A STUDY OF THE LAODECEAN CHURCH ERA OF THE LAST DAYS
ONE DESCRIPTION OF THIS CHURCH IS FOUND IN REVELATION 3:14-22
1. THIS IS A LUKEWARM CHURCH THAT IS NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. ( IN OTHER WORDS THE CHRISTIANS OF TODAY LACK A WHOLE-HEARTED COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS WILL)
2. THIS LUKEWARMNESS AND LACK OF TOTAL COMMITMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO JESUS.
3. THIS LAST DAYS CHURCH AGE IS RICH AND WEALTHY MATERIALLY BUT IS WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED SPIRITUALLY. ( 2 COR. 6:10 )
WHAT REMEDY DOES JESUS GIVE TO THE CHRISTIANS OF THIS ERA?
1. LAODECEAN CHRISTIANS NEED COUNSEL AND SPIRITUAL WEALTH FROM JESUS. THEY NEED TO BE PURIFIED BY THE LORD OR REFINED. (MAL. 3:2-3)
2. LAODECEAN CHRISTIANS NEED THE PURITY AND COVERING OF WHITE GARMENTS TO COVER OVER THEIR SIN AND SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS.
3. THEIR EYES NEED ANOINTED WITH EYE SALVE SO THEY CAN SEE AND NO LONGER REMAIN IN SUCH A STATE OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
4. THEY MUST ACCEPT THE CHASTENING AND REBUKE OF THE LORD AND BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT.
5. THEY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF JESUS AND RECEIVE HIM INTO THEIR LIVES AND TRULY AND WHOLE-HEARTEDLY MAKE HIM LORD OVER EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES.
WHAT REWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF JESUS?
· THOSE WHO OVERCOME (THE FLESH, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL) WILL BE GRANTED TO SIT WITH JESUS ON HIS THRONE AS HE ALSO OVERCAME. WOW!!!
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SCRIPTURES THAT DESCRIBE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EVIDENT IN OUR CHURCHES OF TODAY?
1. OUR CHURCHES TODAY ARE VERY DIVIDED BY DOCTINAL DIFFERENCES AND THIS HAS CREATED MANY DIFFERENT SECTS OR DENOMINATIONS AND SECTARIANISM ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SINFUL AND IS A SIGN OF CARNALITY. (1 COR.1:10-14, 3:1-4) WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE ACCORDING TO PAUL NOT ALL CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES ARE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGEMENT.(1 COR. 1:10) BUT ARE DIVIDED BY DIFFERENT DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES THAT CONTEND WITH EACH OTHER (1 COR.1:11, 3:3) AND PRODUCE ENVY, STRIFES, AND DIVISIONS---A SIGN OF CARNALITY. ( 3:1-4)
2. SECTARIANISM ALSO REVEALS THAT OUR CHURCHES TODAY ARE TEACHING BY THEIR OWN WISDOM RATHER THAN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD (1 COR. 2:12) OR THE WISDOM OF MEN RATHER THAN THE MIND OF CHRIST. (2:16) THIS PREACHING THAT IS DONE WITH FLESHLY WISDOM RATHER THAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD (2 COR. 1:12) AND THE WILL AND DIRECTION OF GOD (1:17) BUT IS DONE WITH PERSUASIVE WORDS OF HUMAN WISDOM BUT LACK THE MORE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE DEMON-STATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF THE POWER OF GOD. (1 COR. 2:4,5,12,13; 5:20)
3. THE TRAINED, LICENSED AND COLLEGE EDUCATED MINISTERS OF TODAY WHO PREACH FOR MONEY AND ARE PAID EMPLOYEES OF WHICHEVER SECT WHO ARE WELL-DRESSED, WELL-FED, WELL-PAID, AND WHO ARE PROSPEROUS AND LIVE IN LUXURY AND WHO ARE REV-ERED, HONORED AND ADMIRED ARE CONTRASTINGLY DIFFERENT THAN THE TRUE MINIS-TERS OF THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL DESCRIBES AS BEING POORLY CLOTHED, PERSECUTED, HOMELESS, SUFFERING TURMOIL, HUNGER, FASTINGS, POVERTY, IMPRISONMENT, NEEDS, CHASTIZEMENT, ETC. AND WHO WERE NOT PAID BY THE CHURCH BUT LABORED FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WERE UNKNOWN, UNPOPULAR, DEFAMED AND DISHONORED AND ESTEEMED AS THE FILTH OF THE WORLD. (1 COR. 4:10-12; 2 COR. 5:15; 6:4-10; 11:6-15,22-29) WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE AND WHY DO TODAYS MINISTERS NOT PARTAKE OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST BUT RATHER CHOOSE TO BE POPULAR, EXALTED AND PRAISED RATHER THAN BEING HUMBLE AND OF LOW CLASS? (2 COR. 4:8-11,17; 11:7-9; 12:7-10) PRAISE THE LORD, PAUL GIVES US THE ANSWER, IN 2 COR. 11:13-15! THESE ARE FALSE MINISTERS AND DECEITFUL WORKERS PRETENDING TO BE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD BUT ARE IN REALITY THE MINISTERS OF SATAN, WHO APPEAR TO BE THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEN THE APOSTLE PAUL ALSO TELLS US THAT THESE FALSE TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE FALSE DOCTRINES AND CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD BY 1) MAKING SALE OF IT BY SELLING BOOKS, TAPES AND LITERATURE AND RECEIVING OFFERINGS (PEDDLING THE WORD OF GOD) 2) BY SHORT-CHANGING OR ALTERING ITS TRUE MESSAGE 3) AND WRONGLY TEACHING AND INTER-PRETING IT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN FLESHLY WISDOM OR LEARNING (2 COR. 2:17) DO SO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SERVE THE LORD BUT THEIR OWN BELLY AND ARE GREAT SPEAK-ERS CAPABLE OF DECEIVING THE SIMPLE WITH THEIR SMOOTH AND FLATTERING WORDS.
( ROMANS 16:17-18)
4. SINCE THE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD DO NOT PREACH FOR MONEY OR SEEK A MATERIALISTIC LIFE OF EASE AND LUXURY NOR SEEK TO BE POPULAR AND WELL-LIKED THEY ARE THEREFORE SERVANTS OF GOD WHO ARE ANOINTED BY GOD WITH THE SEAL OF HIS OWNERSHIP AND HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THEIR HEARTS. THIS ENABLES THEM TO PREACH AND TEACH WITH THE WISDOM OF GOD, LEAD A LIFE AND MINISTRY THAT IS BLAMELESS, FULLFILL THE WILL AND DESIRE OF GOD, TAKE PLEASURE IN SUFFERINGS FOR CHRISTS’ SAKE, AND DO ALL THIS WITH THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED IN HEALINGS, MIRACLES, SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIGHTY DEEDS. (2 COR. 1:22; 12:12; 1 COR. 2:4-5, 12-13; 5:20; MARK 16:15-18) HOWEVER YOU MUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE BIBLE WARNS THAT THERE WILL BE DECEPTIVE AND COUNTERFEIT MINISTERS IN THE LAST DAYS THAT WILL HAVE A COUNTERFEIT ANOINTING (1 JN 2:18-27) AND WILL PERFORM MIRACULOUS DEEDS THAT WILL NOT BE FROM GOD. (MATT. 7:21-23; 24:11,24) YOU MUST ALSO BEWARE OF ANY WHO PREACH ANOTHER JESUS, A DIFFERENT GOSPEL OR RECEIVE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT. ( 2 COR. 11:4)
5. THE PRIMARY AND MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. (2 COR. 9:12) WHY THEN IS THERE SO MUCH IN-EQUALITY AMOUNG MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCHES TODAY? THIS IS ANOTHER CHAR-ACTERISTIC OF A LAODECEAN CHURCH THAT IS MATERIALLY WEALTHY BUT DOES NOT PRACTICE PROVIDING FOR THOSE IN NEED SO THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE MADE EQUAL.
(2 COR. 8:14)
6. LAODECEAN CHURCHES ALSO GLORY IN APPEARANCES WITH GREAT EMPHASIS PLACED ON ELABORATE AND BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARIES FILLED WITH EXPENSIVE ORNAMENTS AND FURNISHINGS. ITS MINISTERS AND MANY OF ITS MEMBERS ALSO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR APPEARANCES BY BEING FINELY DRESSED AND OUTWARDLY ADORNED. THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNED THAT THERE WOULD BE THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER OUTWARD APPEARANCE TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT IS IN THE HEART. (2 COR. 5:12)
7. THE CHURCES OF TODAY AND THE MEMBERS THAT BELONG TO THEM HAVE OTHER VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS BESIDES FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS. THESE COUNTERFEIT AND POWERLESS CHURCHES HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED BY A MULTITUDE OF SINS AND EVIL PRACTICES. ITS NO WONDER THEN THAT ITS MEMBERS WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS BEING LUKEWARM, SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND NAKED, UNRIGHTEOUSS AND UNHOLY, NEVER ABLE TO ACHIEVE PURITY, LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, COVETOUS, DISOBEDIENT, UNFORGIVING, UNLOVING, SLANDERERS, HAUGHTY, PLEASURE-MINDED, SELF-WILLED, CARNAL, SECTARIAN, DECEPTIVE, APOSTATE, LUSTFUL, UNABLE TO ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, MATERIALISTIC, UNFRUITFUL, WORLDLY, ETC., YET HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER AND WHO WORSHIP AND HONOR GOD WITH THEIR MOUTH BUT NOT IN THEIR HEART. SUCH WORSHIP IS COUNTERFEIT AND DONE IN VAIN AND IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD. (2 TIM. 3:1-9,13; 4:3-5; 1 TIM 6:3-19; MATT. 15:8)
· THE BIBLE TEACHES FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY (2 TIM. 3:5) “BUT YOU, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS AND PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE…” (1TIM. 6:11) TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE TO BEWARE OF AND AVOID ALL FALSE CHURCHES AND TEACHERS.
ONE DESCRIPTION OF THIS CHURCH IS FOUND IN REVELATION 3:14-22
1. THIS IS A LUKEWARM CHURCH THAT IS NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. ( IN OTHER WORDS THE CHRISTIANS OF TODAY LACK A WHOLE-HEARTED COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS WILL)
2. THIS LUKEWARMNESS AND LACK OF TOTAL COMMITMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO JESUS.
3. THIS LAST DAYS CHURCH AGE IS RICH AND WEALTHY MATERIALLY BUT IS WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED SPIRITUALLY. ( 2 COR. 6:10 )
WHAT REMEDY DOES JESUS GIVE TO THE CHRISTIANS OF THIS ERA?
1. LAODECEAN CHRISTIANS NEED COUNSEL AND SPIRITUAL WEALTH FROM JESUS. THEY NEED TO BE PURIFIED BY THE LORD OR REFINED. (MAL. 3:2-3)
2. LAODECEAN CHRISTIANS NEED THE PURITY AND COVERING OF WHITE GARMENTS TO COVER OVER THEIR SIN AND SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS.
3. THEIR EYES NEED ANOINTED WITH EYE SALVE SO THEY CAN SEE AND NO LONGER REMAIN IN SUCH A STATE OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
4. THEY MUST ACCEPT THE CHASTENING AND REBUKE OF THE LORD AND BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT.
5. THEY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF JESUS AND RECEIVE HIM INTO THEIR LIVES AND TRULY AND WHOLE-HEARTEDLY MAKE HIM LORD OVER EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES.
WHAT REWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF JESUS?
· THOSE WHO OVERCOME (THE FLESH, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL) WILL BE GRANTED TO SIT WITH JESUS ON HIS THRONE AS HE ALSO OVERCAME. WOW!!!
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SCRIPTURES THAT DESCRIBE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EVIDENT IN OUR CHURCHES OF TODAY?
1. OUR CHURCHES TODAY ARE VERY DIVIDED BY DOCTINAL DIFFERENCES AND THIS HAS CREATED MANY DIFFERENT SECTS OR DENOMINATIONS AND SECTARIANISM ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SINFUL AND IS A SIGN OF CARNALITY. (1 COR.1:10-14, 3:1-4) WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE ACCORDING TO PAUL NOT ALL CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES ARE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGEMENT.(1 COR. 1:10) BUT ARE DIVIDED BY DIFFERENT DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES THAT CONTEND WITH EACH OTHER (1 COR.1:11, 3:3) AND PRODUCE ENVY, STRIFES, AND DIVISIONS---A SIGN OF CARNALITY. ( 3:1-4)
2. SECTARIANISM ALSO REVEALS THAT OUR CHURCHES TODAY ARE TEACHING BY THEIR OWN WISDOM RATHER THAN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD (1 COR. 2:12) OR THE WISDOM OF MEN RATHER THAN THE MIND OF CHRIST. (2:16) THIS PREACHING THAT IS DONE WITH FLESHLY WISDOM RATHER THAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD (2 COR. 1:12) AND THE WILL AND DIRECTION OF GOD (1:17) BUT IS DONE WITH PERSUASIVE WORDS OF HUMAN WISDOM BUT LACK THE MORE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE DEMON-STATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF THE POWER OF GOD. (1 COR. 2:4,5,12,13; 5:20)
3. THE TRAINED, LICENSED AND COLLEGE EDUCATED MINISTERS OF TODAY WHO PREACH FOR MONEY AND ARE PAID EMPLOYEES OF WHICHEVER SECT WHO ARE WELL-DRESSED, WELL-FED, WELL-PAID, AND WHO ARE PROSPEROUS AND LIVE IN LUXURY AND WHO ARE REV-ERED, HONORED AND ADMIRED ARE CONTRASTINGLY DIFFERENT THAN THE TRUE MINIS-TERS OF THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL DESCRIBES AS BEING POORLY CLOTHED, PERSECUTED, HOMELESS, SUFFERING TURMOIL, HUNGER, FASTINGS, POVERTY, IMPRISONMENT, NEEDS, CHASTIZEMENT, ETC. AND WHO WERE NOT PAID BY THE CHURCH BUT LABORED FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WERE UNKNOWN, UNPOPULAR, DEFAMED AND DISHONORED AND ESTEEMED AS THE FILTH OF THE WORLD. (1 COR. 4:10-12; 2 COR. 5:15; 6:4-10; 11:6-15,22-29) WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE AND WHY DO TODAYS MINISTERS NOT PARTAKE OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST BUT RATHER CHOOSE TO BE POPULAR, EXALTED AND PRAISED RATHER THAN BEING HUMBLE AND OF LOW CLASS? (2 COR. 4:8-11,17; 11:7-9; 12:7-10) PRAISE THE LORD, PAUL GIVES US THE ANSWER, IN 2 COR. 11:13-15! THESE ARE FALSE MINISTERS AND DECEITFUL WORKERS PRETENDING TO BE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD BUT ARE IN REALITY THE MINISTERS OF SATAN, WHO APPEAR TO BE THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEN THE APOSTLE PAUL ALSO TELLS US THAT THESE FALSE TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE FALSE DOCTRINES AND CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD BY 1) MAKING SALE OF IT BY SELLING BOOKS, TAPES AND LITERATURE AND RECEIVING OFFERINGS (PEDDLING THE WORD OF GOD) 2) BY SHORT-CHANGING OR ALTERING ITS TRUE MESSAGE 3) AND WRONGLY TEACHING AND INTER-PRETING IT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN FLESHLY WISDOM OR LEARNING (2 COR. 2:17) DO SO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SERVE THE LORD BUT THEIR OWN BELLY AND ARE GREAT SPEAK-ERS CAPABLE OF DECEIVING THE SIMPLE WITH THEIR SMOOTH AND FLATTERING WORDS.
( ROMANS 16:17-18)
4. SINCE THE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD DO NOT PREACH FOR MONEY OR SEEK A MATERIALISTIC LIFE OF EASE AND LUXURY NOR SEEK TO BE POPULAR AND WELL-LIKED THEY ARE THEREFORE SERVANTS OF GOD WHO ARE ANOINTED BY GOD WITH THE SEAL OF HIS OWNERSHIP AND HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THEIR HEARTS. THIS ENABLES THEM TO PREACH AND TEACH WITH THE WISDOM OF GOD, LEAD A LIFE AND MINISTRY THAT IS BLAMELESS, FULLFILL THE WILL AND DESIRE OF GOD, TAKE PLEASURE IN SUFFERINGS FOR CHRISTS’ SAKE, AND DO ALL THIS WITH THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED IN HEALINGS, MIRACLES, SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIGHTY DEEDS. (2 COR. 1:22; 12:12; 1 COR. 2:4-5, 12-13; 5:20; MARK 16:15-18) HOWEVER YOU MUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE BIBLE WARNS THAT THERE WILL BE DECEPTIVE AND COUNTERFEIT MINISTERS IN THE LAST DAYS THAT WILL HAVE A COUNTERFEIT ANOINTING (1 JN 2:18-27) AND WILL PERFORM MIRACULOUS DEEDS THAT WILL NOT BE FROM GOD. (MATT. 7:21-23; 24:11,24) YOU MUST ALSO BEWARE OF ANY WHO PREACH ANOTHER JESUS, A DIFFERENT GOSPEL OR RECEIVE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT. ( 2 COR. 11:4)
5. THE PRIMARY AND MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. (2 COR. 9:12) WHY THEN IS THERE SO MUCH IN-EQUALITY AMOUNG MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCHES TODAY? THIS IS ANOTHER CHAR-ACTERISTIC OF A LAODECEAN CHURCH THAT IS MATERIALLY WEALTHY BUT DOES NOT PRACTICE PROVIDING FOR THOSE IN NEED SO THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE MADE EQUAL.
(2 COR. 8:14)
6. LAODECEAN CHURCHES ALSO GLORY IN APPEARANCES WITH GREAT EMPHASIS PLACED ON ELABORATE AND BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARIES FILLED WITH EXPENSIVE ORNAMENTS AND FURNISHINGS. ITS MINISTERS AND MANY OF ITS MEMBERS ALSO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR APPEARANCES BY BEING FINELY DRESSED AND OUTWARDLY ADORNED. THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNED THAT THERE WOULD BE THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER OUTWARD APPEARANCE TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT IS IN THE HEART. (2 COR. 5:12)
7. THE CHURCES OF TODAY AND THE MEMBERS THAT BELONG TO THEM HAVE OTHER VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS BESIDES FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS. THESE COUNTERFEIT AND POWERLESS CHURCHES HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED BY A MULTITUDE OF SINS AND EVIL PRACTICES. ITS NO WONDER THEN THAT ITS MEMBERS WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS BEING LUKEWARM, SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND NAKED, UNRIGHTEOUSS AND UNHOLY, NEVER ABLE TO ACHIEVE PURITY, LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, COVETOUS, DISOBEDIENT, UNFORGIVING, UNLOVING, SLANDERERS, HAUGHTY, PLEASURE-MINDED, SELF-WILLED, CARNAL, SECTARIAN, DECEPTIVE, APOSTATE, LUSTFUL, UNABLE TO ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, MATERIALISTIC, UNFRUITFUL, WORLDLY, ETC., YET HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER AND WHO WORSHIP AND HONOR GOD WITH THEIR MOUTH BUT NOT IN THEIR HEART. SUCH WORSHIP IS COUNTERFEIT AND DONE IN VAIN AND IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD. (2 TIM. 3:1-9,13; 4:3-5; 1 TIM 6:3-19; MATT. 15:8)
· THE BIBLE TEACHES FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY (2 TIM. 3:5) “BUT YOU, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS AND PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE…” (1TIM. 6:11) TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE TO BEWARE OF AND AVOID ALL FALSE CHURCHES AND TEACHERS.
