PURPOSE:
To reveal the Letters to the 7 churches especially to the seventh, Laodicea, and the remedy for lukewarmness.
INTRODUCTION:
Read Rev. 1:10 – 16 / Rev 1:20
Acts of the Apostles P. 585.
“The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the world.”
1. WHICH ARE THESE SEVEN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES?
Look at the above Chart for this lesson. We shall just make a summary of the first 6, but make details on the last – Laodicea.
(a) Ephesus:
AA 578.
“Of the church at Ephesus, which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the entire Christian church in the apostolic age, the faithful and true witness declared: I know thy works, and thy labor…”
Ephesus = the Early Christian Church from the apostolic to the time it entered the Dark Ages – the time it was captured by the Papacy.
THE REST OF THE CHURCHES – SUMMARY
(b) Smyrna:
GC 143, 120 = the Lutherans – by Luther
(c) Pergamos:
GC 250, 251 = Presbyterian (Pentecostal) by Knox.
(d) Thyatira:
GC 256 – 259 = Methodist – by Wesley
(e) Sardis:
GC 331, 332 = Baptist – by Campbell.
(f) Philadelphia:
GC 368, Counsels to Writes & Editors P. 26, 27 = Millerite. Note: You can also make a brief comparison of the 7 Churches with Ezek. 4 Doctrines of Reformation:
2. WHO ARE THE ANGELS OF THE 7 CHURCHES
The letters to the 7 churches are addressed to the 7 angels of the 7 churches. In Rev. 1:20 – they are said to be the 7 stars in Jesus’ right hand.
AA 586 “The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with God’s Ministers, who are to reveal the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under His control. He fills them with light….so with His Minister.”
Gospel Workers 13 “God’s Ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection…”
Note that the angels, stars or God’s Ministers represent Christ and are answerable to God for their influence and the condition of their churches.
5T. 235 “The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people…”
3. WHO IS LAODECEA? REV 3:14-18
3T. 252. “The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciations, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time.”
2SM 66. “The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light…”
The meaning of the terms used (in Rev 3:14-18)
“Wretched” = unhappy.” Miserable” = troubled. “Poor” – no additional -truth. “Blind”
= ignorant of present truth. “Naked” = no righteousness of Christ” (TM 65). “Lukewarm” 3T. 252 /5T. 76, 77 / 5T.235 = carnal security, self-deception. “Rich” 5T. 61, 708 /CWE 41 – feel no need of more truth, that they know everything. “Increased with goods,” CWE 33 – 34 / 6T. 166 uninspired literature and theories exalted above “the law and the testimonies.” Eye salve 7BC 965 / ISM 358 = Spiritual discernment, thirst and search for more truth. “Gold tried in fire” – DA
280 = faith and love – hearing & believing the truth – tried in fire = inspired. Therefore Jesus is here saying He still has more Truth for the SDA Church (the 4th Angel’s message). “White raiment” -7BC 965 / TM 65 = Righteousness of Christ = the seal of the 144 000! Verse 19 -” Repent” – ISM 121, 122, 128 = call for Revival and Reformation.
4. WHAT WILL THIS MESSAGE BRING TO THE CHURCH?
(a) EW 270 / 2SM 380 / Letter 55 (385) = A shaking in the Church , divide it into two unequal groups (2SM 114):
(i) One group – the minority which accept this message of Revival and reformation – the 4th Angel’s message – and be sealed and purified.
(ii) The other group – the majority -“will not bear this straight testimony, they will rise up against it and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people” EW 270. If they continue in this line, the warning is “I will spew thee out of my mouth” Rev 3:16 –
5. WHAT IS THE FIGURE OF BEING SPUED OUT?
6T. 408 “To those who are indifferent at this time Christ’s warning is: ‘Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.’ Rev 3:16. The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your expression of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you.”
This means they are rejected like was King Saul – though they are still leading the Church, working or evangelizing. It fearfully means, if they continue to reject the 4th Angel’s message, whatever they do for God in this world is not acceptable in heaven – desolate! Rejected and forever fired!
Let this be an eye opener now, for sooner or later this will be realized at the close of probation for the SDA Church: That the present Angel of Laodicea, Antitypical Saul – the General Conference, is no longer the voice of God, but rejected and fired, to give way to Antitypical David and the 144 000 – the new leadership of the purified SDA Church.
CONCLUSION
The message to Laodicea is actually the 4th Angel’s message to SDA, it is the remedy for Lukewarmness.
“All those who truly receive it will obey it and be purified” EW 270, become sealed among the 144 000.