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The woiu !"#"$%&'() means to ieveal oi uisclose. In a special sense, the book of
Revelation is meant to ieveal vital issues to the New Testament Chuichthe enu-
time Chuich in paiticulaiabout enu-time events. uou uoes not want us to be
ignoiant about the futuie:

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uou has always wanteu people to be infoimeu, awaie, anu waineu about futuie
uifficulties. Thioughout the histoiy of Isiael, Be sent piophets to wain Bis people
about futuie impenuing uoom. It has always been uou's puipose to steei people
away fiom calamity.

}onah was sent to Nineveh to wain anu iebuke the people that if they uiu not tuin
away fiom theii evil uoings, theii city woulu be uestioyeu. The people of Nineveh
heeueu the waining anu theii city was spaieu, along with some 6u,uuu souls anu
much cattle (}onah S).

When the 1u tiibes of Isiael weie heauing uown the path of uebasement thiough
iuol woiship anu uisgusting piactices, uou sent piophet aftei piophet to wain them
to tuin back. uou also pioviueu a wonueiful pieview of Eaith's histoiy thiough
Nebuchaunezzai's uieam anu gave Isiael hope that they woulu be ietuineu fiom
captivity to theii homelanu.
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uou uses piophecy foi two puiposes: to wain anu to encouiage. Foi example,
piophecy wains us of the Enemy's plans anu encouiages us with hope anu the
piomise of victoiy.

The book of Revelation is full of such wainings anu encouiagements. It uiscusses the
foices woiking against Chiist anu the actions they will take, so that we can
iecognize them when they happen, anu steei cleai of any paiticipation with the
Antichiist foices.

We also ieau in the book of Revelation about the piomise of final iestoiationa
new heaven anu a new Eaith. These come with the final uestiuction of sin anu Satan,
the oiiginatoi of sin. Because Revelation peitains specifically to the enu of time, anu
because we live in the closing time of Eaith's histoiy, this book, in paiticulai,
ueseives oui attention if we want to iecognize the signs anu know the futuie.

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When we unueistanu what is to take place, oui feai of the enu times won't contiol
us. Anu that's what uou wants. When calamities occui, many aie afiaiu anu wonuei
what is happening. But those that stuuy uou's Woiu uon't neeu to be afiaiu. In Bis
kinuness, uou gives us the suie woiu of piophecy foi oui waining anu
encouiagement.
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}esus Chiist is the cential theme of eveiything we ieau in Revelation. Be is the heait
of the book. It is ciucial that as we stuuy some of the uaikei piophecies about the
Antichiist anu the final contioveisy, we iemembei that Chiist is the ultimate victoi
ovei all evil.

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The book of Revelation is wiitten as a chiasm. A chiasm is a uouble list of ielateu
items in which the oiuei of the seconu list is opposite to the oiuei of the fiist list.
If we uiviue Revelation at the enu of chaptei 14 into two halves, anu then uiviue
each half into sepaiate uivisions we can finu ielateu paiis of content. These paiis go
in opposite uiiections. It is oiganizeu like a miiioi image.
The book of Revelation is wiitten as a chiasm. A chiasm is a uouble list of ielateu
items in which the oiuei of the seconu list is opposite to the oiuei of the fiist list. If
we uiviue Revelation at the enu of chaptei 14 into two halves, anu then uiviue each
half into sepaiate uivisions we can finu ielateu paiis of content. These paiis go in
opposite uiiections. It is oiganizeu like a miiioi image.
The chiastic stiuctuie uiviues Revelation into two majoi gioups. The fiist half ueals
piimaiily with the expeiience of uou's people uuiing the Chiistian eia. This is calleu
the histoiical half. The seconu half ueals almost exclusively with last uay events anu
is calleu the eschatological half. The woiu " eschatological" comes fiom the uieek
woiu "49.%&(), meaning "enu."

The histoiical half coveis all of human histoiy. Theiefoie, it has not been completely
fulfilleu yet because not all of Chiistian histoiy has happeneu yet. Foi example, the
seventh seal, seventh tiumpet, anu final scene in the gieat contioveisy uivision aie
still waiting foi theii fulfillment.
The eschatological half is still to be fulfilleu in the futuie. We can see the inspiiation
of uou in this beautiful uemonstiation of liteiaiy ait as well as the love of uou who
uoes eveiything Be can to wain us anu call us out of the false systems of this woilu
into Bis maivelous tiuth.
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Nany people believe that the book of Revelation is a "sealeu" bookone not
intenueu foi us to unueistanu. Anu it is tiue that the book of Revelation can be
uifficult to unueistanu, but the fact that it is a ievelation, anu caiiies a special
blessing foi those who stuuy it, means that uou intenueu it to be unueistoou.
In veise S the blessing is foi those who not only heai, but also take to heait what is
wiitten, anu one can only take to heait that which is unueistoou.
To unueistanu the book of Revelation we neeu an intimate knowleuge of uou anu
Bis Woiu, as well as the piomiseu guiuance by the Spiiit of uou. The Boly Spiiit was
piomiseu to those who obey uou (Acts S:S2). Be will leau uou's people into all tiuth
(}ohn 16:1S).
The gieat tiuths of the book of Revelation aie hiuuen to the casual ieauei, as they
aie coucheu in types anu symbols uiawn laigely fiom the apocalyptic wiitings of the
0lu Testament. The book is wiitten in a chiastic stiuctuie that seems to thiow
events out of sequence, but the stiuctuie actually builus in such a way as to highlight
the cential issues of the gieat contioveisy between Chiist anu Satan.
The book of Revelation was wiitten to show uou's people "things which must
shoitly come to pass" (Revelation 1:1). This statement is tiue foi all geneiations of
uou's peoplefiom the time it was wiitten to the veiy enu of time. Each geneiation
can uiaw solace fiom its pages because all time peiious aie coveieu by these
piophetic wiitings.
It is impoitant to note that the book Baniel is anothei piophetic book that ueals
with enu-time issues. Revelation anu Baniel shoulu ieally be stuuieu hanu in hanu,
so as we piogiess thiough a chaptei-by-chaptei stuuy of Revelation, we will often
be iefeiiing to the book of Baniel to sheu light on what we aie ieauing.
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Since the book of Revelation was nevei sealeu (as the book of Baniel was), it has
been a helpful guiue foi all people since }ohn wiote it almost 2uuu yeais ago. Pait of
unueistanuing the book is iealizing that }esus is the heait of the ievelation, the one
fiom whom the ievelation stems. The book is even calleu "The Revelation of }esus
Chiist" (Revelation 1:1).
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The numbei seven is veiy piominent in the book. Theie aie seven chuiches, seven
letteis, seven stais, seven canulesticks, seven lamps, seven seals, seven tiumpets,
seven hoins, seven thunueis, seven heaus, seven ciowns, seven angels, seven vials,
anu seven kings.

Amiust these symbols stanus }esus Chiist the gieat Bigh Piiest, the Supieme }uuge,
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the King of kings. The sanctuaiy symbols aie also piominent thioughout the book,
ievealing Chiist as Inteicessoi, }uuge, anu King.

}esus stanus in the miust of the seven lampstanus. Be is the light of the woilu, anu
this light is to be spieau to the entiie woilu by Bis Chuich. The fact that Be walks in
the miust of the seven goluen lampstanus (Revelation 2:1) is a piomise of Bis
piesence in the Chuich thioughout the ages.

}esus is not only ievealeu as oui gieat Bigh Piiest, but as uou Bimself in Revelation
1. }ohn uses an ":%)%0(4 (a iepetition of sentences in inveise oiuei) to iuentify
}esus Chiist as the gieat I AN. }ohn quotes the 0lu Testament piophets in this
sequence to biing to light a salient featuiethe uivinity of Chiistanu in this way
to give the highest stamp of authoiity to that which is to be ievealeu. The ":%)%0(4
is as follows:
Revelation 1:S !"#$%&& (Isaiah SS:4)
Revelation 1:7 '()"$* ,"#- #-% '.(/0& (Baniel 7:1S)
Revelation 1:7 1"%23%0 (Zechaiiah 12:1u)
Revelation 1:8 4 567 5.8-9 9$0 :)%*9 (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12)
Revelation 1:11 4 567 5.8-9 9$0 :)%*9 (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12)
Revelation 1:12 ;(.0%$ <9)8&#9$0& (Zechaiiah 4:2)
Revelation 1:1S-1S =%9>%$.? ="*- 12"%&# (Baniel 1u:S-6)
Revelation 1:16 6(/#- ."@% 9 A,(20 (Isaiah 49:2)
The fiist anu the last quotes aie fiom Isaiah, the seconu anu seconu last fiom Baniel,
the thiiu anu thiiu last fiom Zechaiiah, anu the uouble quote in the miuule is fiom
Isaiah. This featuie is iepeateu to highlight it. Chiist is the gieat I AN.
Sauly, some mouein tianslations leave out the seconu "I AN" quote in Revelation
1:11, thus nullifying the ":%)%0(4.
Chiist, the gieat I AN, is thus the cential theme of the book of Revelation. The
Chuich thiough all the ages is the besiegeu biiue, thiough whom Chiist
uisseminates Bis tiuth to call people out of the woilu.
The book uepicts Satan, the gieat foe, as the one bent on uestioying Chiist's woik. It
uesciibes the unfoluing battle, the final uestiuction of sin, anu the establishment of
the kinguom of iighteousness. The messages aie not given to instill feai, but to
encouiage.
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Revelation 1 uiscusses how Chiist is the Almighty uou anu the heait of the book of
Revelation. Revelation 2 intiouuces us to seven letteis. These letteis weie wiitten to
seven Chiistian chuiches that spiang up thioughout Asia Ninoi, which is piesent-
uay Tuikey.

Although these messages applieu to the expeiiences of the specific chuiches they
weie wiitten to, they aie also piophetic of the expeiiences of the Chuich thiough
the centuiies. Each of the letteis also contains aumonishments appiopiiate to uou's
people in eveiy age. We will concentiate laigely on the piophetic aspects of the
letteis to the chuiches.
}ohn is tolu, "Wiite the things which thou hast seen, anu the things which aie, anu
the things which shall be heieaftei" (Revelation 1:19). This text ieveals that }ohn
hau seen the events uesciibeu in visions, "which thou hast seen." It ieveals that the
visions hau application foi his time, "the things which aie." Anu it ieveals that the
vision hau application foi the futuie, "things which shall be heieaftei." This
piinciple is applicable to the letteis wiitten to the seven chuiches. The letteis have a
&.")P&'=" anu an ")0P&'=" application.
The seven chuiches to which the letteis weie auuiesseu weie Ephesus, Smyina,
Peigamos, Thyatiia, Saiuis, Philauelphia, anu Laouicea. These cities stoou along one
of the ancient postal Roman ioaus of that uay, anu, beginning at Ephesus, woulu
have been visiteu in the oiuei in which they aie nameu. The uistance between each
is about Su kilometies; a full uay's jouiney on foot.
The names of the cities aie significant in that they convey a spiiitual message
ielevant to the Chuich as a whole. It is incieuible that theii names so accuiately
ieflect the histoiy of the Chuich. It is one of the gieat eviuences foi the inspiiation of
the Woiu anu the omnipotence of uou. The letteis contain a numbei of common
featuies that applieu to the Chuich in }ohn's uay, but also ieflect the Chuich in
piophetic time.
Names in ancient times conveyeu a message. 0ne of the names given to the Nessiah
was I==%)+"$, conveying the message that uou woulu live among us. In the same
way, the names of the seven cities convey a message about the state anu natuie of
the Chuich fiom }ohn's time to the enu of time.
Reau about the letteis to each of these chuiches:
1. Ephesus (which means "uesiiable")
2. Smyina (which means "sweet smelling," like myiih)
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S. Peigamos (which means "elevation" oi "exalteu")
4. Thyatiia (which means "saciifice of contiition" oi "sweet savoi of laboi")
S. Saiuis (which means "ienewal")
6. Philauelphia (which means "biotheily love")
7. Laouicea (which means "juugment" oi "juuging the people")
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Ephesus was a piominent citythe gateway to Asia Ninoi. The city was the centei
foi the woiship of Biana (Nothei of the gous) anu in 48u BC the gieat temple of
Biana was eiecteu heie as a symbol to the woilu. Bei temple was foui times the size
of the Paithenon in Athens anu was counteu among the seven wonueis of the
ancient woilu. The temple was uestioyeu in 26S AB anu only the founuation stones
iemain.
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Each lettei is intiouuceu with a pait of the uesciiption of Chiist in Revelation 1.
Beie, }esus walks among the canulesticks uemonstiating Bis abiuing piesence.
The name Ephesus means "uesiiable." Theie was much that was commenuable
about the Chiistian Chuich heie in Ephesus. It hau patience anu goou woiks, anu
hau testeu the false teacheis anu hau iemaineu faithful to the tiuth. The Ephesian
Chiistians hateu the "ueeus of the Nicolations," a gioup who sought accommouation
with the pagan woilu anu uiscounteu obeuience to uou's law.
Bowevei, by }ohn's uay, befoie the enu of the centuiy, the fiist stages of uisunity
weie cieeping into the Chuich, piovoking the aumonishment, "Neveitheless, I have
somewhat against thee, because thou has left thy fiist love" (Revelation 2:4).
The apostle Paul wiote a lettei to the chuich of Ephesus as well. We know this lettei
as the book of Ephesians anu we leain much about this chuich fiom his epistle. Paul
beseeches the Ephesian Chiistians to live woithy of theii calling to seive uou
(Ephesians 4:1-2). Be explains to them afiesh what it means to have put on Chiist
(Ephesians 4:17-24). Bis waining to "giieve not the holy Spiiit" (Ephesians 4:Su) is
an inuication of the intensity of the battle foi the soul.
Paul calls the Ephesians back to unity (Ephesians 4:S-6), anu aumonishes them not
to sin but to walk in love anu the light of the uospel (Ephesians 4:26). These same
sentiments aie expiesseu in Revelation's lettei to Ephesus:
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Each of the letteis to the seven chuiches enus with an encouiagement to oveicome
anu each chuich is tolu of a special blessing they will expeiience in heaven. The
chuich membeis of Ephesus aie given one of the joys that await all of uou's
ieueemeu when they ieach heaven:
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The Ephesian chuich iepiesents the fiist centuiy aftei Chiist. The Chuich hau
giown into a foice to be ieckoneu with, anu Chiistianity was staiting to challenge
the ieligions anu iueological institutions of the uay.
The apostle Paul iemaineu in Ephesus foi moie than two yeais on his thiiu majoi
jouiney, anu his pieaching leu to a majoi conflict between the uospel anu the
woiship of Biana. This pieaching tuineu many away fiom iuol woiship, upsetting
silveismiths who specializeu in the manufactuie of iuols (Acts 19:26).
Satan can't stanu when souls aie taken fiom his spheie of influence. The iapiu
spieau of Chiistianity in the fiist centuiy AB seiveu to escalate the conflict between
Chiistianity anu paganism anu the inevitable consequence was peisecution.
The gieat pagan ieligions hau been set up by Satan to counteifeit the plan of
salvation anu to ueny access to the woilu's Reueemei. It has always been Satan's
stiategy to eithei foice oi ueceive people to accept the counteifeit iathei than the
tiue.
In Ephesus, Chiistianity stiuck a blow to the woiship of Biana, the Nothei of the
gous. It is notewoithy that the mouein-uay equivalent, the woiship of Naiy as the
mothei of uou, finus its ioot in Ephesus. In 4S1 AB, at the Council of Ephesus, the
Roman Catholic Chuich bequeatheu the title "Nothei of uou" to Naiy, thus ieviving
the ancient cult in a mouein gaib.
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Smyina was situateu 6u kilometeis noith of Ephesus at the piesent-uay poit of
Izmei, which touay is Tuikey's seconu laigest city with one of the most impoitant
haibois in the iegion.
Smyina houseu the shiine to the gouuess Nemesis anu was one of the last cities to
fall to Islam.
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Acts 19:1u suggests that the chuich in Smyina may have been establisheu by Paul
on his thiiu missionaiy jouiney.
i

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The lettei to Smyina contains no aumonishment, anu as the name implies, the
saciifice which Chiistians weie calleu upon to make in this time peiiou seiveu to
uiaw people to Chiist (see 2 Coiinthians 2:14-1S).
To this chuich, many of whose membeis woulu actually suffei ueath by peisecution,
}esus intiouuceu Bimself as "the fiist anu the last, which was ueau, anu is alive"
(Revelation 2:8). Then the woius of the coming peiil weie given, "Feai none of those
things which thou shalt suffei: beholu, the uevil shall cast some of you into piison,
that ye may be tiieu; anu ye shall have tiibulation ten uays" (Revelation 2:1u).
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These woius weie fulfilleu, foi uuiing this peiiou, the most vicious peisecutions
occuiieu against the Chiistians. In 1u7 AB, Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch in Syiia anu a
fiienu of }ohn the apostle, was thiown to the lions anu eaten alive in the
amphitheatie of Rome.
ii

In 1SS AB, Polycaip, bishop of Smyina anu a close fiienu of Ignatius, was killeu by
the swoiu, his bouy buineu at the stake in Smyina.
iii

It was thiough the witness of Chiistian maityis that Teitullian of Caithage, in Afiica,
was conveiteu to Chiistianity at the age of Su, anu theieaftei became a uefenuei of
the Chiistian faith.
This peiiou of peisecution came to its climax unuei Biocletian, who, in SuS AB,
launcheu a vicious, empiie-wiue effoit foi the complete annihilation of Chiistianity.
Although he uieu in SuS AB, the peisecution continueu until it was finally biought to
an enu in S1S AB by the ueciee of toleiation issueu by Empeioi Constantine.
The Biocletian peisecution lasteu ten yeais. The ten-uay tiibulation pieuicteu foi
this chuich (veise 1u) coinciues with this ten-yeai peiiou when the uay-yeai
piinciple of Biblical piophecy is applieu. Peisecution cleanseu the Chuich by foicing
Chiistians to consiuei whethei they weie tiuly willing to follow Chiist in all
ciicumstances.
In the ancient city of Smyina, the most expensive homes weie on the mountainsiues
that iose above the bay. This gave it the name "Ciown City." We can appieciate the
appiopiiateness of the piomise, "be thou faithful unto ueath, anu I will give thee a
ciown of life...Be that oveicometh shall not be huit of the seconu ueath" (Revelation
2:1u-11).

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Peigamos (also calleu Peigamon oi Peigamum) was situateu 6u kilometies past
Smyina along the ancient Roman postal ioau. The name means "elevation" oi
"exalteu." Appiopiiately, the ieligious anu cultuial centei of the city was on top of a
conspicuous mount.
Peigamos inheiiteu the ancient system of sun woiship fiom Babylon. Accoiuing to
Revelation 2:1S, Peigamos was Satan's seat. It was a centei of ancient sun woiship,
anu the place wheie the famous altai of Zeus stoou on a teiiace on the slopes of the
mount.
The leauei of Peigamos useu the same ancient title anu vestments as Babylonian
piiests. The last pontiff king of Peigamos was Attalus III, who bequeatheu his title to
Rome in 1SS BC, which "enueu the histoiy of Peigamum as an inuepenuent political
entity."
iv

Touay, the city of Beigama lies at the base of the mountain on which Peigamos once
sat. Excavations neaiby have uncoveieu a vast complex which incluueu two temples,
a theatei, anu a meuical libiaiy. Some of the most famous physicians piacticeu heie.
The meuical symbol was a seipent wiappeu aiounu a poleveiy similai to the
symbol iepiesenting meuicine touay. Neaiby stoou the woilu's seconu laigest
libiaiy (aftei Alexanuiia), with a collection of some 2uu,uuu volumes.
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When peisecution coulu not iiu the eaith of Chiistianity, the gieat auveisaiy tuineu
to ueception anu compiomise to iiu the woilu of its influence.
The lettei iebukeu the chuich of Peigamos foi fiateinizing with those who helu the
uoctiines of Balaam anu the Nicolaitans. It was Balaam who leu Isiael to moial
coiiuption, just befoie they weie uue to cioss ovei the }oiuan into the Piomiseu
Lanu. The Nicolaitans, a heietical sect who compiomiseu with the pagan cults, hau
been iejecteu by the Ephesian chuich but weie couiteu by the chuich of Peigamos.
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The Peigamos peiiou began in S1S AB anu continueu until SS8 AB.
This was a peiiou of ueteiioiating moial stanuaius anu uoctiinal coiiuption. Satan
hau faileu to uestioy the Chuich thiough peisecution so insteau he enueavoieu to
uestioy hei thiough compiomise. Chiistian stanuaius weie loweieu, anu a union
was foimeu between Chiistianity anu paganism.
It was uuiing the Peigamos peiiou that the Chuich auopteu many pagan piactices.
The seeus of paganism hau alieauy been sown into Rome when King Attalus III hau
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bequeatheu his title X()&'J"V Y%V'=+4 to the pagan Roman empeiois in 1SS BC.
In S22 Empeioi Constantine conveiteu to Chiistianity, but kept the pagan title
Pontifex Naximus. In his effoits to unite his empiie in the eaily Suus, Empeioi
Constantine blenueu the inteiests of pagans anu Chiistians.
Conceining Constantine's aims, Chuich histoiian F.}. Foakes-}ackson ueclaies, "In
uealing with the Chuich, his object was giauually to tiansfei fiom heathenism to
Chiistianity all that hau hitheito maue it attiactive in the eyes of the people."

Bowevei, in S78 AB, Empeioi uiatian iefuseu the title Pontifex Naximus as
unbefitting foi a ChiistianF The Roman Catholic bishop then took the title upon
himself, as the Catholic Chuich has uone with many pagan sun woiship symbols.
The chuich in Peigamos iepiesents this histoiical peiiou of compiomise. In
exchange foi ieligious toleiance anu acceptance, the tiue piinciples of Chiistianity
weie saciificeu to accommouate pagan beliefs.
By the enu of the peiiou, in SS8 AB, Empeioi }ustinian uecieeu Chiistianity the
official ieligion of the empiie, joining chuich anu state.
In spite of this uiift fiom the tiue faith of the eaily apostles, theie weie those who
sought to maintain the tiue faith. Foiemost among them was Patiick, who, in the
eaily yeais of the fifth centuiy, establisheu scoies of chuiches out of which giew the
Celtic Chuich. This chuich helu onto much of the tiue faith thiough the centuiies of
spiiitual uaikness that followeu.
The piomise to the faithful of the Peigamos peiiou was, "To him that oveicometh
will I give to eat of the hiuuen manna, anu will give him a white stone, anu in the
stone a new name wiitten, which no man knoweth saving he that ieceiveth it"
(Revelation 2:17).
The hiuuen manna is a iefeience to a new life in Chiist. The new name iepiesents
the chaiactei tiansfoimeu thiough the sanctifying powei of the Boly Spiiit.
F J/11/+ 1, )*:"1%+"
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Thiity kilometeis west of Peigamos on the impeiial Roman ioau lay Thyatiia, wheie
the town of Akhisai lies touay. Apollo, the sun gou, was the chief ueity of the city.
The city was also noteu foi its inuustiies, the most notable being the uying of
clothpaiticulaily in the colois puiple anu ciimson.
7+,8*/1%9 F88#%9"1%,&
The chuich of Thyatiia iepiesents the Chuich of the Niuule Ages. Thyatiia ieceiveu
the longest of the letteis, containing giave infoimation about the conuitions that
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woulu pievail. The Chuich woulu be inunuateu with false uoctiines anu peisecuteu
foi faithfulness to uou anu Bis Woiu.
The spiiit of compiomise that staiteu with Peigamos woulu ieach its zenith in the
time of Thyatiia. As the name "sweet savoui of laboi" implies, woiks as a means to
obtaining giace woulu become a piominent featuie of the time. The intiouuctoiy
statement in the lettei to Thyatiia highlights this point:
I M)(K ,(+! K(!M46 $(#"6 4"!#'9"6 J%'&.6 %)0 ,(+! :%&'")9"H %)0 %4 J(! ,(+! K(!M46 &."
$%4& %!" =(!" &.%) &." J'!4& ;N"#"$%&'() T?OZ ABCDEF
In this time of spiiitual uaikness, the tiuth was abanuoneu anu Chiistianity was
ieplaceu by the olu pagan foim of sun woiship uiesseu in a gaib of Chiistianity.
Foims, iituals, objects, anu woiks ieplaceu the elevating tiuths of the uospel. Pagan
ueities masqueiauing unuei uospel titles ieplaceu }esus, anu the ancient Babylonian
mysteiies weie ieintiouuceu.
Even the pagan vestments with theii piominent puiple anu ciimson colois weie
intiouuceu as the vestments of the piiesthoou. The symbols of Bagon, the fish gou,
became symbols of the so-calleu "shepheius of the flock."
The piomise of the ultimate victoiy of Chiist stanus as a iebuke to the Chuich of the
Niuule Ages:
<)0 ." &.%& (#"!9(="&.6 %)0 M"":"&. =, K(!M4 +)&( &." ")06 &( .'= K'$$ I 5'#" :(K"!
(#"! &." )%&'()4? <)0 ." 4.%$$ !+$" &."= K'&. % !(0 (J '!() ;N"#"$%&'() T?T[PT@EF
)*/ @:>;,#%4> ,6 D/K/;/#
The lettei to Thyatiia contains a stiong iebuke:
A(&K'&.4&%)0')56 I .%#" % J"K &.')54 %5%')4& &.""6 L"9%+4" &.(+ 4+JJ"!"4& &.%& K(=%)
C"\"L"$6 K.'9. 9%$$"&. ."!4"$J % :!(:."&"446 &( &"%9. %)0 4"0+9" =, 4"!#%)&4 &( 9(=='&
J(!)'9%&'()6 %)0 &( "%& &.')54 4%9!'J'9"0 +)&( '0($4 ;N"#"$%&'() T?T]EF
Ahab, king of Isiael, hau maiiieu }ezebel, a Phonecian Baal woishipei, although uou
hau expiessly foibiuuen inteimaiiiage with heathens. This maiiiage leu to Baal
woiship being intiouuceu into Isiael, even though it was supposeuly uone in the
name of }ehovah.
So it was in the piophetic time of Thyatiia. Pagan temples, symbols, anu festivals
weie conveiteu into Chiistian temples, symbols, anu ieligious festivals. All this was
uone in the name of tiue woiship of the uivine uou.
Speaking of this amalgamation, Aithui E.R. Boak ueclaies this:
S." $()5 %44(9'%&'() L"&K"") :%5%)4 %)0 ^.!'4&'%)4 %)0 &." !%:'0 ')9(!:(!%&'() (J
)"K 9()#"!&4 ')&( &." !%)M4 (J &." ^.+!9. ;%J&"! ^()4&%)&')"_4 `9()#"!4'()`E6 "V"!9'4"0
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% :!(J(+)0 ')J$+")9" +:() ^.!'4&'%) L"$'"J4 %)0 :!%9&'9"4F X%5%) L"$'"J ') =%5'9
9()&!'L+&"0 $%!5"$, &( &." ^.!'4&'%) L"$'"J ') ='!%9$"4H %)0 &." 0"#"$(:=")& (J &." 9+$&
(J &." 4%')&4 K%4 4&'=+$%&"0 L, :%5%) 9()9":&4 (J ')J"!'(! 0'#')'&'"46 0"='5(04 %)0
0"=()4F Y%), :%5%) J"4&'#%$4 K"!" &!%)4J"!!"0 ')&( &." J"4&'#%$4 (J &." ^.+!9.F
#

Foinication anu saciifices to iuols aie the symbols of apostasy against uou anu Bis
Son }esus, the Woiu maue flesh. We aie to eat the flesh of the Son of uouto
inteinalize Bis tiuthnot ieplace it with meie outwaiu foims. 0f this, the SK")&'"&.
^")&+!, R)9,9$(:"0'% (J ^%&.($'9'4= says the following:
S." ='44'()%!, .'4&(!, (J &." ^.+!9. 9$"%!$, 4.(K4 ."! %0%:&%L'$'&, &( %$$ !%9"46 %$$
9()&')")&46 %$$ )%&'()4F I) ."! $'&+!5, %)0 ."! %!&6 ') ."! &!%0'&'() %)0 &." J(!=')5 (J
."! 0(9&!')"6 )%&+!%$$, ")(+5. 4." ')9$+0"4 C"K'4. "$"=")&46 L+& %$4( "$"=")&4 &.%& %!"
(J :%5%) (!'5')F I) 9"!&%') !"4:"9&46 4." .%4 9(:'"0 ."! (!5%)'\%&'() J!(= &.%& (J &."
N(=%) R=:'!"6 .%4 :!"4"!#"0 %)0 =%0" J!+'&J+$ &." :.'$(4(:.'9%$ ')&+'&'()4 (J
*(9!%&"46 X$%&( %)0 <!'4&(&$"6 L(!!(K"0 J!(= L(&. a%!L%!'%)4 %)0 &." a,\%)&')"
N(=%) R=:'!"bL+& %$K%,4 !"=%')4 ."!4"$J6 &.(!(+5.$, 0'5"4&')5 %$$ "$"=")&4 0!%K)
J!(= "V&"!)%$ 4(+!9"4FFFI) ."! $%K46 ."! 9"!"=()'"46 ."! J"4&'#%$4 %)0 ."! 0"#(&'()46 4."
=%M"4 +4" (J $(9%$ 9+4&(=4 %J&"! :+!'J,')5 &."= %)0 `L%:&'\')5` &."=F
The twin pillais of Roman Catholicism aie faith in the Euchaiistic mysteiy anu faith
in the inteicessoiy iole of Naiy. The Catholic Chuich is even consiueiing making
this Naiian iole as co-auvocate anu inteicessoi an infallible chuich uogma.
Neithei of these two uoctiines can be founu in the Sciiptuies, anu they aie contiaiy
to the veiy basis of the Chiistian faith. Salvation can be founu in Chiist alone (}ohn
1u:9).
C"4+4 4%'&. +)&( .'=6 I %= &." K%,6 &." &!+&.6 %)0 &." $'J"? )( =%) 9(="&. +)&( &."
G%&."!6 L+& L, =" ;C(.) Oc?[EF
In the Euchaiistic mysteiy, the bieau anu wine aie saiu to liteially become the bouy
anu bloou of Chiist. Chiist's saciifice on the cioss is iepeateu uuiing each mass,
which too is contiaiy to the plain teaching of the Sciiptuies:
d.( )""0"&. )(& 0%'$,6 %4 &.(4" .'5. :!'"4&46 &( (JJ"! +: 4%9!'J'9"6 J'!4& J(! .'4 (K) 4')46
%)0 &.") J(! &." :"(:$"_4? J(! &.'4 ." 0'0 ()9" K.") ." (JJ"!"0 +: .'=4"$J ;8"L!"K4
@?T@EF
Foi then must he often have suffeieu since the founuation of the woilu: but now
once in the enu of the woilu hath he appeaieu to put away sin by the saciifice of
himself (Bebiews 9:26).
a+& &.'4 =%)6 %J&"! ." .%0 (JJ"!"0 ()" 4%9!'J'9" J(! 4')4 J(! "#"!6 4%& 0(K) () &." !'5.&
.%)0 (J 1(0 ;8"L!"K4 O]?OTEF
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A'&,+%&' " @/9,&3 ?*"&9/
uou gives oppoitunities foi iepentance. The peiiou of papal supiemacy spanneu
126u yeais, anu uuiing all that time Roman Catholicism woulu not iepent fiom hei
unfaithfulness to uou (Revelation 2:21-2S).
When Rome iejecteu the message of the Refoimation, the tuimoil that followeu leu
to the gieatest suffeiings in human histoiy. At the Council of Tient in 1S6S, the
Refoimation message was officially set asiue. Shoitly theieaftei Euiope agonizeu
unuei the plague anu the Su-yeai wai (1618-1648), but neithei of these uieauful
situations biought Rome back to a love of the tiuth.
uou is patient with people Be has maue (See Exouus S4:4-1u, 2 Samuel 24, 2
Chionicles SS). Bis people Isiael constantly tuineu away fiom Bim, but Be was
constantly pioviuing oppoitunities foi them to tuin back to Bim, even saying this:
IJ =, :"(:$"6 K.'9. %!" 9%$$"0 L, =, )%="6 4.%$$ .+=L$" &."=4"$#"46 %)0 :!%,6 %)0
4""M =, J%9"6 %)0 &+!) J!(= &."'! K'9M"0 K%,4H &.") K'$$ I ."%! J!(= ."%#")6 %)0 K'$$
J(!5'#" &."'! 4')6 %)0 K'$$ ."%$ &."'! $%)0 ;T ^.!()'9$"4 @?OcEF
uou is the same way with the people of Babylon. Be longs foi them to ietuin to Bim
(}eiemiah S1:8-9). }ust as uou iaiseu up Elijah with a message of iefoim in the uays
of }ezebel, so uou iaiseu up some within the Chuich who calleu foi iefoimation
uuiing the Chuich's long histoiy anu even aftei its iejection of the Refoimation.
F J/11/+ 1, @"+3%4
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Saiuis (touay calleu Sait) was the capital of the piovince of Lyuia, situateu some 4u
kilometeis southwest of Thyatiia. The city stoou on a hill, anu at the foot of that hill
weie the temples of Aitemis anu Zeus.
In view of Saiuis' location anu natuial piotections, the people of Saiuis consiueieu
the city impiegnable. They felt so secuie that theii guaiu was not always up in time
of ciisis. Bistoiy ieveals that the city was conqueieu without iesistance by both
Cyius anu Antiochus, anu in this lies a spiiitual lesson. In its opening auuiess, the
lettei to Saiuis says, "I know thy woiks, that thou hast a name that thou livest, anu
ait ueau" (Revelation S:1).
7+,8*/1%9 F88#%9"1%,&
This mention of ueath takes us into the post-Refoimation peiiou, fiom the close of
the Council of Tient in 1S6S, to the beginning of the gieat ieligious awakening in the
18
th
centuiy. This peiiou has been fittingly uesciibeu as "the age of ueau oithouoxy."
Insteau of the iefoimeis continuing theii woik of iestoiation, they submitteu to the
piotection anu suppoit of the civil authoiities. While sepaiating fiom Rome, the
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Piotestant Chuich became subject to the state.
The Refoimation was iooteu in Chiist. It is the uospel of Chiist that leu the
iefoimeis out of the spiiitual uaikness that hau all but extinguisheu the flame of
Chiistianity. Sauly, this eaily feivoi was giauually ieplaceu by foimalities as the
community anu the state accepteu the new chuiches.
The inability of the vaiious iefoim factions to finu unity baseu on the Woiu also leu
to the foimation of numeious uenominations, each auopting the cieeu of its
founueis. The gieat woik of iefoim falteieu anu even iesulteu in bittei infighting.
Auueu to this, the Countei Refoimation launcheu by the Roman Catholic Chuich
giauually eioueu faith in the Sciiptuies anu even set the tone foi toleiance anu
acceptance of the teachings of Rome. The Chuich of Saiuis was given this waining:
a" K%&9.J+$6 %)0 4&!")5&.") &." &.')54 K.'9. !"=%')6 &.%& %!" !"%0, &( 0'"? J(! I .%#"
)(& J(+)0 &., K(!M4 :"!J"9& L"J(!" 1(0F N"="=L"! &."!"J(!" .(K &.(+ .%4& !"9"'#"0
%)0 ."%!06 %)0 .($0 J%4&6 %)0 !":")&F IJ &."!"J(!" &.(+ 4.%$& )(& K%&9.6 I K'$$ 9(=" ()
&."" %4 % &.'"J6 %)0 &.(+ 4.%$& )(& M)(K K.%& .(+! I K'$$ 9(=" +:() &."" ;N"#"$%&'()
>?TP>EF
The Refoimation hau faileu to foitify itself against complacency anu became the
easy piey of those who wisheu to uestioy it. In the miust of peisecution, many
couiageous iefoimeis weie willing to lay uown theii lives iathei than to ueny
Chiist. It is to these that Chiist says, "Thou hast a few names even in Saiuis which
have not uefileu theii gaiments; anu they shall walk with me in white: foi they aie
woithy" (Revelation S:4).
The message to Saiuis is a message calling believeis back to the tiuth anu to
steaufastness in faith:
8" &.%& (#"!9(="&.6 &." 4%=" 4.%$$ L" 9$(&."0 ') K.'&" !%'=")&H %)0 I K'$$ )(& L$(& (+&
.'4 )%=" (+& (J &." L((M (J $'J"6 L+& I K'$$ 9()J"44 .'4 )%=" L"J(!" =, G%&."!6 %)0
L"J(!" .'4 %)5"$4 ;N"#"$%&'() >?WEF
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Philauelphia lies 4S kilometeis east of Saiuis anu touay the city of Alashehii stanus
wheie the ancient city stoou. Philauelphia was situateu at the foot of the mountains
leauing to Annatolia anu, as such, was the uooiway to this iegion.
E%41,+%9"# F88#%9"1%,&
<)0 &( &." %)5"$ (J &." 9.+!9. ') X.'$%0"$:.'% K!'&"H S."4" &.')54 4%'&. ." &.%& '4 .($,6
." &.%& '4 &!+"6 ." &.%& .%&. &." M", (J 3%#'06 ." &.%& (:")"&.6 %)0 )( =%) 4.+&&"&.H
%)0 4.+&&"&.6 %)0 )( =%) (:")"&. ;N"#"$%&'() >?@EF
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The lettei to Philauelphia contains no iepioof. The time peiiou it iepiesents was to
open the uooi to the uospel so that it coulu be spieau to the enus of the woilu. The
Woiu of uou was to be iestoieu anu tiuth woulu tiiumph.
7+,8*/1%9 F88#%9"1%,&
Philauelphia means "biotheily love." The Philauelphia peiiou is the peiiou of the
uieat Awakening of the 18
th
centuiy. It is the peiiou of mission. The woius of
commenuation weie, "I know thy woiks: beholu, I have set befoie thee an open
uooi, anu no man can shut it: foi thou hast a little stiength, anu hast kept my woiu,
anu hast not uenieu my name" (Revelation S:8).
Buiing the Philauelphian eia, the gieat conflict between tiuth anu teiioi ieacheu its
pinnacle. The Nilleiite movement ieaffiimeu the tiuth of the Woiu anu its piophetic
impoitance, anu the eia of woilu mission began.
William Caiey became the messengei to Inuia in 179S, anu Robeit Noiiison to
China in 18u7. In 1817, Robeit Noffat caiiieu the message to Afiica anu }ohn Wesley
challengeu the uoctiines of Calvin. Between 18u4 anu 18S4, numeious Bible
societies weie establisheu, anu the uooi foi the uospel was openeu.
As always in an age of spiiitual enlightenment, Satan enueavoieu to uestioy the
woik by the intiouuction of counteifeit movements. Spiiitism in all its foims saw its
mouein ievival at that time. 0ut of the Fiench Revolution of 1789-1799 came the
concepts of humanism anu atheism that weie to foim the founuation stones foi
communism. The peiiou also saw the iise of many false piophets who woulu claim
special ievelations contiaiy to the Woiu of uou.
E,#3%&' 1, 1*/ )+-1*
The uieat Awakening of this time was met with suspicion anu even hostility by the
establisheu chuiches of the uay as they iefuseu to accept new light on the
Sciiptuies. The age of Philauelphia was an age of biotheily love among those who
embiaceu the tiuths of the Seconu Coming of Chiist, but they weie ueiiueu anu
mockeu foi theii stance.
a".($06 I K'$$ =%M" &."= (J &." 4,)%5(5+" (J *%&%)6 K.'9. 4%, &.", %!" C"K46 %)0 %!"
)(&6 L+& 0( $'"H L".($06 I K'$$ =%M" &."= &( 9(=" %)0 K(!4.': L"J(!" &., J""&6 %)0 &(
M)(K &.%& I .%#" $(#"0 &.""F a"9%+4" &.(+ .%4& M":& &." K(!0 (J =, :%&'")9"6 I %$4(
K'$$ M"": &."" J!(= &." .(+! (J &"=:&%&'()6 K.'9. 4.%$$ 9(=" +:() %$$ &." K(!$06 &( &!,
&."= &.%& 0K"$$ +:() &." "%!&. ;N"#"$%&'() >?ZPO]EF
The woiu C"K4 useu heie is a iefeience to }ewish Chiistians (see Romans 2:28-29;
ualatians S:28-29). The }ew iefeiieu to heie iepiesents those Chiistians who woulu
ieject the light anu iiuicule those who believeu it.
The piomise is also given that the Philauelphian eia woulu not be subjecteu to the
time of tiouble piophesieu by Baniel that was to pieceue the coming of Chiist. The
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piomise of Chiist's soon ietuin given in veise 11 ("Beholu I come quickly") is
fuithei eviuence of the histoiic continuous natuie of the piophetic content of the
letteis to the seven chuiches.
To the Chuich of the Niuule Ages (Thyatiia) the message was given to "holu fast
what you have till I come" (Revelation 2:2S), wheieas in Philauelphia the Chuich is
given the same aumonition but this time in iefeience to Bis soon ietuin. The uieat
Bisappointment came as a majoi blow to many in the Auvent movement anu the
counsel to "Bolu fast what you have that no one may take youi ciown" (Revelation
S:11) is appiopiiate to this eia.
"Not I, but Chiist" was the watchwoiu of the Philauelphian Chiistians, anu the same
motto shoulu be foi all of Chiist's followeis. 0nce we lay oui selves uown in
humility, Chiist anu Bis love can conquei thiough us. The Woiu-baseu unity anu
love-baseu community of the Chuich of Philauelphia is a shining example of what all
who aspiie to follow Chiist shoulu seek to acquiie.
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Laouicea was situateu 6u kilometeis southeast of Philauelphia anu was a famous
health iesoit. The city was populai foi its hot baths anu the collyiium eye salve that
was piouuceu theie.
The hot watei foi the baths was ingeniously pipeu to the iesoits in insulateu pipes,
but because of the uistances involveu, the watei was often only lukewaim by the
time it aiiiveu at its uestination. The symbol of lukewaimness applieu to the
Laouicean Chuich is thus veiy appiopiiate.
Nineial-iich wateis aie also extiemely unpalatable when taken lukewaim, anu this
featuie makes the woius of the Faithful anu Tiue Witness iegaiuing those who
iefuse to accept Bis counsel all the moie appiopiiate.
The chuich in Laouicea was likely establisheu by Paul's companion Epaphias.
vi

7+,8*/1%9 F88#%9"1%,&
Laouicea is the "nation of juugment." It is the last Chuich, the last light beaiei on
Eaith befoie the coming of Chiist. This lettei is to uou's people in oui time.
All the letteis weie wiitten to the Chuichto uou's people, Bis iepiesentatives. The
letteis ieflect the spiiitual conuition of the Chuich in each time peiiou anu some of
the letteis contain seveie iepioofs. These iepioofs weie uesigneu to touch the
heaits of uou's people, so that these wiongs might be coiiecteu anu the piomises
valiuateu.
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In all the letteis, except the lettei to Laouicea, theie is a commenuation, anu it is
vital foi uou's people at the enu of time to take heeu of the Laouicean counsel
because, sauly, we have uone nothing to commenu.
The message to Laouicea is not a message of hopelessness. It is a message of hope.
The message is not uesigneu to uiscouiage but to encouiage. If the message is
heeueu, then the malauy of the Chuich can be coiiecteu. The message stems fiom
0ne who can ieau the heait. It stems fiom the Faithful anu Tiue Witnessto ueny
the message is to ueny the omnipotence of uou.
<)0 &( &." %)5"$ (J &." 9.+!9. (J &." /%(0'9"%)4 K!'&"H S."4" &.')54 4%'&. &." <=")6
&." J%'&.J+$ %)0 &!+" K'&)"446 &." L"5'))')5 (J &." 9!"%&'() (J 1(0 ;N"#"$%&'() >?Oc).
The message is fiom the Amenthe 0ne in whom theie is no lie, the Cieatoi. The
woiu "beginning" is tianslateu fiom the uieek %!9.", which, when taken in the
active sense, means the initiatoi of the action, in this case Cieation. In this
intiouuction is concealeu all the majesty of Chiist, Bis chaiactei, anu Bis law.
The memoiial of Bis Cieation is the Sabbath, which is also the seal of uou making
the law of uou valiu. The message to Laouicea is to Bis people, the iemnant of those
who obey uou's commanuments anu holu the testimony of }esus.
)*/ ./>&"&1
In Revelation 12, the iemnant is maue of followeis of Chiist, membeis of the
Chuich, that seek to follow uou in all things:

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^.!'4& ;N"#"$%&'() OT?O@EF
They aie the ones that wake up fiom theii Laouicean slumbei anu take the iepioofs
to heait. The iemnant is maue up of tiue anu faithful believeis of uou that follow
aftei the Seconu Auvent movement of the 18uus, those that aie looking foi the soon
ietuin of }esus Chiist anu who aie seeking to align themselves with uou's Woiu anu
the tiuths lost aftei the Refoimation.
Insteau of thinking that all is well anu following mateiialistic gain, they iecognize
theii sinful conuition anu ietuin to the piinciples of the Refoimation anu allegiance
to uou. They base theii faith on the Woiu anu seek unity in tiuth anu love baseu on
Tiuth. To them is entiusteu the final message of waining to a uying woilu. The
message to be given is the Thiee Angels' Nessage of Revelation 14. It is a message
that will cause contioveisy anu will be opposeu by Satan by eveiy conceivable
means. To live out the message will iequiie gieat patience, enuuiance, anu an
abiuing tiust in Chiist.
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18
The uevil wages wai against the iemnant in oiuei to hinuei uou's woik. Be wants to
pievent the message fiom going out into the woilu. Bow woulu he best achieve this.
By so pieoccupying the Chuich with issues not uiiectly ielateu to the message that
theie is no time oi eneigy left to uo the woik that the Chuich was instiucteu to uo.
The Chuich is to be a light to the woiluit is one of the goluen lampstanus
(Revelation 1:12-1S).
But so many aie now pieoccupieu with life, with the piize of success, financial
wealth, pleasuie seeking, anu selfish ambition. Sauly even piofessing Chiistians
uisplay this same zeal foi woiluly gain. This is the Laouicean state.
)*/ J-$/L"+> ?*-+9*
In the lettei to Laouicea, theie is a iebuke about the state of the heait:

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&.") L"9%+4" &.(+ %!& $+M"K%!=6 %)0 )"'&."! 9($0 )(! .(&6 I K'$$ 4:+" &."" (+& (J =,
=(+&. ;N"#"$%&'() >?OWPO[EF
This iebuke is to the Chuich, but a chuich is compiomiseu of inuiviuuals. This
uiagnosis of oui state is an inuiviuual uiagnosis, anu we much each inuiviuually
heeu the waining. Lukewaimness is an unacceptable state anu will iesult in eteinal
loss. The state of lukewaimness must be iemeuieu.
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;N"#"$%&'() >?O@EF
!*: "+/ L/ #-$/L"+>B
We aie lukewaim because we believe we aie iich anu have the tiuth. We believe we
aie not ueceiveu. Even among those who know that the tiuth iests on the twin
pillais of obeuience to uou (the keeping of Bis commanuments) anu the faith in
}esus theie is manifesteu a spiiit of complacency, a false sense of secuiity, anu a lack
of uevotion anu ueuication to Chiist.
The }ews maue the mistake of tiusting in theii obeuience to uou's law, iathei than
the meiits of the Nessiah, pioviuing them with a faaue of iighteousness. The gieat
bulk of Chiistians touay tiust in the meiits of Chiist without obeuience to Bis
piecepts. This is just as uangeious. Although Chiist's iobe of iighteousness is
offeieu fieely to anyone who believes anu confesses }esus Chiist as Loiu, the next
step is a fitness foi heavena submission to Chiist's iefining woik in oui lives that
changes us fiom the insiue into new people.
The people of the iemnant know this. }ustification anu sanctification aie gifts fiom
uou thiough the meiits of }esus Chiist. 0beuience is a consequence of this abiuing
tiust in Chiist.
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19
!*: "+/ L/ ML+/19*/3N "&3 >%4/+";#/N "&3 8,,+N "&3 ;#%&3N "&3 &"$/3BM
We aie wietcheu because we aie ueceiveu. We aie miseiable because we think we
aie not ueceiveu when we aie, anu aie unhappy even while we peisist in having oui
own way even though only uou's ways piomise tiue joy. We aie pooi because we
believe that we have embiaceu the tiuth when we have misseu the boat.
We aie blinu because we think we aie capable of uisceining tiuth fiom eiioi when
we cannot. We aie nakeu because we believe we aie clotheu with the iighteousness
of Chiist, when the gaiment we aie weaiing is a gaiment of oui own making.
Piofesseu Chiistians, like all people, must be calleu back to obeuience to uou. They
must be uigeu to sepaiate themselves fiom false ieligion anu to upholu the
piinciples of the law of uou iathei than accept the maik of the Beast.
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The golu we aie instiucteu to buy is the golu of faith anu love that is uevoiu of self.
The white iaiment is the iighteousness of Chiist, a gaiment containing no stitch of
oui own making. The eyesalve is spiiitual uisceinment that enables us to iecognize
wheie the pioblem lieswith each of us. The message to Laouicea is intenueu to
piouuce a change in each inuiviuual, not to piouuce uiscoiu among biotheis.
)*+,-'* ?*+%41N !/ 9"& Q0/+9,>/
As we have seen, theie is no commenuation foi the chuich of Laouicea, which
iepiesents us in the enu-time Chuich. Even though theie is no commenuation foi us,
all is not lost. uou loves us anu wants us see ouiselves in oui tiue light. Achieving
this iecognition anu tiansfoimation is painful, but altogethei necessaiy:
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>?OZEF
Rebukes huit oui piiue, but chastening goes beyonu that. It is to be afflicteu. uou
peimits ciicumstances to so oveiwhelm us that theie will no longei be any iecouise
to self. Noieovei, oui woist tiaits aie ievealeu in times of gieat stiess. Those who
will holu on to theii Reueemei, even if Be thiows theii hip out of joint, will, like
}acob, ieceive the blessing. The case of those iebukeu is not a hopeless one, but
eviuence that uou caies.
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The heavenly Neichantman has waies to sell without piice, iefineu by uou in the
fiie of affliction anu Be gives us a piomise of Bis inuwelling spiiit.
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2u
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The piize is an eteinity with uou. If I iefuse to open the uooi, if I iefuse to let uou
change me, the knock will get faintei anu eventually cease. The blessings of uou that
Be wishes you to buy aie to be unselfishly uisseminateu to otheis. We aie to lift up
oui voices like a tiumpet:
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M)(K =, K%,46 %4 % )%&'() &.%& 0'0 !'5.&"(+4)"446 %)0 J(!4((M )(& &." (!0')%)9" (J
&."'! 1(0? &.", %4M (J =" &." (!0')%)9"4 (J f+4&'9"H &.", &%M" 0"$'5.& ') %::!(%9.')5 &(
1(0 ;I4%'%. WQ?OPTEF
If the Laouicean message is heeueu, then the tiuth will go out to all nations because
oui concein foi self will be lost in Chiist. In a time of gieat spiiitual uaikness, it is
vital that we as touay's Laouicea pioclaim the message with powei. The piomise
maue to the piophet Isaiah will finally come tiue:
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S." 1")&'$"4 4.%$$ 9(=" &( ,(+! $'5.&6
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Then we will inueeu be iich with a iichness that can nevei faue.


i "Smyina," a'L$" X$%9"4 2)$')"F
ii Benjamin Baiiis Cowpei, S%$"4 (J &." Y%!&,!4 (J &." G'!4& SK( ^")&+!'"4 (0xfoiu
0niveisity Piess, 18S9):21-28.
iii Paul Buins anu Alban Butlei, a+&$"!_4 /'#"4 (J &." *%')&4? G"L!+%!, (Ninnesota: The
www.amazinguiscoveiies.oig 2u1u
21
Lituigical Piess, 1998): 228.
iv "Attalus III Philometoi Euegetes," R)9,9$(:"0'% a!'&%))'9% 2)$')".

v Aithui E. Boak, < 8'4&(!, (J N(=" (New Yoik: The Nacmillan Company, 1921):
S87.
vi `N"#"$%&'() >?Oc6` at Biblos 0nline