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.

In the city of

Philadelphia,

the Jews acted like

they were the sole

representatives

of God.

They boasted that

they were

the chosen race,

overlooking the fact

that in the eyes of God a Jew is a Jew

only if he is one inside.

Romans 2:28-29

"I set before thee an open door, and no man
can shut it".

The open door refers to the rapture of the
church. The promise of the rapture is given
to the Philadelphia Church.

In chapter 4 of revelation, "a door opened
in heaven". At the sound of the trumpet a
voice said, "come up
hither",
and
John was caught up
into heaven
representing the
rapture of the Church.

There is another church, the lukewarm
Laodicean Church. As the Philadelphia
Church's love was fiery and true, so the
Laodicean Church was lukewarm with
Jesus standing outside the door.






















The Lord gave a warning to the Philadelphians
not to allow anyone to tempt them away
from their faithfulness. "(Let) no man take
thy crown."

The Philadelphia Church had kept its first

love and it kept the faith. It rejected the

doctrines of Balaam.

Jezebel, with her idolatry

had no part in this

church.

Because it kept the faith, the Lord promised

to keep the Church from the terrible hour of

temptation, which would come upon all the

world to try them.

The all-important thing in a Christian's life
is to love Jesus and keep His commandments.
(John 14:15). They are the real overcomers.

Only those who are Spirit-filled can hope to
keep His commandments. So we know that
the Philadelphia Church was a Spirit-filled
Church.

Jesus commends the Philadelphia Church,
saying, "For thou hast a little strength, and
hast kept my word, and hast not denied my
name. . . .thou hast kept the word of my
patience. . . ." Revelation 3:8,10

Nothing is said about their intelligence, or
their abilities, or having special advantages.
They were faithful, they kept the word of God,
they were patient in well-doing.