Laodicean Sifting

Sifting is typically a process related to food products. Through this process, useful products are separated from foreign particles, excess debris, and dirt. Such sorting is necessary to prevent mixing of pure and impure, edible and useless. And when sifting occurs, the true quality or spoilage of the product is revealed.

Something similar is produced by the Lord among His people, periodically allowing various trials or proposing certain reforms.

The very first sieve through which all people believing in Jesus pass is God's law, presented to the world in the form of the Ten Commandments. Regardless of what anyone might say or think, this Decalogue is the Word of God, which God spoke before a multitude of witnesses, and then He Himself, with His own finger, wrote on stone tablets on both sides.

A person's obedience to all these commandments determines their holiness and righteousness, which is not from the law, but by faith in Jesus. The closer we get to the end, the more likely it is that sifting will occur more frequently and thoroughly.

Knowing the truth liberates my mind from various delusions and makes me free in Jesus. I receive a new heart, which under the influence of the Holy Spirit is capable of distinguishing truth from error, lies from pure doctrine.

Various reforms that the Lord periodically conducts among His people reveal the rebellious spirit and ignorance to which the carnal heart is prone. For example, a health reform does not carry a message of justification but improves the quality of life for God's obedient children. Similarly, a dress reform does not save me from the second death but reveals God's view of my appearance and discovers the seeds of rebellion abundantly scattered in my heart. Such reforms will never become a criterion for accepting new members into God's church, but they relate to the holiness of principles without which informed God's children risk remaining in darkness and not receiving new light. The Lord also allows some false teachings to shake the faith of superficial listeners and separate them from His people. All those who have not been established in truth will be sifted by various winds of lies and will exclude themselves from among those faithful to God's Word. A good defense in this matter is understanding all the doctrines of God's church, which reveal various fermentations and help see the delusions of false teachings.

Moreover, the message to Laodicea will cause the most powerful sifting. This will be a global crisis of relationships between God and His people. We have already come to this understanding, thoroughly examining the message from Revelation 3:14-22 in previous lessons. But let's listen to the opinion of God's messenger on this matter, recorded in the past century: "I asked about the meaning of the sifting I saw, and it was shown to me that this action would be caused by a credible testimony, inspired by the counsel that the Faithful and True Witness gave to the Laodicean church. It will touch the hearts of those who accept it and encourage them to raise the banner of truth high and proclaim it firmly. Not everyone will announce this credible testimony. Some will rise against it, and this will precisely be the cause of sifting among God's people. I saw that the testimony of the true Witness is not given even half the significance it deserves. The sacred testimony on which the fate of the Church depends is not valued as it should be and is sometimes even completely neglected. This testimony should cause deep repentance; all who truly accept it will submit to it and be purified." – (Early Writings. Chapter 64. "Sifting". P. 270)

Through God's messenger, the Holy Spirit has long been warning His people that accepting or rejecting the message to Laodicea will cause a sifting that no one will escape.

The message itself calls me to close relationships with Christ. And studying this counsel, I see that the Lord quite clearly offers me all of Himself, desiring to have all of me. He thirsts to build eternal relationships with me, which in the message are called trade. It is like a marriage contract that will someday take place and never be destroyed.

How should Jesus relate to those who carelessly waste their time on empty things, ignoring the most important counsel that will change everything in life?

Gold refined by fire, white clothing, and eye salve — these are the true riches of Heaven, so simply offered to me, with which I will become a victor in the final battle.

Simply knowing the correct answer about the meaning of these symbols is not enough. It is necessary to give God the power to endow me with these qualities and teach me how to use them. But what will the Lord teach those who show ignorance, carelessness, or have no time, being occupied with various services?

The message to Laodicea is God's Word, which was spoken for our time, and ignoring it will deprive me of protection during the final crisis. I will understand that there is no oil in my lamp, which is now being offered to me in such abundance.

If one carefully reads the entire chapter on "Sifting," it further states that the Latter Rain will be poured out on those who have filled their lamps, and they will be entrusted with proclaiming the loud cry of the third angel. I did not venture to make such bold statements, although I understood that the message to Laodicea is very important, and we have talked about it a lot.

Jesus desires to personally get to know His bride, to reveal Himself to her, which is why He Himself has come and stands at the door, wanting close relationships.

The message to Laodicea is the full initiative of God to save me from temptations, lead me out of the lukewarm state, endow me with His character qualities, His love, righteousness, and wisdom, and allow me to know Him from the inside. His initiative is also to know me in the full depth of relationships, reveal the future and give hope, make me a victor, and create an Eternal family with me. And what is He to do with those who have no interest in His counsels? How else can He persuade His beloved children?

God speaks once and quietly waits for those who will respond, urging me and you, friends, to speak about this more often and more convincingly.

In this message, we are offered everything most valuable that Heaven has, in order to receive in full everything that I have in return. If I tell my bride that I will give her all of myself if she gives me all of herself, would this trade look strange? And half a bride does not suit me, nor would she need only part of me, but the entire me.

What do I give Jesus in return for His offer of hand and heart? A little interest as a favor and my formal participation in our relationship? Is this what the Lord expects from me?

And sifting is approaching, and no one will escape it. And this sieve will consist of fire, and nothing superficial will withstand such a test.

On which side of the Laodicean sieve would you like to be before this shop closes?

And the Lord offers to enter into trading relationships with Him and then develop them eternally. What could be more beautiful? To receive refreshment from the Lord's presence, it is necessary to walk the path that the Lord has determined, not I.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. Please read Matthew 13:24-30; Revelation 14:14-16; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Revelation 3:14-22; Amos 3:7; Revelation 10:7; 22:6; Psalm 19:5-9; Luke 22:31-32; Isaiah 1:9; 10:17-24; 28:24-29; 46:3-4; Galatians 6:7; Zephaniah 3:12-13 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

4. Do you believe that God will sift His people?

5. Should we engage in sifting and separate wheat from tares?

6. Why do you think the message to Laodicea will cause a global sifting?

7. Do you understand what the Faithful and True Witness is saying, addressing you personally?

8. What does this message have to do with me personally?

9. Is it important to know and understand all the symbols of the message to Laodicea, and who and what stands behind them?

10. Is it worth buying everything Jesus counsels? Would this be a wise decision?

11. If I do not understand the meaning of the message to Laodicea, will this be my justification?

12. If some of my brethren explore the Faithful Witness's message and share their discoveries, can I use these studies and accept them for myself? Or do I need to seek and find the meaning of all symbols myself?

13. Do you understand how important the message to Laodicea is, and what this all means for us?

14. Is it important to understand that I accept all of Jesus' counsels and implement them in my life? How can this be determined?

15. Is the example of the groom and bride clear to you? Do you have your own interpretation of the message to Laodicea?