The Laodicean Period – Part 1
Good day to each of you reading this column on the Laodicean period or our present-day church period.
When reading in Revelations, we read about the various periods of time the church has faced as we face the final period, the Laodicean period.
Before we begin, let’s laugh at the following:
A thief stuck a pistol in the man’s ribs and said: “Give me your money.”
The man replied: “You can’t do this. I’m a congressman.”
The thief replied: “In that case, give me my money.”
This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he’d left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.
He immediately phoned the police, who asked, “Is someone in your house?” and George said, “No,” and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.
George said, “Okay,” hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.
“Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don’t have to worry about them now because I’ve just shot them all.”
Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George, “I thought you said that you’d shot them.”
George said, “I thought you said there was nobody available.”
A police officer attempts to stop a car for speeding and the guy gradually increases his speed until he’s topping 100 mph. The man eventually realizes he can’t escape and finally pulls over.
The cop approaches the car and says, “It’s been a long day and my shift is almost over, so if you can give me a good excuse for your behavior, I’ll let you go.”
The guy thinks for a few seconds and then says, “My wife ran away with a cop about a week ago. I thought you might be that officer trying to give her back.”
Why won’t sharks attack lawyers? Professional courtesy.
What do you call a lawyer who doesn’t know the law? A judge.
Teacher: “Which book has helped you the most in your life?”
Student: “My father’s checkbook.”
I do hope you enjoyed this bit of humor and that it brightens your day for we need some sunshine.
Turn to Revelation 3:14-21 (NIV) 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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You 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. 18 I 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here 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 that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
When speaking about the Bible, one always questions the chapters in Revelation. John begins with the writings to the seven churches in the province of Asia for the gospel was spreading throughout Asia.
John, visited by angels or messengers, was given text of each church for the text was to be placed as the seven particular periods in Church history.
Jesus begins in verse 15 speaking about the state of the church in today’s society. Notice the erosion of the state of the church as you read the verses.
Jesus provides full commentary in verses 15 & 16 on the church and what is going to happen in the end of the age.
We begin with the following as I am using Howard Rand’s Study in Revelation as text for each period:
The Church at Ephesus—30—64 A.D.—meaning desirable
The Church at Smyrna—64 – 313 A.D.—signifying bitterness & trial
The Church at Pergamos—313 – 529 A.D.—elevation or height
The Church at Thyatira—529 – 1529 A.D.—a sweet savor or acceptable offering
The Church in Sardis—1529—1789 A.D.—escaped few or remnant
The Church in Philadelphia—1789—1914 A.D.—brotherly love
The Church of the Laodiceans—1914 A.D.—To the End of the Age—justice or judgment.
Please note that there are seven (7) periods that the church has and is going thru with the completion of the ending of the age.
The number SEVEN is so interesting for in Biblical Mathematics/ Keys to Spiritual Numerics by Ed Vallowe that the number seven indicates completeness, spiritual and perfection.
Mr. Vallowe offers the following in Revelation: SEVEN times the Book of Life is mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Revelation is a Book of SEVENS. We have seen SEVEN churches, SEVEN seals, SEVEN trumpets, SEVEN Personages, SEVEN vails, SEVEN dooms, SEVEN new things. It is the completeness of all things.
As Mr. Vallowe says, it would be well for the reader to always remember that SEVEN means COMPLETENESS or SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
Unfortunately, we, as Christians are facing the period where the church is neither hot nor cold as said in verse 16 and is afraid on voicing biblical sinful issues in today’s society.
In order to not rock the boat or to have a form of godliness, yet denying or not taking a stance, the church has skirted these sinful issues for fashion, ritual and ceremony have taken its place.
Young, middle aged and even many older people have quit going to church because they are tired of feel-good messages with no substance.
Billy Graham stimulated your soul, does your preacher do the same? Preachers spoke with fire in their belly and taught the word of God where people longed to go back again for more.
The result is shown in verse 16 where our Lord says he will spit her out of his mouth.
Ask yourself, are you attending a church that is lukewarm and afraid to abide the words of God and Jesus our savior? Is your church a Bible Believing Church or a bending of the truth to meet man’s criteria.
Jesus says he hates sin for all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. Are we not also to hate sin and do the will of our father? Are we not to be Christlike in our daily life?
Does your church entertain you? Do you go to church to socialize? Does your pastor snooze you to sleep? When you leave, do you true spirituality or have you taken part of the ceremony?
So many churches today entertain to draw their congregation by preaching “a watered-down gospel” that is neither “hot nor cold” and accepts sin as a way of life as long as it does not hurt someone else.
Churches wonder why their numbers of the congregation are falling away and why people do not attend? It is true we have so many outside interferences that take our time and that man has taken the Sabbath from a day of rest to a day of chores or sports activities or shopping.
Church pastors have been scrutinized to end their sermons right on the dot and not go over the time limit so the congregation can leave in plenty of time to go out to eat, make that sports activity, or do some work at the office to catch up from Friday.
Church use to be a place where, when you entered the church doors, you began to prepare your heart and mind to meet the Lord. Most people were very reverent, praying and keeping to themselves.
I can’t answer about church today for I have not been in church regularly, but I know church is a place of worship, the place to talk to God, to sing his praises and have the pastor fill me with a spirit filled sermon.
Yes, we are to greet our fellow neighbors, new and old members, and people visiting for we are to be warm to each person that worships. It is the duty of the pastor to tend to his flock and this requires what the Bible says about being a preacher for the preacher carries a large responsibility to his family, flock and fellow church members.
The age that we presently live in is both hot and cold and all so many Christians sit on the fence when it comes to what is right and what is wrong. All so many wavers when they face the circumstances.
Be very aware as we are closing in on the end of the age for this is the seventh period or the completion of the age.
It is so very important to read verses 19-22 for Jesus offers every person the following: 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here 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 that person, and they with me.
The above words are the call to repent for Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Whether you are in church, in your home, at work, or wherever life leads you, Jesus is knocking.
Will you answer the call? The completion of the age is near for Jesus is coming again and when he comes this time, we will all hear his voice and open the door.
At that time, we will enter and have fellowship. Turn to Luke 12:35-37 for Jesus warns about the preparation of his coming.
As I close, I challenge each of you reading this column to really listen to your pastor and if He is not teaching the Word and the Truth from the Bible, then find another church.
If you are going to a church that supports the interests of the world and are in violation of what the Bibles explicitly says is wrong, then find another church.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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