Sign of Times (Part XII - 22)

By Moonings

Laodicea's Tragic Self-Deception

The letter to Laodicea describes a people who sound exactly like modern evangelical Christians. The Laodiceans are smug about their Christianity. They imagine that no one could stand higher in God's estimation than they do. But they are self-deceived.

14 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;15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17 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:18 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.19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.20 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.21 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.22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:14-22

Here we have a church that outwardly appears very prosperous. Its people even have the audacity to boast that they have need of nothing. Perceiving the bustling success of their church as a sign of God's favor, they freely thank God for His special blessings upon them. In their hearts they feel secure in their salvation, and they have no doubt that they will go to heaven. If they believe in the Rapture, they expect to be included. But what is their true condition? Jesus says that despite the size and wealth of their church, He does not take any pleasure in the Laodiceans. They are, in fact, disgusting, like the taste of lukewarm water.

The terms He uses to describe these people show clearly that they are not born again. His assessment is that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind" (v. 17). What does "blind" mean? It means that they do not see the truth. If they do not see the truth, how can they be saved? Jesus adds that they are also "naked." The meaning must be that they are not clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness.

The Laodiceans resemble the false Christians whom Christ elsewhere pictures as foolish virgins.

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:1-13

Like the foolish virgins, the Laodiceans think they belong to Christ, but they are not saved.
The Lord issues Laodicea an alarming threat. He says that He intends to spew them out of His mouth. When will He do this if not when He returns for the church? Thus, we find that Scripture twice portrays the returning Christ in an act of rejection. He will spew Laodicea out of His mouth, and He will deny the foolish virgins access to the heavenly feast. The foolish virgins and the Laodiceans are both evidently figures for the self-satisfied but unregenerate people who will fill churches at the time of Christ's return.

Never have churches with the look of Laodicea been so common as they are today. The present condition of the church is therefore strong evidence that we live in the Last Days.