Study Lesson 7
A Last Days Lukewarm Church
Or
Another End Time Warning
Revelation 3.14-22
Scripture To Consider:
“And to the angel [messenger] of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” Revelation 3.14
Something To Consider:
Many so-called bible scholars and religious theologians view these seven letters of Revelation as representing seven different dispensations of history. And that may or may not be true. But what is true is that; “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and [all Scripture] is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [woman or young person] of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”; according to 2 Timothy 3.16-17.
Therefore, all seven letters are biblically relevant for every generation of truth seekers and those desiring to be found worthy to escape the wrath of an Almighty God as predicted in the rest of the book of Revelation. With that said, Jesus revealed Himself as the Amen, the Faithful, the True Witness, and the Beginning of the creation of God. Jesus is indeed the Faithful and True Witness of who God is and He is the revealer of the truth concerning God! As true Christians filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we too are to be faithful and true witnesses of who God is and true light and salt as it pertains to the truth of His Word. How are we doing?
More Scripture To Consider:
“I [Jesus] know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3.15-17
Something Else To Consider:
Jesus has nothing good to say of this last days Laodicean lukewarm church, and that should concern every religious leader and congregation functioning as a so-called church in this 21st century generation. This Laodicean end time example of a lukewarm church was neither hot or cold for the things of God, according to Jesus. This church was not 100% for Christ and therefore this church and many just like Laodicea were and are actually against Christ. This Laodicean church appears to have become complacent and no doubt were compromising in their spiritual walk.
The godly witness of Jesus was according to Jesus, completely non-existent within the church of Laodicea. What about the true Christian witness in America today? Has it also become non-existent for the most part? And is that the reason for the present increase and abounding lawlessness in the world today and especially in America? These seven letters of Jesus here in Revelation should create a wake-up call within the church of this 21st century.
These letters combined with all that Jesus taught that should be observed but are being neglected by most and rejected by others, is as if a canon shot over the bow of the church. We have been warned! “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”
This Laodicean church of the 1st century appears to reflect some of the many of the spiritually declining tendencies of the majority of 21st century churches who have become financially rich, but extremely poor spiritually. The physical wealth of many large mega churches is staggering. I wonder what word the early apostles would have for the mega churches of America and most of their leader’s extreme lavish lifestyles?
Many of these leaders and churches can actually claim they have need of nothing. But, according to Jesus, many are wretched, miserable, blind, and spiritually naked. Are we hearing what the Spirit of God is saying to the true church? We must be listening in order to hear!
More Scripture To Consider:
“I [Jesus] counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich [spiritually]; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see [spiritually]. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3.18-19
Something More To Consider:
Jesus advices all churches of all generations to take spiritual inventory of our lives before it is too late! The good news for this last days lukewarm Laodicean church is that Jesus rebukes and chastens those He loves! Otherwise, He would simply allow us to drift into eternity totally unprepared without any warning or godly biblical instruction concerning our spiritual well-being and our true need for repentance. Therefore, according to Jesus, “Be zealous and repent.” And if not, there are eternal consequences to be reaped!
There is no doubt according to Jesus, that this 1st century Laodicean church had departed from true faith and true Christianity. The apostle Paul informed his readers in 1 Timothy chapter 4, concerning end time apostasy or end time departing from the faith. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times [end times] some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” We are eye witnesses of this end time deception and end time departing from the faith. We have indeed been sufficiently warned!
These end time doctrines of demons are promoted by false prophets and deceptive teachers disguised as religious and political leaders. Several times Jesus warned of false prophets and false teachers in His end time explaining of Matthew chapter 24. He also revealed in verse 10 of Matthew 24; “And then many [those being deceived by false prophets] will be offended [because of their having been deceived], will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
The influx of false teaching and false end time messages will create an adversarial atmosphere between one-time believers in Jesus and true end time enduring to the end true Christians. And this end time animosity will bring about both the betrayal and the death of many of the faithful!
And even after many one-time Christian believers have become offended and betray fellow believers, according to Jesus; “Then many [more] false prophets will rise up and deceive many [not some but many]. And because lawlessness [iniquity] will abound, the love of many [Laodicean style one-time Christians] will grow cold [for the things of God].” But, also according to Jesus, “But he [or she] who endures to the end [of their lives or to the end of the age] shall be saved.” Will we endure to the end of our lives and or will we endure to the end of the age? It is something more to consider now, before it becomes too late!
A Few Final Words:
“Behold, I [Jesus] stand at the door [of every heart] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him [or her] and dine with him [or her], and he [or she] with Me. To him [or her] who overcomes [endures to the end] I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame [endured to the end of His life] and sat down with My Father on His throne. He [or she] who has an ear, let him [or her] hear what the Spirit says [is saying] to the churches.” Revelation 3.20-21
In Closing:
Jesus declared early on in His ministry to His early disciples, “Come unto Me…” “Follow Me…” “Learn from Me…” “Abide [continue] in Me and in My words…” “Deny yourself and follow Me…” Jesus is to be our example of true Christianity! Jesus is to be who we are to liken ourselves to while alive here on planet earth. We only get this one life to prove our faithfulness to God and His Word in Christ Jesus. When our final breath of this life leaves our bodies or we hear that final trumpet sound prior to His gathering His end time saints to Himself or not, our opportunity to open the door to our hearts from the inside will be over!
Have we prayed for repentance of our sins recently? Have we prayed that we would be counted worthy to escape the wrath of God’s end time judgment, and if not, why not? Would we be found by Jesus enduring to the end or succumbing to the abounding lawlessness and iniquity of this 21st century Laodicean lukewarm last days generation? Life is short and can end at any moment! Why should we wait to favorably respond to Christ Jesus’ loving rebukes, warnings, and end time admonitions? Can we truly claim to be truly Christ-like overcoming enduring to the end Christians? And if not, why not?
Eternity is just around the corner of this very brief earthly existence! Are we hearing what the Holy Spirit of God is saying to the true surrendered church of this 21st century? Therefore, I hope and pray that we are truly listening with ears to hear what the Holy Spirit of God is saying to us as last days true believers in Jesus! In Him Always, Brother Mike…
According to Jesus 