The Laodiceans think they are rich and
increased with goods and have need of
nothing.

There is more religion, more church mem-
bership than ever. But it is mostly outward
profession, having a form of godliness but
denying the power thereof.

There is a look of religion but worldliness
now dominates the professed church. There
is presently a move to unite all Christians.
If this happens what a Babylon it will be!

Until then God has not given up on the
Laodicean Church. He calls for the people
to repent, and to "anoint their eyes with
eyesalve that they might see."

The Laodicean Church is lukewarm,
partly hot, partly cold, divided between
Jesus and the world, not willing to give
up claim to the heavenly, and yet cling-
ing to the earthly,
having too much conscience to cast off
the name of Jesus, and too much love
for the world to take a firm and honest
stand on His side.

There is much profession, but very little
faith. A joining of the ballroom to the
communion table, and of the opera with
the worship of God!

In the Church of

Laodicea there are

still some that

Jesus loves.

But the body of

Christ is so

unfaithful with

Him outside,

knocking to be

allowed in.

Paul prophecied

that in the last

period of the

church, men

would be "lovers of their

own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,

blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy, without natural

affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,

incontinent, fierce, heady, high-minded,

lovers of pleasure more than lovers of

God, having the form of godliness, but

denying the power thereof."

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Paul gave a warning to both of the churches
in Laodicea and Colosse.
He warned them against men with enticing
words (Colossians 2:4),
against "philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments
of the world, and not after Christ" (v. 8),
against those who would make controversy
over "Sabbath days" (v. 16),
against being entangled with "the rudiments
of the World." (Colossians 2:20).

Despite Paul's warnings, Laodicea became
so spiritually lukewarm that they got a rebuke
from the Lord.

Prophetically, Laodicea is the last church
of the Church Age. Of the seven churches,
Laodicea and Ephesus are the only ones
mentioned in the New Testament.

Paul had a great interest in the Church of
Laodcea. He wrote a letter to Colosse, saying,
"For I would that ye knew that great conflict
I have for you, and for them at Laodicea. . ."
Colossians 2:1. Je asked that his letter be
read to the Laodiceans, and apparently he
had written one to that church, but it has
been lost (Colossians 4:15-16).

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Church of Laodicea
The Lukewarm Church
End of the Age
read Revelation 3:14-22

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Seven promises are given to the
Philadelphia Church:

* Promise of the open door
* Promise of vindication against the
synagogue of Satan
* Promise to kept from the hour of tempt-
ation
* Promise of the Second Coming
* Promise that overcomers shall become
pillars in the temple of God.
* Promise that they shall go out no more
* Promise that God will write on them the
name of God and the city of God.

These are the promises that God has given
to those who are faithful, to those who are
true overcomers.

At Jesus' Second Coming, the basic facts
are clear.

There will be a resurrection of the dead.
"The dead in Christ shall rise first"
1 Thessalonians 4:16









and a rapture of the saints "Then we which
are alive and
remain shall be
caught up
together with
them in the
clouds, to meet
the Lord in the
air:
and so
shall
we ever be with the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 4:17

These will be caught up to meet the Lord
in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). That
it may happen before the Great Tribulation
is indicated in Revelation 3:10

"But of that day

and that hour

knoweth no man,

no, not the angels

which are in heaven,
neither the Son,

but the Father."

Mark 13:32

Attempts to set the time for the rapture have
always failed, and there is not reason to think
any one in the future will have success doing
it.

"And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them: and
power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations. And all that dwell
upon the earth shall worship him, whose


names are not written
in the book of life





of the Lamb slain from the foundations of
the world." Revelation 13:7-8

The Beast

or

Antichrist

stretches

his powers

over the

nations of

the earth.

That there is an awful time of tribulation to
come on the people of the earth, is told in
many scriptures of the bible.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as
was not since the beginning of the world to
this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except
those days should be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake
those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here
is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there
shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:21-24

"Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from the hour
of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth." Revelation 3:10

This is the promise to the faithful Church
of Philadelphia; protection from some
serious persecution.

However, the promise, which includes "all
the world", obviously has its fulfillment for
the Church at the end of this age.

The terrible ruinations that came on the
Jews (one, the execution of six million Jews
in Europe) are a statement on the fulfill-
ment of Jesus' words.

However, despite all this, the time has come
when God will reach out again and pour out
His Spirit upon them. (Ezekiel 36:26-28;
33-36)

Because the Jews rejected Jesus, they
brought upon themselves and their children
an awful long-lasting guilt.

They were abandoned by the Spirit of God,
and their synagogues, no longer acknowled-
ged by God, became subject to Satan's power.