Sermon Central
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The Church At Laodicea Series
Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Jan 20, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: The Church at Laodicea, a church, it seems, with no redeeming qualities. Luke warm, every church was commended for something, except the Laodicean church. Are we like the Laodicean church?
I. Introduction
A. The city of Laodicea was almost due East of Ephesus about 120 miles or so on a major trade route in Asia
1. The city was a banking center and so a very wealthy city
a. The city was also the site of mineral springs which could only be tolerated if it was drank very hot or very cold otherwise it would cause nausea
b. Another thing was that the city was the center of the manufacture of a salve for the eyes
B. The name Laodicea comes from two Greek words
1. One means People
2. The other means to judge
3. So the meaning of the name of the city is the rule of the people or self rule
C. Church age
1. I believe that the age of the church at Laodicea began after World War II
a. Soldiers who fought in the East brought Eastern wives home
(1) Japanese
(2) Korean
(3) Chinese
(4) And other non-Christian women
(5) This goes along with the error of Balaam - these young soldiers became unequally yoked with non-Christians who lead them away from the church
b. This along with the advent of the great American Middle Class
(1) GI Bill educations
(2) GI Bill homes
(3) An Abundance of well paying jobs
c. All leading to the beginning of the general move away from the church
d. And to self-indulgence
(1) Which goes along very well with the name self-rule
2. J. Vernon Mc Gee believes that the church at Laodicea is the great religious prostitute of the tribulation period
3. Renald Showers in his article on Laodicea says that this church is made up of people who have been exposed to the gospel message; but do not have a personal relationship with Christ
4. But, the terminology does not allow for these two interpretations
a. In the Greek the word for church is Ecclassia, literally called out ones.
b. Christ would not have said, to the called out ones in Laodicea if they were not called out ones
c. The great religious prostitute of the tribulation will deny the very name of Christ, His deity, His sovereignty, and His very person
d. Those who may appear to be church members but have no relationship with Christ may fool you and me; but they would hardly fool the God of the universe
5. No I truly believe that the age of the Loadicean church is now!!!
D. This is the last church and the last church age. As we examine this church we shall see
1. The Condemnation
2. The Warning
3. And the promise
4. Let's turn to Revelation 3:14
II. Body
A. The preamble to Christ's message to the church at Laodicea also sheds some light on the character of the church's Lord and Master
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
1. Christ calls Himself
a. The Amen
b. The faithful and the true witness
c. The beginning of the creation of God
2. The Amen
a. This is the only place in the Scriptures where Amen is a proper name
(1) Several commentators call this an enigmatic use of the word
(a) A mystery
(2) But, Dr. M.R. DeHaan and Harry Ironside both believe that this is a reference to keeping the covenants
(a) The Amen, the one who will fulfill all the promises made to God's people
b. Christ is the Amen, the promise keeper
3. Christ calls Himself the faithful and true witness
a. In the past, we could count on such men as Gabriel Heater and H.B. Carltonborn to broadcast the news with unbridled truth
b. Today, we get very little of the naked truth in the Media
c. Even our local news casters seem to have a hidden agenda
d. But, Christ will unveil everything
(1) faithfully - that is completely
(2) truthfully - that is without deceit
e. But, witness also speaks of His being able to see everything
(1) Turn to Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
(2) This means that He knows our motives
(3) He knows our commitment
(4) He knows what we have done and what we haven't done
4. The faithful and true witness who sees and knows everything will one day judge each of us as He has already judged the church at Laodicea
