who abide in the “time of the end” (Dan. 12:9).
Many sincere, devout Christians identified with the present nominal Church systems have, in some measure, unwittingly become intoxicated with the spirit of worldliness. Overcharged with the cares of this life, they are listless and lethargic, their spiritual senses numbed with a slow paralysis and deep slumber. In Song of Solomon 5:3, they are pictured as having put off their street dress or work habit. Having disrobed and changed their garments to sleepwear, and having washed their feet of earthly defilement—incurred in the daily course of their lives—by application for mercy and forgiveness at the throne of grace, they rest upon the Laodicean couch of comfort and contentment, overindulgent in their spiritual progress for the day and confident in their “need of nothing.”
“I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?” (Song of Solomon 5:3)
When the Master stands outside the chamber in the closing hours of the Passover night of sin with “the drops of the night” (this time corresponds with the early morning hours of millennial “dew”), he not only knocks but also affirms his presence by suggestively and gently rattling the latch of the “fast-closed” door to indicate, on his part, the assurance of his love (Song of Solomon 5:2–4).
This virgin class residing in Babylon, in sympathy and heart union with the Lord, contemplate the sacrifice involved, the additional energy required, in going “forth to meet the bridegroom” (Matt. 25:1). After reflecting upon the matter for a while, the members of this class do finally respond to his loving call, but—to their dismay—too late! They do not exercise themselves soon enough to obtain his chief approval. The Master absents himself for a time from this foolish virgin class and looks elsewhere for his Bride. Ultimately, they do enter “his [the Lord’s] garden,” but only after the wedding of the Lamb (Song of Sol. 6:2; Rev. 19:7, 9).
It is only after they go to the common mart of hard experience coming upon the whole world, referred to in Scripture as the time of great tribulation, that they wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb and make themselves ready to enter the King’s palace (heaven) to forever be with the Lord as a secondary class of bridesmaids or servants before, not in, the throne (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14, 15). Only those who love the Master supremely will be IN the throne.
In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, ALL the virgins’ slumber and sleep for a time (Matt. 25:1–13). However, upon being awakened, the wise virgin class instantly arise and bestir themselves to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes” (Rev. 14:4).
Continued with next post.
