William McDonald in his Believers Bible Commentary said, "It is undeniable that the church of Laodicea represents a vivid picture of the age in which we live."
Has there been anytime in the history of the church where christianity has been so much compromised and worldly? I doubt it. Few days ago a heard a message on youtube about christless christianity and I think this expression is a fitting description of the condition of the majority of churches today.
Laodician church was in a lukewarm spiritual condition and that was a serious problem for the Lord. We dont know what happend to that local church after they received the message addressed to them from the book of revelation. Very possible they were heart broken by the word of God, when they heard how the Lord was displeased with them and like the corinthians they showed "godly sorrow producing repentance to salvation" (Corinthians 7:10).
There was a spiritual apathy of laodicean believers producing "lukewarm" works and they were lacking in fervency of the spirit. They were half-hearted believers with half-hearted efforts. The Lord wished they were either cold or hot. For him compromise was not acceptable at all. If they stayed in such condition, He was going to spew them out of his mouth, unless they repent.
This church was complacent and self-deceited. They thought to be spiritually rich (with the riches of his grace), when in fact they were poor.
They did not realizing that they were, "wrechted, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
- He counseled them to by gold. They were in need to purify themselves like gold by the fire, so that their faith could be genuine.
- He counseled them to buy white garments. They were spiritually naked and needed to put on the garments of sanctification.
- He counseled them to buy eye-salve. Their were spiritually blind and they needed to apply eye-salve to, "gain true spiritual vision through the enlightment of the Holy Spirit (William McDonald)."
There is a metaphore in revelation 3:20. Christ is knocking at the door, he was knocking at the heart of every believer in the laodician church who had not crowned Him as King of their hearts and Lord of their lives.
What a sad picture, Jesus is looking for an intimate fellowship with his own and he is left out of the house knocking and waiting to come in and dine with the repentant believer.
Revelation 3:20-20 shows us in a prophetic sense what Scofield calls, "the place and attitude of Christ at the end of the church." He believed that the 7 letters in revelation, "have a prophetic purpose disclosing the seven phases of the spiritual history of the Church."
The right interpretation of the message to laodicean church is the key of understanding the miserable and lukewarm condition of many christians today. There is a very important question to be asked? Were the laodicean christians converted, regerenated and sanctified (in their past)? Depending on the answer to this question is the right interpretation of that whole passage.
It does not make any sense if the Lord through John was writting to unconverted people who were just professing christians, who had not experienced new life and peace with God. If that were the case, He would not have called them, "church in Laodicea". Whenever NT mentions the word church it refers to the body of believers. He still loved them and for that reason rebuked and chastened them.
In Rev 3:21 there is a promise for overcomers to sit with Him on his throne. If we overcome trials and temptations like Jesus did, we shall share the glory of his throne.
- I have edited this thread as i had to correct and add few things.
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Redi
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