The Amazing Status of Laodicea

Philia is a Greek word that has no analogues in other languages and is translated as love, friendship, friendliness, attraction, implying a personal acquaintance with the one to whom it refers. This word can be a prefix to other words, for example, "Philadelphia" — brotherly love, or "Philosophy" — love of wisdom.

In Greek, philia is used to describe very close friendly relationships between people who know each other.

We cannot precisely say what kind of relationships were characterized by this word during Christ's time, but its use in the Gospel and other books reveals to us the depth of friendship that the disciples had toward Jesus and toward each other.

If we examine all the words about God's love for all people and His creation in the Bible, they sound like "agape". The Lord also calls us to have this agape for all people and especially for one another, so that everyone can see that we are His disciples.

If you read the Bible in our translation, it is not apparent which Greek word describes a particular type of love.

But in the original, there are two places where Jesus specifically calls His relationship to His Church by a certain name.

We read in Revelation 3:19: "Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline." In this case, the word philia is used. I want to understand what the Lord put into this expression of His love, and why He only once in all of Scripture addresses the Church in this way, toward which there is not a single word of praise?

The Lord not only loves His people of the Laodicean period but also declares His friendly attitude toward this people. He also says that justice in these relationships remains in its proper place.

But such an exception to the general rule makes one think about this statement.

The very deep meaning of this word is also revealed in Peter's repentance when Jesus asked him three times if Peter loved Him. In the original, this sounds very interesting. We read John 21:15-17. (From the author: excuse the lack of declension in the word philia.)

First time: "Do you agape Me more than these?" Peter answered: "You know that I have philia for You."

Second time: "Simon son of John, do you agape Me?" And again the answer: "Yes, You know that I have philia for You."

The third time Jesus asked: "Simon son of John, do you philia Me?" To which Peter sadly replied: "You know everything. You know that I philia You." Peter did not argue with this test but three times assured Jesus of his friendly attachment to Him and that he remains in this relationship.

But the deepest meaning of the word philia is revealed in Jesus' statement about His Father's love for the Son.

We read in John 5:20: "For the Father loves (philia) the Son and shows Him all that He does; and will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." This verse can be considered a key to understanding what Jesus put into the relationship of love-Philia when addressing Laodicea specifically.

If the Father's love for all creation sounds like agape, and love for the Son sounds like philia, then in this word, there is a certain depth that the Lord desires to reveal to us, inviting us to enter into it.

Imagine! He compares and calls His Love for His people by the same word with which He only once calls the Father's Love for Himself. What trust, what closeness of Christ to His followers is revealed in this address! It is amazingly pleasant to understand and hear this!

We have an assurance that "the Father shows the Son everything that He does, and will show Him greater works, so that you will marvel." And after such a testimony, it continues to verse 47, which speaks about what the Father and Son will do in this friendship.

Jesus' statement about His friendliness carries a promise that reveals God's plans for the people of the last period. The Lord will show Christians who have entered into close trading-friendly relationships with His Son everything they need to see, and even give them to understand more than is accessible to us today.

The Lord promises us such a fullness of revelations and blessings that we cannot even imagine anything similar. And so it will be.

And how pleasant it is for Jesus to come to friends afterward and dine with them, revealing in friendly communion everything that will serve victory and expose all the plans of the evil one.

Is friendship possible without agape love? Yes, but it will have many fences and conventions. Is agape Love possible without friendship and close relationships? Yes. This is how God loves our ungrateful world, and our love for enemies does not expect reciprocity but displays the right spirit. Not every neighbor will respond with the same agape to my unconditional love.

But friendly love-philia has relationships and reciprocity in which agape feels very good and expects a friendly response in the same agape spirit.

God's love is unique in that it searches for a long time for a channel through which it can pour into the world and bring blessings to others. And when love finds a heart suitable for this, with what joy it is ready to reveal everything most beautiful and give the best!

Laodicea is unique in that it is the last church in the period of Christian earthly history. It will be given the full measure of light necessary for preparation for the final events and all power from above for complete victory. Laodicea has partially already received enormous blessings through the prophetic gift, but amazing transformations in the mind and deeds of God's children still await us, thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit, who will irrigate with the Latter Rain everything sown in believers' hearts.

And Jesus calls us to be diligent in purchasing those relationships which He so convincingly advises us to acquire in Revelation 3:18, and to repent of our lukewarm state when a call to changes in life and thinking is given.

The very last words of Jesus to His disciples before crucifixion were His affirmation that they were His friends. John 15:14-15. Here the same word philia is present. The Lord has left the best, most important, significant, and delicious for the very end. And in His attitude toward Laodicea, He gives us to understand that He is generous with pleasant surprises that will bring our victory closer. And this Surprise is He Himself with His unchanging unconditional love-philia. What an advantage to be not just loved like the whole world, but also to be a close friend in close relationships with Deity itself in the person of the Son. It is not we, but He who precisely voiced His attitude toward His people.

We read in John 15:15: "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, because everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." We are friends! Can you imagine what this means? And what advantage does this status give in the last time?

Amazing and very interesting.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. Please read, if possible, in an interlinear Greek-Russian translation: Revelation 3:18-21; John 5:19-24; 15:14-19; 21:15-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 2 Peter 1:7; Hebrews 13:1; Colossians 3:14-15 in light of this chapter.

2. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

3. What did you understand from this chapter?

4. Are you glad that a new depth of the message to Laodicea is being revealed to us?

5. How do you understand love-philia discussed in this chapter?

6. What is the difference between agape and philia?

7. Why did the Lord decide to relate in a friendly way to the Laodicean Church?

8. Did the verse from John 5:20 give you a key to a deeper understanding of the message to Laodicea?

9. To whom is the message to the angel of the Laodicean Church given?

10. Does Jesus expect any specific actions from us in light of the message to Laodicea?

11. What advantage does understanding the Faithful Witness's message give us?

12. What has changed in your life since you began studying the Message to Laodicea?

13. Is Jesus interested in us studying His message to Laodicea, understanding it, and acting according to His counsel?

14. What awaits those who never heed the counsel from Revelation 3:18?

15. Do you ask God in personal prayers for a deeper understanding of the message to Laodicea?