Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 17 October 2020

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— Revelation 3:17

The Greek is very forceful in this verse. A more literal rendering would be –

“because thou sayest — I am rich, and have grown rich, and have need of nothing, and hast not known that thou art the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” YLT

The word “you” (thou) is in the emphatic position. This highlights the arrogance of the attitude being professed – “Because YOU say.” With that in mind, Jesus begins with, “Because you say, ‘I am rich.’”

It is debated whether the word “rich” is speaking of worldly wealth or spiritual riches. However, the debate is really unnecessary. The reason for this is found right in Scripture. The most “super spiritual” of the people in Israel were the Pharisees. This is made evident again and again in the gospels. But the gospel of Luke shows an important connection between their supposed spiritual wealth and their earthly state –

“Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. ¹⁵ And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.’” Luke 16:14, 15

And again, in all three synoptic gospels, this is recorded just after His discussion with a rich young ruler –

And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
²⁶ And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” Luke 18:24-26

What can be inferred from these passages is the same thing that can be inferred from people’s attitude today in churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and etc., all over the world, and what was surely the case in Laodicea as well. It is that people generally assume that because they have great wealth, God favors them. It is a fallacious category mistake, but it is an easy one to make. In our minds, we equate temporal blessings with divine favor.

Jesus clearly showed in both instances from the gospels that this is incorrect. He now reminds those at Laodicea that this is not so with His words here. Rather, they should pick up their copy of the gospels, read it, and take it to heart. And so, He continues with, “have become wealthy.”

Here, the verb form of the adjective, translated as “rich,” that was just used is given. Keeping the word consistently translated gives a better sense (as seen in the YLT referenced above) – “I am rich, and have grown rich.” Thus, it seems to say, “I am rich (worldly wealth), and have grown rich (in divine favor).” Those of those at Laodicea have conflated the two in their minds, leading them to a very false sense of security. As James notes –

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” James 5:1-6

James, writing to those who feel secure in their wealth, reveals the spiritually poor state that they are really in. Further, he shows them that even their earthly wealth can disappear in a moment. In this, they are left with nothing but sorrow and anticipated judgment. For those at Laodicea, they had not taken such lessons to heart. Instead, in their smugness they said that they “have need of nothing.”

The emphatic nature of the words continues by saying more literally, “and of nothing need I have.” They were so filled up with their riches, or supposed riches, that they adamantly state they have no lack at all – Q: “What need do you have?” A: “Need? Of nothing am I in need. I have all I could ever need.” Their words reflect the attitude of the rich fool spoken of by Jesus –

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ Luke 12:16-20

Like this rich fool, Jesus tells those at Laodicea that they are in dire shape. They have trusted in the wrong thing, and they must consider their state carefully. And so, He adamantly continues by saying, “and do not know that you are wretched.” As seen above, the Greek has an article before “wretched.” They are “the wretched.” It is a way of emphasizing their state. Thus, it is not speaking of their consciousness of the state, but of the state itself. They don’t even realize that they are the wretched, but they are. While they are looking at their bank accounts, Jesus is looking at a spiritually impoverished group of people that are on the wide path to destruction.

Next, He says, “miserable.” The Greek reads, “and miserable” to highlight the new category. The word is found only elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 15:19. It signifies “to be pitied.” While they were walking around showing off their fancy clothes, big carts with well-fed dual ox propulsion, and speaking of their latest vacation to the Mediterranean Sea, the angels of heaven were looking down on them in pity, knowing that what they thought was of value was temporary, of no value, and was actually leading them away from the true treasures of the paradise of God.

Jesus next says they are “poor.” Again, the Greek reads, “and poor.” Here they trusted in their riches, and yet, Jesus shows that these things led them directly to a state of poverty. It was not divine favor that brought them worldly wealth, and so it was not divine favor that rested upon them because of their worldly wealth. What they thought led from one thing to another actually led in the opposite direction.

Again, the Lord continues with, “blind.” And again, the Greek reads, “and blind.” Their eyes were so focused on the worldly that their spiritual eyes were covered over, even to blindness. Contrariwise, this is probably a part of why Paul said these words to the Ephesians –

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:15-18

The “eyes of your understanding” speaks of spiritual matters. Paul prayed that those he ministered to would have them opened and enlightened. Laodicea needed this in a giant way. The things they looked to only further closed their minds to the truth of their state.

Finally, Jesus says, “and naked.” The words take the reader alllllll the way back to the first account of man. In the Garden of Eden, our first parents disobeyed the word of the Lord and a realization came upon them –

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” Genesis 3:7

They stood naked and exposed before their Creator. Since that time, all humanity has been born into the same condition. But our minds have become dull to the state we are in. We no longer realize the shame of our sin. Until that occurs, we cannot call out for a covering – the only covering – that can hide it, meaning the imputed righteousness of Christ. This is a theme that goes throughout Scripture. The garments provided by the Lord are the only things that can protect us from the coming judgment upon our naked state. This is the condition of those at Laodicea, and the Lord poignantly warns them of this.

Life application: What was the root cause of the lukewarm state of the church at Laodicea? There are two major views on it. One view is that the people of the church were wealthy and prosperous, in money and possessions, and felt secure in their lives of comfort. If this is the case, then they can be equated with a large portion of believers in the wealthier nations of the world today. “Look how God has favored us! We have a big church and nice cars, money in the bank, and not a care in the world. We ‘have need of nothing.’”

The other view is that the church felt they were spiritually prosperous and had a command of the things of God. This church then would have felt much more “spiritual” than those around them and that they were somehow better than the other congregations. “Look at our religion! It is pure and undefiled, and we are not like the rest of the sinners around us. We have dotted every ‘t’ and crossed every ‘i,’ and no one can tell us the error of our ways.”

Unfortunately, they missed the fact that “t’s” need to be crossed and “i’s” need to be dotted. They made the fundamental error of trusting in religion for the sake of religion. In this, they missed the point of true faith and worship.

As noted above, there is a third option, and one that is more than likely. The people at Laodicea fit both views. They had worldly wealth and also a superior attitude in their religious dealings. You see, the two go hand-in-hand quite well. The poor generally have a heart for the things of God, but as societies or groups become prosperous in material possessions, they also tend to solidify their religious lives in a way that exalts the mode of worship over the object of worship – which should always be the Lord Jesus.

How or where we worship is far less important than Who we worship. This doesn’t mean that chaos should rule in our meetings, but it does mean that formal gatherings with no heart for the Lord leave us wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. We stand shameful, hopeless, worthless, confused, and exposed before the eyes of the One who observes our hearts and attitudes.

Lord Jesus, may our hearts not be stolen away from You by worthless material gain, nor by worship which is cold and lifeless. May we not cling to having showy presentations that then make our type of worship the very object of our worship. Rather, help us to use our hearts, breath, actions, and souls to glorify You alone. Amen.

Friday, 16 October 2020

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:16

The Lord just noted that the church at Laodicea was neither hot nor cold. With that in mind, He now says, “So then, because you are lukewarm.” This is the only use of the Greek word chliaros, or lukewarm, in the Bible. It is exactingly translated. It is that which is tepid or lukewarm. In this, it is used figuratively to speak of the state of this church. There is nothing either invigorating or refreshing about it; it is blah. With that noted, Jesus says, “and neither cold nor hot.”

Various manuscripts reverse the order, saying “hot nor cold,” but either way the point is made. There is nothing about them that is worthy of honorable mention. Instead, the church is in a state of existence that is devoid of any true life. Jesus will explain what this means, but before He does, He gives a very stern warning, saying, “I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

The translation is incorrect. It should say, “I am about to vomit you out of My mouth.” The word is melló, signifying something that is coming or about to happen. But more, the context shows that a chance for them to change and avert this happening (verse 3:19) is given. Thus, the violent action to be taken can yet be averted.

In His statement, another word unique in Scripture is given, emeó, or vomit. It literally signifies vomiting, but it figuratively speaks of utter rejection and a desire for total separation because of extreme disgust. The comparable Hebrew word, qo, is found several times in the Old Testament, such as in Leviticus 18, where the Lord says of the inhabitants of Canaan, “For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.”

Of this wretched state of Laodicea, John Gill says –

“I will spew thee out of my mouth; this shows how nauseous lukewarmness is to Christ, insomuch that on account of it he would not own and acknowledge her as his; but even cast her out, unchurch her, and have no more any such imperfect church state upon earth, as he afterwards never will, this is the last; nor is there any church state, or any remains of one in Laodicea; it is indeed quite uninhabited.”

Life application: What is it that makes you sick enough to vomit? Sometimes a certain smell can affect us enough to make us throw up. Sometimes people will get sick when they see something happen – maybe a car accident or they come upon something dead. Certainly, tasting something revolting will cause us to retch. These are all associated with our natural senses and this is the description Jesus uses for comparison – something lukewarm.

In our natural senses we have a strong distaste for what is lukewarm. But to Jesus, drawing from this comparison for our benefit, He tells us that a lukewarm state of spiritual life is what is revolting to Him. In order for something to be vomited out of one’s mouth, it must be in that mouth first.

Jesus is telling the church at Laodicea that if they don’t change and return to a state of spiritual activity and vibrancy, He would no longer confess them as His people. Their status as “Christians” would be by name only, but they would have no affiliation with Christ in any meaningful sense. Therefore, to be spewed out of His mouth would mean that He would no longer even speak of them; they would be disavowed.

Just look around at denominations and churches today which once held to the Bible as the rule and guide of the faith. If they have been replaced with a catechism, a book of order, a book of discipline, or any other general guideline, then they may no longer be a group on fire for the Lord. Instead, they are on fire for themselves, setting up channels of self-satisfaction and personal theology.

Don’t just rely on the words of the local church you belong to, but go online and check the overall doctrine of the denomination you are in. You may be appalled at what you see. If you are, how much more is Jesus? Don’t get cut off from the prize because of your love for a church when it is a heart for the Lord that matters.

Lord, we certainly enjoy the fellowship of the congregation we attend, but help us to love You far more. Open our eyes to know whether You are pleased with where we worship. Should we be working to restore it to a spiritually alive state, or is it too far gone? Should we be looking for another church home? May we honor You first and foremost by being in a church that pursues You through Your word. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 15 October 2020

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. Revelation 3:15

Here, the Lord is using an analogy of what would be completely understandable to the people in the church of Laodicea. From his commentary on the book of Revelation, Jack Kelly says the following –

“The church in Laodicea receives no commendation, only this criticism, rich in symbolic sarcasm. Laodicea got its water from nearby Heiropolis, a hot spring resort that still flourishes today, now called Pamukkale. The water came across the valley in an open aqueduct. Having begun its journey fresh from the hot springs, it was luke warm by the time it arrived. Too cool to be used for cleaning or bathing, and too warm to be refreshing, it was unfit for use until it could be either heated up or cooled down. The fire of the Spirit had gone from the Church in Laodicea leaving its members engaged in “form without substance” ritual. Not that they minded. They were happy as clams with their no commitment, no responsibility religion. So it is in much of the emergent church today. They look like a church and do some things that a church does, but you won’t detect the power of the Holy Spirit there and the gospel of our salvation is only obvious by its absence. Even though their congregations are often large and well financed, their spiritual condition is one of poverty.”

Understanding this typology, the Lord begins with, “I know your works.” He again repeats what He has stated to all six of the previous churches. Like an attentive administrator in a company, or like the observant general among his troops, so is Christ among His churches. He walks among the lampstands and observes all that occurs among His people. In the case of Laodicea, He says, “that you are neither cold nor hot.”

Like the lukewarm water that flowed into their city, they were not on fire for the Lord, nor were they completely dead to the things of religion as if living their lives like the somnambulant masses. Instead, they were in a state of tepidity, unable to find footing in what is right concerning the faith, or what is wrong in a complete rejection of the faith. Because of this, the Lord next says, “I could wish you were cold or hot.”

The words here, at first, seem contradictory to what one might expect. It is true that the Lord would want His people to be hot – on fire for Him and for the sharing of His gospel. But why would he wish they were cold? The answer is well explained by the scholar Alford –

“This as well as the opposite state of spiritual fervor, would be an intelligible and plainly-marked condition; at all events free from the danger of mixed motive and disregarded principle which belongs to the lukewarm state: inasmuch as a man in earnest, be he right or wrong, is ever a better man than one professing what he does not feel.”

In other words, the Lord looks to judgment upon those who reject Him outright as less burdensome than pronouncing judgment upon those who claim to know Him and yet have no heart for Him. It gives the sense of, “If only they realized the horrors which await them, even they who claim to know Me.” His remark then is not because the burden is greater upon Him, but because it is greater upon them. He could wish that it would not be so.

And the same is true with those who are, in fact, saved but who are only warm in their pursuit of Him. They (the saved but lukewarm) will stand before Him at the Bema Seat and expect great rewards because of their wealth and secure state in this life. And yet, they will find that they will receive nothing of honor or reward. It too will be burdensome upon them. Their hearts will surely say, “Oh! How I squandered my years that could have been spent reaching others for the cause of this glorious God before whom I now stand.”

The word translated as “hot” is zestos. One can see the etymological root of the word zest in it. When something is zesty, it is spicy and even hot – such as with chili peppers added into a meal. In the case of the word zestos, it signifies “boiling hot,” coming from the word zeó. It is an onomatopoetic expression where the sound of the word reflects what is happening. As water boils, it bubbles – zeó, zeó, zeó, or as we would say today, “bubble, bubble, bubble.” The Lord would wish this for them.

The word translated as “cold” is psuchros. It is found only in Matthew 10:42 and then three times here in Revelation 3. In the use of Matthew 10, it is referring to the giving of a cup of cold water to a child. This would be to refresh him. Thus, the analogy by Alford (above) could be incorrect, and the Lord could be saying that He wishes the people were refreshing to those around them. However, the word is ultimately derived from the verb psuchó, which is found only in Matthew 24:12. There, it speaks of the love of most growing cold. This may be the sense that is given by the Lord at this time. Being dogmatic on this, however, might not be the best case. Being cold, as in “refreshing,” may be what is intended. Either way, the Lord finds the lukewarm state of Laodicea intolerable.

Life application: As noted above, Jesus starts His condemnation with a metaphor that they would be completely aware of. Two other cities were nearby to Laodicea. The first was Hierapolis, a city with hot springs that would have been a tourist attraction. They would use the water for health spas and in other relaxing ways. The other city was Colossae (also known as Barclay) which was renowned for its pure cool water. Archaeological finds show that there was an aqueduct that carried the water from the hot mineral springs to Laodicea which was about 5 miles away. By the time this water got there, it would have been tepid. It also would have been hard water.

As you can see, the picture here is that just as the water they had was blah and unpalatable, so were the people in the congregation. Hot water has its usefulness and cold does too, but the tepid water was comparatively disgusting. This is exactly how Jesus saw the church in Laodicea – disgusting.

This is a lesson and a warning to all of us. Jesus wishes for us to be either hot or cold. Those who are on fire for Him will receive a great reward and those who are cold will receive their just condemnation. On the other hand, those who are regenerated by the Spirit, but who are unwilling to act like it, are a hindrance to the cause of Christ. Their lives in Christ are wasted and there will be no reward for works. What a waste of the victory Jesus wrought on their behalf!

Lord, we often get lukewarm about our Christian lives and we know this is displeasing to You. Please rekindle the spark in our souls and bring us back to the place we should be…burning with the fire of the Spirit and bringing great honor and glory to You. We pray this so that You will be praised among the people that we interact with. Amen.

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: Revelation 3:14

We now come to the final letter addressed to the seven churches. As with all of the other letters, it is addressed “to the angel of the church.” This speaks of the leader of the church, not an angelic being. He is the leader (angel) “of the church of the Laodiceans.”

The name Laodicea comes from two separate Greek words, laos which is a gathering of people, normally of the same stock and language, and dike (pronounced deekay) which is translated elsewhere in the New Testament as “judgment,” “vengeance,” and “punish.” It is associated with a judicial hearing or decision which especially contains a sentence of condemnation. What a fitting name for the words which will come from the Risen Lord.

Of this location, Laodicea, Charles Ellicott gives us the following insights –

(14) Laodicea.—Situated half way between Philadelphia and Colossae, and not far from Hierapolis. It received its name from Laodice, wife of Antiochus the second king of Syria, by whom it was rebuilt and beautified. It had borne in earlier times the names of Diospolis and afterwards Rhoas. It shared with Thyatira and Sardis in the dye trade; the woods grown in the neighbourhood were famous for their quality and the rich blackness of their colour. Prosperity in trade had so enriched the population that when their city suffered in the great earthquake (A.D. 60) they were able to carry on the work of rebuilding without applying, as many of the neighbouring towns were compelled to do, to the Imperial Treasury for aid. The language of St. Paul (Colossians 1:5-8) suggests that the churches of Colossae and the neighbourhood first received Christianity from the preaching of Epaphras, though it seems strange that so important a city, lying hard upon the great Roman road from Ephesus to the east, should have been passed over by St. Paul in his journeyings throughout Phrygia (see Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23); yet, on the other hand, Phrygia was a vague term, and the language of Colossians 2:1 is most generally understood to imply that the Apostle had never personally visited either Colossae or Laodicea. (… Colossians 2:1.) But it was a Church in which St. Paul took the deepest possible interest; the believers there were constantly in his mind. He knew their special temptations to the worship of inferior mediators, and to spiritual paralysis springing from wordly prosperity and intellectual pride. He had great heart-conflict for those of Laodicea (Colossians 3:1), and in proof of his earnest solicitude he addressed a letter to them (Colossians 4:16), in all probability the epistle we call the Epistle to the Ephesians. From the Epistle to the Colossians we may gather that when St. Paul wrote the Christians at Laodicea assembled for worship in the house of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15) probably under the presidency of Archippus (Revelation 3:17).

It is to this church in Laodicea that John is instructed to “write.” Jesus’ words are spoken to John in his vision, and he is to then transmit the Lord’s words to the church, saying, “These things says the Amen.” This is a title only here ascribed to Jesus as a proper name. However, it is another confirmation that He is Yehovah incarnate.

The phrase is taken from Isaiah 65:16 which twice says concerning Yehovah, b’elohe amen, or “in the God of Amen.” Of this, Vincent’s Word Studies rightly notes, “The term applied to the Lord signifies that He Himself is the fulfillment of all that God has spoken to the churches.” The term not only speaks of what Christ says, but of who He is. He is the embodiment of the truth, and, therefore, everything He speaks is the truth. In this, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown then reconfirms the deity of Christ by saying –

“The saints used Amen at the end of prayer, or in assenting to the word of God; but none, save the Son of God, ever said, ‘Amen, I say unto you,’ for it is the language peculiar to God, who avers by Himself. The New Testament formula, ‘Amen. I say unto you,’ is equivalent to the Old Testament formula, ‘as I live, saith Jehovah.’”

This title, the Amen, is given now to contrast the character of those in Laodicea where it will say, “that you are neither cold nor hot.” The Amen is firm, fixed, and unwavering. But to be neither hot nor cold is vacillating at best, and totally uncommitted in any important way at all.

To bolster this marvelous title, the Amen, the Lord next says, “the Faithful and True Witness.” The term ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, or “the Witness the Faithful,” is repeated from verse 1:5. To this is added καὶ ὁ ἀληθινός, or “and the True.” Being the Faithful Witness refers to Christ’s testimony, but especially his death. The word martus, or “witness,” is where our word “martyr” comes from. When standing before Pilate, Jesus said –

 “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

John understood that Christ’s life, even to the point of death, was a witness to God’s plan of redemption that had been promised since the very fall of man. Christ Jesus faithfully accomplished His work. In doing so, and without sinning during the process, He became the firstborn from the dead as noted in verse 1:5. Along with this, the term “the True” isn’t referring to the speaking out of truth. Rather, it conveys the sense of true as a witness. Everything that embodies Christ as a witness is the absolute truth of God.

Finally, in this verse, Jesus says He is “the Beginning of the creation of God.” The word is archē. It does not indicate being a part of creation, but rather He is the Beginner of the creation. He is not a caused part of creation, but rather the principality behind the creative effort. He is thus the Lord over creation. This is seen, for example, in John 1:1-3. In Colossians 1:15, He is called the prōtotokos, or “firstborn,” over all of creation. It is He who possesses life which is self-existent, meaning without dependency on anything else.

Life application: Laodicea is mentioned last and it certainly fits the state of many churches in the world today, just as it has been true at other points in church history as well. As such, it is fitting that we should take the words from the Lord to heart and carefully contemplate what is being said. There are no words of commendation given in this letter. The church is wealthy, arrogant, and dead in its own self-satisfaction.

As noted, “Amen” is a word spoken to indicate security, soundness, reliability, and complete assurance – all things which are lacking in this corrupt church. As the “Faithful and True Witness,” He testifies to His own nature, needing nothing to be added to it.

In both testaments, the “testimony of two or three witnesses” establishes a matter. But Jesus testifies to Himself because He is the second member of the eternal Godhead; He is complete in and of Himself. His witness therefore testifies to His gospel upon which the faithful can peacefully rest. And His faithfulness means that He is true, and His word is true. They can be fully relied upon.

As He the First Cause of the creation, He is the sovereign Ruler of it. He is the Lord, Yehovah, revealed in His fullness. He was, and is, and ever will be. He is unchanging and immutable. He is the initiator of all things and He is the One who will bring all things to their satisfactory completion. In the Risen Lord, we serve the eternal and glorious manifestation of God. He is Jesus.

Oh Lord Jesus! The thought of You and Your greatness fills our souls with joy. We know that we can trust completely and wholeheartedly in You. You are ever faithful and ever true, and Your glory fills the earth as the waters cover the sea. Praises belong to You, now and forever! Amen.

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:13

Again, as with the previous churches, the Lord calls out for those of the church (and thus all who will hear during the church age) to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” But in order to hear, they must have an ear, meaning an ear willing to listen. Like the fourth and fifth churches, this call comes at the very end of this letter to Philadelphia.

Nothing negative was conveyed to those at Philadelphia, and great promises were given to them. This was highlighted in the words, “I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Great spiritual blessings are promised to those who overcome as well, just like all of the churches.

The Lord is perfectly fair in His dealings with all people – in how He metes out punishment and in how He hands out rewards.

Life application: This is the sixth of seven times that the Lord repeats this advice – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Hearing, in these cases, implies more than just sound going into the ear and causing the little ear-bones to resonate. It implies understanding leading to faith and faith leading to obedience. Hearing without acting upon Jesus’ words would be no different than smelling a gas leak in the house and lighting up a burner on the stove anyway. When the stove is lit, you will find yourself making an unanticipated and forced exit through the kitchen window and out of the house.

In the same way, there are people in the seven churches, and in all churches since, who have heard the words of the Bible that were given through the Spirit, but who will find themselves unexpectedly, and against their will, tossed into “outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The question for each of us as we read these verses is, “Have I read and thought through the admonition given to these churches?”

Are you in a church that condones homosexuality, even from the pulpit? Are you in a church that is doing “good stuff” for people without giving Jesus the credit? Are you in a church that has idols that people service in one way or another? These things have been addressed in the first six letters and Jesus does not tolerate them.

It is time to really evaluate where we stand and take to heart what the Spirit is saying. We have one more letter to go, and then we will be off of the subject of the state of the churches. When Jesus returns, if you haven’t taken to heart what has been relayed to you, then why should He return for you? He is coming, and when He does, may He find each of us ready for that unexpected and sudden moment.

O God, turn our hearts to the voice of Your Spirit as it speaks to us through Your word. Help us to be attentive to what is said, and to be obedient to the words we have been given. May we faithfully act upon them. May You receive the glory You are due as we live our lives in Your presence each moment. To Your praise and honor we pray. Amen.