Free End Times Book (pdf).. - Rapture Notes

efore the trials of The Tribulation. There is also a warning not to let anyone take their crown. This refers to one of
the believers' crowns: possibly the crown of life which was promised to the overcomers of the Smyrna church
above.
To the overcomers of this period there is a promise of a new name and permanent residence in the New Jerusalem.
To Laodicea
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
ruler of God's creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you
are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have
acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and
naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear,
so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I
rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat
with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with
my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:14-22)
The Laodicean church is the last church of the seven, and stands for the last of the church periods. The name
Laodicea means "rule of the people." It is a picture of a church controlled by the people instead of being controlled
by God. It is the church of the Apostasy, or the great "falling away" of believers.
Jesus reveals Himself as ruler of all creation, and as the faithful and true one in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the
Laodiceans. He says they are neither spiritually hot or cold, but lukewarm, and that He will spit them out of His
mouth. This is shocking news to a people who have a very good feeling about themselves. They say they are rich,
but they are poor and wretched and blind. If they were spiritually "hot" they would be like the flaming evangelists of
the Philadelphia church. If they were "cold" perhaps they would recognize their spiritual plight. But they are active
in their church work, doing what they want instead of what God wants. They are like those about whom Jesus
warned--they call Him Lord, but He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23).
Jesus counsels them to buy gold, symbolic of faith (1 Peter 1:7), white garments, which are like the linen of imputed
righteousness with which the Bride of Christ is dressed (Revelation 19:7-8), and eye salve, showing dependence on
God's spiritual healing for their blinded eyes.
To this church Jesus says He is standing outside the door, knocking. If they will open the door, He will come in.
This is a church full of unsaved people. Since it comes at the end of the church age, it is easy to see that there will
still be many who call themselves Christians left behind when the Rapture takes place.
Still, there are overcomers even from this church. Those who will open the door to Christ will be overcomers. To
them, Jesus will grant the right to sit with Him on His throne. This is undoubtedly a reference to the future privilege
of believers to reign with Christ.
Many Bible commentators note that the Seven churches are representative of various congregations that can be
found on the earth at any one time during the entire 2000 year history of the church. These distinctively different
congregations each has strengths and weaknesses, and each has a core of faithful believers within them--designated
by the word "overcomers." Also, each of the Seven churches has enjoyed its season of prominence as the dominant
church during a given period of time. Most scholars who hold to this view believe we are now moving, or have
already moved, out of the Philadelphian age into the final stage of church history before the rapture, that of
Laodicea.
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done… 35