Prophetically, the church at Ephesus represents the first century after Christ. The church had grown into a force to be reckoned with, and Christianity was starting to challenge the religions and ideological institutions of the day.

Ephesus, was a prominent city and was the gateway to Asia Minor. The city was the centre for the worship of Diana (Mother of the gods) and in 480 BC, the great temple of Diana was erected here as a symbol to the world. Her temple was four times the size of the Parthenon in Athens and was counted among the seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple was destroyed in AD 263 and only the foundation stones remain.

The apostle Paul remained in Ephesus for more than two years on his third major journey, and his preaching led to a major conflict between his gospel and the worship of Diana. This preaching interfered with the business of the silversmiths, who specialized in the manufacture of idols and turned many form idol worship, not only in Ephesus, but in the whole of Asia.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands -Acts 19:26

The letter to the church starts with:

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks -Revelation 2:1

It is significant that the introduction to each of the letters is taken from the description of Christ as revealed in the first chapter of Revelation. Here, Jesus is seen again with the stars, or ministers of the Church, in His right hand. He walks among the candlesticks demonstrating His abiding presence.

The name Ephesus signifies 'desirable' and there was much that was commendable about the church. It had patience, good works and had tested the false teachers and had remained faithful to the truth. They hated the 'deeds of the Nicolations', a group who sought accommodation with the pagan world, and discounted obedience to God's law. Already in John’s day, before the end of the century, the first stages of disunity were creeping into the church promoting the admonishment:

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. -Revelation 2:4

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he beseeches them to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called to serve God. (Ephesians 4:1,2) He explains to them afresh what it means to have put on Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24) His warning not to "grieve the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 4:30) is an indication of the intensity of the battle for the soul. Paul calls the Ephesians back to unity (Ephesians 4:1-6), admonishes them not to sin (Ephesians 4:26) whilst walking in love and the light of the gospel. The same sentiment is expressed in the letter to Ephesus.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place-except thou repent. -Revelation 2:5

To the faithful of Ephesus, the promise is given:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. -Revelation 2:7

The great adversary does not take lightly to the wresting of souls form his sphere of influence. The rapid spread of Christianity in the first century AD served to escalate the conflict and the inevitable consequence was persecution. The great pagan religions had been set up to counterfeit the plan of salvation and to deny access to the world's Redeemer. It has always been Satan's strategy to either force or deceive people to accept the counterfeit rather than the true. In Ephesus, Christianity struck a blow to the worship of Diana, the Mother of the gods, and it is noteworthy that the modern-day equivalent, the worship of Mary as the mother of God, finds its root in Ephesus. In AD 451, at the Council of Ephesus, the Roman Catholic Church bequeathed the title "Mother of God" to Mary, thus reviving the ancient cult in a modern garb.

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Smyrna was situated sixty kilometres north of Ephesus at the present-day port of Izmer, which today is Turkey's second largest city with one of the most important harbours in the region. Smyrna housed the shrine to the goddess Nemesis and was one of the last cities to fall to Islam.

The letter to Smyrna contains no admonishment, and as the name implies, the sacrifice which Christians were called upon to make in this time period served as a sweet aroma, drawing people to Christ.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. -2 Corinthians 2:14,15

To this church, many of whose members would actually suffer death by persecution, Jesus introduced Himself as "the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive" (Rev 2:8). Then the words of the coming peril were given:

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. -Revelation 2:10

These words were fulfilled, for during this period, the most vicious persecutions were perpetrated against the Christians. In AD 107, Ignatius, a Bishop of Antioch in Syria, and a friend of John, the apostle, was thrown to the lions and eaten alive in the amphitheatre of Rome. In AD 155, Polycarp, a disciple of John and a close friend of Ignatius, was burned alive in Smyrna. Tradition has it that the flames refused to consume him and he was killed with the sword, and then burned. It was through the witness of Christian martyrs that Tertullian of Carthage, in Africa, was converted to Christianity at the age of 30, and thereafter became a defender of the Christian faith.

This period of Papal persecution came to its climax under Diocletian, who, in AD 303, launched a vicious, empire-wide effort for the complete annihilation of Christianity. Although he died shortly after, in AD 305, the persecution continued until it was finally brought to an end in AD 313, by the decree of toleration issued by Emperor Constantine.

The Diocletian persecution lasted ten years (AD 303 - AD 313) and the ten day tribulation predicted for this church: ("and ye shall have tribulation ten days" verse 10) coincides with this ten-year period when the day-year principle of Biblical prophecy is applied. Persecution cleansed the church and provided a firm foundation for the Christian religion.

In the ancient city of Smyrna, the most expensive homes were on the mountainsides that rose above the bay. This gave it the name "Crown City". We can appreciate the appropriateness of the promise:

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. -Revelation 2:10,11

When persecution could not rid the earth of Christianity, the great adversary turned to deception and compromise to rid the world of its influence.

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Pergamos was situated sixty kilometres further along the ancient Roman postal road. The name means "elevation" or "exalted", and appropriately, the religious and cultural centre of the city was on top of a conspicuous mount.

Today, the city of Bergama, lies at the base. Excavations nearby, have uncovered a vast complex which included two temples, a theatre and a medical library. Some of the most famous physicians practised here. The medical symbol was a serpent, Aesclepius, wrapped around a pole, very similar to that representing today's medical practices. Nearby, stood the world's second largest library (after Alexandria), with a collection of some 200 000 volumes.

Pergamos was the heir of the ancient Babylonian system of Sun worship. The Proconsul of Pergamos had a double edged sword and the ancient title and vestments of the pontiff of ancient times. The last pontiff king of Pergamos was Attalus III who in 133 BC bequeathed his title to Rome. In 378 AD, the Christian emperor Gratian refused the title "Pontifax Maximus" and the title went to the Roman Catholic Pontiff. This period in church history represents the period of compromise. In exchange for religious tolerance and acceptance, the true principles of Christianity were sacrificed to accommodate pagan beliefs. The word of God, the sword of the spirit, was to be perverted in this time period.

Pergamos was Satan's seat, the seat of ancient sun-worship, and it was in Pergamos that the famous altar of Zeus stood on a terrace on the slopes of the mount. German archaeologists moved the later to the Pergamum museum in Berlin. One inscription on an altar read: "Zeus, the saviour". The Pergamos period which began in AD 313 continued until AD 538 when the decree of Emperor Justinian made Christianity the official religion of the empire.

The letter rebuked the church of Pergamos for fraternizing with those who held the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. It was Balaam who led Israel to moral corruption, just before they were due to cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land. The Nicolaitans, a heretical sect who compromised with the pagan cults, had been repudiated by the Ephesus Church - but now were courted.

This, then, was a period of deteriorating moral standards and doctrinal corruption. Satan had failed to destroy through persecution; now he endeavoured to destroy her through compromise. Christian standards were lowered, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism. In his efforts to unite his empire, Emperor Constantine blended the interests of pagans and Christians. Concerning his aims, the Church historian, F.J. Foakes-Jackson declares:

"In dealing with the Church, his object was gradually to transfer from heathenism to Christianity, all that had hitherto, made it attractive in the eyes of the people."

The German historian, H G Heggtveit, describes these events as follows:

"Constantine laboured at this time, untiringly, to unite the worshippers of the old and new faith, into one religion. All his laws and contrivances were aimed at promoting this amalgamation of religions. He would by all lawful and peaceful means, melt together a purified heathenism and a moderated Christianity."

Heggtveit then points to Constantine's Sunday law of AD 321 as a notable example of this.

"His injunction that the "Day of the Sun" should be a general rest day was characteristic of his standpoint... Of all his blending and fusing together of Christianity and heathenism, none is more easy to see through than this making of his Sunday law...The Christians worshipped their Christ, the heathen their sun-god; according to the opinion of the Emperor, the objects for worship in both religions were essentially the same."

H.R. Boer, in his popular publication of 1976, entitled A Short History of the Early Church, writes concerning the Sunday law:

"He designated Sunday by its traditional pagan name - the Day of the Sun -not the Sabbath or the Day of the Lord. Pagans could therefore accept it, while Christians gave the natural sun a new meaning by thinking of Christ as the Sun of Righteousness...Although Constantine and later emperors, as well as Church councils, enacted additional Sunday legislation, it was Constantine's decree of AD 321, that laid the basis for the universal recognition of Sunday as a day of rest."

In spite of this drift from the true faith of the early apostles, there were those who sought to maintain the true faith. Foremost among them was Patrick, who in the early years of the fifth century, established scores of churches out of which grew the Celtic Church which held to much of the true faith through the centuries of spiritual darkness which were to follow. The promise to the faithful of the Pergamos period was:

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. -Revelation 2:17

The hidden manna is a reference to a new life in Christ - the white stone probably is a symbol of freedom from the slavery of sin and the new name represents the character transformed through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

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Thirty kilometers west of Pergamos on the imperial Roman road lay Thyatira where the town of Akhisar lies today. Apollo, the sun-god, was the chief deity of the city, and in the Temple of Apollo there was also an altar to the female goddess. The city was also noted for its industries, the most notable being the dying of cloth particularly in the colors purple and crimson.

This period in church history represents the church of the middle ages. It is the longest of the letters and contains grave information as to the conditions that would prevail. The church would be inundated with false doctrines and persecuted for faithfulness to God and His Word. The spirit of compromise that started with Pergamos would reach its zenith in the time of Thyatira. As the name implies ("sweet savour of labour"), works as a means to obtaining grace would become a prominent feature of the time. The introductory statement in the letter to Thyatira highlights this point.

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. -Revelation 2:19

In this time of spiritual darkness, the truth was thrown to the ground and Christianity was replaced by the old pagan form of sun-worship dressed in a garb of Christianity. Forms, rituals, objects and works replaced the elevating truths of the gospel. Jesus was supplanted by pagan deities masquerading under gospel titles and the ancient Babylonian mysteries were reintroduced as infallible dogmas. Even the pagan vestments with their prominent purple and crimson colours were introduced as the vestments of the priesthood and the symbols of Dagon, the fish-god, became symbols of the so-called shepherds of the flock. The letter to Thyatira contains a strong rebuke:

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. -Revelation 2:20

Ahab, king of Israel, had married Jezebel, a Phonecian Baal worshipper, although God had expressly forbidden intermarriage with the heathen. This marriage led to Baal worship being introduced into Israel, even though it was supposedly done in the name of Jehovah. So it was in Thyatira. Pagan temples were converted into Christian temples. Pagan symbols became Christian symbols. Pagan religious festivals became Christian religious festivals. All this was done in the name of true worship of the divine God. Speaking of this amalgamation, Arthur E.R. Boak declares:

"The long association between pagans and Christians and the rapid incorporation of new converts into the ranks of the Church (after Constantine’s "conversion"), exercised a profound influence upon Christian beliefs and practices. Pagan belief in magic contributed largely to the Christian belief in miracles; and the development of the cult of the saints was stimulated by pagan concepts of inferior divinities, demigods and demons. Many pagan festivals were transferred into the festivals of the Church."

The symbols of fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols are the symbols of apostasy against God and the Word made flesh. We are to eat the flesh of the Son of God - to internalize His truth - not replace it with mere outward forms. Of this, The Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Catholicism declares:

"The missionary history of the Church clearly shows her adaptability to all races, all continents, all nations. In her liturgy and her art, in her tradition and the forming of her doctrine, naturally enough she includes Jewish elements, but also elements that are of pagan origin. In certain respects, she has copied her organization from that of the Roman Empire, has preserved and made fruitful the philosophical intuitions of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, borrowed from both Barbarians and the Byzantine Roman Empire - but always remains herself, thoroughly digesting all elements drawn from external sources...In her laws, her ceremonies, her festivals and her devotions, she makes use of local customs after purifying them and "baptizing" them..."

The twin pillars of Roman Catholicism are faith in the Eucharistic Mystery and faith in the intercessory role of Mary. The Catholic church is even considering to have this Marian role as co-advocate and intercessor declared an infallible church dogma. Neither of these two doctrines can be found in the Scriptures, and they are contrary to the very basis of the Christian faith. Salvation can be found in Christ and Christ alone.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. -John 10:9

The Eucharistic Mystery represents the sacrifice of Christ becoming a reality in the consecration of the host. Christ's sacrifice on the cross is thus repeated during each mass. This too is contrary to the plain teaching of the Scriptures.

...who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once when He offered up Himself. -Hebrews 7:27

For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now, once in the end of the world, hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. -Hebrews 9:26

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. -Hebrews 10:12

In Revelation 2:21 we read:

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. -Revelation 2:21

God was to give time for repentance. The period of papal supremacy spanned 1260 years, but she would not repent from her unfaithfulness to God. Not even severe trials and tribulations could bring her to change her course.

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. -Revelation 2:22,23

When Rome rejected the message of the reformation, the turmoil which followed led to the greatest sufferings in human history. At the Council of Trent in 1563, the reformation message was officially set aside and shortly thereafter Europe agonized under the plague - the black death - and the thirty-year war (1618-1648) led to an unprecedented human carnage.

However, just as God raised up Elijah with a message of reform in the days of Jezebel, so God raised up some within the Church who called for reformation, during this period.

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. -Revelation 2:24

Foremost among the early reformers was John Wycliffe, the "Morning Star" of the Reformation. Huss, Jerome and Savanorola followed. They all urged the Church to repent ,but their voices were silenced. Then came John Calvin and Martin Luther- the Augustine Monk, who nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg church in 1517.

John Calvin and others laid bare the errors in the church between God and man. The Word of God was restored as the sole revelation of the will of God and the watchwords became "sola gracia", "sola scriptura" - saved by grace and grace alone, and the Bible and the Bible alone. The believers were urged to hold fast: "But hold fast what you have till I come." (Revelation 2:25)

This is the first reference to the coming of the Lord in the letters to the churches and this message of His coming would become more urgent in subsequent time periods. The promise of the ultimate victory of Christ (Revelation 2:27) stands as a rebuke to the church of the middle ages.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron... -Revelation 2:26,27

Christ would grant those who had been suppressed by the nations, the honour of ruling together with Him in the coming kingdom of God.

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Sardis was the capital of the province of Lydia and was situated some forty kilometers southwest of Thyatira. The city stood on a prominence at the foot of which were the temple of Artemis and Zeus. In view of its location and natural protections, the people of Sardis considered the city impregnable and they felt so secure that their guard was not always up in time of crisis. History reveals that the city was twice conquered without resistance (by Cyrus and Antiochus) and in this lies a spiritual lesson. In its opening address, the letter to Sardis states:

I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. -Revelation 3:1

This takes us into the post-Reformation period. Appropriate dates would be from the close of the Council of Trent in 1563, to the beginning of the great religious awakening in the eighteenth century. This period has been fittingly described as "the age of dead orthodoxy." Instead of the Reformation continuing its work of restoration, it committed the great error of submitting the Church to the protection and support of the civil authorities. While separating from Rome, she became subject to the state.

The foundations of the reformation were rooted in Christ, and it is the gospel of Christ that lighted the path of the reformers and led them out of the spiritual darkness that had all but extinguished the flame of Christianity. Sadly, this early fervour was gradually replaced by formalism as the churches formed became accepted by the community and the state. The inability of the various reform factions to find unity based on the Word also led to the formation of numerous denominations, each adopting the creed of its founders. The great work of reform faltered and even resulted in bitter infighting. Added to this, the counter-reformation launched by the Roman Catholic church, gradually eroded faith in the Scriptures and even set the tone for tolerance and acceptance of the teachings of Rome. The church was given this warning:

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. -Revelation 3:2,3

Tardis stood on what was believed to be an impregnable lookout 500 meters high. Under the wealthy Croesus, the city became famous for its prosperity. It also became overconfident, and Cyrus took it by surprise in BC 547, his soldiers scaling the heights by following a precipitous route left unguarded. And 335 years later, in 214 BC Antiochus the Great conquered it the same way. The city had failed to watch.

In the same way, the reformation had failed to fortify itself against complacency and became the easy prey of those who wished to destroy her. The reformation required great courage and many were willing to lay down their lives rather than to deny Christ. It is to these that Christ says:

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. -Revelation 3:4

The message to Sardis is a message calling believers back to the truth and to steadfastness in faith:

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. -Revelation 3:5

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Philadelphia lies 45 kilometers east of Sardis and today the city of Alasehir stands where the ancient city stood. Philadelphia was situated at the foot of the mountains which led to the tableland of Annatolia and as such was the doorway to this region.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth. -Revelation 3:7

The letter to Philadelphia contains no reproof. This time period was to open the door to the gospel so that it could be spread to the ends of the world. The word of God was to be restored and the truth would be triumphant.

Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love.’ The Philadelphia period is the period of the Great Awakening of the eighteenth century. It is the period of the missionary church. The words of commendation were:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. -Revelation 3:8

The era to follow Philadelphia would be the era where the great conflict between truth and terror would reach its pinnacle. The truth of the word and its prophetic imports was reaffirmed by the Millerite movement and the era of the world mission began. William Cary became the messenger to India in 1793, and Robert Morrison to China in 1807. In 1817, Robert Moffet carried the message to Africa and John Wesley challenged the doctrines of Calvin. Between 1804 and 1834, numerous Bible societies were established. (Starting with the British and Foreign society in 18904?, the American in 1816 and the Belgian in 1834) and the door for the gospel was opened.

As always in an age of spiritual enlightenment, Satan endeavoured to destroy the work by the introduction of counterfeit movements. Spiritism in all its forms saw its modern revival in the time period and out of the French revolution of 1789 came the concepts of humanism and atheism which were to form the foundation stones for communism. The period also saw the rise of many false prophets, who would claim special revelations contrary to the Word of God.

The great Advent awakening of this time was met with suspicion and even hostility by the established Churches of the day as they refused to accept new light on the Scriptures. The age of Philadelphia was an age of brotherly love among those who embraced the truths of the second coming of Christ, but they were derided and mocked for their stance. The letter to Philadelphia encourages the believers:

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. -Revelation 3:9,10

The word 'Jews' used in verse nine is a reference to Christian believers, as the early church still referred to Jewish believers who embraced Christ as Jews. (See Romans 2:28, 29; Galatians 3:28,29) The Jew (Christian) here referred to represents those Christians who would reject the light and ridicule those who believed it. The promise is also given that the Philadelphian church era would not be subjected to the time of trouble which was to precede the coming of Christ and which was predicted by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 12:1) The promise of Christ's soon return given in verse 11: "Behold I come quickly" is further evidence of the historic continuous nature of the prophetic content of the letters to the seven churches. To the church of the middle ages (Thyatira) the message was given to "hold fast what you have till I come" (Revelation 2:25) , whereas here the church is told that His coming is near. The great disappointment came as a major blow to many in the Advent Movement and the counsel to "Hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown" (Revelation 3:11) is appropriate to this era.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. -Revelation 3:12,13

This promise is a promise of citizenship in the New Jerusalem based on the sanctifying power of God. The name of God, the character of God, will be imprinted on those who permit God to change their inherent selfishness into selflessness.

The Philadelphia state is a state that all who aspire to follow Christ should seek to acquire. "Not I, but Christ" should be the watchword. If self is laid in the dust, then agape can conquer.

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Laodicea was situated sixty kilometers southeast of Philadelphia and was a famous health resort. The city was popular for its hot baths and the collyrium eye salve that was produced there. The hot water for the baths was ingeniously piped to the resorts in insulated pipes, but because of the distances involved, the water was often only lukewarm by the time it arrived at its destination. The symbol of lukewarmness applied to the Laodicean Church is thus very appropriate. Mineral rich waters are also extremely unpalatable when taken lukewarm, and this feature makes the words of the Faithful and True witness regarding those who refuse to accept His counsel all the more appropriate. Laodicea is the "nation of judgment". It is the last church, the last light bearer on earth just before the coming of Christ. It is the letter to God's people in our time.

All the letters were written to the church, to God's people, His representatives. The letters reflect the spiritual condition of the church in each time period and some of the letters contain severe reproofs. These reproofs were designed to strike a chord in the hearts of God's people, so that these wrongs might be corrected and the promises validated. In all the letters, except the letter to Laodicea, there is a commendation, and it is vital for God's people at the end of time to take heed of the Laodicean counsel because, sadly, we have nothing to commend us.

The message to Laodicea is not a message of hopelessness, it is a message of hope. The message is not designed to discourage - it is designed to encourage. If the message is heeded, then the malady of the church can be corrected. This message is for us and it is vital to take heed. The message stems from one who can read the heart, it stems from the faithful and true witness - to deny the message is to deny the omnipotence of God.

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; -Revelation 3:14

The message is from the Amen - so be it, the faithful and true witness - the one in whom there is no lie, the beginning of the creation of God - the one who is the creator. The word "beginning" is translated from the Greek 'arche' which when taken in the active sense means the initiator of the action, in this case the creation. In this introduction is concealed all the majesty of Christ, His character and His law. The memorial of His creation is the Sabbath, which is also the seal of God making the law of God valid. The message to Laodicea is to His people, the war-ridden remnant to those who obey God's commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. -Revelation 12:17

This is the remnant entrusted with the final message of warning to a dying world. The message to be given is the three angel's message of Revelation 14. It is a message that will cause controversy, it is a separating message and the message will be opposed by Satan by every conceivable means. To render the message will require great patience, endurance, and an abiding trust in Christ.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. -Revelation 14:12

Why does the devil wage war against the remnant? Obviously he wants to hinder the work, he wants to prevent the message from going out into the world. How would he best achieve this? By so preoccupying the church with issues not directly related to the message that there is no time or energy left to do the work that the church was instructed to do. The church is to be a light to the world - it is one of the golden lampstands. The true witness says:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. -Revelation 3:15,16

This rebuke is to the church, but a church is compromised of individuals and this diagnosis of our state (lukewarm) is an individual diagnosis. The warning too is an individual warning. Lukewarmness is an unacceptable state and will result in eternal loss. The state of lukewarmness must be remedied. Why are we lukewarm?

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. -Revelation 3:17

We are lukewarm because we believe we are rich, we have the truth. We believe we are not deceived. After all the truth rests on the twin pillars of obedience to God, the keeping of His commandments, and the faith in Jesus. The Jews made the mistake of trusting in their obedience to God's Law, rather than the merits of the Messiah, to provide them with a cloak of righteousness. The great bulk of Christians today trust in the merits of Christ without obedience to His precepts to provide them with their cloak of righteousness. The remnant, however, knows the truth. Imputed and imparted righteousness (justification and sanctification) are gifts from God through the merits of Jesus Christ, and obedience, obeying the commandments, are a consequence of this abiding trust in the merits of Christ.

What then is the problem? Why are we lukewarm and even worse, why are we "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked? We are wretched because we are deceived! We are miserable because we think we are not deceived when we are! We are poor because we believe that we have embraced the truth when we have missed the boat. We are blind because we think we are capable of discerning truth form error when we cannot! Finally, we are naked because we believe we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ when the garment we are wearing is a garment of our own making.

What is the true witness teaching us? How is it possible that we could be deceived? Let us examine the case in the light of the special message which the church must deliver in the final days. People must be called back to obedience to God, they must be urged to separate themselves from false religion and they must uphold the principles of the Law of God rather than accept the mark of the beast.

Can one teach what one does not know? Will there be fruits if the plant which is to produce the fruit has not itself reached maturity? Will the fruits be lush if the tree has not been nurtured and cared for? What are the remedies prescribed for this individual growth?

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. -Revelation 3:18

The gold we are instructed to buy is the gold of faith and love which is devoid of self, and the white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the true wedding garment that contains no stitch of our own making. The eyesalve is spiritual discernment that enables us to recognize where the problem lies - WITH ME - not my brother. The message to Laodicea is intended to produce a change in each individual, not to produce discord among brothers.

The first strategy of any enemy is to divide the opposition - divide and conquer - that is Satan's strategy with the remnant and oh how successful he is. Let us look at some of the divisions he has accomplished.

There are those in the church who accept the Spirit of Prophecy and there are those who reject it and then there are all shades in between. The one class considers the other apostate and the other considers the former as Pharisees or as antiquated.

There are those who accept the principles of health reform and there are those who don't and then there are all shades in between. Some health reformers look down upon those who have not yet, or who refuse to embrace, these principles and the non-health reformers regard the former as legalists.

There are those who strive for perfection in obedience to God's law and there are those who claim that it is impossible to keep God's law. The first group are considered legalists and the latter as liberals.

There is disagreement on the nature of Christ, whether He came with the fallen nature ( the nature of man after the fall of Adam) or the unfallen nature (the nature of man before the fall of Adam). This debate is elevated by some to such a level of importance that it is presented as an issue which will determine whether one is saved or lost. Some in each group claim special privileges due to their understanding of the issue.

There is disagreement on the righteousness by faith issue. There are those who believe that they have accepted the message of righteousness by faith. They no longer trust in their own merits, and they keep the law because the love of God enables them to keep it. Then there are those who diligently strive to keep the law so that they can be right with God, and they also claim that it is only through Christ that they are enabled to keep the law. Within these groups, there is even disagreements on the nature of sin, whether sin is separation from God or transgression of the law and whether one stands in one's own righteousness after probation closes or not. Depending on which group one is in, it is easy to consider the other as cold and oneself as hot, but this is not what the true witness says! He says we are lukewarm! We are all lukewarm.

If I claim to be right with God on the strength of my acceptance of any of the above issues, even if they are the doctrinally correct issues, even if I act the part to the best of my ability, then I am deceived, even if I act the part to the best of my ability. No one is saved because he is a health reformer or accepts this or that doctrine, or acts the part. There is only one way in which I can be saved and that is to accept the message of the true witness to Laodicea. God calls upon us all to learn from Christ His meekness, not to look at the mistakes of others, turn your attention to your own defects. Our self-righteousness is nauseating to God. As soon as I say I have righteousness, either through the merits of Christ or by works, I can be sure I don't have it. The error lies in my presumption. The only thing I can be sure of is that I am a sinner. Jesus tells the story of the publican and the Pharisee who came to pray:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisee thought he was "rich and increased in goods" just as Laodicea. One does not have to be a legalist in order to be like the Pharisee. It is possible to develop even a great apparent humility which is proved spurious, if that humility is considered by oneself as stemming form the sanctifying power of God. Self must disappear of the article is to be genuine - pure gold refined in the fire.

The publican in the parable stood "afar off". If we could see ourselves as God sees us, we would also stand "afar off". We would also not lift our eyes - even cherubs cover their faces in the presence of God, and they have never sinned - we would exclaim together with the publican: "God be merciful to me a sinner." God declared the publican just and so it should be with us.All is not lost. God loves us and wishes to bring us to that point where we will see ourselves in our true light. This method to achieve this recognition and transformation is a painful one, but one that is altogether necessary:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. -Revelation 3:19

To be rebuked is hurtful to one's pride, but to be chastened is to be afflicted. God permits circumstances to so overwhelm us that there will no longer be any recourse to self. Moreover, our worst traits are revealed in times of great stress. Those who will hold on to their Redeemer, even if He throws their hip out of joint, will, like Jacob, receive the blessing. The case of those rebuked is not a hopeless one, but evidence that God cares.

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. -Revelation 3:20

The heavenly merchantman has wares to sell without price. God refined in the fire of affliction and a promise of His indwelling spirit.

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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. -Revelation 3:21,22

The prize is an eternity with God. If I refuse to open the door, if I refuse to let God change me, the knock will get fainter and eventually cease. The blessings of God which he wishes you to buy are to be unselfishly disseminated to others. We are to lift up our voices like a trumpet:

Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet; shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. -Isaiah 58:1,2

If the Laodicean message is heeded, then the truth will go out to all nations because concern for self will be lost in Christ. In a time of great spiritual darkness, it is vital that the lampstand which is Laodicea proclaim the message with power. The promise made to the prophet Isaiah will finally come true:

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold , the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; They all gather themselves together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. -Isaiah 60:1-5

Then we will indeed be rich, a richness that can never fade. It will be seen in the eyes of those who were redeemed because of the testimony, the invitation to join the wedding feast of the Lamb.

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Seven Churches, an episode from Dr. Walter Veith's Total Onslaught series.

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The Seven Churches of Revelation, Dr. Walter Veith

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