The Simplicity of the Message to Laodicea

Studying the Laodicean Message, I have a special desire to share the discoveries of this Epistle with other people. Describing everything we comprehend in the process of study, we involuntarily immerse ourselves in the depth of God's revelations and marvel at the simplicity and harmony of Biblical symbols.

But I encountered that even those who consistently study the Message to Laodicea from Revelation 3:14-22 cannot briefly explain it to others and find it difficult to concisely express the essence of this Message. And when messengers are asked questions they struggle to answer, they suggest that the questioners independently find analyses of this Message and understand it themselves, referring to the fact that it is already deeply presented in the Agape Love School lessons.

The School's purpose is to motivate each of your minds to independent research of all the revelations God gives us and to understand them within ourselves.

The message to Laodicea is very frightening in its meaning and contains an ambiguous hint at the rather sad state of God's people in the last time, as well as God's attitude toward such a situation. But the beauty of this Epistle is that we are offered the most amazing way out of the lukewarm state, which makes us victors in the final confrontation with the forces of darkness.

At the very beginning of this Epistle, in verse 14, the Lord reveals His new Names, which carry a message of His greatness, omniscience, and might. The entire Universe trembles before the Creator, except for those who are called by His name and called from darkness to light. The condition of the Laodicean church is so depressing that Jesus has not a single word of praise for it, only deep regret and a warning that the punishment will be terrible.

Being a lukewarm Christian from verses 15-17 is exactly the state of God's people that each of us can observe with our own eyes. There's no need to invent anything; it's enough to look in a mirror or enter any gathering to see what the Faithful and True Witness sees. Not I, but the Lord gives such an assessment, and He is not mistaken. If the point had been put at these verses, no worse state could have been imagined.

The reality is that God's people listen to God's assessment, agree with it, and continue to do the service they have always done.

I recall an incident when I was on duty in the battery. I had poorly organized snow removal from the parade ground where the unit assembly took place. The duty officer personally came to me to call me a bad organizer who would be punished. I was so frightened that I ran and single-handedly cleared all the snow in one hour, thereby avoiding inevitable punishment.

When God makes a statement about my true condition, I think He would be pleased to see my genuine fear and sincere desire and some efforts to correct the situation.

But the Lord knows whom He is dealing with and immediately after the accusation offers a way out of the lukewarm and hopeless state. But this way out sounds very interesting and unusual.

I think that if that officer had advised me to take a wide shovel and a sled for snow removal, he would not have had to repeat it twice. But somehow I found everything myself and self-organized.

In verse 18, the Lord gives a very wise counsel, offering me to buy something hidden in symbols and not immediately understandable, but sounding very beautiful and solemn.

Questions arise: Why buy? What to pay with? How much does it cost? How long should I buy? What do these goods mean?

Knowing the correct answer to these questions is good, but entering into trading relationships with the Lord is what will suit Him most.

In the symbol of gold, an endless ocean of God's agape love and faith that shakes God's throne is offered to us. These soul qualities can become mine when I invest all of myself, wanting to receive all of God.

White clothing is the impeccable character of Christ, becoming mine by right of lawful purchase and by the fact of my unwillingness to be naked. I acquire this by paying all my sins and natural flaws of the carnal nature.

Eye salve is all Heavenly wisdom necessary for me to see everything and act in a way pleasing to the Holy Spirit. In payment for all these goods, I invest all my time.

Essentially, in these symbols, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are offered to me, and with Them, all of Heaven. No one has ever received such an offer. And the entire fear of this message is that if the listener does not hear this counsel, and having heard, does not buy what they are advised to buy, they will be lost forever. What the Faithful Witness offers has the highest cost. The highest payment is expected for it.

What to do with this counsel is for me to decide. And in verse 19, the Lord calls to be diligent in this purchase and repent of the lukewarm state, never to return to it. He loves faithful buyers and lovingly punishes them for forgetfulness or inattention.

Essentially, I am offered in the symbol of this trade with Christ to enter into a marriage relationship with Him, but before the festive celebration, it is necessary to know the One with whom I plan to live for all Eternity, and He very much wants to know me better, whom He plans to love infinitely and with whom He desires the most solid connections. Verse 20 reveals God's desire for personal relationships with me in my best time, so that in this mutual knowledge He might teach me to properly use and live with what I am buying.

The love and devotion of the Faithful Witness to me are so great that He decides to make precisely these relationships with Him the pledge of my victory over all sins, temptations, and enticements of this world. He declares me a victor over all evil forces, although I have only chosen Him, communicated with Him, and devoted all my time to this, even while doing ordinary things. I simply took the Lord into each of my enterprises and was always ready to invest all of myself and everything He expects. And He gives me all of Himself without reserve.

I used to think that to win, I needed to know all the plans and tricks of the enemy, study behind-the-scenes games and be aware of all world news, but it turned out that personal knowledge of God the Father and Jesus sent by Him made me a true victor. And this message sounds in the epistle to the Angel of the Laodicean Church.

Never before has the Lord offered His throne as He desires to share it with the listening Laodicean. Verse 21.

The Son of the Morning decided to sit on this throne but was cast down from Heaven. We desire nothing, and it is offered to us for constancy in trade and faithfulness in relationships.

When a groom presents an engagement ring to his chosen one, in this symbol he gives all of himself and everything he has. What will the bride answer? She decides herself, voluntarily.

This message will sift God's people and will be the filter that will not let through any impurity, ignorance, or other spirit. Not our plans are described and glorified in this message, but God's. Verse 22 tells that many of the lukewarm will forever remain deaf to this message, while those who have an ear will hear God's counsel and respond.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. Please read John 17:3; Revelation 3:14-22; Matthew 22:2-14; 25:1-12; Ephesians 5:15-18; Hosea 4:6; Daniel 12:10; Psalm 72:22; Proverbs 12:1; 14:18,24 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

4. Are you studying the Message to Laodicea?

5. What is the importance of the message to Laodicea?

6. Can you briefly and in your own words describe the essence and meaning of the message to Laodicea?

7. Why did the Lord clothe such a serious warning in incomprehensible symbols?

8. Does this message sound in your life?

9. Do you understand what the Faithful Witness is offering you?

10. What will happen to those who never hear this message, reading it with their eyes?

11. Does God have a softer message for our time?

12. Do you think the Lord has something better than what He offers to buy from Him?

13. Are you ready to pay for what the True Witness advises?

14. Will the Heavenly Guest knock on the doors of those who do not make the proposed purchases?

15. What should I do if I understand the meaning of the message but do not know what to do or how to implement it in my life?