Testimony of the Faithful Witness

In Revelation 3:14-22, we find Christ's address to the angel of the Laodicean Church. This entire book is written in a symbolic language that can be deciphered and understood by studying the entire Bible and knowing the history of Christianity.

It is commonly believed that the Laodicean period began in 1844 when the longest prophecy about cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary was fulfilled, in which Jesus as our High Priest entered the Most Holy Place and began the final phase of His service.

In essence, the Lord addresses His people with the most amazing message, which is very deep in its content and quite extensive in meaning for those who decide to immerse themselves in it completely. This message can be divided into several parts that are one whole and lose meaning when separated from the fullness of the entire content.

At first, the Faithful Witness introduces Himself to His people, calling Himself by appropriate names. Then, addressing me personally, He shares His testimony about who I am and in what miserable state I find myself. After this, He shows me a way out of the lukewarm state, offering to enter into an alliance of eternal trading relationships. In the symbols of Heavenly goods, the entire Heavenly fullness of Deity is provided to me, without purchasing Which I myself cannot exit my lukewarm state and will be spit out of Christ's mouth.

All subsequent verses are addressed to those who have accepted the counsel from verse 18. In them, Jesus assures me of His love and calls me to be zealous and constant in trading relationships, repenting of my lukewarm state. After this, He personally comes to me to reveal the meaning and depth of the purchased goods and teach me how to use this weapon to victory over evil forces and temptations. Then the Lord names the victor's reward, as if making it clear that it belongs to me if I accept the entire message and follow His counsels.

If you now search for the phrases "Message to Laodicea," "Testimony of the Faithful Witness," or other algorithms related to this message, you will be presented with many movements and groups that engage in a deep analysis of the first four verses of this message, describing the deplorable state of God's people and rebuking them. Without understanding this, it will be difficult to feel the need for repentance and how miserable my position is in God's eyes. Although I no longer belong to the world, this world still has a place in me and very skillfully disguises itself with a mask of Christianity, which is abhorrent to God.

But, unfortunately, for some reason, these messengers do not provide a way out of this lukewarm state, and their message consists of encouraging me to adopt their spirit of reproof and in a similar vein expose lukewarm brethren, pointing out their spiritual tepidity. But this is not the message to Laodicea! This is a distortion of the meaning of this message. And some of these "messengers" even dare to leave the church ranks or are excluded from church fellowship, considering themselves persecuted for the truth.

It is undoubtedly true that sin will manifest among God's people until the very last harvest. But the Lord does not call us to separate tares from wheat, lest we damage the good harvest.

The most incorrect interpretation of the Message to Laodicea is to take part of this message and present it as a message without providing a way out, without indicating how to establish the true relationships with God that are offered, beginning from verse 18.

Verse 20, which speaks of the Heavenly Guest who stands and knocks at the door, is a favorite verse of many evangelists to call people from the world to Christ. This verse emphasizes God's respect for my choice and His expectation of my permission to enter my life. But it should be noted that this verse relates to the Message to Laodicea and is one whole with this message. Outside of this message, it carries a completely different call and meaning. And in the light of the message to Laodicea, it has power only when I heed the counsels of the Faithful Witness and begin to buy from Him what He offers me. Buy! Not take without payment!

What sense is there for Christ to come to a lukewarm Christian who ignores God's counsel and jumps over His recommendations, but is not against having dinner with his Savior? One cannot impunely change the meaning of what is written in the message to Laodicea by extracting something and examining only what is liked.

The heart of this message is verse 18, in which the Lord makes a wedding proposal to my will in the form of a symbolic "engagement ring." He desires to have her as His bride at the wedding celebration, but she lacks faith working through love, and the love of God the Father, the pure clothing of Christ's righteousness, and the heavenly wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Will the Lord lead His bride out for the universe to see in a naked state? Will He not burn with shame when she displays her grumbling and discontented spirit? How will He feel in the company of a foolish wife? Therefore, He offers the fullness of Deity in modest symbols of gold, white clothing, and eye salve.

And after this, He will be very pleased to know His future bride in personal communion, so that she might love Him and open her heart to the One with whom she entered eternal trading relationships. For this, the Lord comes to my will every symbolic evening, in my best personal time, so that we can eat together, communicate, and Jesus can teach me something.

In verse 21, a symbolic reward for the victor is announced. But at the same time, it is presented very modestly compared to the glory of Heaven that will be revealed to all the chosen from the Laodicean period.

The parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-12 is also a symbolic prototype of the message to Laodicea, providing a broader understanding of some details and sad consequences for those who do not accept the counsel from the Message to Laodicea.

In this message, every word and the fullness that these words compose are important because my eternal fate depends on the correct interpretation and understanding of this message.

To buy gold refined by fire is to enter the Heavenly School of Love and learn this love, sitting at the feet of the Heavenly Teacher and applying the received knowledge in practice. Love truly enriches both me and those upon whom it will be directed through me.

Love is not a spontaneous feeling of tenderness and good attitude, but a conscious choice of my will, deciding to follow this path in relation to a loved one. And this is reinforced by the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and established in Christ's righteous character, with which He endows me.

The Lord is not discouraged that many, reading, have not heard and did not understand what is written in this message. However, when it was revealed to the mind and brought to consciousness but not accepted by the heart and ignored by the will, then the Lord has nothing more to offer me. This is the last message for the last time, in which the most effective weapon for victory in the coming trials is offered.

When this Heavenly store closes, it will be too late to do anything. It will close forever for the unwise, but continue its eternal work for those who have entered and engaged in trading relationships with Christ.

On which side of this mysterious door of the message to Laodicea do you plan to be?

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. Please read Revelation 3:14-22; Matthew 25:1-12; Proverbs 1:23-33; 3:13-18; 14:5,25; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Matthew 23:13; Luke 11:42; Psalms 91:6-7; Proverbs 23:23 in light of this chapter.

2. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

3. What did you understand from this chapter?

4. Can one impunely extract one thing from God's messages and ignore another? (Revelation 22:18-20)

5. Do you think the Lord will reveal the essence and meaning of His message to Laodicea to those who seek?

6. What should I do if these symbols and meanings are not clear to me on the first reading?

7. Why is this message so important in our last time?

8. What will happen if I seek a way out of the lukewarm state somewhere else?

9. Did the Lord give His message from Revelation 3:14-22 so that it would not be studied and observed?

10. Is it worth considering that it is difficult for any listener to understand the meaning of the message to Laodicea on the first try?

11. Do you think a thirsty buyer will acquire what is offered by the Faithful Witness?

12. Why does Jesus not give away Heavenly riches but sells them?

13. Does the Lord impose His blessings offered in the Message to Laodicea?

14. Why are such important things offered so modestly?

15. Can I become a victor by ignoring the message of the Faithful Witness?