Post by Messenger on Sept 11, 2005 20:35:50 GMT -5
We finish up our look at the 7 Churches of Revelation, with a look at probably the most enegmatic of all the churches-Laodicea.
Revelation 3:14-21 (New International Version)
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
Considering the tone regarding this church, it is important to note that Jesus is affirming, in no uncertain terms here, who He is. I am reminded of the verses in:
Colossians 1:16-17 (New International Version)
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Here we see that Christ IS indeed the ruler of all creation! Also note the word "true" here, & we are reminded of:
John 14:6 (New International Version)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is stating that he is the personification of truth! Also since it WAS John who originally wrote the Gospel of John, (based on the verse above), this seems to confirm that it WAS indeed John the Apostle who wrote Revelation, instead of another John. (IMHO!)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Now many Believers think that this refers to the possibility of losing our salvation. Remembering that Revelation is largly symbolic, I would like to offer a different view.
How many of us have ever been really thirsty, & tried to get refreshed by a lukewarm glass of water? Doesn't really do much for us, does it?
I'm reminded of the verses in:
John 4:7-15 (New International Version)
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
When we have a drink of cold water, that does a much better job of quenching our thist. We see in these verses from John, that Jesus offers "living water". This water will quench a persons thirst totally. This is the "living water of Salvation"-that which assures us that we are indeed saved. Being "spit-out", could possibly be referring to those "false" Christians that really DON'T know Christ-those that haven't been changed, (ie: BORN AGAIN). I believe that it is "these", that Christ will "Spit", out of His mouth-not those who have been changed! (IMHO!)
17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
What we see here, is man putting his trust in PHYSICAL possesstions, rather than in eternal things. We see the truth of this as well in:
Luke 12:33-34 (New International Version)
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We see that it is spiritual treasure, (that is, doing the works that God has required of us), that will truley be everslasting!
18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Here we see 3 individual items that appear numerous times throughout the Bible.
Gold refined in Fire-1 Chronicles 28:18, Job 28:1, to metion a few. When Gold is brought to it's purest state, it glistens with an unmatched brilliance. It is ONLY this purest Gold, refined by fire of God, that will make a Believer TRULEY rich, not by any refinement that man can produce.
White Clothes-White things are also mentioned all through Scripture-Deuteronomy 14:16, Judges 5:10, Esther 1:6, ect.
White is always associated with purity. (Isaiah 1:18) We also see all throughout Revelation, God's people wearing white robes-all because of their faith in God. Nakedness is used here, (IHMO), as being revealed as not compleatly Holy. Certainly this was true about Adam & Eve. When they saw that they were naked, they were seeing the damage done to them by the sin they committed! They knew that they were no longer holy!
Finally, we have the salve. This, (to me), is distinctly referring to the fact that God opens up our eyes, with the Word & His Holy Spirit. We see that this doesn't have to be a medicinal salve, but even something as simple as mud, as we see, in:
John 9:6-7 (New International Version)
Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
What good parent DOESN't disipline their children? I know that all of us who are Believers, have felt God's disipline more than once! And once we have been disiplined, what do we have to do-REPENT!
20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
I love these last verses! Christ is ALWAYS knocking on the door to our hearts, everytime that we sin against Him. This is true for both Believers, & non-believers alike. He ALWAYS wants into even the smallest crevases of our lives! And when we surrender those to Him, look what is promised:
1. He comes into us. (By the power of the Holy Spirit.)
2. He eats with us. (Symbolizing intamate fellowship.)
And look what is promised to all of us who overcome our problems, through His power-To sit on His throne WITH Him! Whether or not this is litteral, it shows us that we will be in HIS prescense-right there with the Creator of the Universe!
That, my beloved Brothers & Sisters, IS something to work towards & look forward to!
It is God's PROMISE!
Bill
Revelation 3:14-21 (New International Version)
To the Church in Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
Considering the tone regarding this church, it is important to note that Jesus is affirming, in no uncertain terms here, who He is. I am reminded of the verses in:
Colossians 1:16-17 (New International Version)
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Here we see that Christ IS indeed the ruler of all creation! Also note the word "true" here, & we are reminded of:
John 14:6 (New International Version)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is stating that he is the personification of truth! Also since it WAS John who originally wrote the Gospel of John, (based on the verse above), this seems to confirm that it WAS indeed John the Apostle who wrote Revelation, instead of another John. (IMHO!)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Now many Believers think that this refers to the possibility of losing our salvation. Remembering that Revelation is largly symbolic, I would like to offer a different view.
How many of us have ever been really thirsty, & tried to get refreshed by a lukewarm glass of water? Doesn't really do much for us, does it?
I'm reminded of the verses in:
John 4:7-15 (New International Version)
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
When we have a drink of cold water, that does a much better job of quenching our thist. We see in these verses from John, that Jesus offers "living water". This water will quench a persons thirst totally. This is the "living water of Salvation"-that which assures us that we are indeed saved. Being "spit-out", could possibly be referring to those "false" Christians that really DON'T know Christ-those that haven't been changed, (ie: BORN AGAIN). I believe that it is "these", that Christ will "Spit", out of His mouth-not those who have been changed! (IMHO!)
17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
What we see here, is man putting his trust in PHYSICAL possesstions, rather than in eternal things. We see the truth of this as well in:
Luke 12:33-34 (New International Version)
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We see that it is spiritual treasure, (that is, doing the works that God has required of us), that will truley be everslasting!
18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Here we see 3 individual items that appear numerous times throughout the Bible.
Gold refined in Fire-1 Chronicles 28:18, Job 28:1, to metion a few. When Gold is brought to it's purest state, it glistens with an unmatched brilliance. It is ONLY this purest Gold, refined by fire of God, that will make a Believer TRULEY rich, not by any refinement that man can produce.
White Clothes-White things are also mentioned all through Scripture-Deuteronomy 14:16, Judges 5:10, Esther 1:6, ect.
White is always associated with purity. (Isaiah 1:18) We also see all throughout Revelation, God's people wearing white robes-all because of their faith in God. Nakedness is used here, (IHMO), as being revealed as not compleatly Holy. Certainly this was true about Adam & Eve. When they saw that they were naked, they were seeing the damage done to them by the sin they committed! They knew that they were no longer holy!
Finally, we have the salve. This, (to me), is distinctly referring to the fact that God opens up our eyes, with the Word & His Holy Spirit. We see that this doesn't have to be a medicinal salve, but even something as simple as mud, as we see, in:
John 9:6-7 (New International Version)
Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
What good parent DOESN't disipline their children? I know that all of us who are Believers, have felt God's disipline more than once! And once we have been disiplined, what do we have to do-REPENT!
20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
I love these last verses! Christ is ALWAYS knocking on the door to our hearts, everytime that we sin against Him. This is true for both Believers, & non-believers alike. He ALWAYS wants into even the smallest crevases of our lives! And when we surrender those to Him, look what is promised:
1. He comes into us. (By the power of the Holy Spirit.)
2. He eats with us. (Symbolizing intamate fellowship.)
And look what is promised to all of us who overcome our problems, through His power-To sit on His throne WITH Him! Whether or not this is litteral, it shows us that we will be in HIS prescense-right there with the Creator of the Universe!
That, my beloved Brothers & Sisters, IS something to work towards & look forward to!
It is God's PROMISE!
Bill
