REVELATION LESSON 11


    In this lesson we will look at the church at Laodicea.  This
church is certainly a look at the apostate churches of our day.  This
is a church afraid to show its emotions. One that is a very
sophisticated group really to the point of being very ineffective in
winning people to the Lord. We will begin in Revelation 3:14 "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;"

    The book of Colossians, as well as this message here, was to the
Laodiceans. We see in Colossians 4:13 and 16.  They were a very
prominent area. It seems that Paul as well as Jesus (in the book of
Revelation) warned them about their lack of zeal in their church.

    In V-14 above Jesus is called "...Amen...".  This is a very
unusual name for Him. I believe that it means when He has said
something, it is final. There is no room for discussion. His
statements are absolute.

    Jesus is spoken of as "...faithful...".  He is worthy of our faith
in Him.

    Jesus is Truth. His witness is true because He Himself experienced
it. It does not waver. It is fact.  He created everything in the earth
as we know it. We can easily see from John that Jesus created
everything. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God." John 1:2 "The same was in the
beginning with God." John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made."

    Jesus is the Creator of all things.

    Revelation 3:15 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou wert cold or hot."

    The Laodicean church was self-satisfied.  They went through the
formality of church. They felt if they attended church one or two
hours a week, they had done their duty toward God. Self-satisfied
worship is even worse than not being saved at all.  If we are not
saved, at least we realize it.  Someone could possibly lead us to God.

    In the church at Laodicea, and in our apostate churches today,
they felt no need for more than they had.  They were not even aware
that salvation was not already theirs.

    Jesus had told the scribes and Pharisees that the publicans and
harlots were more likely to inherit heaven, Matthew 21:31. Those who
believe they do not need a physician may die of some dread disease
before they even discover they have it.  Those who know they have a
bad disease, can begin to try to get rid of it.

    When someone has been introduced to Jesus and begins to take Him
for granted, it is very sad. This is what I see in this church at
Laodicea and in our formal churches of today.  Second Peter 2:21 is a
scripture we need to take heed of. II Peter 2:21 "For it had been
better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them."

    A little knowledge is not good. We must be on fire for God to
please a holy God. Jesus must be Lord of our life.  He will accept no
less.

    Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

    Who wants lukewarm coffee or tea?  No one. Jesus is saying, If you
do not stop being lackadaisical in your worship, I will spew you out.
This is a strong warning that Jesus is displeased. Jesus does not want
just hearers of the Word, but doers.  Don't be a pew warmer, get
involved.

    Revelation 3:17 "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:"

    Wealth can sometimes give us a false sense of security.  It is
very difficult for a very wealthy person to be humble and realize a
need for God. It is not impossible, just difficult. Some large
churches can meet a fantastically large budget because of the people
of great wealth who attend. I find that it is much harder to tithe on
an income of 500,000.00 per year than it is on 5,000.00 per year.  The
person giving is not realizing that all he has belongs to God. He just
looks at the large "gift" and says that is enough.

    God blesses a cheerful giver, not a reluctant giver.  God promises
 over and over to meet our needs.  This church and its people have no
 physical need. They think they can pay their way out of anything. It
 is for sure that we came into the world naked, and that is the way we
 will leave. We will leave all the big cars, big houses, and diamond
 rings behind.  God will not be impressed by how much earthly wealth
 you have acquired. He owns everything. Your little bit in comparison
 will not impress Him, even if you count it in the billions.

    We all face Jesus with nothing but our faith and works done for
Him to testify of us. There is no treasure that will count then, but
the treasure that we have stored up in heaven.

    This church and these wealthy people really should be pitied by
 us. Their self-satisfied attitude keeps them from growing in the
 Lord. A Christian never stands still; if we are not growing, then we
 are falling away. This church is blind to the reality of their
 condition. They are blind to the needs of others.  Unless you have
 felt need yourself, you cannot relate to it.

    Revelation 3:18 "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."

    "...gold tried in the fire..." means pure gold.  Jesus is speaking
of being rich in the sight of God.  We need to be rich in good works
laying up our treasures in heaven "...where moth nor rust doth not
corrupt.  ..", Matthew 6:19-20.  The only riches worth having are the
ones that we can collect on in heaven.

    White raiment garments are only available if we are washed in the
blood of the Lamb. Christians who are dressed in white robes standing
around the throne of God are wearing garments Jesus has purchased with
His own precious blood. We do not have enough money to buy them. They
are a free gift to all believers in Jesus. In the sight of God, we are
all naked until we are clothed in this white robe. It is a very
serious mistake to trust in uncertain riches. The rich young ruler who
came to Jesus to find what he must do to be saved, went away sorrowful
when he found he must give away his god, which was wealth, Matthew
19:16-24. The young man traded all of eternity with God for momentary
wealth here on earth. We are all naked before God, because He can see
right through us into our heart.  Wash your eyes out where you can see
clearly.

    Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent."

    Jesus says here that He rebukes this church because He loves them.
Proverbs 19:18 "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy
soul spare for his crying."

    Jesus tells this church to get excited about serving Jesus and
repent of their lukewarmness. When Jesus returns, we must be found
working. Work for the night is coming when man's work is done.

    Just as a fruit tree produces much more fruit after it is pruned,
Jesus here is pruning the church so it will produce much fruit.
Tribulation comes to make us strong.  Perhaps this church would be
stronger if it faced a little tribulation.

    Revelation 3:20 "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."

    Here we see a terrible scene.  Jesus is outside trying to get in.
 Jesus will knock for a while, but there will come a time, if we do
 not allow Him to come in, that He will stop knocking.  Jesus wants to
 come and live inside of each of us. We need to allow Jesus to live
 through us.  Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ:
 nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
 which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
 who loved me, and gave himself for me."

    Our flesh is nothing. It will soon pass.  The Spirit which dwells
in us is the important thing; it is eternal.

    In V-20 Jesus says "...will sup with him...".  He is speaking of
His fellowshipping with us. He loved us so much that He died for each
of us. He wants to be our friend.

    Revelation 3:21 "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."

    Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.
If we live pleasing to Him, we shall be seated on thrones with Jesus.
Luke 22:29-30 "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath
appointed unto me;" Luke 22:30 "That ye may eat and drink at my table
in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel." Jesus' plan for all of us, is that we will be seated with Him
in heavenly places. Jesus overcame the world when He submitted His
will to the Father's will. He overcame sin and death on the cross. We
will be an overcomer when we submit our will to His.  "...Not my will
but thine O Lord..."  should be the cry of every believer in Christ.

    Revelation 3:22 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches."

    This is the last time that Jesus Himself will speak to the
churches. Each church has its own individualism. Did you see yourself
or your church in any of them?

    Once again, at the end of this message, Jesus tells them to hear
and understand; because this message, as all the others, came from the
Spirit.

    In the next lesson, we will see heaven open and see the throne of
God in chapter 4 of Revelation.

    Read 1 Timothy 6 and Genesis 2:7.

    Memorize Proverbs 19:18 and Galatians 2:20.















                      REVELATION QUESTIONS 11


1.  What is the church at Laodicea symbolic of?
2.  They are so sophisticated they have become what?
3.  What unusual name does Jesus call Himself here?
4.  What book did Paul write that was addressed to this church at
    Laodicea?
5.  What did Jesus and Paul warn them of?
6.  What do you think Jesus' name "...Amen..." meant here?
7.  What scripture in John leaves no doubt that Jesus was Creator God?
8.  When Jesus says He knows their works in V-15, what else does He
    say of them?
9.  What kind of a church does this show us?
10. Who did Jesus tell the scribes and Pharisees would enter heaven
    before them?
11. Since they are lukewarm, what will Jesus do to them?
12. Jesus does not just want hearers, but what?
13. Why did these people feel they had no need of anything?
14. What five things did they not know about themselves?
15. Wealth can sometimes give us a false sense of what?
16. What are these people trusting in?
17. What will we take to heaven with us?
18. A self-satisfied attitude keeps us from ----------------.
19. What did Jesus counsel them to buy?
20. Why can they not buy this white raiment?
21. Why were they to anoint their eyes with eyesalve?
22. What are the only worthwhile riches?
23. What makes these robes white?
24. It is a very serious mistake to trust in ---------.
25. Why did the rich young ruler go away sorrowful?
26. Jesus says "...as many as I love, I  --------and ---------..."
27. What two things did Jesus tell them to do?
28. Should we sit idly and wait for Jesus?
29. A tree that is pruned does what?
30. What is Jesus doing in V-20?
31. What terrible thing does this indicate?
32. What do we see in Gal. 2:20?
33. What does it mean that Jesus will sup with us?
34. What is promised to the overcomers?
35. What must we do to Jesus, that He did to His Father?
36. Write Proverbs 19:18.
37. Write Galatians 2:20.
38. After reading this lesson, what are you encouraged to do with your
    life?