Characteristics of Laodicea

The second and third chapters of the Revelation tell us what awaits God's people at a specific time in history. If you look at the map where these cities are located, you can see that they are positioned one after another. You cannot get, for example, from the first to the fourth by bypassing the second and third. And so on. The characteristics of such a location indicate the sequence of periods replacing each other. Laodicea is at the very end, and after it, there is no other city in the prophecy. Therefore, it is worth carefully examining this message, for it has its own characteristics concerning the last time in which we live. This message is addressed personally to me and to all of God's people to point out the moments that need to be correctly understood.

From all previous addresses of Christ to His disciples in different periods of history, we can take examples and characteristics of that era and apply them to ourselves, improving our understanding of God's love and the Creator's care towards His children. But the message to Laodicea contains information that was not in other addresses. And this is important to consider.

Salvation of believers in Jesus has always been in His power, and only He decides who and how will be saved by God's mercy. But as lawlessness multiplied, grace also abounded. God's people in each era of their development received more and more light, and accordingly, God's expectations and requirements grew along with it. What was sufficient for salvation before may be too little today. If God has explained a truth to me that my predecessors were not familiar with, He will ask me to observe it, but not them, because it was not yet revealed to them. My ancestors will be judged by the light they had. However, ignorance will not serve as an excuse for many people who had the opportunity to know a special truth but consciously did not study it, considering it unnecessary, unimportant, or uninteresting to themselves.

If earlier, in the times of the apostles, faith in Jesus alone was enough to be saved, and believers received a special power of the Holy Spirit as a pledge, who led them, performed miracles and signs through their hands, and taught them everything that was revealed to them at that time, today the Same Spirit directs us and explains what He has revealed to us in our days. He teaches believers to fulfill truths for the last time, gained through His revelations and God's messengers.

When a person first comes to Jesus, he is like a child who knows and can do nothing yet. It is wrong to expect from him what has not yet been revealed to him, what he has not yet learned. But even being a sinner, by God's grace, such a person is declared righteous. This righteousness is imputed to him conditionally, by faith in Jesus. When a God's person begins to grow, then he learns the truth, and conscious obedience is already expected from him according to the received light. And now the believer is conditionally endowed with God's righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. Why conditionally? For the reason that he is free in his choice and can always change it. But while a person believes in Jesus and is obedient to the revealed light, this contributes to his salvation by God's grace.

Laodicea has a special message that has power and authority specifically in our time, and God expects my interest in this truth. Only in this case will He be able to reveal it to me.

In all other periods, the Lord declared that He was coming soon. He addressed five churches with similar words. But in the message to Laodicea, the Lord declares that He is already standing at the door. Obviously, He has already come, and He has something very important that He wishes to share with me. And He expects responsive actions to this event. We are not discussing the Second Coming of Jesus to the whole world. The message teaches us that the Lord has come to His people to specially prepare believers for the Second Coming and the events preceding it. And all previous instructions will be insufficient to endure the coming trials. Ignorance of the current advice will not be my justification and protection on the day of judgment.

If Jesus gives me something, He is deeply interested in my taking and accepting it. If I take such a step of faith, at that moment all God's commandments, precepts, and promises come into force, and I am declared a law-keeper. I am entrusted with everything that is promised and provided for me in such a case. By faith in Jesus, subject to obedience to the received light, I become the possessor of all those qualities and blessings listed by the Lord in the message to Laodicea. In case of my disagreement or ignorant refusal of this message, Jesus will spew me out of His mouth, as He warned. God's love will manifest in special mercy to the obedient and in justice to the negligent. Whether I want it or not, I am faced with a choice – to accept the message and allow God to act in my life, or to reject it and close my heart to Christ forever.

The fact that Jesus unobtrusively offers, gently advises, quietly knocks, and calmly calls does not mean that His message can be neglected and other blessings received to overcome temptations and resist Satan's power. It is in Christ's humility that great power for victory is laid. He gives an example of behavior and proclamation of His message. It will be loud but very humble. Jesus will leave the right of choice to everyone.

Imagine such a picture. A man gives his beloved a small box with a ring, offering her to become his wife. The bride understands that behind the ring lies the prospect of a shared life as a wife with all the resulting rights and responsibilities. But she is not ready to give an immediate answer and thinks, weighing all the pros and cons. And the groom says the following: "If you refuse me, I will kill you. Or make others kill you. So decide, darling. I think my offer is very tempting." How does such an approach look? This is exactly how I sometimes try to present Jesus to the world in the message to Laodicea. But in reality, this offer sounds like: "This world is very dangerous, and you risk perishing in it, but I offer you my hand and heart. If you say 'yes' to me, I will do everything to protect you and shelter you from temptations, not allowing death to touch you. But you must choose this yourself; I respect your decision." And the Lord waits for a response.

The message to Laodicea contains many proposals described in symbolic language. It is necessary to understand them to comprehend the meaning of the images and decide what application they have in my life and the life of my church. The Lord reveals to those who seek everything they need to know, and leaves symbols and parables to those who are used to superficially evaluating God's truth, having no interest in it.

I do not claim the exclusivity of our research, but I offer to study what the Lord has already revealed to His people, what He desires to give so that we can worthily, fully armed, meet the coming events. Now the whole world is talking about something that must happen, but people are more expecting economic and political upheavals. But we are waiting for the Second Coming of the One who is Love, who stands at the door and knocks, who offers to buy Heavenly values and become our Husband.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. What was revealed to you in this chapter?

2. What relationship does the Laodicea message have to the last time?

3. Is this message an expression of God's love for His people of the last time?

4. Are you ready to further study the message to Laodicea for personal understanding of its depth?

5. How can understanding this message help me in the coming trials?

6. Where in the message to Laodicea is Agape Love spoken of?

7. Please read these verses in light of this chapter: Revelation 1:3; Psalm 91:6-7; Proverbs 1:20-33; 12:1; Revelation 22:18-21.