knocking at the door

[Bookends]

In regards to the church ages.. you can look at each of the seven churches represented and then look at churches history and see where they fit. There are general characteristics that do fit. The Loadicean church age would fit today's churches because they tend not to be biblically based.. and consider themselves having monetary or possession wealth.. yet because of these two things would qualify as being 'wretched, poor, naked'. Not completely cold... because they do try and worship Jesus.. but not hot either because they compromise to allow for worldy possessions and wealth.

Of course there will be churches that are hot- faithful and biblically based.. but they wouldn't be representative of the general trend.

That is how at least the Loadicean church age would apply. My pastor says, when he goes back home to look at the churches there.. you get an area with the same type of churches every couple of miles..heaps of them. So people don't stick with a church.. if a church doesn't have the nice building and flash band.. they go and look for another. That's shallowness-- lukewarmness.. with an emphasis on materialism.

I'm sure I could make fit the 7 churches fit any time in history if I try hard enough.

 

[wattie]

I'm sure I could make fit the 7 churches fit any time in history if I try hard enough.

Well, someone could do that. But remember the seven churches are also in relation to end of times.. end of the church age. Some of what is told to these churches is actually about what happens in the end.

I do need to ask how it is worked out though exactly that the churches do represent ages.. I am not completely sure how the conclusion is reached aside from general church history trends.

 

[Bookends]

Well, someone could do that. But remember the seven churches are also in relation to end of times.. end of the church age. Some of what is told to these churches is actually about what happens in the end.

I do need to ask how it is worked out though exactly that the churches do represent ages.. I am not completely sure how the conclusion is reached aside from general church history trends.

Wattie, stating that Revelation is a book in revealing the last days of the world is a matter of opinion and interpretation. And one that I don't hold, expect for a few parts of it.

 

[MisterHarmony]

You can always deepen your relationship with the Lord, right? Someone knocking at the door is trying to get your attention. The Lord says "Here I am", " Come to Me". "For I am a jealous God" He desires our focus as much as possible, yes?
And what else did the Lord say to do while we are waiting for Him? "Stay awake." Anyone ever been awoken to someone knocking at the door?

 

[wattie]

You can always deepen your relationship with the Lord, right? Someone knocking at the door is trying to get your attention. The Lord says "Here I am", " Come to Me". "For I am a jealous God" He desires our focus as much as possible, yes?
And what else did the Lord say to do while we are waiting for Him? "Stay awake." Anyone ever been awoken to someone knocking at the door?

Yah.. this Revelation is about this- deepening relationship. Loadicean church had a luke-warm one-- still a church but concerned with worldy material wealth.. so Jesus knocks on their figurative door to tell them to 'buy gold tried in the fire'- from Jesus-- not from worldy possessions/wealth.

 

[Yet]

In the light of all the other scriptures that point to the support of itinerant preachers and the verse 'feed the flock of a God not for money, in the local body, this verse is speaking to the incoming traveling teacher such as the apostle. But even Paul refused this support and encouraged others to follow his example. Then it was only food and shelter, not support at the level of the likes of the false teacher/prophet Benny Hinn.

 

[wattie]

In the light of all the other scriptures that point to the support of itinerant preachers and the verse 'feed the flock of a God not for money, in the local body, this verse is speaking to the incoming traveling teacher such as the apostle. But even Paul refused this support and encouraged others to follow his example. Then it was only food and shelter, not support at the level of the likes of the false teacher/prophet Benny Hinn.

Yes, you can gleam even more from scripture like you say.. by going to the other parts of the New Testament addressed to or about the church at Loadicea.

Eg. Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;


Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

So the epistle to the Colossians, is also very pertinent to the Laodiceans.

1Ti 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.

And from First Timothy we can know some of what was addressed to him was from Laodicea.

 

[tribesman]

I congratulate all who find out that most of scripture has not an universal address but is addressed to the covenant people of God, both covenants. One typical example of erroneously wanting to read in an universal address is found in Joshua 24:15:

Josh.24

[14] Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
[15] And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Advocates of the error of free-willism will go head over heels to say: look, this is for "all without exception" to choose out of their own free will if they want to follow God or not. When context makes it clear that its "all the tribes of Israel ... the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers" who was addressed. But free-willers are yet making the presumptuous assumption that it is an universal address, implying ability at will for the whole lost world, pagans and unregenerates alike.

So its always good to find out who's really being addressed in the Bible and what that means for us, if anything.

 

[wattie]

I congratulate all who find out that most of scripture has not an universal address but is addressed to the covenant people of God, both covenants. One typical example of erroneously wanting to read in an universal address is found in Joshua 24:15:

Advocates of the error of free-willism will go head over heels to say: look, this is for "all without exception" to choose out of their own free will if they want to follow God or not. When context makes it clear that its "all the tribes of Israel ... the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers" who was addressed. But free-willers are yet making the presumptuous assumption that it is an universal address, implying ability at will for the whole lost world, pagans and unregenerates alike.

So its always good to find out who's really being addressed in the Bible and what that means for us, if anything.

Well yah.. Revelation 3:20-- people want to apply to all kinds of contexts and situations.. particularly to a verse about receiving eternal life.. but as the thread has been going-- its context is of a church family being convicted as a whole about their worldy ways.

Altho I would probably be classified a 'free-willer' since I do believe you gotta call for salvation.. I don't accept that after salvation is given it can be taken away. So no free will to take or leave it after.