The Seven Churches
Laodicea, part 1
In this study we will begin to cover the message to Laodicea, specifically verses 14-16 of Revelation 3. This is the last of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, and its message extends until the close of time.
1. What does Laodicea mean? See below.
Daniel and the Revelation 400: Laodicea signifies the judging of the people, or, according to Cruden, a just people. The message to this church brings to view the closing scenes of probation. It reveals a period of judgment. It is the last stage of the church. It consequently applies to believers under the third message, the last message of mercy before the coming of Christ (see chapter 14:9-14), while the great day of atonement is transpiring, and the investigative Judgment is going forward upon the house of God, – a period during which the just and holy law of God is taken by the waiting church as their rule of life.” {DAR1909 400.1}
2. Read Revelation 3:14. Who is the Faithful and True Witness? Revelation 1:5; 19:11; 22:6
3. What is the meaning of being a “faithful and true witness?” Proverbs 14:5, 25
4. Why is Jesus also referred to as the “beginning of the creation of God?” Revelation 21:5, 6; John 1:1-3
4. Let us read Revelation 3:15-16. Three spiritual conditions are brought to view here: those who are cold, hot, and lukewarm. What does it mean to be “cold?” Matthew 24:12; Job 24:7 (Note: nakedness points to sin and not having the character of God; see Genesis 3:7, 10-12 and Isaiah 61:10).
Note: If being “cold” spiritually means to be in sin and without God’s character, then being hot is the opposite. It means to be zealous and fervent in the cause of God, in repentance, and obeying God’s truth. Read the following scriptures to confirm this point. Colossians 4:12-13; Titus 2:14; Revelation 3:19
5. The last of the three spiritual conditions mentioned in Revelation 3:16 is lukewarmness; not being hot nor cold. Who are two examples of lukewarm followers of God in scripture, and what was their experience?
a) Numbers 22; 2 Peter 2:15
b) 2 Kings 5:20-27
6. Based on the following quotation, how would a lukewarm christian act today?
Spiritual Gifts Vol. 2, 229: Young and old, God is now testing you. You are deciding your own eternal destiny. Your pride, your love to follow the fashions of the world, your vain and empty conversation, your selfishness, are all put in the scale, and the weight of evil is fearfully against you. You are poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. While evil is increasing and taking deep root, it is choking the good seed which has been sown in the heart, and soon the word will be spoken to the angels of God concerning you, as was given concerning Eli’s house, that your sins shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. Many, I saw, were flattering themselves that they were good Christians, who have not a single ray of light from Jesus. They know not what it is to be renewed by the grace of God. They have no living experience for themselves in the things of God. And I saw that the Lord was whetting his sword in heaven to cut them down. O that every cold, lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among his professed people. Dear friends, do not deceive yourselves concerning your condition. You cannot deceive God. Says the True Witness, “I know thy works.” The third angel is leading up a people, step by step, higher and higher. At every step they will be tested. {2SG 229.1}
7. Based on the quotation below, is it worse to be completely cold spiritually or lukewarm? Revelation 3:16
SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 7, 963: Worse Than Infidels — Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel shows his colors. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do (Letter 44, 1903).” {7BC 963.6}
8. While the majority of God’s professed people are described as being in a lukewarm condition, He has given us the Laodicean message to awaken us from our slumber and indifference. What is one of the primary themes in the message to the Laodiceans? Romans 1:17; 3:22
SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 7, 964: The Laodicean message has been sounding. Take this message in all its phases and sound it forth to the people wherever Providence opens the way. Justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ are the themes to be presented to a perishing world (Letter 24, 1892).” 7BC 964.3
Note: How can we confirm that one of the primary themes in the Laodicean message is justification and righteousness by faith? Revelation 3:18 tells us that we need to buy God’s gold, white raiment and eye salve. Are these literal items that we must purchase and walk around with daily? No, they are spiritual. So, how are we to obtain them? By faith. It’s also important to note that the gold tried in the fire represents faith (see 1 Peter 1:7; James 2:5). Therefore, we see that we must obtain these spiritual graces by exercising faith in Jesus Christ, our heavenly supplier.
9. Like Job, what question must we ask? What does it mean to be justified? Job 9:2; 25:4
SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 6, 1071: Justification Means Complete Pardon—[Romans 3:24-26 quoted.] Here the truth is laid out in plain lines. This mercy and goodness is wholly undeserved. The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace.” {6BC 1071.8}
10. Can we justify, pardon, or cleanse ourselves? Job 9:20; Romans 3:20
SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 6, 1071: There is nothing in faith that makes it our saviour. Faith cannot remove our guilt. Christ is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe. The justification comes through the merits of Jesus Christ. He has paid the price for the sinner’s redemption. Yet it is only through faith in His blood that Jesus can justify the believer.” {6BC 1071.9}
11. How then are we justified and made righteous in Jesus’ sight? 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:10-12; Romans 3:23-28
SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 6, 1071: The sinner cannot depend upon his own good works as a means of justification. He must come to the point where he will renounce all his sin, and embrace one degree of light after another as it shines upon his pathway. He simply grasps by faith the free and ample provision made in the blood of Christ. He believes the promises of God, which through Christ are made unto him sanctification and righteousness and redemption. And if he follows Jesus, he will walk humbly in the light, rejoicing in the light and diffusing that light to others. Being justified by faith, he carries cheerfulness with him in his obedience in all his life. Peace with God is the result of what Christ is to him. The souls who are in subordination to God, who honor Him, and are doers of His Word, will receive divine enlightenment. In the precious Word of God there is purity and loftiness as well as beauty that, unless assisted by God, the highest powers of man cannot attain to (The Signs of the Times, May 19, 1898). {6BC 1071.10}
12. Once we confess our sins and are declared just and righteous by Jesus, are good works still necessary? Romans 2:13; 3:31; James 2:14, 17
13. Now that we understand justification, what is righteousness, and what shows us righteousness? 1 John 3:7; Psalm 119:172
14. As we saw in 1 John 1:9, we are declared just and righteous once we sincerely confess and forsake our sins. How then are we to maintain this experience? Romans 1:17; 6:18-19; Philippians 1:6; 2:13
Note: As we have clearly seen, the message of justification and righteousness by faith is a part of the remedy for lukewarm Laodiceans. Before his conversion, Peter was often lukewarm: vacillating between zeal and faithlessness. Let us analyze Peter’s experience when he walked on water and see its connection to God’s people in these last days.
15. Read Matthew 14:25-28. The disciples were separated from Jesus. What separates us from God? Isaiah 59:1- 2; 53:6
16. What did Jesus tell Peter, and what is He still telling sinners today? Matthew 14:29; 11:28-30; Isaiah 1:18
17. Heeding the command of Jesus, Peter now began to walk on water. Naturally, is it possible for men to walk on water? Matthew 19:26
18. How then was it made possible for Peter to walk on water? Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 2:13
Note: This account beautifully shows us the practicality of righteousness by faith. Righteousness is doing what is right; it is obeying God’s commandments. This is something that is naturally IMPOSSIBLE for mankind to perform in our own strength, but just as Peter did the impossible at the command of Jesus when He walked on water, so man, by exercising faith in Jesus, can overcome our sins and be reconciled to Him.
19. Why did Peter begin to sink, and what was Jesus’ response to him? Matthew 14:30, 31
Note: As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus (John 1:29) by reading His word, praying, and having faith, we will be saved and brought closer to Him. Yet, like Peter, sometimes we may slip and fall as we try to live faithful to God because we take our eyes off of Him, we trust in our own ability for salvation, or because of fear. If we fall, we don’t have to be discouraged because we are told in 1 John 2:1 that if we sin we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the RIGHTEOUS. We just need to allow Him to cleanse us again and put us on the right path. Sadly however, there will be many in these last days who, though they are sinking in sin, will not cry out to Jesus to save them and make them just and righteous. Which group do you want to be in?