The Curse of Laodicea

The most sad thing one can imagine is to be lost forever for Eternity, being a believing person, a member of God's people, and bearing Christ's name. It is hard to wish someone a worse fate or greater disappointment. But even more tragic will be that this group of people, left without God's protection, will become an enemy of the chosen God's people and attempt, unsuccessfully, to oppose the victorious power of love.

I really do not want to talk about this, but unfortunately, for many, this will be the bitter reality that will result from ignorance, deafness, and a proud spirit.

God does not wish for anyone to perish and does everything possible from morning to evening to illuminate each person's path. God's love continues to pour infinitely into the life of every faithful and unfaithful son and daughter. God does everything on His side to save any soul deceived by the enemy. The amount of light we have today has never been given to anyone before us.

God's grace has not been exhausted to give victory over sin to everyone who desires it.

Lawlessness has never become a norm of happy life in God's eyes. It causes unambiguous disgust and hatred in the Highest. But with all this, God's love for the sinner remains immeasurably great and constant.

As it was in the days of Noah, when all who wanted saw and heard God's prophecies about the coming Divine judgments but did nothing for their salvation, so it will be in our days. The Lord's will shall be revealed to every person. Everyone will clearly hear, in one form or another, God's call to a new life of love, happiness, and friendship. This good news will sound constantly, but people who choose not to hear it or consciously reject it will be lost forever.

The world is full of various interesting discoveries, events, things, and activities. Much of this is given to us as God's blessing for a better life. But when all this occupies my mind more than God's truth for the present time, what else can God offer me to help me somehow?

The Bible contains many examples and images of how the Lord loves and desires to save for Eternal life anyone who wants it. But it also describes the fate of those who rejected God's calls and decided to go their own way, doing what they consider right. One of the most severe punishments was the flood, which destroyed all unbelieving humanity except for eight believing souls. For 120 years, a message of warning and unambiguous assertion that the world would be destroyed by a flood sounded, but this warning was rejected by the world, and people drowned in the waters of judgment. Is God to blame that humanity did not want to be saved and did not believe in the Creator's justice? Was the punishment unexpected? Did the flood waters catch anyone by surprise?

Something similar is happening in our time. The Faithful Witness says in the message to Laodicea that He finds my lukewarm state disgusting and will spit me out of His mouth if I do not repent. And if He did not give me a way out, I would have no chance of salvation. But the Lord does not want me to perish without hope and offers me a blessing that would have been difficult for anyone to even dream about.

Imagine that I live in enormous debts counted in billions, and suddenly an idea strikes me. I find a local billionaire and ask him to cover my debts and even give me an unlimited credit limit so that I can become richer and richer. What do you think, how realistic is this? It is hard to imagine a more foolish situation. I would not even be allowed near this wealthy person's house.

But what do we see in the message to Laodicea? The Heavenly Billionaire calls me poor despite my imaginary wealth and offers me an endless and unlimited credit for my enrichment. He clothes me in the beautiful garments of His character and offers me Heavenly wisdom. By human logic, this does not fit into my consciousness. It is difficult for me to understand how Someone can desire me true happiness and give me true wealth, and do everything for this. But this is exactly how it is and cannot be otherwise. God Himself became the initiator of this blessing and put not some incomprehensible proposals into it, but Himself. And what is He to do with those who reject this offer? He has no one better than Himself, better than the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. And what is the Lord to do with people who hear but do nothing to live according to what they heard? How to deal with those who plug their ears and think this message is not for them? Judge for yourselves what the Faithful Witness should do with those who turn their back to Him and consider His counsels unserious or irrelevant in the light of our time?

Being spit out of God's mouth is the saddest event one can imagine. There is no need to frighten me with a curse. It will come by itself if I reject the blessing. There is a Light that has a Source. If I do not kindle this Divine Light in my life, darkness does not need to be invited into my home. It will come by itself, and there will be nowhere to hide from it.

What could be better than the faith and love offered by the True Witness? But for some reason, there is no queue to Him, and those He calls lukewarm do not show proper interest in God's counsels.

What prevents me from buying what is offered and rejoicing in these trading relationships? How can I justify my ignorance? But I am not that stupid. I have my experience, good deeds, consistency in reading and prayer to justify myself. I can boast of my obedience, and in the future, I plan to proclaim the third angel's message and preach the Gospel to all nations. Isn't this enough to become a victor? Won't God accept all my efforts? Doesn't all this have value in God's eyes? Are not I and all the people mistaken? If this message were so important, wouldn't everyone be talking about it at every gathering and in all speeches! Since they are silent, it means it has already found its fulfillment in the past, and it is not worth bringing it up for consideration again.

What can Christ say to such statements? With regret, He tells me that I do not even know how miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked I am.

It is hard to imagine what the curse of Laodicea will be. It is like seeing the doors of the salvation ark, which were always hospitably open, slowly closing forever at some point. Inside was life and victory, but here chaos and death have arrived. Worse cannot be imagined! And no repentance will help anymore, and no insight will save.

Lost, not because one could not be saved, but because one chose this path and rejected everything offered by God in His plan.

How long should one continue to frighten the blind with punishment for their blindness? How long can the ignorant be lured by the beautiful blessings of Laodicea? At some point, the Lord will repeat the sad phrase said about Ephraim in Hosea 4:17-18: "Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! Their drink is sour; they continue in sexual immorality; their rulers dearly love shameful ways." Whether my or your name will stand in this verdict is for us to decide, and to decide now, while the Lord still calls: "Buy from Me."

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. Please read Hosea 4:6; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Deuteronomy 11:26; Psalm 108:17; Isaiah 1:3,9-20; Jeremiah 6:16; 7:13-16; 36:15; Revelation 3:14-22; John 3:16 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

4. What is a curse?

5. Does God curse those He does not like?

6. How can one be sure they are receiving God's blessing and not a curse?

7. What is the role of the Faithful Witness in your life? Do you understand His counsels?

8. Is it possible that while buying goods in the "Laodicean store," I will buy some things but pay no attention to others?

9. Will the Lord fulfill His curse against those who never hear His counsel?

10. Why does God not save everyone simply out of love for people?

11. Is the Message to Laodicea relevant in our time?

12. Should one observe people and judge them if they do not understand the Faithful Witness's message as you do?

13. Can one buy what Christ offers without having communion with one another? (1 John 1:7)

14. How can you help your loved ones become buyers in Laodicea?

15. If I am a constant buyer in Laodicea, does this guarantee it will continue forever? (1 Corinthians 9:27)