Facing the Laodicean

There's a section of Scripture in the book of Revelation that nobody wants to be associated with. It's used as a less than stellar example to tell another person that they're spiritually lacking. It's also used for one church organization to make themselves feel better or more righteous than another church organization. Throughout history, there have been different periods that can be recognized. The Renaissance period was different from the early and medieval period. The time before World War I, the so-called Victorian age, was different from the Roaring Twenties. You can look back and see certain periods of history. You can't really help when or even where you were born, can you? If you were born into an Italian family in Rome, during the administration of Mazzolini, you may have just grown up liking fascism. That's all you knew. Or if you were born in China, Cuba, Vietnam, maybe you think communism or socialism is the best.

And if you were born into our modern Western nations, the 20th, 21st century, you'd most likely prefer democracy. Although even that is under attack today. So, if you were born in the ancient city of Laodicea in the first century, what characteristics would you have? So you were born. All you knew growing up. Let's turn to Revelation 1. In Revelation 1, verses 10 and 11, the seven churches of Revelation are quickly listed. They were real cities with real congregations of God's church.

And they each had their own personality. And we actually see some of this personality from these churches of Revelation down through the ages. Even today, we see various elements of these churches in the church today. So Revelation 1, verse 10, John says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a loud voices of a trumpet. So he's getting a vision here, saying, I'm the Alpha and the Amiga, the first and the last. And what you see right in a book, that's why we have the book of Revelation, is sent it to the seven churches.

So this book of Revelation was supposed to be sent to the seven churches, which are in Asia, which is Turkey today, right? The area of Turkey. Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Titus, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

So if you're born in Ephesus, that's the hand you were dealt with. That's what you grew up knowing. And it influenced the personality of the church as well. You'd no doubt have the strengths and weaknesses that were part of that cultural environment. If you were born in Philadelphia, you were dealt that hand, an influence by its local culture. And we can all learn from the messages that were sent to the seven churches here in Revelation. And it's the same as in the case with Laodicea. You would have the strengths and weaknesses of that area that affected your spiritual life.

Some biblical scholars believe that our time of history, our period in history right now, mostly fits the description of the Laodicean churches, church than some of the others. But of course, we see elements of all of the churches of Revelation today. But today I want to focus on Laodicea because it contains a big admonition of which we would be good to take heed. Remember, the seven churches are all told the same thing. Listen. Listen to what the churches are told. Revelation 3 verse 22, if you go over the page a little bit, Revelation 3 verse 22, here's one of those instances.

Revelation 3, 22, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And each of the churches is told that. Listen up. So that's what's said to all of them. And so I guess we too would take heed to listen to what's said here. So today we're going to look at just this one church in a little more detail because, like I said, it's the one that seems to get the bad rap, and of which nobody wants to be like. So let's study it and not be like it. The title of today's sermon is Facing the Later Seeing.

I could have titled it How Not to Be a Later Seeing, or Don't Be a Later Seeing, or Are You a Later Seeing? I just called it Facing the Later Seeing. I have five sections here that will help us remember the major lessons.

And I ask, who is the later seeing? Are you the later seeing? Am I the later seeing? Is somebody else you know the later seeing? So as we go through the points today, you can decide. Now, the Church of God here in Revelation, despite having a number of churches, is one body. But it has multiple congregations and members scattered throughout, not just Asia Minor, the area of Turkey, but throughout the nations, and has been like that down through the centuries.

For example, here in the United Church of God, we have over 400 congregations. They each have their own personality and challenges that they deal with. Maybe congregation in India has different challenges than we have here in Cincinnati. Congregations in South Africa or Zambia have different challenges than what we face here. In Revelation, we see seven specific congregations. There were a lot more than just seven congregations of the Church of God in the first century. But here in this vision, written down by the Apostle John, we see just seven that outline these major personalities. The overall message is that Christ reveals the dominant strengths and weaknesses of the Church, both in John's day and down through the ages.

Even in that 21st century, we see some of these elements in the Church. Each congregation exhibits its own personality. Within these seven congregations are common virtues and problems that Christians in all generations should either follow or avoid, depending on what's being said here.

So we say, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Here today, we'll listen and see what's said. Today, it seems that we're most concerned that we not be like this final church, the Laodiceans.

Revelation 3 is where we want to be to look at Laodicea. Laodicea has a grim distinction of being the only church of which Christ had nothing good to say.

So what's the problem with the church at Laodicea? So let's read through it to get the overview, and then we'll look at each verse in a little more detail. Revelation 3, verse 14, And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write, and here's the quote, here's what the church is being told, These things, says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

So those are all titles with capital letters. So here's what God is saying. Verse 15, I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were cold or hot. You know, on a cold day you want a piping hot drink. On a hot day you want a cold drink. You don't want something tepid in between. So I guess they were neither. They seem to me to be a little useless. Verse 16, so then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

And then verse 17, because you say I'm rich, but become wealthy and have need of nothing. And you don't know that you're actually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Verse 18, So I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye-self that you may see.

So he's telling him they need to develop godly character here. And verse 19, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, therefore be zealous and repent. It is the church of God, but it's a church that's got some issues that it needs to repent of.

And then verse 20, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. And verse 21, To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne. So we're reading that if the church does repent, there's a wonderful reward waiting. And then verse 22, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

So, with this overview, let's talk specifically of the problems that occurred in Laodicea, and which seem to be a warning for us too. And I've got five main sections. And the first one I've titled, Perceived Perfect Understanding. Perceived Perfect Understanding. It's a danger to think we already know it all.

It's a danger to think we have all understanding. There's nothing more to learn. That we don't need to be taught anymore. We've heard it all. And those sermons have anything new for us to learn from. It's just the same old stuff we've heard from the 1960s, the 1970s, or the 2000s. Yeah, I've been in the church my whole life. Revelation 3 verse 17, if we go back to that, Revelation 3, 17, "'Cause you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.

I have it all. And do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. We don't think we need to grow anymore, is what we're reading here in Laodicea. They pretty much had the whole package of understanding wrapped up. Had it perfectly nailed down.' And it's true, there are basic beliefs and practices that are part of God's church that will not change. We have our fundamental beliefs. We have the Sabbath, the Holy Days, tithing, the dietary laws.

Those don't change. But there's a lot of additional understanding that we can still grow into, that we can study about, we can learn from. There are nuances of truth that we may not yet fully have, until we start to look into it. We always need to grow, always need to be teachable. It reminds me of 2 Peter 3 verse 18. We shouldn't assume that we have need of nothing, and that we can't make changes and updates in our faith. 2 Peter 3, 18. You know it well. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen. So don't think you already have perfect understanding. We certainly need to be growing, and growing in grace and knowledge. Which leads us to the second point that I outlined here, and that is, number 2, the latest scenes felt they had no need to grow in grace and knowledge. No need to grow in grace and knowledge. You know, these 66 books of the Bible have a lot of material.

Way beyond just something like our fundamental beliefs. They have a lot to say on many different levels. The more you study, the more you learn. It's actually an amazing book, inspired by God, because you give it a read-through once and you learn a lot. Then you give it a second read-through and you learn a whole lot more. And until your dying day, you continue to learn when you read the inspired word of God. So yes, inspiration is needed, and we need to pray for inspiration, but there's also a matter of perspiration.

We need to dig in and study. And we shouldn't think it just could be read... We've read a few verses, a few chapters, from a few different translations that we now know it all. It takes a lifetime. It's good to see what scholars say about the original languages, about the historical context of certain verses.

And we're lucky that even in the United Church, we've got a lot of careful research that's been done over the years by our church with a lot of extra information that can really help us even get more from it. You know, from our booklets and magazines and TV programs, our Bible commentary on the Old Testament, for example, can really help us get a fuller picture of what's being talked about as we go through a passage to grow in grace and knowledge. We can't just rest on our laurels.

2 Timothy 2 verse 15 is a good passage to remind us here. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 15... Be diligent, or as the Old King James says, study. To present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, or rightly using the word of truth. We have to know how to apply what we read, how to apply the Scriptures, and in various situations, how to divvy it up, how to apply the material, how do I apply this at work, how do I apply this at church, how do I apply this at home, how do I apply this with my kids, with my parents.

So yes, it requires inspiration from God, but also requires some work on our part, a little perspiration. We've got to dig in and study it. So what we have here on our laps, on our smartphones, is a lot of material to study. And it takes work and the power of God's Holy Spirit to come to an understanding. As we read in Timothy, we have to rightly divide the word of truth, rightly use these words of God, and we have to be willing to dig in and study.

We also have to have great respect for what we're reading, great respect for God's word. Let's turn to Isaiah 66 for a moment. If you wouldn't mind us turning to Isaiah 66. Notice the first two verses of Isaiah 66. We have to be very careful not to squeeze these words into our own little worldview. We must not twist it so that it comes out the way we want it to come out. Because that's how strange teachings start to emerge, right? That's actually explained in 2 Timothy 2, the following verses after what we just read about rightly dividing the word of truth. There's a warning about, you know, pet doctrines and things like that.

But Isaiah 66 verse 1, thus says the Lord, the Eternal, quote, Heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool. Where's the house that you would build me? And where is the place of my rest? Verse 2, For all these things my hand is made, And all those things exist, says the Lord. But on this one will I look, On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at my word.

So God's looking for humility. So the question he's asked, can we provide anything for God? Can we provide a place for him to live or rest? Well, no, he's omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, all-powerful. He's the Creator. He already has it all. So he says, you know, where's the house that you could build me? He said, no, I already have the earth even just to rest my feet on. He's the law-giver, the sustainer, the designer, the life-giver. And he inspires prayer and he answers prayer. He inspires prophecy and he fulfills prophecy. God is looking for someone that respects him and trembles at what he says, at his word.

So we have to have tremendous respect for the Word of God. We have to take that with us as we study his Word, as we speak of it, as we think about it, as we teach it, as we live by it. We have to grow in grace and knowledge and really respect and appreciate what we have here, these very words of God.

The third point that we can take from the Church at Laodicea is that they had a spiritual arrogance. This is something that we need to be very careful about. There's a certain spiritual arrogance that you see when you read about Laodicea. I'm going to go back to Revelation 3 and read verse 18 again.

But it's as if they really thought that was something. They were real spiritual giants compared to everyone else. Revelation 3 verse 18 says, But I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich. You know, you thought you were rich, but not really, spiritually. And white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. People don't see you for what you really are, and anoint your eyes with thyself that you may see.

So instead, Jesus Christ says, The Laodicea and Church needed to see themselves as God saw them. It's kind of like that with us too. We have to see ourselves as God sees us and grow. We ought to be humble and out of a contrite spirit. Why were we called into God's Church? Is it because we're VIPs? Great spiritual heroes? Great giants in our field?

Well, no. Actually, there are some very humbling words in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 26. The Talos, 1 Corinthians 1 verse 26. For you see your calling, brethren, not many wise, according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. We're not chosen because of the fantastic contribution we've already made to society. Or something like that. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 27. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. And the base things of the world, the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. None of us can think more of ourselves than we should.

So 1 Corinthians 1, 26 through 29, he is describing the Church. That's us. That's how we were called. It doesn't mean that none of us are successful or smart or wise, and there's some that are. But as the world sees fame and fortune and nobility, nobility, it's certainly not the majority of us. God has generally chosen those who could be despised by worldly standards. Even when it comes to preaching the Gospel, we have to fight for every penny that we spend to do the tiny work that we do. If God just chose Bill Gates or somebody, or just one billionaire, you get the Gospel preacher and the world in one night. But no, we're to work at it. God hasn't chosen those kind of people to finance His Church right now. He's chosen us to be humble, faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

And then the answer is so that when the world sees the humble people who eventually become kings and priests and judges upon Christ's return, that they'll then obey God themselves. It's so that no flesh should glory in His presence. It's a very important thing to remember and consider from these verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. We're not supposed to stay like that, though. We are supposed to grow. We're not to remain spiritually foolish and ignorant. We are to grow in character and godliness after God calls us to His way.

Look at Luke chapter 18. As we look at this point 3 on spiritual arrogance, Luke chapter 18 for a moment.

Because we don't want to be like the arrogant Pharisee here in Luke 18. We don't want to slip into this frame of mind, this type of arrogance. So the later scenes were accused of it. And then look at this parable here in Luke 18 verse 10. This is Jesus Himself saying that, in giving this parable, Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. In verse 11, the Pharisee stood and prayed with himself, God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess. I even fast longer than 24 hours at a time. I do extra fasting. So here's the spiritual arrogance here from the Pharisee. In those days, tax collectors were despised. Maybe like some professionals today, even some lawyers today get despised. In those days, tax collectors were, to some degree, looked at almost as criminals by people. It was common for them to keep a percentage of what they collected. But some had a reputation for being overzealous in the percentage that they kept. People didn't like it when the tax collector came around. So we're warned not to get into that frame of mind. Spiritual arrogance. Looking down on others who don't do all that you do or who do the things that you don't do. Or, in this case, pray exactly like you pray. Who has the better attitude? Jesus said it was the humble tax collector that had the better attitude. Even though maybe he didn't fast quite as often, he didn't pray quite as long. He had the better attitude. Remember, at least one of Jesus' disciples, Matthew, was a tax collector. And so, Christ shows all sorts. The way we humble ourselves is to have a proper perspective on who we are before God.

Particularly compared to Jesus Christ. We need to keep this in mind, to watch out for spiritual arrogance like the later scenes had. That they were warned about. The fourth point I've called spiritual chauvinism. Spiritual chauvinism. So, what other attributes do we see here in the church at Laodicea? It does appear that they had a sort of spiritual chauvinism that they thought of themselves as somehow special.

But the apostle Peter makes a great statement that we in the church did not come from anything particularly special. So, we read about it in 1 Corinthians 1. But notice what Peter says in 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2 verse 9 and 10.

1 Peter 2 verse 9.

But you are a chosen generation. Also, we are special. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. His own special people. You may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You see, like in 1 Corinthians 1, God didn't call the mighty the noble. He says verse 10, You who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. So, it's the calling of God that makes us special. It's not because of anything we have.

And yes, it is special to be part of God's church, to be part of the first roots in this time. But once, we were not.

It's wonderful to be part of the body of Christ. But it's not because of anything we did, or our upbringing, or our heritage, or how much money we had.

And so, we cannot thank God enough for calling us. For putting us into His church. For giving us the opportunity for eternal life. Who once were not a people but now are the people of God. And He's giving us the opportunity to help our fellow human beings to one day create a type of paradise on this earth once again.

We're the first to be called. The first to have this opportunity. But it's not because of how great we are. We were called out of darkness. It's what Peter reminds everybody. So we shouldn't have a sort of spiritual chauvinism and think that we're extra special. We come from all kinds of backgrounds. But then, we come together and we become a congregation. We become a church. People from all kinds of backgrounds. We become a church. Brothers and sisters in the church. Who once were not a people but now are the people of God and have a pain God's mercy. Here's a very interesting example of spiritual chauvinism. There's a standard in the Orthodox Jewish community that says, the more commandments you keep, the more important you are. The better you feel about yourself, the more righteous you are. Of course, this Orthodox Jewish community, believe, is not a biblical standard. It's one made up mostly by men, as you'll see. So according to the Orthodox Jews, men have the most commandments to keep. They've come up with 613 commandments for the men to keep.

Israelite women have fewer than 613. Because women have responsibilities, for example, taking care of the family in the home. And so they don't have time for all the rituals that the men keep.

They bear the children, they become pregnant, they raise the kids. So they don't have time to do these 613 things that the men do.

And for the men, the commandments have to be kept at a specific time in the Orthodox community, like praying. At three times a day, at specific intervals. The women are allowed to pray when they get around to it.

But men have to pray three times a day. And so the men are superior, see? You've got 613 commandments to keep.

So there are certain commandments in the Jewish traditions, not as I said traditions, that are now found in the Jewish Talmud, not the Bible. And they're dependent upon certain times of the day. Women don't have to obey those commandments. Next in line, after the women, the Israelites, the Jews, would bring certain servants into their homes.

Gentile servants.

And very often the male servants would be circumcised and start to live like a Jew. And they would, by living in an Israelite home, come to live the lifestyle of an Israelite. And these were potential converts of Judaism, and would keep many of the rituals and commandments of the owners of the home.

So these circumcised Gentile servants would have to keep a lot of those 613 laws. Then finally, at the bottom of the totem pole, below the Jewish men, below the Jewish women, below the circumcised Gentile converts, are the Gentiles themselves who only have 7 laws to keep.

And in the Talmud they call them the 7 Noahide Laws after Noah. The 7 Noahide Laws is all the Gentiles have to do. So to give you some perspective on this, here's what Wikipedia says about the Noahide Laws. The 7 laws of Noah, also referred to as the Noahide Laws, are a set of imperatives which, according to the Talmud, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a binding set of laws for the children of Noah, that is, for all of humanity. Accordingly, any non-Jew who adheres to these laws, because they were given by Moses, is regarded as a righteous Gentile. So if you keep these 7, you can be a righteous Gentile. Still, at the bottom of the totem pole, mind you. And it is short of a place in the world to come the final reward of the righteous. So the 7 Noahide Laws that are traditionally enumerated are the following. So here's the 7, not 600, 7 that the Gentiles have to keep. Number 1, not to worship idols. Number 2, not to curse God. Number 3, to establish courts of justice. Number 4, not to commit murder. Number 5, not to commit adultery or sexual immorality. Number 6, not to steal. Number 7, not to eat flesh torn from a living animal. Mind you, I don't know why anybody would eat flesh torn from a living animal anyway, but anyway, that's number 7. So the Wikipedia says, according to the Talmud, the rabbis agree, good on them, that the 7 laws were given to the sons of Noah. And so that's what the rest of humanity, that's not Jewish, has to do. So there are 613 laws for the Jewish male, 7 for the Gentile. So that led for men to be really appreciative of being a Jewish man. And here's the prayer that they will get up saying every morning.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has not created me a Gentile. Thank God! And then they will say, blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has not created me a slave, or a servant of the household. And then finally the morning prayer would say, blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, you can Google this, you'll find it, who has not created me a woman. Thank God I'm not a woman. Talk about spiritual chauvinism here in the Talmud. See, the men had the most obligations. They felt the most privilege, the most righteous. And they were spiritual chauvinists. And we see that in the middle of the church at Laodicea. They were better than...they were way above everybody else. Thank God I'm not from Smyrna. Thank God I'm not from Thyatira. But here's the big but. Look at Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3. The Apostle Paul himself completely devastated this idea.

And you know what? Paul, as a devout Pharisee, he grew up saying those prayers, just as the Jews do today. He would have done this the best, the Apostle Paul. He would have gotten more and said, thank you, Lord, I am not a Gentile or a woman or a slave.

But as we know, Paul became converted and came to see the truth of the matter afterwards. Galatians 3 verse 26.

No, you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. It's an even playing field. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Look at verses. So now you know why he says this in verse 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There's neither slave nor free. There's neither male nor female. You are all one in Christ Jesus. And in verse 29, then if you be Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. And heirs according to the promise. Everyone can be an heir of salvation. No matter where you were born, where you were brought up, where you lived, who your parents were.

So this destroys the idea that you're so great because you're not a slave. It destroys the notion that you're so great because you're not a female. No, if we are in Christ Jesus, then we are of Abraham's seed. And we are heirs to the promise of eternal life. We're all going to be spirit beings. Eternal sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. Every person is essential.

And as we know, God has a plan of salvation for everyone who has ever lived.

So don't let spiritual chauvinism take root. It's what we're reading here about Laodicea. The last point I have is vanity in knowledge. They're all kind of a little bit similar to these points, but I've called this one vanity in knowledge. Let's go back to Revelation 3 verse 17 and read that one again. So here's one final point of danger. It's a desire to have some kind of secret knowledge that puts us one step ahead spiritually of everyone else. Some people will become very vain or self-righteous in what they know. Revelation 3 verse 17. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing. It's this vanity I already know it all. The point is, a lot of times what we think we know isn't really right.

We're mistaken. We haven't studied it thoroughly. We haven't vetted it against scriptural fundamental beliefs. But even if we do know more on a particular topic, or a doctrine than somebody, that knowledge isn't our character. Just because you know extra stuff doesn't make you more righteous or give you additional character. All through history there have been those who have felt they're in some special privileged group. Because of some secret knowledge they have. And you're familiar with the different secret societies that are on these conspiracy websites and whatnot. But in fact, the latest scenes were told, no, you're Luke warm and God is going to spit you out. The knowledge you have is not going to save you. 1 Timothy 6 verse 20. I just wanted to read this one for a moment. 1 Timothy 6 verses 20 and 21. Let me read it to you. 1 Timothy 6 verse 20. Oh, Timothy, guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. Because by professing it, some have strayed concerning the faith. So you've got to watch out. You don't get caught up in what others feel is very important knowledge. For this to be a danger, you don't have to be involved in some cultic secret knowledge. It may simply be people who tend to feel like they're in some kind of insider group. They're getting insider news that others aren't getting. Maybe they're subscribed to a special newsletter that's only available to those who request it. They follow a particular preacher who has insider knowledge. So he's their favorite preacher because he's got the inside scoop. But we must understand something. When end-time prophecies are fulfilled, we're not going to have to have some special insight, a special newsletter that only we get, or a favorite preacher tell us.

Think about it. When World War II broke out, it was pretty obvious. Everybody knew it. There wasn't some secret newsletter thing. Oh, by the way, World War II's broken out. When the stock market crashed, anybody that had any investment knew about it. They didn't need a secret newsletter to tell them when the stock market crashed. And so when end-time prophecies are fulfilled, it's going to be rather obvious to the whole church.

You're not going to need a special insider newsletter that no one else subscribes to but you. If you know the Bible, if you know the Word of God, it's going to be right out there for you to see. You'll understand what's happening.

There are tendencies that we see quite a bit in our day and time. If I join such and such a group, or follow such and such a person, I'll be there before everybody else.

Because I'm a true Philadelphian. You know, or something, whatever. Whatever they say. So we need to be teachable. We need to be careful in our research. We need to stick to the trunk of the doctrinal tree and not look for some kind of secret knowledge that puts us one step ahead spiritually of other people. We need to be careful about having some special feeling about something in which we actually have no control. Like figuring out the return of the date of Jesus Christ. You're not going to figure that one out. But when it is about to happen, you'll know. When certain events unfold, then we know we're in the time of the end and great tribulation starts. And then you can say, oh yeah, now I know we do have three and a half years. But you don't have to try and set dates to save yourself. Now notice Revelation 3 verse 20, the incredible promise to the church at Laodicea. Revelation 3 verse 20. Revelation 3 and verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him and he with me.

So would Jesus Christ be comfortable dining in your home? Would you hear him knock? Are you opening the door? It's interesting that he doesn't open the door. You have to open the door. You've got to answer the call. You've got to turn the handle.

Because as we read in verse 20 here, in many respects, the reward is very great to the church at Laodicea if they'll just open the door when he's knocking. Dining with Christ. Verse 19 says, Therefore be zealous and repent. So we repent and we let Christ into our lives. That's the answer to all these problems that the church of Laodicea had. Let Christ in. They thought they didn't need him. They already had everything. They're rich, increased with good, spiritually speaking. Then verse 21. Then verse 21. To him who overcomes our grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne.

So he who has in here let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The angels' messages here have great implications for the end time, as we know. And so in many respects, it's to us that these prophecies and warnings have been delivered. This message to the seven churches. So to recap our main points. Number one, don't always think you have perfect understanding and know it all. Be careful about being a know-it-all, right? Grow in grace and knowledge. Watch out for spiritual arrogance. Watch out for spiritual chauvinism. And don't be lured into vanity in knowledge. Some secret knowledge. So who is the lay to sin? You decide. Revelation 2 verse 7, a final scripture. Revelation 2 verse 7. Once again, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And to him who overcomes, I would give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. That's where we all want to be. Eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God. So, pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for God's Spirit to fill your life. And pray for the strength to oppose the evil forces of this world. And be prepared to be adorned as the very bride of Christ. Ready for the resurrection. Ready to be a part of the paradise of God.