OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 15 Listen to Audio

                                    August 12, 2009

 

3:12- once again, we encounter a promise made to those called “overcomers”,

who have shown themselves victors in the challenge of this church.  “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and shall go out no more”-

The reward for victorious living is a status of permanency (pillar) in the future

sphere of divine rule- see 21:2 and 21:22.  While the language is deliberately figurative, yet it is intended to parallel terms like “lived and reigned with Christ”- in 20:4.  “go out no more” shows permanent status or standing as part of the

elite servants of the Lord who have shown themselves to be victorious.

   “I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of

My God, the New Jerusalem”- this identification is that of elevation or promotion so as to be known as a Victor (overcomer)—in association both with God’s name (holy) and God’s city, New Jerusalem.  From these positions of

promotion, godly leaders will share in Christ’s rule over the earth.

   “I will write on him my new name”- this repeated inclusion with the

Name of God is part of the Divine New World Order of Christ’s supreme rulership to be implemented after His return to earth- 20:6, 21:7, 22:5.  See I Cor.15:49 where the indication is we shall experience “the image of the heavenly Man”.

Old identities will not adequately serve the new order- Rev.21:4- “the former things have passed away”.   The Lord is pleased to respond to His obedient

servants with the gifts of leadership, management and supervisory positions

in His millennial reign.  Their efforts do not go unobserved, nor unrewarded.

 

3:13- “he who has an ear, let him hear…” Each time, this remark appears

to emphasis the reality of the overcomer-reward offer. It is to appeal to our

individual responsibility to obey our Lord and thus find reward for doing so.

 

3:14- we come to the last of the 7 churches—Laodicea—a word which may mean “justice of the people” (Robertson) or “rights of the people”.  The introduction characterizes Christ with 3 terms: “the Amen”=One who affirms

or vindicates. “the Faithful and True Witness”-see 1:5 and lastly, “the beginning of the creation of God”- indicating Christ as Head over the New Order- Colossians 1:15-20.

  Christ is the undeniable Affirmation of all that God is and all that God has done on behalf of man.  His earthly life vindicated God’s righteousness in the Law in contrast with man’s sinfulness, His teachings affirm the prophetic and symbolic truths of the Law and the Prophets and His sufferings bear witness to divine Love (John 3:16, I John 4:10).  In turn, His resurrection from the dead confirms Christ as the Life-giver and Sustainer- see John 11:25, 14:6.

 

3:15-16 “I know…you are neither cold nor hot”- Much has been made of the geographic circumstance of Laodicea as a city surrounded by springs that

 

 

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issued hot or cold water.  The believers (local church) lack those qualities—rather, they reveal a mediocrity or “lukewarm” condition that is repulsive

to the Lord.  Generally, the opposites of “hot” and “cold” express a kind of

either fervor or contrasting hostility to spiritual matters.  “Lukewarm” is seen as an abnormal state and receives rebuke (vs.15-16) resulting in divine disapproval and rejection (“vomit you out of my Mouth”).

  Normally, we would view “cold” as the equivalent of disobedience; yet, Laodicea is not rebuked for such.  Their condition is more grave in that, it

involves self-deception !  Laodicea is not in conscious rebellion against the Lord; rather, they have false standards of spirituality that has caused them to accept a pseudo-Christianity that lacks authenticity.

 

3:17-“because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing”- the false standards accepted by them has caused Laodicea to justify themselves due to an accumulation of wealth, which then prompts more arrogance.   Rather, they are, in fact, “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked”.  This list reflects a divine standard that the church has lost sight of due to self-deception ( I John 1:8).  Much like Sardis (3:1) who has “a name..but you are dead”, Laodicea has a kind of external behavior, but is void of authenticity.