- Dec 31, 2010
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7. The Laodicean Candlestick: The Material Church Age
Recap...
Ephesus - Apostolic
Smyrna - Martyr
Pergomos - Orthodox
Thyatira - Catholic
Sardis - Protestant
Philadelphia - In America, a rural church
Laodicea - In America, a urban church.. Hey read it! The shoe fits!
In reading a book about Francis Asbury's efforts in America I find that in 1820 a full 20% of the American populous claimed the Methodist faith. I would also venture to say that 80% of the American population farmed for a living. So these people were basically poor in material wealth and education but very rich spiritually. My people in Virginia were basically farmers who were very uneducated but were also very funny and you laughed the whole time you were in their presence. So now as the Laodicean effect takes hold we are seeing a whole new ballgame. In which, I personally would not recommend the Philadelphian lifestyle as the times cannot support the lifestyle. I would highly recommend getting a good college degree and pursuing the educational ends. You may not be as spiritually rich as the previous generations but hey, we have got to adjust to the times.
Early indications of the Laodicean church age can be traced to Dwight L Moody, who annoyed the English by making money off his publications. This was in stark contrast to John Wesley, who would donate his profits back into ministry. This church age began good with the rise of evangelicals such as Billy Graham, but has cooled down in which many have been publicly rebuked and chastened. A good point to Laodicea is the evolution of good worship by worship leaders such as Cindy Ratcliff and Darlene Zschech. The result of good worship is spiritual light (faith, hope, charity, joy, virtue, etc.) and can have a great effect in bringing a church out of the ice age into something very much alive.
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;I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.- Revelation 3:14-15
Everything came together with light and energy as E = mc2 or m = E / c2. And there is a spiritual variety...
Energy (Motivation, warmth, love)
Light (Faith hope, and charity)
and then we have the opposite of all of that...
Apathy (laziness, coldness, hate)
Darkness (Fear, depression, and more hatred)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. - Matthew 24:12
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,- 2 Thessalonians 2:3
So the first issue with Laodicea is the issue of making the trek from hot to cold. In which, in our busy time, and if you are pursuing educational means like I recommended earlier, is easy to do. In which it is my prayer that the Lord understands that this is a tough age spiritually and that he helps guide us through here. These are the issues that will set up for the end of time and we have got to watch and make sure that our love is not waxing cold and that we are not falling away. We have a new member who feels that she has 'fallen away.' Hey its easy to do in our time!
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: - Revelation 3:17
Notice those key words 'and knowest not' so we live in a time where we educate ourselves and do well financially. However for all our financial successes it is easy to loose our spiritual goods. And to make matters worse there are a lot of preachers these days with doctorate degrees in religion who are totally unaware of the spiritual goods they have failed to pick up. And then we have someone totally uneducated such as Joel Osteen pick up a small church and have it explode. I must also say that TV evangelist, even Joel Osteen, are too materially minded and if they are not careful they will end up 'spued' out of the Lords mouth. Jimmy Swaggert is a prime example on how the Lord deals with the Laodicean church. It was as if he was spued out of the Lord's mouth and his shame displayed for all to see. A man of true faith does not need to lay aside great stores of material wealth knowing that the Lord will provide his needs. One could make a long list of issues with this the Laodicean church age!
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.- Revelation 3:18
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. - Hebrews 12:8
If we have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ we can expect a little rebuke and chastisement along the way. As I said, it is a complicated time in which we can expect to loose some spiritual goods along the way as we try to make our way into the world. The main thing is to see where we have went wrong and make the necessary repenting and course changing.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.- Revelation 3:19
So we need to have a light shined within us and repent of those little dark things that can easily creep in our spiritual man in our time.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. - Revelation 3:20-22
The last word Jesus gave to the church was "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." So we must keep a spiritual ear out on what the Holy Spirit is speaking to our own individual heart. If you choose not to get in education it is no big deal. With the Spirit of God you can make great things happen in your life... Just make sure that it it the spirit of God! After Revelation 3:22 the book changes its focus to the thrown room, and after listening to J Vernon McGee, an indication that the rapture took place at the end of Laodicea.
Recap...
Ephesus - Apostolic
Smyrna - Martyr
Pergomos - Orthodox
Thyatira - Catholic
Sardis - Protestant
Philadelphia - In America, a rural church
Laodicea - In America, a urban church.. Hey read it! The shoe fits!
In reading a book about Francis Asbury's efforts in America I find that in 1820 a full 20% of the American populous claimed the Methodist faith. I would also venture to say that 80% of the American population farmed for a living. So these people were basically poor in material wealth and education but very rich spiritually. My people in Virginia were basically farmers who were very uneducated but were also very funny and you laughed the whole time you were in their presence. So now as the Laodicean effect takes hold we are seeing a whole new ballgame. In which, I personally would not recommend the Philadelphian lifestyle as the times cannot support the lifestyle. I would highly recommend getting a good college degree and pursuing the educational ends. You may not be as spiritually rich as the previous generations but hey, we have got to adjust to the times.
Early indications of the Laodicean church age can be traced to Dwight L Moody, who annoyed the English by making money off his publications. This was in stark contrast to John Wesley, who would donate his profits back into ministry. This church age began good with the rise of evangelicals such as Billy Graham, but has cooled down in which many have been publicly rebuked and chastened. A good point to Laodicea is the evolution of good worship by worship leaders such as Cindy Ratcliff and Darlene Zschech. The result of good worship is spiritual light (faith, hope, charity, joy, virtue, etc.) and can have a great effect in bringing a church out of the ice age into something very much alive.
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;I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.- Revelation 3:14-15
Everything came together with light and energy as E = mc2 or m = E / c2. And there is a spiritual variety...
Energy (Motivation, warmth, love)
Light (Faith hope, and charity)
and then we have the opposite of all of that...
Apathy (laziness, coldness, hate)
Darkness (Fear, depression, and more hatred)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. - Matthew 24:12
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,- 2 Thessalonians 2:3
So the first issue with Laodicea is the issue of making the trek from hot to cold. In which, in our busy time, and if you are pursuing educational means like I recommended earlier, is easy to do. In which it is my prayer that the Lord understands that this is a tough age spiritually and that he helps guide us through here. These are the issues that will set up for the end of time and we have got to watch and make sure that our love is not waxing cold and that we are not falling away. We have a new member who feels that she has 'fallen away.' Hey its easy to do in our time!
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: - Revelation 3:17
Notice those key words 'and knowest not' so we live in a time where we educate ourselves and do well financially. However for all our financial successes it is easy to loose our spiritual goods. And to make matters worse there are a lot of preachers these days with doctorate degrees in religion who are totally unaware of the spiritual goods they have failed to pick up. And then we have someone totally uneducated such as Joel Osteen pick up a small church and have it explode. I must also say that TV evangelist, even Joel Osteen, are too materially minded and if they are not careful they will end up 'spued' out of the Lords mouth. Jimmy Swaggert is a prime example on how the Lord deals with the Laodicean church. It was as if he was spued out of the Lord's mouth and his shame displayed for all to see. A man of true faith does not need to lay aside great stores of material wealth knowing that the Lord will provide his needs. One could make a long list of issues with this the Laodicean church age!
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.- Revelation 3:18
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. - Hebrews 12:8
If we have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ we can expect a little rebuke and chastisement along the way. As I said, it is a complicated time in which we can expect to loose some spiritual goods along the way as we try to make our way into the world. The main thing is to see where we have went wrong and make the necessary repenting and course changing.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.- Revelation 3:19
So we need to have a light shined within us and repent of those little dark things that can easily creep in our spiritual man in our time.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. - Revelation 3:20-22
The last word Jesus gave to the church was "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." So we must keep a spiritual ear out on what the Holy Spirit is speaking to our own individual heart. If you choose not to get in education it is no big deal. With the Spirit of God you can make great things happen in your life... Just make sure that it it the spirit of God! After Revelation 3:22 the book changes its focus to the thrown room, and after listening to J Vernon McGee, an indication that the rapture took place at the end of Laodicea.
