LAODICEA - THE LUKEWARM CHURCH _ Revelation 3:14-22

 

Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church

Revelation 3:14-22

 

LAODICEA – A.D. 1900 - Tribulation.

THE SALUTATION

“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 (3:14).

 

This was John’s ninth command to write.

The Amen – God is called twice in Isaiah 65:16 the “God of truth (אָמֵן ʾāmēn, Heb).” It means “to support; to be faithful; to have constancy and reliability.” Amen means truth, affirmation, or certainty. It refers to that which is firm, fixed, and unchangeable. Whatever God says is true and certain. Christ is the Amen (ἀμήν amḗn, Gk) in the sense that He is the God of truth incarnate. It is through the person and work of Christ that all God’s promises and covenants are fulfilled and guaranteed.

The True and Faithful Witness – Everything Christ speaks is truth. He is completely trustworthy, perfectly accurate, and His testimony is always reliable (John 14:6).

The beginning of the creation of God – Beginning (ἀρχή archḗ, Gk.) means that Christ is called “the beginning” because He is the efficient cause of the creation; “the head” because He is before all things, and all things were created by Him and for Him (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:10). Christ Himself is the source or origin of creation (Revelation 22:13). Through His power everything was created. He is the Preeminent One, the One receiving the highest honor (Psalm 89:27). He is the source of the creation, and the supreme person (πρωτότοκος prōtótokos, Gk.) in it.

THE COMPLAINT

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

 

Your works – Deeds always reveal people’s true spiritual state (Matthew 7:16; Romans 2:6-8). Though salvation is by God’s faith, through faith alone, deeds confirm or deny the presence of genuine salvation (James 2:14).

Neither cold nor hot – Laodicea’s water supply traveled several miles through an underground aqueduct before reaching the city. The water arrived foul, dirty, and tepid. It was not hot enough to relax and restore, like the hot springs at Hierapolis; nor was it cold and refreshing, like the stream water at Colossae. Laodicea’s lukewarm water was in a useless condition.

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

 

I will vomit you out of my mouth - Some churches make the Lord weep; others make Him angry; the Laodicean church made Him sick. Hot people are those who are spiritually alive and possess the fervency of a transformed life. The spiritually cold are those who reject Christ. The lukewarm fit into neither category. They are not genuinely saved, yet they do not openly reject the gospel. They attend church and claim to know the Lord. Like the Pharisees, they practice a self-righteous religion; they are hypocrites playing games (Matthew 7:22-23). Obnoxious hypocrisy nauseates Christ. Those who self-righteously think that they are saved are protective of their religious feelings and unwilling to recognize their real condition. No one is harder to reach for Christ than a false Christian.

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).

 

I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – Such words as these bite and burn. Their deeds gave the lie to their empty words (Matthew 7:21). Like the rich young ruler, they were deceived about their spiritual condition (Matthew 19:16-22).

Wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – They were rich in spiritual pride, but bankrupt in saving grace. They believed that were to be envied, but they were in fact to be pitied. Human nature must be changed internally, and only Jesus Christ can do that!

“The world is not to be converted by money, but by the Spirit of God” – Clarence Larkin.

THE COUNSEL

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Revelation 3:18).

 

Gold refined in the fire – They needed gold that was free of impurities, representing the priceless riches of true salvation (1 Peter 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:18-19). Christ offered the Laodiceans a pure, true salvation that would bring them into a real relationship with Him. Salvation is not purchased through human efforts. It has been purchased for us by the death of Christ on Calvary’s cross.

White garments that you may be clothed – Laodicea’s famed black wool symbolized the filthy, sinful garments with which the unregenerate are clothed (Isaiah 64:6; Zechariah 3:3-4). In contrast God clothes the redeemed in white garments (Revelation 3:4-5, 4:4, 6:11, 7:9, 13-14; Isaiah 61:10) symbolizing the righteous deeds that always accompany genuine saving faith (Revelation 19:8).

Anoint your eyes with eye salve – The Laodiceans were spiritually stone blind. Blindness represents lack of understanding and knowledge of spiritual truth (Matthew 15:14, 23:16-17, 19, 24, 26; Luke 6:39; John 9:40-41, 12:40; Romans 2:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:11). The unregenerate Laodiceans needed Christ to open their eyes (Acts 26:18; 1 Peter 2:9).

All sinners have to offer is their wretched, lost condition. Christ offers His righteousness to those who truly repent. He offers spiritual gold, spiritual clothes, and spiritual sight.

THE CHASTENING

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19).

 

Christ has a special love for His church (believers), but He also loves the unredeemed (unbelievers) (Mark 10:21; John 3:16).

Rebuke and chasten – To rebuke (reprove) means to expose and convict. It is God dealing with sinners (John 3:18-20, 16:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24; Titus 1:9; Jude 15). Chasten (discipline) refers to punishment (Luke 23:16, 22) and speaks of God’s convicting of unbelievers (2 Timothy 2:25; Ezekiel 18:30-32, 33:11).

Be zealous and repent – This is the attitude of mourning over sin and hungering and thirsting for righteousness of which Jesus spoke (Matthew 5:4-6). In repentance, the sinner turns from his sin to serve God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

“Repentance means that you realize that you are a guilty, vile sinner in the presence of God, that you deserve the wrath and punishment of God that you are hell-bound” – D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

THE PROMISE

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).

 

I stand at the door and knock – The invitation is a personal one, since salvation is individual, but it is much broader than that.  The door on which Christ is knocking is not the door to a single human heart, but to the Laodicean church. Christ was outside of this apostate church and wanted to come in, something that could only happen if the people repented.

There are four ways in which Christ knocks:

1.  Through His Word (John 5:24).

2. Through His people (Romans 10:14).

3. Through His Holy Spirit (John 16:8).

4. Through providence (1 John 1:3).

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door – Christ is knocking on the door of the church, calling the many to saving faith, so that He may enter the church. If one person opened the door by repentance and faith, Christ would enter that church through that individual.

“The picture of Christ outside the Laodicean church seeking entrance strongly implies that there were no believers there at all” – John MacArthur.

Dine with him – Christ’s offer to dine with the repentant church speaks of fellowship, communion, and intimacy. Believers will dine with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) and in the Millennial Kingdom (Luke 22:16, 29-30). Dine (δειπνέω deipnéō, Gk.) refers to the evening meal, the last meal of the day (Luke 17:8, 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) which is rendered “supper.” Christ urged them to repent and have fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and it was too late forever. This is the fourth and last reference in the 7 epistles to the return of Christ, meaning that there will be Laodicean-like churches in the world when He does return.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Revelation 3:21)

 

Him who overcomes – A believer overcomes by receiving eternal life (1 John 5:4-5). This victory is made on an individual basis, and not all Christians attain it.

Sit with me on my throne – Christ offers to seat believers on the throne He shares with the Father (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). This symbolizes truth that we will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10, 20:6; 1 Corinthians 6:3).

I also overcame and sat down with my Father – Overcomers are promised:

1. The privilege of eating from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7).

2. The crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

3. Protection from the second death (Revelation 2:11).

4. The hidden manna (Revelation 2:17).

5. A white stone with a new name written on it (Revelation 2:17).

6. Authority to rule the nations (Revelation 2:26-27).

7. The morning star (Revelation 2:28).

8. White garments, symbolizing purity and holiness (Revelation 3:5).

9. The honor of having Christ confess their names before God the Father and the holy angels in heaven (Revelation 3:5).

10. To be made a pillar in God’s temple (Revelation 3:12).

11. To have written on them the name of God, of the New Jerusalem, and of Christ (Revelation 3:12).

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” ’ ” (Revelation 3:22).

 

What the Spirit says to the churches – The message to the apostate church is: repent and open up to Christ before the night of judgment falls.

The character of the church at Laodicea is a fair outline of the church period from A.D. 1900 - Tribulation. This church presents a vivid picture of the age in which we live. Luxury-living abounds on every hand while souls are dying for want of the gospel. Christians are wearing crowns instead of bearing a cross. We become more emotionally stirred over sports, politics, or television than we do over Christ. There is little sense of spiritual need, little longing for true revival. We accumulate instead of forsaking, lay-up treasures in earth instead of in heaven.  The churches of today are usually more interested in social action than gospel action, more interested in reformation than transformation, more interested in planning than praying.

Everything is largely mechanical and of a social character; all kinds of organizations, programs, committees, activities-but no power; fabulous architecture, million-dollar buildings, fund-raising organizations, and a large church membership. We have outward religious worship without the inner reality; “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). The Apostate Church today would be at the forefront of the gay rights and feminist movements and be leaders in the ordination of women and the feminizing of the deity. As this age draws to a close, apostasy, deadness, and indifference will increase. This is our condition on the eve of Christ’s return.

PARABLE OF THE DRAGNET (Matthew 13: 47-50)

The time is the end of the age (end of the Tribulation period) and is the time of the second advent of Christ. The fishermen are the angels. The good fish are the righteous (saved people, both Jews and Gentiles), and the bad fish are the unrighteous (unbelieving people of all races). The righteous enter the kingdom of their Father, and the unrighteous are consigned to a place of fire.

MYSTERY BABYLON (Revelation 17:1-7)

The picture is of the world being swept up into the intoxication and sin of a false system of religion. Prostitution (harlotry) symbolizes idolatry or religious apostasy (Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16:30, 20:30; Hosea 4:15, 5:3, 6:10, 9:1). The harlot rules over the waters which symbolize the nations of the world. She lures the nations into her grasp and deceives them into committing spiritual fornication with her. She is the bride of the Antichrist. All false religion stems from Babel or Babylon (Genesis 11:1-9).

System of denials within the professing church at the end of the age:

1. Denial of God (Luke 17:26; 2 Timothy 3:4-5).

2. Denial of Christ (1 John 2:18, 4:3; 2 Peter 2:6).

3. Denial of Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:3-4).

4. Denial of the faith (1 Timothy 4:1-2; Jude 3).

5. Denial of sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

6. Denial of the separated life (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

7. Denial of Christian liberty (1 Timothy 4:3-4).

8. Denial of morals (2 Timothy 3:1-8, 13; Jude 18).

9. Denial of authority (2 Timothy 3:4).

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA

 

The Church in Laodicea

The Laodicean church was most likely founded during Paul’s ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10).

It was not founded by Paul, because when he wrote Colossians some years later he still had not visited Laodicea.

Since Paul’s coworker Epaphras founded the church in nearby Colossae (Colossians 1:6-7) he may have founded the Laodicean church as well.

Some have suggested that Archippus, Philemon’s son (Philemon 2) was its pastor (Colossians 4:17). The fourth century Apostolic Constitutions names Archippus as the bishop of Laodicea (vii, 46).

Acts 19:10 -   And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Colossians 1:6-7 - which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit (NU-Text and M-Text add and growing ) as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.

Colossians 4:17 - And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

 

 

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.

LAODICEA (People Ruling) - BACKGROUND

Laodicea (people ruling)

 Background

Laodicea was about 40 miles east of Ephesus, and about 10 miles west of Colossae, and was built on the banks of the Lycus River, a tributary of the Maeander River.

With the coming of the Pax Romana (peace under Rome’s rule) Laodicea prospered. It was a strategic banking center. Laodicea became so wealthy that it paid for its own reconstruction after a devastating earthquake in A.D. 60.

Laodicea was known for its black wool industry; it manufactured garments from the raven-black wool produced by the sheep of the surrounding area.

It was an important center of ancient medicine. The temple of the Phrygian god Men Karou had an important medical school associated with it, which was famous for an eye-salve that it had developed, and was exported all over the Greco-Roman world.

The Laodicean condition describes the spiritual lukewarmness and worldliness that will prevail in the professing church of Christ at the end of the age. Rich, cultured, religiously ritualistic, this church will have become so self-satisfied and worldly as to have ostracized Christ completely. Even the Talmud speaks scornfully of the life of ease and laxity lived by the Laodicean Jews.

The living Lord demands enthusiasm and total commitment from those who worship Him.

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.

 

“Temple A,” Laodicea, Wide View

 

PHILADELPHIA - THE FAITHFUL CHURCH - Revelation 3:7-13

 

Philadelphia – The Faithful Church

Revelation 3:7-13

 

PHILADELPHIA – A.D. 1750 - Rapture.

THE SALUTATION

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (3:7).

 

This was John’s eighth command to write.

He who is holy – This refers to God, who alone possesses absolute holiness (2 Kings 19:22; Job 6:10; Psalms 71:22, 78:41; Isaiah 43:15, 54:5; Habakkuk 3:3). He is utterly separate from sin, and His character is unblemished and flawless. The title “Holy One” is used in the New Testament as a messianic title for the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; John 6:69). Jesus identifying Himself as “He who is holy” is a direct claim to deity. The Lord Jesus Christ possesses the holy and sinless nature of God.

He who is true – Truth is used in combination with holiness to describe God in Revelation 6:10, 15:3, 16:7, 19:2, 11. True (ἀληθινός alēthinós, Gk.) speaks of that which is “genuine, authentic, and real; one who cannot lie (John 14:6).”  Alēthinós defines the relation of the concept to the corresponding thing; meaning the only true God, not feigned like idols; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:20; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Isaiah 65:16).

Key of David – David symbolizes the messianic office (Revelation 5:5, 22:16). A key in scripture represents authority; whoever holds a key has control (Revelation 1:18, 9:1, 20:1, Matthew 16:19) Eliakim is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One upon whom should be hung all the glory of His Father’s house (Isaiah 22:22). Jesus alone has the sovereign authority to determine who enters His messianic kingdom (John 10:7, 9, 14:6; Acts 4:12). He is depicted has having the keys to salvation and blessing. To understand the Bible, you need only to know Christ.

He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens – Christ is omnipotent and what He does cannot be overturned by someone more powerful (Isaiah 43:13, 46:9-11; Jeremiah 18:6; Daniel 4:35). No one can shut the doors to the kingdom or to blessing if He holds them open, and no one can force them open if he holds them shut. This also speaks of opening and shutting doors for Christian service. The doors of opportunity for preaching the gospel are controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE COMMENDATION

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name (3:8).

 

Your works – Christ found nothing in their deeds that caused Him concern. They had kept His Word (Revelation 1:3, Matthew 28:20) and had not denied His name.

Open door and no one can shut it – Their entrance into the blessings of salvation by grace and into Christ’s future messianic kingdom was guaranteed. Christ opening the door symbolizes His giving the faithful Philadelphia church opportunities for service. An open door depicts freedom to proclaim the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:8-9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:2-3).

Little strength – Christ commended them on their strength (Luke 12:32). It was a small church, but it had a powerful impact on the city. Spiritual power flowed in this church, people were being redeemed, lives were being transformed, and the gospel of Jesus Christ was being proclaimed. The church of Philadelphia is characterized by a spirit of revival that promotes evangelism and a missionary-minded church.

Kept my Word and not denied my name – Christ commended them for their obedience (Job 23:12). They proved the genuineness of their love for Christ (John 14:23-24, 15:13-14). Despite the pressures they remained loyal, no matter what it cost them (Revelation 14:12). They would not recant their faith in Jesus Christ. The Christians at Philadelphia persevered faithfully through all of their trials and difficulties (Hebrews 12:2-4). Endurance is an essential aspect of saving faith (Matthew 10:22). Faithful churches with a Bible-teaching, evangelistic, missionary-minded ministry is leading many out of their philosophical desert into the abundant life Christ came to offer all humankind.

THE PROMISE

Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you (3:9).

Synagogue of Satan – The Christians in Philadelphia faced hostility from the unbelieving Jews, who were a synagogue of Satan. Racially, culturally, and ceremonially they were Jews, but spiritually they were not (Romans 2:28-29).

Worship before your feet – Bowing at someone’s feet depicts total defeat and submission. The Philadelphia church’s enemies would be vanquished, humbled, and defeated (Isaiah 45:14, 49:23, 60:14). The Christians faithfulness would be rewarded by the salvation of some of the very Jews who were persecuting it.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, 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 (3:10).

 

My command to persevere – Because the believers in Philadelphia had successfully passed so many tests, Jesus promised to spare them from the ultimate test. This verse promises that the church will be delivered from the tribulation. The rapture is the subject of 3 passages in the New Testament (John 14:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The church will be raptured before the Tribulation begins.

From the hour of trial to test those who dwell on the earth – This test is future, and for a definite, limited time. It is a test that will expose people for what they really are, and it is worldwide in scope. “Those who dwell on the earth” is a technical term in the book of Revelation for unbelievers (Revelation 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:2, 8). The hour of trial is Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:25-27), the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), and the seven-year tribulation period.

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (3:11).

 

I am coming quickly – The coming spoke of here is to bring the hour of testing that ushers in our Lord’s second coming. It is Christ coming to deliver His church (2 Thessalonians 2:1). Christ’s coming for His church could happen at any time. This third reference in the 7 epistles to the return of Christ means that there will be Philadelphia-like churches in the world when He does return.  Nothing ignites the fire of evangelism in the heart of a congregation like dynamic preaching on the promised return of Jesus.

Hold fast what you have – Those who persevere to the end prove the genuineness of their salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). The means by which God secures believers is by providing them with a persevering faith. Christians are saved by God’s power, but not apart from their constant, undying faith (1 John 2:19).

Your crown – The crown, or reward for those who faithfully endure to the end is eternal life (2 John 8). It is described as a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) and as one of glory (1 Peter 5:4). In our glorified state, we will be perfectly righteous and perfectly able to reflect God’s glory. Your faithful perseverance marks you as a true child of God and you need never fear of losing your salvation.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name (3:12).

 

He who overcomes – We overcome by being faithful and obedient, and receiving our eternal rewards. Failure to overcome means there has been a loss of rewards.

Pillar in the temple of My God – A pillar represents stability, permanence, and immovability. The promise that Christ makes to believers is that they will have an eternal place of honor in Heaven. “He shall go out no more” speaks of security in eternal glory.

The name of My God – This name depicts ownership, signifying that all true Christians belong to God, and speaks of the intimate, personal relationship we have with Him forever.

The name of the city of My God – Christians have eternal citizenship in heaven’s capital city, the New Jerusalem, described at length in Revelation 21. This is another promise of security, safety, and glory.

My new name – Christ’s name represents the fullness of His person in heaven; believers will “see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). The new name will reflect the glorious revelation of His person.

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

 

What the spirit says to the churches – Believers are to heed the truth of what the Holy Spirit is saying in these last days of this age on planet earth. The holy, true, sovereign, omnipotent God pours out His blessings on churches that remain loyal to Him.

Those who are just hearers of the Word of God are not justified before God, but those who have received the Lord Jesus and accordingly are prepared to meet Him at His coming are justified before God – Tim LaHaye

The character of the church at Philadelphia is a fair outline of the church period from A.D. 1750 - Rapture. This period in church history was characterized by revivals that began with George Whitefield in A.D. 1739, followed by John Wesley, Charles G. Finney, and D.L. Moody. In 1793, God opened a door for William Carey to preach the gospel in India. It was followed by other young people whom the Spirit of God touched, and the present-day “Faith Missionary Movement” was begun; with such men as Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, Jonathan Goforth, and literally thousands of other people, going out to Africa, China, Japan, Korea, India, South America, and the islands of the sea.

1. One factor that led to the great missionary movement was the printing of the Bible in the language of the people and the natural tendency of the ordinary individual to take the Bible literally.

2. The second factor that contributed to this missionary movement was the increased interest in the study of the doctrine of the second coming of our Lord. Around 1800 the doctrine of the premillennial return of Christ, which had been all but dead since the end of the third century, was revived.

Spirit-filled servants of Christ went through various countries like firebrands of the Lord, calling on sinners to repent and saints to awaken from their spiritual slumbering state they were in. The evangelicals preached the truth concerning the church and Christ’s coming, and the worldwide missionary outreach. Satan also made a determined effort to leaven the church with legalism, ritualism, and rationalism.

PARABLE OF THE PEARL (Matthew 13:45-46)

The merchant is the Lord Jesus, and the pearl of great price is the church. At Calvary, He sold all that He had to buy this pearl. As the pearl comes out of the sea, so the church, sometimes called the Gentile bride of Christ, comes largely from the nations. The church will reign with Christ over the renewed earth.

MYSTERY OF THE JEW & GENTILE IN ONE BODY (Ephesians 3:3-9)

This mystery was a hidden truth that was later revealed in the New Testament by Jesus Christ to the apostle Paul; the Jew and Gentile brought together in one body in the Messiah (1 Corinthians 15:51; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 3:16). There would be no racial, social, or spiritual distinctions. The church will reign with Christ over the entire universe, sharing His glory (Ephesians 1:22-23).

MYSTERY OF THE INDWELLING OF CHRIST (Colossians 1:26-27)

This mystery was revealed in the Old Testament (Isaiah 42:6, 45:21-22, 49:6, 52:10, 60:1-3; Psalms 22:27, 65:5, 98:2-3), but it was not revealed that Christ would actually live in each member of His redeemed church. That both Jew and Gentile believers, now possess the surpassing riches of the indwelling Christ is the glorious, revealed mystery (John 14:23; Romans 8:9-10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:7, 17-18, 3:8-10, 16-19). The indwelling Spirit of Christ is the guarantee to each believer of future glory (Romans 8:11; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-4).

MYSTERY OF GOD (Romans 16:25)

This mystery is that God through His Son Jesus would provide salvation to both Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 3:3-9). It was unknown in the Old Testament Scriptures but has now been revealed in the prophetic Scriptures of the New Testament (Ephesians 2:20; 3:5). The gospel is the truth that God would save and glorify sinners (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

 

 

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA (Brotherly Love)

 

The Church in Philadelphia

(brotherly love)

Like most of the other seven churches, it was probably founded during Paul’s ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10).

A few years after John wrote Revelation, the early church father Ignatius passed through Philadelphia on his way to martyrdom at Rome.

Acts 19:10 -   And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

 

 

 

 

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.

PHILADELPHIA (Brotherly Love) - BACKGROUND

 

Philadelphia (Brotherly Love)

 Back ground

Philadelphia was situated on the Cogamus River, a tributary of the Hermus (modern Gediz) and was about 28 miles southeast of Sardis.

Its founders intended it to be a center of Greek culture and language, a missionary outpost for spreading Hellenism to the regions of Lydia and Phrygia. It benefited from its location at the junction of several important trade routes, earning it the title “gateway to the east.” The city was located on the edge of the Katakekaumene (burned land), a volcanic region whose fertile soil was ideally suited for vineyards. In A.D. 17 a powerful earthquake rocked Philadelphia, along with Sardis and 10 other nearby cities.

In gratitude for Caesar Tiberius’s financial aid in rebuilding their city, the Philadelphians joined with several other cities in erecting a monument to him.

Philadelphia was a center of the wine industry. Its chief deity was Dionysus (Bacchus), the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted by the Romans and the frenzy he induces, bakkheia. His thyrsus is sometimes wound with ivy and dripping with honey. It is a beneficent wand but also a weapon, and can be used to destroy those who oppose his cult and the freedoms he represents. He is also the Liberator (Eleutherios), whose wine, music and ecstatic dance frees his followers from self-conscious fear and care, and subverts the oppressive restraints of the powerful. Those who partake in his mysteries are possessed and empowered by the god himself. His cult is also a "cult of the souls"; his maenads feed the dead through blood-offerings, and he acts as a divine communicant between the living and the dead.

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.