Introduction
"The letters contained in the Book of Revelation to the Congregations"
Chapters 2-3 of the Book of Revelation contain the missionary letters to the 7 Congregations of Asia Minor at the time of the apostle John. However, the Bible is relevant at all times and those letters have had at least two different meanings in different eras. The Revelation of John is a prophetic/apocalyptic book, and because of that, I think the letters also tell about the development stages of the Messianic Congregations, in the past, in the present, and even until the end of the 1000-year peace period that lies ahead of us.
When we look at the Congregations in John's time and after, and how the places were named, it all tells us that Elohim has planned everything nicely.
Processing of the topic
Today we are studying Revelation chapter 3 and only the mission letter to the Congregation in Laodicea.
A letter to the Congregation in Laodicea
This one of these 7 Congregations in Asia Minor received downright crushing rebukes! There was nothing to praise about its operation!
>>14 "To the angel of the Congregation in Laodicea write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of Elohim's creation: 15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!
Verse 14: Yeshua again announces himself with several special names: 'Amen' or 'True', 'Faithful', 'True Witness' and 'Elohim the Beginning of Creation'. Those names again represent the authority with which the following teaching was given.
Verses 15 (-18) : The state of the Congregation was very miserable. It was not dead, like most in Sardis, but neither was it burning, like the parishioners of Smyrna and Philadelphia.
Verse 16: Because the spiritual condition of the Congregation was a bush, Yeshua announced that he would abandon it unless a clear change took place.
Verse 17: The Congregation thought they were rich and as if independent of others, even of Yeshua, but it was anything but seen through his eyes! According to the analysis, it was wretched and pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Verse 18: Yeshua advised the Congregation to buy gold from him, i.e. return doctrinally to the apostolic truth, to buy white clothes from him, i.e. to proclaim genuine repentance for the forgiveness of sins and to ask for gift righteousness through faith in Yeshua's blood, to receive white clothes and eye salve, i.e. the anointing of the Holy Spirit with its gifts of grace, in order to understand the words of Truth and the will of Elohim.
Verse 19: Yeshua declared that he still loves this Congregation which was in great apostasy, even though he used harsh words of rebuke against it with the aim of exhorting it to be diligent in repentance.
Verse 20: How startling is the mention that the Head of the Congregations, Yeshua himself, is shut out of this one and has to knock on its outer door, begging to come in, in order to save its members! Unfortunately, the current reality is even more startling than this!
Verse 21: It is surprising what honor Yeshua promises to the wretched members of that very Laodicean church, if they heed his words of patience, humble themselves and come back to the apostolic teachings: He allows only the OVERCOMERS to sit with him on his throne, as he also fought and WON, and was allowed to sit on that basis To his Father's throne!
17 Because you say, "I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing," but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! 19 All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!
20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. 21 I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the Congregations.'"<<
Verse 14: Yeshua again announces himself with several special names: 'Amen' or 'True', 'Faithful', 'True Witness' and 'Elohim the Beginning of Creation'. Those names again represent the authority with which the following teaching was given.
Verses 15 (-18) : The state of the Congregation was very miserable. It was not dead, like most in Sardis, but neither was it burning, like the parishioners of Smyrna and Philadelphia.
Verse 16: Because the spiritual condition of the Congregation was a bush, Yeshua announced that he would abandon it unless a clear change took place.
Verse 17: The Congregation thought they were rich and as if independent of others, even of Yeshua, but it was anything but seen through his eyes! According to the analysis, it was wretched and pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Verse 18: Yeshua advised the Congregation to buy gold from him, i.e. return doctrinally to the apostolic truth, to buy white clothes from him, i.e. to proclaim genuine repentance for the forgiveness of sins and to ask for gift righteousness through faith in Yeshua's blood, to receive white clothes and eye salve, i.e. the anointing of the Holy Spirit with its gifts of grace, in order to understand the words of Truth and the will of Elohim.
Verse 19: Yeshua declared that he still loves this Congregation which was in great apostasy, even though he used harsh words of rebuke against it with the aim of exhorting it to be diligent in repentance.
Verse 20: How startling is the mention that the Head of the Congregations, Yeshua himself, is shut out of this one and has to knock on its outer door, begging to come in, in order to save its members! Unfortunately, the current reality is even more startling than this!
He is still knocking on the front door of a few Congregations, but he has already rejected most of them. That is, those in which only 'theatre' is practiced, soulful man-made rituals and forms, which are also called sacraments! Pathetic! He urges his elected officials to resign from them. (Read verses Rev. 18:4-5)
Verse 21: It is surprising what honor Yeshua promises to the wretched members of that very Laodicean church, if they heed his words of patience, humble themselves and come back to the apostolic teachings: He allows only the OVERCOMERS to sit with him on his throne, as he also fought and WON, and was allowed to sit on that basis To his Father's throne!
Verse 22: This Mission letter also ends with an exhortation to listen and take heed!
Briefly of the Laodicean Congregation
(§ = meaning, + = pluses, - = minuses)
Also refers to the era that began in 1948 - "Liberal Church" - Located approx. 150 km east of Ephesus. It was an old city right next to Colossae and was famous for its black woolen fabrics, eye cream, banks and trading houses.
§ State churches: Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, etc.
§ The name means: "People's rights, people's power"
Pluses and minuses
Pluses and minuses
+ (nothing)
- Neither cold nor burning in the Spirit (liberal, rejected the apostolic doctrine, party politicized)
- Wealth (the pursuit of money, power and glory)
- Pride (as today: logical conclusions, AI = Artificial Intelligence, science and evolution have been exalted next to the Bible's doctrine of salvation and often even above it)
- Blindness (several basic truths of the Bible have been rejected and we act without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because we do not know him and therefore cannot obey)
- Lack of righteousness (immorality, frivolity, currently held rock concerts in churches, participation in pride events and offering Holy Communion to gays and lesbians, as well as blessing and/or marrying the couples in question, etc.)
The exceptionally harsh reprimands for this Congregation were also due to the fact that it was from this apostate Congregation that MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH took dominion over the nations of Europe. That is mentioned in chapters 17-18 of the book of Revelation and it persecuted apostolic Christians and Jews in the dark ages and it will persecute even more severely in the future!
In addition, it should be mentioned that the times of these similar 7 Congregations continue spiritually and in outline until the beginning of the 1000-year peace era, with the exception of the immaculate "Philadelphia Congregation" (consisting of genuine watchful believers in many Congregations worldwide), whose members will be taken away in Rapture already 7 years before that.
Introspection
Let's critically evaluate our local Congregation and ourselves as individuals, are there similar reproaches? When we most obviously find reasons for reproach, let us humble ourselves and repent as a Congregation and as individuals, asking for guidance in the Holy Spirit, praying for desire and strength from above!
§§§
§§§
§§§
This all you will get, if you fight until to win!
For the sake of recapitulation, I list here all the tremendous promises that were made to the chosen members of these seven Congregations in Asia Minor, if they would compete in the good fight, they would win for themselves the following blessings and spiritual riches as a result. The same promises also apply to all Messianic Jews and Christian believers today:
1) To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in (C) Elohim's paradise.' (Rev. 2:7) (C) According to G. Lamsa's translation, at the end of verse 7 it reads: "...which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim."
2) Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown (or wreath) of life. (Rev. 2:10)
3) He who overcomes will not be harmed by another death.' (Rev. 2:11)
4) To the one who wins, I will give hidden manna and I will give him a white stone and a new name written on that stone, which no one knows except the recipient.' (Rev. 2:17)
5) To the one who overcomes and takes care of my works until the end, to him I will give power (I) to rule over the Gentiles, (Rev. 2:26) (I) At the end of verse 26 of G. Lamsa's translation, it reads "...to him I will give power over the nations ...”
6) And I will give him the morning star. (Rev. 2:28)
7) They may walk with me in white clothes, for they are worthy. (Rev. 3:4)
8) He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white clothes, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (Rev. 3:5)
9) I have opened a door for you, and no one can close it. Although your power is small, you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (Rev. 3:8)
10) I will give you from the synagogue of Satan those who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. I have to make them come and bow before your feet and understand that I love you. (Rev. 3:9)
11) Since you have taken care of the word of my patience, so I will also take care of you and save you from the moment of trial that will come over the whole earth to test those who live on earth. (Rev. 3:10) /// Refers perhaps to the Rapture of the wise virgins(?) ///
12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my Elohim, and he will never go out from there again. (Rev. 3:12a)
13) I will write on him the name of my Elohim and the name of the city of my Elohim, the New Jerusalem that descends from heaven from my Elohim, and my own new name. (Rev. 3:12b)
14) If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:20b)
15) He who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev. 3:21)
We can win our spiritual battle only by walking in connection with Adonai Yeshua and implementing in our lives the instruction of the Byzantine NT translation: (Rom. 8:1)
"So now there is no condemnation for those who are in HaMashiach Yeshua, for those who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit!"
Please, tell me what kind of thoughts did this my writing evoke in you?
Songs suitable for the topic
We Choose The Fear Of The Lord
Purify My Heart
Here I am Lord
Hold Me Fast (Psalm 139)
P.S. Next Shabat I will prepare a Bible study on the topic:
"Sinner or Righteous?"
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