..To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
Readings in the Book of
The Revelation
We come now to the last of the seven churches. This represents the branch of God’s church in which we live today.
***************(Begin Quote)
Revelation 3:
14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans [1852 - to the end of time] write;
[The intro]
These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning [Beginner] of the creation of God;
***************(End Quote)
In His introduction the Son of God points us back to the fact that He is the Creator, and that our way of life, and our message, should be based on the understanding that this world (and the entire universe) is in existence because He wills it so. We need to knock the Baal idol of evolution from its pedestal and call on the people of God to worship the Creator. Revelation 14:6-7. In other words, we need to show them that their God is not a God who uses force to punish or destroy at any time. When we do this there may be some opposition but it could soon be settled as it was for Gideon. See note 1. Then we can get on with our real work which is to defeat the “Midianites” with a loud cry. (Judges 7:20.)
In his letter to the Hebrew Christians, Paul described the position of Jesus Christ, the Son of man, very clearly.
***************(Begin Quote)
Hebrews 1:
1 God, who at sundry [various] times and in divers [different] manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days [of Jewry] spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.
3 Who, being the brightness of His glory [personality], and the express image [likeness] of His person [“If you have seen Me you have seen the Father”. See John 14:7-9], and upholding all things by the word of His power [He not only made them but keeps them going], when He had by Himself purged our sins [this is available through the experience of the cross], sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high [on His Father’s throne]; 4 being made [seen to be] so much better than the angels [by His behaviour on earth], as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name [position] than they.
***************(End Quote)
The original argument in heaven was that the Son of God looked and behaved like everyone else, so how could He be different? Just as angels sometimes take on the appearance of men when communicating with us, so He had taken on the appearance of an angel at their creation, and this had been accepted by all of them. When the Father claimed that His Son was different, it required faith in His word to believe it.
Similarly, now that the Son of God had humbled Himself to take on the nature of a Christian man, there were questions which needed to be answered in the church. Paul spent the first two chapters in his letter (Hebrews 1 and 2) making this clear, for there was a difference. While the Son of God sometimes LOOKED like an angel or a man from Adam’s time to the stable in Bethlehem, now He really IS a man permanently, having passed though the process of birth to show this. Yet at the same time He is still the Son of God! This requires faith in the word of God to believe it!
One of the proofs that God the Father offered to the angels after the argument developed in heaven, was the action of the Son at what we often call “the creation” of this world. It was the Son who “spoke and it was done”. (See Colossians 1:15-16). Thus He showed He had a power that creatures do not have. Then He showed this power again when He rose from the grave as a human. Paul wrote: “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our LORD, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh [He was human]; and [yet] declared to be the Son of God WITH POWER . . . by the resurrection from the dead”. Romans 1:3-4.
Lateral thought:
In actual fact, the ball of the earth was already here, having been made in the original creation, and what He did was separate the covering waters to reveal it. Then He made it fit for the new race of creatures who were to inhabit it. Therefore, at that time it was really a redevelopment of the earth rather than a creation. It was the human race and the other life which was created.
But let’s get on with our reading:
One of the problems of the last branch of the church is that it is NOT doing what God wants! There is no praise for this group at all, for the majority of them are “lukewarm”, (but remember there are always some genuine ones).
The Son of God says of it:
***************(Begin Quote)
Revelation 3:
[The condemnation]
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold [legalistic] or hot [spiritually enthusiastic, because either way I might be able to reach you]. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will [have to] spue you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel you to buy of Me [it will cost you] gold tried in the fire, that you may be [really] rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.
***************(End Quote)
It is not BEING in the last church that is the problem, it is the CONDITION the majority are in that causes the Son of God to cry. (We HAVE to be in the last church if we want to see the second coming.) The thought of having to “spue [them] out” is horrifying to the LORD, but it is a fact, for the people He refers to have no part of Him. They think that they are Christians, but are not! They have been following a false gospel which leaves them “naked”, which in spiritual terms means without the robe of righteousness! But, perversely, some glory that they are “sinners” for it proves to them that they are in the church! God’s problem with this branch of the church is that they have a gospel and put a lot of their energy into proclaiming it, but it does not change them. They need to “buy” the “gold tried in the fire” which is a special “faith developed under test” as well as the white robes of His righteousness. It will cost them a total surrender, and ongoing dependence. They also need the guidance of the Holy Spirit desperately.
This does not mean that their case is hopeless (at least not yet) for there is always the opportunity for them to hear and respond to the real call of the LORD.
Lateral thought:
The Jews of Christ’s time were also in a Laodicean branch of the church (it’s the last of a period, 7th of seven) and He came to them with a vibrant message, and some of them accepted. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’.” Matthew 4:17.
Remember Nicodemus the religious leader who did not know the facts of rebirth, or the plan of redemption? (John 3:14.) He was a typical Laodicean!
That’s why Christ says to today’s branch:
***************(Begin Quote)
Revelation 3:
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart], and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
***************(End Quote)
Again He repeats the fact that He is NOT living with the majority of Laodiceans. They have not “opened the door” to Him.
He knows what a shock it is going to be for them at the second advent when they find this out, and appeals for those in that condition among us to change their way and allow Him to do His saving work. The problem is that they “don’t know” that they are in this situation – they have to take His word for it and listen with a spiritual ear. He spoke of that when He gave us the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. The “foolish” ones are not hypocrites, for they really do wait for Him, but their lamps (their understanding of the Bible) are weak and going out. This means that “naked” Laodiceans have many truths but lack the “saving” truth! We may not be able to fault them on their doctrines such as the seventh-day Sabbath and the state of the dead etc., or the sanctuary in heaven, but they do not have the Sabbath “rest” which is essential for salvation. What is worst of all is that they are satisfied with their condition! They think they are “rich” but are actually “poor and blind”.
As time goes by so they must go further and further from the truth, till in the end their “lamp” goes out! That’s why He appeals so strongly. They need tests to let them see what they are made of. Remember Peter and his denial of Christ in the courtyard of the high priest’s house? (See Luke 22:31-34.) He was a true Christian yet needed to be able to see into himself, so how much more do those of us who are not yet reborn need them? It is written: “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in my integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins [will] and my heart [emotions]”. Psalm 26:1-2.
Christ continued:
***************(Begin Quote)
Revelation 3:
[The promise]
21 To him that overcomes [himself] will I grant to sit with Me in My throne [so there will be some who succeed in this branch], even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.
22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
***************(End Quote)
When Jesus ascended to heaven after Calvary He shared a throne with His Father until 1844 in the place symbolised by the first apartment in the earthly sanctuary. On the earth the courtyard and the first room were the places where confession was made and forgiveness received, and until that date all that the church people really understood of SANCTIFICATION was confession and forgiveness. But that year the Spirit was able to direct the attention of the saints to the second apartment of the sanctuary and the presence of the Father within it, for He had moved. (See Daniel 7:9-10 and 13-14.) They then learned that Christ had followed God the Father there and was now standing in front of Him for the beginning of the first judgment, offering up the RESULT of that confession and forgiveness and waiting to commence the final part of His work, which was the cleansing of the living Christians. He intended to expand the emphasis of their religion to include a TOTAL cleansing.
He is using the “bullock’s blood” to show that as the dead saints had accepted Him as their Saviour and had “died” a spiritual death before their physical deaths (the Passover sacrifice), they should now have the actions of sin which they have committed after that, forgiven completely by virtue of His “sprinkled blood”. He is asking His Father to accept us through His sacrifice.
He has already done this for those who died trusting Him, now it’s the Father’s turn. He is presenting His “bride” for His parent’s approval! But now He’s also waiting for us as the living saints to make up our minds and stop sinning and confessing!
It is written:
***************(Begin Quote)
Leviticus 16:
3 Thus shall Aaron [the high priest] come into the holy place [the second apartment]: with [the blood of] a young bullock for a sin offering . . .
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement [confession] for himself, and for his house [family] . . .
[Remember this? “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels”. Revelation 3:5.]
11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement [confession] for himself, and for his house [family], and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself.
12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the [golden] altar [of prayer] before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the [second] veil: 13 and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense [many prayers mixed with His righteousness] may cover the Mercy Seat that is upon the testimony [the Ten Commandments], that he die not. [The high priest needed the co-operation of those praying in the courtyard.]
14 And [under those conditions] he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the Mercy Seat eastward [on the front of it, representing the highest heaven]; and before the Mercy Seat [on the ground, representing the lowest earth] shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times [showing the completeness of the confessions and the forgivenesses in each place].
***************(End Quote)
Aaron represents the Son of God, showing that those of His “family” who have accepted His gift of a new life are worthy of resurrection. They had become a part of His family and “overcome themselves”, and were now fit to sit with Him on His new throne in the new world.
Not until this part of the ritual ceremony is finished in the reality can the Son of God begin to do what the “LORD’s goat” represents. So the round of confession and forgiveness still continues from this new position, as it did for the first few hours on the ritual Day of Atonement. This signifies that the mercy of heaven is still available for us! But we need to use it more than we have in the past!
Bye for now,
Ron
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
Some of these readings are available at http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/BibleReadings/books_index.html
On to next reading Back to previous reading
View a PDF version of this reading To the chapter index for this book
***************(Begin Quote)
Judges 6:
11 And there came an Angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites [who were terrorizing the country]. 12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour”.
13 And Gideon said to Him, “Oh my lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? [in 1844]’ But now the LORD has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites”. [A typical Laodicean statement.] 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, “Go in this your might [the faith of a mustard seed], and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent you?”
15 And he said to Him, “Oh my lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house” [All his brothers were dead, Judges 8:18-19]. 16 And the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one [fit] man”. [Gideon now realised who he was speaking with.]
17 And he said to Him, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, then show me a sign that You [God] talk with me. 18 Depart not from here, I pray You, until I come to You, and bring forth my present, and set it before You”. And He said, “I will tarry until you come again”. [Consider Habakkuk 2:3.)]
19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to Him under the oak, and presented it. [So he didn’t rush off to save Israel in his own strength.]
20 And the Angel of God said to him, “Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth [on the ground]”. And he did so. 21 Then the Angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gideon perceived that He was an [the] angel of the LORD, Gideon said, “Alas, O LORD GOD! for because I have seen an [the] Angel of the LORD face to face [now I’ll die]”. 23 And the LORD said to him, “Peace be to you; fear not: you shall not die”.
24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “Jehovahshalom” [the peace of God]: to this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him [now telling him how to do start his job], “Take your father's young bullock, even the SECOND bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal [the god of force] that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God upon the top of THIS rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice [of dedication] with the wood of the grove which you shall cut down”. [This is the message that will bring about the beginning of the end - the fact that God does not punish, hurt or destroy anyone, at any time.]
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said to him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. 28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the [new] altar that was built.
[Note that Gideon was not a priest,
nor was the sacrifice to be offered at Shiloh where the sanctuary was.
He who had set up the religious rituals could change them.]
29 And they said one to another, “Who has done this thing?” And when they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing”. [He was known to be an agitator.] 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die [worshippers of Baal like to kill their opposition]: because he has cast down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the grove that was by it” [They thought that Baal was the living God, for they believed in a god who punishes and destroys through his followers!].
31 And Joash [under inspiration] said to all that stood against him, “Will you plead for Baal? Will you save him [your god!]? He that will plead for him, let HIM be put to death whilst it is yet morning. If he [Baal] be a god, let him plead [act] for himself, because one has cast down his altar”. 32 Therefore on that day he called him [Gideon] “Jerubbaal” [which means “Let Baal contend with him”, i.e. a Baal fighter], saying, “Let Baal plead against him [if he can], because he has thrown down his altar”. Back
***************(End Quote)
For more on this subject, click here. http://www.oocities.org/nonconformist.geo/PastQueries/did_god_destroy_amalekites_jul_07.html
To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"