Message to Laodicia

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#21
Hi Nehemiah, where are the scriptural references for the three items. I would like to see them. I had never thought of gold tried in the fire as being good works. Do you have an Scripture to support this? Incredible thoughts on this.
Here is the Scripture passage I had in mind (1 Cor 3:9-15):

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.


11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.


12
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;


13
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.


14
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.


15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
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#22
Christ is saying he loved those folks and is warning them to repent
Of course He loved those folks as He loves all sinners -- indeed the whole world of sinful humanity. The real issue is whether genuine Christians can be labeled as "naked" (spiritually) when they have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and wear the "white raiment" which is the robe of His righteousness.

Of course if you believe that all people who call themselves Christians are automatically regenerated, then who can argue with you? But the Lord Himself said that there would be tares and wheat in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Laodiceans were tares pretending to be wheat. There are probably hundreds of thousands which fit this description.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
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#23
Of course He loved those folks as He loves all sinners -- indeed the whole world of sinful humanity. The real issue is whether genuine Christians can be labeled as "naked" (spiritually) when they have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and wear the "white raiment" which is the robe of His righteousness.

Of course if you believe that all people who call themselves Christians are automatically regenerated, then who can ar - gue with you? But the Lord Himself said that there would be tares and wheat in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Laodiceans were tares pretending to be wheat. There are probably hundreds of thousands which fit this description.
Amazing how you can make so much from so little - no mention of tares by Christ, so he rebukes and chastens tares now does he?
 
Dec 4, 2017
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#24
He is probably not speaking to us at all since the letter was specifically addressed to someone else... in a totally different time. We can learn some things, but it is a bit arrogant to think He was speaking to us, of all the 50 generations who have lived and died before we were even born.
Hello willyt,

Do think it would fair to say that the Lord is able to speak to us in the Living Word.
So that every generation has the Scripture to grow.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#25
Hello willyt,

Do think it would fair to say that the Lord is able to speak to us in the Living Word.
So that every generation has the Scripture to grow.
Of course. That is what I said. We, today, can glean something from just about every word written in any book of the Bible. But He did not have John pen that letter specifically for people who wouldn't even be living for another 2,000 years. How insulting it is of us to say that the letter was not for the church it was addressed to, and really didn't have anything for the millions who have lived died and between then and now....... as though the secreted words were hidden for all these centuries until we privileged few were eventually born... to finally understand what John "really" meant.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#26
Amazing how you can make so much from so little - no mention of tares by Christ, so he rebukes and chastens tares now does he?
Well, just ask yourself if it is even possible for a genuine -- regenerated -- Christian (a child of God) to be indicted for the following deficiencies:

1. wretched

2. miserable

3. poor

4. blind

5. naked


For example, Christ called the hypocritical Pharisees blind leaders of the blind, but He told His disciples that when they received the Holy Spirit, He would lead them into all truth. And John said that believers have an unction from the Holy One and know all things (1 Jn 2:20).
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,261
5,618
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#27
I don't see church history falling neatly into to 7 distinct periods.

It might be easy to make a case for the contemporary Church being the Laodicean Church age. and the second half of the 19th century being the Philadelphian Church age. It would be much harder to make a clear case for the other 5 churches in Rev chapters 1-3.
I don't either given the fact that in some parts of the world the church is heavily persecuted (The letter to Smyrna addresses those in this situation). And there are some times and places of growth and prosperity in the church. We've been very blessed in the Western world. I do hope we don't blow it!
 

Alertandawake

Senior Member
Aug 20, 2017
436
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28
#28
in this day and age, i relate “lukewarm” as either the following: politically correct, diversity, tolerance.

Lets look at it from another angle, either side with truth, or side with lies, not both. But today many fit into the category of being what I term as a “truth compromiser” or “truth negiotator”, one that comprises their beliefs so as not to offend others.
 
Jul 12, 2012
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#30
Interesting point Locutus. One of the amazing things is that Christ takes the time to reach out to those who by any other appearance are in a hopeless state. The fact that He still loves them, shows me that He still loves me, but again, I need to repent for my luke warmness, and in order to repent I need to get those three items Jesus talked about :)
 
Jul 12, 2012
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#31
Wow, I had never heard the Scripture reference for gold being good works, but that makes a lot of sense. Interesting they are "tried in the fire". This reminds me of what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:12-14

[SIZE=+0]12[/SIZE] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
[SIZE=+0]13[/SIZE] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
[SIZE=+0]14[/SIZE] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#32
Wow, I had never heard the Scripture reference for gold being good works, but that makes a lot of sense. Interesting they are "tried in the fire". This reminds me of what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:12-14

[SIZE=+0]12[/SIZE] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
[SIZE=+0]13[/SIZE] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
[SIZE=+0]14[/SIZE] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Gold, silver and precious stones <--faithful works
Wood, hay and stubble <--unfaithful works

both produced by the saved children of God and rewarded/judged at the Bema seat of Christ....1st Corinthians 3
 
Jul 12, 2012
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#33
An interesting thought: So if gold tried in the fire is good works, how do we buy them from Him?
 
Dec 9, 2017
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#34
An interesting thought: So if gold tried in the fire is good works, how do we buy them from Him?
With our life devoted to Him. Ro 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
586
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#35
Hi friends! I have a passage from Scripture I would like to discuss with anyone who wants to. The passage is Revelation 3:14-22:

[SIZE=+0]14[/SIZE] 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;
[SIZE=+0]15[/SIZE] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[SIZE=+0]16[/SIZE] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[SIZE=+0]17[/SIZE] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
[SIZE=+0]18[/SIZE] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
[SIZE=+0]19[/SIZE] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[SIZE=+0]20[/SIZE] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[SIZE=+0]21[/SIZE] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[SIZE=+0]22[/SIZE] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

First, does anyone believe that the church today is the church of Laodicia. If so, what are your thoughts about the three things that Jesus says the church needs.
  1. Gold tried in the fire
  2. white raiment that thou mayest be clothed
  3. Eyesalve

I would like to hear thoughts on these things :)
The letters to the seven churches are not prophecies of different periods of Church history, they are messages to each named individual church. However, each letter to the churches has lessons for all of Christ's Church in all ages. We need to take note of the warnings, and rejoice in the promises, that Jesus gives to these churches. There have been many different kinds of churches in every period of Church history. The word of God is the eternal voice of God to His people. The Holy Spirit meets the particular and local needs of each church through His gifts.

The different conditions described in each church by the Lord Jesus are the conditions and problems that will be found in the Church in the days immediately before the Lord’s Second Coming.
 
Jun 6, 2015
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#36
Hi friends! I have a passage from Scripture I would like to discuss with anyone who wants to. The passage is Revelation 3:14-22:

[SIZE=+0]14[/SIZE] 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;
[SIZE=+0]15[/SIZE] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[SIZE=+0]16[/SIZE] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[SIZE=+0]17[/SIZE] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
[SIZE=+0]18[/SIZE] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
[SIZE=+0]19[/SIZE] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[SIZE=+0]20[/SIZE] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[SIZE=+0]21[/SIZE] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[SIZE=+0]22[/SIZE] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

First, does anyone believe that the church today is the church of Laodicia. If so, what are your thoughts about the three things that Jesus says the church needs.
  1. Gold tried in the fire
  2. white raiment that thou mayest be clothed
  3. Eyesalve

I would like to hear thoughts on these things :)
Rev.1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, verse 10 John was taken in the spirit to the Lords day, the Lords day is the millinum, he will shortly see what will happen just before, during and after Christ returns, all of Rev. is about that time and that includes the seven churches, those seven Churches are todays Christian Churches or denominations, the church of Laodicia cannot buy Gods gold [truth] because it cannot be bought with money, the white raiment that is worn in Heaven is made up of our righteous act and washed in the blood of the lamb, eyesalve gives you eyes to see the truth when you read it.

There are two Churches that God found no fault with, Rev.2:10 and 3:10, those two churches are here today, if anyone wants to know who they are I will tell them. God bless
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#37
Just ask yerself how and why Christ calls them "ekklesia"...
"Ekklesia" is used for both (a) local churches and (b) the Church of Christ (all those who have been saved by grace). Since the term for each of the seven churches is "ekklesia" it simply means "assembly". But as it quite obvious from Revelation 1-3, all of these assemblies had faithful Christians and apostates pretending to be Christians . So the use of that term does not define the nature of those within the assemblies.

and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#38
An interesting thought: So if gold tried in the fire is good works, how do we buy them from Him?
Christians receive eternal life as a free gift from God, but EARN rewards and crowns by their good works. Thus we "buy" from Christ gold tried in the fire, which is simply a metaphor for receiving something from Christ. Notice the use of the term "buy" in Isa 55:1: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

"Buy" simply means to receive, since no one can literally buy anything from God.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#39
"Ekklesia" is used for both (a) local churches and (b) the Church of Christ (all those who have been saved by grace). Since the term for each of the seven churches is "ekklesia" it simply means "assembly". But as it quite obvious from Revelation 1-3, all of these assemblies had faithful Christians and apostates pretending to be Christians . So the use of that term does not define the nature of those within the assemblies.

and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
.....
.....


Nice try at mixing and matching verses here in an attempt to prove nothing.

Great eisegesis.
 

tanakh

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2015
4,635
1,040
113
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#40
Hi friends! I have a passage from Scripture I would like to discuss with anyone who wants to. The passage is Revelation 3:14-22:

[SIZE=+0]14[/SIZE] 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;
[SIZE=+0]15[/SIZE] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[SIZE=+0]16[/SIZE] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[SIZE=+0]17[/SIZE] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
[SIZE=+0]18[/SIZE] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
[SIZE=+0]19[/SIZE] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[SIZE=+0]20[/SIZE] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[SIZE=+0]21[/SIZE] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[SIZE=+0]22[/SIZE] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

First, does anyone believe that the church today is the church of Laodicia. If so, what are your thoughts about the three things that Jesus says the church needs.
  1. Gold tried in the fire
  2. white raiment that thou mayest be clothed
  3. Eyesalve

I would like to hear thoughts on these things :)
The message was to a Church in Laodicia that existed some 2000 years ago. There are individual Churches that may have some of the faults mentioned in the letter, but I dont believe that the letters represent different Church ages