Sound The Trumpet : Laodiea?

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“Laodiea?”
by Art Sadlier
October 1st, 2012

We are now undoubtedly living in the last days of the Laodicean church age. I am personally not aware of a single pre-millenialist who would not agree with that statement. The characteristics of the present day Evangelical Church perfectly match the characteristics the Laodicean Church given by John in Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” This is the Evangelical Church of the present day. The Evangelical Church is materially rich but spiritually poor.

The alarming thing about this whole scenario is that John clearly teaches the Laodicean Church is an unregenerate church. The implication is that if you are a Laodicean in character, then you are unregenerate. The implication is that the evangelical church of the present hour is an unregenerate church. The question each individual must ask, is, “Am I Laodicean or Philadelphian in character?” The issue is not what you think you are or what you profess to be, but, “What am I in my practice?”

There seems to be a discrepancy between what many evangelicals believe it means to be a Christian, and how the New Testament defines a Christian. John uses a term which describes today’s evangelicals; “lukewarm.”

Many evangelicals today are;

* warm to Christ, but not on fire,

* let Christ have a place in our lives, but not the only place,

* let Christ have a place in our lives but not first place,

* let the Word of God have a place in our lives, but do not let it be the only and final authority

* let worship have a place in our lives, but leave room for pleasure and entertainment,

* make Christ a priority, one of many priorities,

* make our time of worship light and enjoyable, without laying too many demands on us.

Such an attitude is really saying that Christ is an “add on” to our lives. The scriptures teach that Christ will never accept those terms from anyone. The evangelical has a place for Christ but he also reserves a place for the world and the people of the world and the things of the world. That does not agree with what the Lord commands in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” You can’t have the world and Christ at the same time. It will cost you the world to follow Christ.

Listen carefully to the demands Christ makes on the life of those who would follow Him. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). You can rationalize away these words of Jesus, but you do it to your own peril. Paul taught what the Christian’s relationship to the world is to be in 2 Cor. 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” Notice this is a condition of being received by the Lord.

If this is the correct definition of what it means to be a Christian, it would seem that only a few would then be saved. The disciples asked the Lord that very question, listen to His answer. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Is it possible that multitudes of evangelicals who profess faith in Christ are actually unregenerate? Matthew 7:21-22 say it is: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

There is another indication of this scenario in Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” This plainly says that Laodicea is an unsaved group. We see this again in verses 18-20, where Laodicea is given an invitation to salvation. In verse 20, the Lord is pictured outside the door of the Laodicean church knocking to gain entrance.

I do not apologize for the repeated use of these verses. I fear that there are millions of new evangelicals who are on the broad road to hell. For them the clock is about to strike the midnight hour, and I am burdened for them.

What an awesome and terrifying thought, that multitudes of evangelicals are unregenerate and are about to miss the rapture of the church and be spewed out by the Lord into the tribulation period.

Before you “tar and feather” me, let me ask you a question. If this is what the scripture teaches, should we not shout a warning from the rooftops?

The issue here is not legalism, but rather, where are the marks of genuine salvation? Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). A change of life style and a difference from the world are the marks of genuine salvation.

We need to weep over and pray for those who are deceived into believing that they are believers when they are not. It is not that we are the judges of who is saved and who is not, the Lord knows them that are His. "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jeremiah 9:1).

I close with this challenge. Look carefully at the evangelical church and be honest.

* Is the Word of God the only rule of faith and practice?

* Is the evangelical church occupied with seeking to please the world and trying to be accepted by the world?

* Is the evangelical church wrapped-up in the things of the world?

* Has the evangelical church turned away from the doctrines so tenaciously held by their Philadelphian forefathers?

* On what has the evangelical church not been willing to compromise?

* For what sound doctrine has the evangelical church been willing to contend?

* Why is it that evangelicals no longer delight to be in an evening service and prayer meeting?

* Why is it that evangelicals equate big crowds, beautiful buildings, the world’s music styles and entertaining meetings with what the body of Christ is to be and do?

* Why are evangelicals no longer willing to preach about hell?

* Why is it that evangelicals are no longer different than the world in their life style and dress?

Come out of Laodicea. Do not support this thing which is entangling so many around you, including your own family.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13