Women's Bible Study in Revelation - Laodicea

GOAL: APPLICATION: ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO JESUS DESCRIBES AS LUKEWARM?

SET UP BOARD: DESCRIPTION OF JESUS, COMMENDATION, REPROOFS, INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS, PROMISE TO OVERCOMERS, MESSAGE OF THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCHES

IF YOU HAD ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Lukewarm

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING JESUS SAYS THAT HE IS? (VA) He is the Amen
WHAT DOES THE WORD AMEN MEAN? Acknowledges that which is valid, binding, true and trustworthy. It means so be it. By God ... it is and shall be so. By man ... it means so let it be.

WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF IN THIS WAY TO THIS SPECIFIC CHURCH? He is valid, trustworthy but they say one thing when another is true. Jesus is true but those in Laodicea are false.

HOW ELSE DOES JESUS DESCRIBE HIMSELF? The faithful and true witness. WHAT IS A FAITHFUL WITNESS BASED ON MEANING OF WORD? One who can or does verify what he has seen, heard or knows.

HOW WAS JESUS A FAITHFUL WITNESS? WHAT DID JESUS COME TO DO IN JOHN 1:18? He came to explain God to verify who the Father is. ACC. TO JOHN 14:8-12 DID JESUS ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE ... WHEN PHILIP ASKED JESUS TO SHOW US THE FATHER? Jesus said, ?Have I been so long with you and yet you have not come to know me Philip. He who has seen Me has seen the Father.? JESUS ACCOMPLISHED HIS PURPOSE OF SHOWING GOD BECAUSE HIS LIFE VERIFIED WHO THE FATHER WAS.

ACC. TO JOHN 8:28-29 WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID JESUS DO WHICH MADE HIM A FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS? Jesus said He did nothing on His own initiative but did everything the Father told him and did only the things that would please the Father.

DOES JESUS MENTION ANYTHING IN REV. 19:9 WHICH DEALS WITH HIM BEING A TRUE WITNESS? He says these are the true words of God. REV. 22:18-19 STATE ABOUT THE VERACITY OF REVELATION? If anyone adds to words of book, God will add the plagues and if anyone takes away words, God will take away his part in the holy city.

WHAT IS 3RD WAY JESUS DESCRIBES HIMSELF? He is the beginning of the Creation of God. WHAT DOES GREEK WORD FOR BEGINNING MEAN? Root word for this word indicates what was of worth .... JESUS IS SAYING HE IS THE ORIGIN OF CREATION.

WHERE ELSE HAD THE LAODICEANS BEEN TOLD BEFORE JESUS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD? Colossians (Col. 4:16) and they had also received another letter Paul had sent them personally (Laodicea). WHAT HAD THEY BEEN TOLD ABOUT JESUS AND CREATION? He is the Creator (Col. 1:16) HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. COL. 1:18 HE IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE DEAD SO THAT HE HIMSELF MIGHT COME TO HAVE FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING.

WHAT ELSE HAD THEY BEEN TOLD ABOUT JESUS THAT RELATES TO RECONCILIATION IN COL. 1:20? Through Him all things had been reconciled. HE IS NOT ONLY THE ORIGIN OF CREATION BUT ALSO RECREATION ..... HE IS THE BEGINNING OF THE RECREATION ... HE HAS RECONCILED ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF.

WHAT WAS PAUL?S STRUGGLE WITH COLOSSAE AND LAODICEA (COL. 2:1-4)? That they come to a true knowledge of God?s mystery, Christ Himself and that they not be deluded with persuasive argument that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

COLOSSIANS WAS WRITTEN IN AD 60-62 AND REVELATION WAS WRITTEN ABOUT AD 95. DO YOU THINK THINGS CHANGED IN THE 35 YEARS BETWEEN PAUL?S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS AND JESUS? LETTER TO LAODICEA? PAUL?S STRUGGLE MENTIONED IN COLOSSIANS WAS MOST LIKELY A VALID STRUGGLE.

HAS THERE BEEN COMMENDATION FOR THIS CHURCH? No WAS THERE ANY OTHER CHURCH WITH NO COMMENDATION? Sardis. There was a commendation for a few.

IS THERE ANY WORD OF COMMENDATION FOR A FEW? No just reproof.
WHAT IS THE REPROOF? I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot (3:15) Because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of My mouth (3:16)

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS REPROOF, AND THE SITUATION IN THE CITY CONCERNING THEIR WATER SUPPLY, WHAT WOULD THE FACT THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY LUKEWARM APPLY TO THEM? The Laodiceans got their water supply from Hierapolis, a nearby city (hot water) and cold water from Colossae. But by the time they reached Laodicea, it was lukekwarm. They had no water supply of their own.

HOW DOES JESUS CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE THEM? (SAY)They say they are rich and have need of nothing and (DO NOT KNOW) you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

WHAT KIND OF CITY WAS LAODICEA WHICH COULD HAVE MADE THEM THINK THEY WERE RICH? Laodicea known for black wool and famous eye salve developed in a medical school there. All of these things made Laodicea a major city. Even after a major earthquake they repaired the city without any assistance.

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? They did not know they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. CIRCLE WORDS ON VA (WRETCHED, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED). THEY WERE TRUSTING IN WHAT THEY HAD.
WHAT DOES THE WORD WRETCHED MEAN (MENTIONED ONLY 1 OTHER PLACE IN BIBLE) (ROM. 7:24)? Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from this body of death. ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH.

THE GREEK WORD FOR MISERABLE IS USED ONLY IN I COR. 15:19? Paul said if we have hoped in Christ only in this life we are of all men most to be pitied.

WHAT DOES THE GREEK WORD FOR POOR MEAN? Beggar, pauper, poverty stricken, powerless to enrich self. JESUS DESCRIBES THEM AS BEING AS POOR AS A BEGGAR YET THEY LIVED IN A CITY WHICH WAS WEALTHY.
HOW ELSE ARE THEY DESCRIBED? Blind WHAT WAS THE CURE (2 COR. 4:3-6)? Spiritual blindness is by the god of this world and they had not rec?d the glory of God through Jesus Christ. THEY WERE BLIND BUT THE CITY WAS FAMOUS FOR MANUFACTURING EYE SALVE BUT IF OFFERED NO HELP FOR THOSE WHO WERE BLIND SPIRITUALLY.

HOW ELSE WERE THEY REPROVED? They were naked. THE CITY WAS FAMOUS FOR MANUFACTURING BLACK, GLOSSY WOOL YET THEY WERE NAKED.

THEY SAY, ?I AM RICH? WHICH IS IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THEY KEEP ON SAYING THEY ARE RICH BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED WHICH IS ALSO IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THEY KEEP ON NOT KNOWING THEY ARE THESE THINGS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN LAODICEA? They are lost. WAS THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA AWARE OF THIS? No. They keep saying they are rich but they are not . CAN A PERSON LIKE THIS BE A MEMBER OF CHURCH LIKE THIS TODAY AND NOT BE A TRUE CHILD OF GOD? 2 Cor. 13:5 PAUL CALLS CHURCH MEMBERS TO TEST THEMSELVES TO SEE IF THEY ARE IN THE FAITH.
IN I JOHN 2:19 IS THERE ANY HINT AS TO WHETHER A PERSON COULD BE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH AND NOT A TRUE CHILD OF GOD? MAT. 7:15-23 HOW WILL A TRUE BELIEVER BE KNOWN? They will be known by their fruits. IN VS. 21 JESUS SAYS NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS LORD, LORD WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH AND REALLY NOT KNOW THE LORD. WHAT IS JESUS? WARNING SO STERN? Because what He is telling them is they do not know HIm.
WHAT WERE JESUS? INSTRUCTION TO THOSE IN LAODICEA? I advise you to buy from Me 1) God refined by fire, that you may become rich WHAT KIND OF RICHES IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT? WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM RICH AND WHERE DID THEY NEED TO GO? To Jesus to buy gold refined by fire. ISAIAH 55:1-3 IS SPEAKING OF WHAT RICHES? Everyone who thirsts come to the waters and you have no money, come and buy from Me. JESUS IS CALLING THEM TO COME TO HIM AND BUY FROM HIM GOLD REFINED BY FIRE. REV. 22:19 WHAT DOES JESUS CALL? Let the one who is thirsty come to Me. JESUS IS SAYING YOU ARE TO COME TO ME FOR SPIRITUAL RICHES .... TRUE RICHES ARE IN HIM. WHAT CAUSES GOLD TO BE REFINED BY FIRE ACC. TO I PET. 1:6-9? Through trials. HOW WAS SMYNA DESCRIBED? As those who were rich because of their suffering in trials. SMYRNA WAS PHYSICALLY POOR BUT JESUS SAID THEY WERE RICH. LAODICEA WAS PHYSICALLY RICH BUT THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY POOR.
WHAT ELSE WERE THEY TO BUY FROM JESUS? White garments, that you may clothe yourselves and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. WHERE DID THESE WHITE GARMENTS COME FROM ACC. TO REV. 6, 7 AND 19? These white garments are the righteous acts of the saints, they are the results of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. These are the garments which come from Him. WHY WAS THE GUEST THROWN OUT IN THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING SUPPER IN MATT.? The guest was thrown out because he did not have on the wedding garment. WHAT IS THE WARNING JESUS IS GIVING THEM? You are poor but you need to come to Me for gold. You are naked and you need to come to Me for clothing.

WARNING IN REV. 16:15 ... BEHOLD I AM COMING LIKE A THIEF. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO KEEPS HIS GARMENTS AND STAYS AWAKE LEST HE WALK ABOUT NAKED AND MEN SEE HIS SHAME. NAKED IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE GARMENTS THAT JESUS CLOTHES THE PERSON WHO COMES TO HIM.

WHAT COLOR WERE THE GARMENTS IN LAODICEA? black wool BUT WHAT KIND OF GARMENTS DOES JESUS SAY YOU ARE TO BUY FROM HIM? White garments to clothe themselves.

WHAT IS THE THIRD THING THEY ARE TO BUY FROM HIM? eye salve (3:18) WHAT KIND OF A PERSON IS BLIND AND NAKED? A person who is not saved. Yet, Jesus is addressing people in the church.

WHAT IS THE NEXT THING JESUS SAYS? those whom I love and reprove and discipline. Be zealous and repent (VA)

WHAT IS HIS COMMAND? Be zealous and repent. WHAT WAS THE FIRST CHURCH THAT WAS CALLED TO REPENT? Ephesus (repent and return to first love), Pergamum (repent and not compromise with false teaching), Thyatira (repent from adultery with Jezebel or be thrown into great trib.), Sardis (repent because deeds were not completed in His sight). AS HE CALLS THEM TO REPENT, WHAT DOES HE SAY HE IS DOING? ?Behold, I stand at the door and knock.? WHERE IS HE IF HE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR? He is on the outside. WHO THEN IS HE CALLING? If anyone (individuals) hears My voice. HE IS CALLING THEM OUT OF A GROUP WHICH CALLS THEMSELVES THE CHURCH.

WHO HAS TO OPEN THE DOOR? Those inside which calls themselves the church. WHAT IS STATE O F PEOPLE IN CHURCH? They are lost. WHERE IS THEIR HOPE? In Him. I am the One who is trustworthy, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creation of God. THE INVITATION IS TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE CHURCH .... NOT TO THE CHURCH AT LARGE.

PROMISE TO OVERCOMER? I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. WHAT HAS TO BE OVERCOME? The fact that they were lukewarm, thinking they were rich and had need of nothing. The fact they were wretched, miserable and blind.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES? Repent, be zealous, open the door, being in a church is not a religion but a relationship with Jesus Christ.
WHAT KIND OF A CHURCH WOULD THIS BE TODAY? Any denomination sitting on any corner in any town or in the world.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TODAY? The key is the recognition of a relationship with Him and not just going to church.

EVERY MESSAGE TO EACH CHURCH WAS TO A REAL CHURCH AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME BUT EVERY CHURCH REPRESENTS VARIOUS CHURCHES TODAY. EVERY CHURCH HAS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES AS WELL, I.E. EPHESUS AND THEIR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO HAD LEFT FIRST LOVE, SMYRNA AND THEIR MESSAGE
TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SUFFERING TODAY IS TO BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, LET THAT SUFFERING REFINE YOU, IN PERGAMUM WHERE SOME HOLD TO TEACHING OF BALAAM AND THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS IS NOT TO COMPROMISE, IN THYATIRA WHERE FALSE TEACHING WAS TOLERATED AND THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS WAS NOT TO TOLERATE FALSE TEACHING IN YOUR MIDST, IN SARDIS THEY HAD A NAME THEY WERE ALIVE BUT THEY WERE DEAD AND THE MESSAGE WAS THEY JUST LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ALIVE. THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS IS THAT BE CAREFUL YOU ARE NOT DEAD BUT SIMPLY LOOK ALIVE, IN PHILA. THE FAITHFUL CHURCH THE MESSAGE WAS TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON AND THE MESSAGE IN LAODICEA IS REPENT, OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE TO YOU THUS FAR IN THIS STUDY.

JESUS WAS A FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS. WHAT KIND OF WITNESS WOULD GOD SAY YOU ARE? GOAL: APPLICATION: ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO JESUS DESCRIBES AS LUKEWARM?
SET UP BOARD: DESCRIPTION OF JESUS, COMMENDATION, REPROOFS, INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS, PROMISE TO OVERCOMERS, MESSAGE OF THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCHES
IF YOU HAD ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Lukewarm

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING JESUS SAYS THAT HE IS? (VA) He is the Amen
WHAT DOES THE WORD AMEN MEAN? Acknowledges that which is valid, binding, true and trustworthy. It means so be it. By God ... it is and shall be so. By man ... it means so let it be.

WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF IN THIS WAY TO THIS SPECIFIC CHURCH? He is valid, trustworthy but they say one thing when another is true. Jesus is true but those in Laodicea are false.
HOW ELSE DOES JESUS DESCRIBE HIMSELF? The faithful and true witness. WHAT IS A FAITHFUL WITNESS BASED ON MEANING OF WORD? One who can or does verify what he has seen, heard or knows.
HOW WAS JESUS A FAITHFUL WITNESS? WHAT DID JESUS COME TO DO IN JOHN 1:18? He came to explain God to verify who the Father is. ACC. TO JOHN 14:8-12 DID JESUS ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE ... WHEN PHILIP ASKED JESUS TO SHOW US THE FATHER? Jesus said, ?Have I been so long with you and yet you have not come to know me Philip. He who has seen Me has seen the Father.? JESUS ACCOMPLISHED HIS PURPOSE OF SHOWING GOD BECAUSE HIS LIFE VERIFIED WHO THE FATHER WAS.

ACC. TO JOHN 8:28-29 WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID JESUS DO WHICH MADE HIM A FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS? Jesus said He did nothing on His own initiative but did everything the Father told him and did only the things that would please the Father.

DOES JESUS MENTION ANYTHING IN REV. 19:9 WHICH DEALS WITH HIM BEING A TRUE WITNESS? He says these are the true words of God. REV. 22:18-19 STATE ABOUT THE VERACITY OF REVELATION? If anyone adds to words of book, God will add the plagues and if anyone takes away words, God will take away his part in the holy city.

WHAT IS 3RD WAY JESUS DESCRIBES HIMSELF? He is the beginning of the Creation of God. WHAT DOES GREEK WORD FOR BEGINNING MEAN? Root word for this word indicates what was of worth .... JESUS IS SAYING HE IS THE ORIGIN OF CREATION.

WHERE ELSE HAD THE LAODICEANS BEEN TOLD BEFORE JESUS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD? Colossians (Col. 4:16) and they had also received another letter Paul had sent them personally (Laodicea). WHAT HAD THEY BEEN TOLD ABOUT JESUS AND CREATION? He is the Creator (Col. 1:16) HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. COL. 1:18 HE IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE DEAD SO THAT HE HIMSELF MIGHT COME TO HAVE FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING.
WHAT ELSE HAD THEY BEEN TOLD ABOUT JESUS THAT RELATES TO RECONCILIATION IN COL. 1:20? Through Him all things had been reconciled. HE IS NOT ONLY THE ORIGIN OF CREATION BUT ALSO RECREATION ..... HE IS THE BEGINNING OF THE RECREATION ... HE HAS RECONCILED ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF.

WHAT WAS PAUL?S STRUGGLE WITH COLOSSAE AND LAODICEA (COL. 2:1-4)? That they come to a true knowledge of God?s mystery, Christ Himself and that they not be deluded with persuasive argument that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

COLOSSIANS WAS WRITTEN IN AD 60-62 AND REVELATION WAS WRITTEN ABOUT AD 95. DO YOU THINK THINGS CHANGED IN THE 35 YEARS BETWEEN PAUL?S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS AND JESUS? LETTER TO LAODICEA? PAUL?S STRUGGLE MENTIONED IN COLOSSIANS WAS MOST LIKELY A VALID STRUGGLE.

HAS THERE BEEN COMMENDATION FOR THIS CHURCH? No WAS THERE ANY OTHER CHURCH WITH NO COMMENDATION? Sardis. There was a commendation for a few.

IS THERE ANY WORD OF COMMENDATION FOR A FEW? No just reproof.
WHAT IS THE REPROOF? I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot (3:15) Because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of My mouth (3:16)

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS REPROOF, AND THE SITUATION IN THE CITY CONCERNING THEIR WATER SUPPLY, WHAT WOULD THE FACT THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY LUKEWARM APPLY TO THEM? The Laodiceans got their water supply from Hierapolis, a nearby city (hot water) and cold water from Colossae. But by the time they reached Laodicea, it was lukekwarm. They had no water supply of their own.

HOW DOES JESUS CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE THEM? (SAY)They say they are rich and have need of nothing and (DO NOT KNOW) you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

WHAT KIND OF CITY WAS LAODICEA WHICH COULD HAVE MADE THEM THINK THEY WERE RICH? Laodicea known for black wool and famous eye salve developed in a medical school there. All of these things made Laodicea a major city. Even after a major earthquake they repaired the city without any assistance.

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? They did not know they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. CIRCLE WORDS ON VA (WRETCHED, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED). THEY WERE TRUSTING IN WHAT THEY HAD.
WHAT DOES THE WORD WRETCHED MEAN (MENTIONED ONLY 1 OTHER PLACE IN BIBLE) (ROM. 7:24)? Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from this body of death. ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH.

THE GREEK WORD FOR MISERABLE IS USED ONLY IN I COR. 15:19? Paul said if we have hoped in Christ only in this life we are of all men most to be pitied.

WHAT DOES THE GREEK WORD FOR POOR MEAN? Beggar, pauper, poverty stricken, powerless to enrich self. JESUS DESCRIBES THEM AS BEING AS POOR AS A BEGGAR YET THEY LIVED IN A CITY WHICH WAS WEALTHY.
HOW ELSE ARE THEY DESCRIBED? Blind WHAT WAS THE CURE (2 COR. 4:3-6)? Spiritual blindness is by the god of this world and they had not rec?d the glory of God through Jesus Christ. THEY WERE BLIND BUT THE CITY WAS FAMOUS FOR MANUFACTURING EYE SALVE BUT IF OFFERED NO HELP FOR THOSE WHO WERE BLIND SPIRITUALLY.

HOW ELSE WERE THEY REPROVED? They were naked. THE CITY WAS FAMOUS FOR MANUFACTURING BLACK, GLOSSY WOOL YET THEY WERE NAKED.

THEY SAY, ?I AM RICH? WHICH IS IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THEY KEEP ON SAYING THEY ARE RICH BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED WHICH IS ALSO IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THEY KEEP ON NOT KNOWING THEY ARE THESE THINGS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN LAODICEA? They are lost. WAS THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA AWARE OF THIS? No. They keep saying they are rich but they are not . CAN A PERSON LIKE THIS BE A MEMBER OF CHURCH LIKE THIS TODAY AND NOT BE A TRUE CHILD OF GOD? 2 Cor. 13:5 PAUL CALLS CHURCH MEMBERS TO TEST THEMSELVES TO SEE IF THEY ARE IN THE FAITH.

IN I JOHN 2:19 IS THERE ANY HINT AS TO WHETHER A PERSON COULD BE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH AND NOT A TRUE CHILD OF GOD? MAT. 7:15-23 HOW WILL A TRUE BELIEVER BE KNOWN? They will be known by their fruits. IN VS. 21 JESUS SAYS NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS LORD, LORD WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH AND REALLY NOT KNOW THE LORD. WHAT IS JESUS? WARNING SO STERN? Because what He is telling them is they do not know HIm.

WHAT WERE JESUS? INSTRUCTION TO THOSE IN LAODICEA? I advise you to buy from Me 1) God refined by fire, that you may become rich WHAT KIND OF RICHES IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT? WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM RICH AND WHERE DID THEY NEED TO GO? To Jesus to buy gold refined by fire. ISAIAH 55:1-3 IS SPEAKING OF WHAT RICHES? Everyone who thirsts come to the waters and you have no money, come and buy from Me.

JESUS IS CALLING THEM TO COME TO HIM AND BUY FROM HIM GOLD REFINED BY FIRE. REV. 22:19 WHAT DOES JESUS CALL? Let the one who is thirsty come to Me. JESUS IS SAYING YOU ARE TO COME TO ME FOR SPIRITUAL RICHES .... TRUE RICHES ARE IN HIM. WHAT CAUSES GOLD TO BE REFINED BY FIRE ACC. TO I PET. 1:6-9? Through trials. HOW WAS SMYNA DESCRIBED? As those who were rich because of their suffering in trials. SMYRNA WAS PHYSICALLY POOR BUT JESUS SAID THEY WERE RICH. LAODICEA WAS PHYSICALLY RICH BUT THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY POOR.

WHAT ELSE WERE THEY TO BUY FROM JESUS? White garments, that you may clothe yourselves and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. WHERE DID THESE WHITE GARMENTS COME FROM ACC. TO REV. 6, 7 AND 19? These white garments are the righteous acts of the saints, they are the results of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. These are the garments which come from Him. WHY WAS THE GUEST THROWN OUT IN THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING SUPPER IN MATT.? The guest was thrown out because he did not have on the wedding garment. WHAT IS THE WARNING JESUS IS GIVING THEM? You are poor but you need to come to Me for gold. You are naked and you need to come to Me for clothing.
WARNING IN REV. 16:15 ... BEHOLD I AM COMING LIKE A THIEF. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO KEEPS HIS GARMENTS AND STAYS AWAKE LEST HE WALK ABOUT NAKED AND MEN SEE HIS SHAME. NAKED IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE GARMENTS THAT JESUS CLOTHES THE PERSON WHO COMES TO HIM.
WHAT COLOR WERE THE GARMENTS IN LAODICEA? black wool BUT WHAT KIND OF GARMENTS DOES JESUS SAY YOU ARE TO BUY FROM HIM? White garments to clothe themselves.
WHAT IS THE THIRD THING THEY ARE TO BUY FROM HIM? eye salve (3:18) WHAT KIND OF A PERSON IS BLIND AND NAKED? A person who is not saved. Yet, Jesus is addressing people in the church.
WHAT IS THE NEXT THING JESUS SAYS? those whom I love and reprove and discipline. Be zealous and repent (VA)
WHAT IS HIS COMMAND? Be zealous and repent. WHAT WAS THE FIRST CHURCH THAT WAS CALLED TO REPENT? Ephesus (repent and return to first love), Pergamum (repent and not compromise with false teaching), Thyatira (repent from adultery with Jezebel or be thrown into great trib.), Sardis (repent because deeds were not completed in His sight). AS HE CALLS THEM TO REPENT, WHAT DOES HE SAY HE IS DOING? ?Behold, I stand at the door and knock.? WHERE IS HE IF HE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR? He is on the outside. WHO THEN IS HE CALLING? If anyone (individuals) hears My voice. HE IS CALLING THEM OUT OF A GROUP WHICH CALLS THEMSELVES THE CHURCH.
WHO HAS TO OPEN THE DOOR? Those inside which calls themselves the church. WHAT IS STATE O F PEOPLE IN CHURCH? They are lost. WHERE IS THEIR HOPE? In Him. I am the One who is trustworthy, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creation of God. THE INVITATION IS TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE CHURCH .... NOT TO THE CHURCH AT LARGE.
PROMISE TO OVERCOMER? I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. WHAT HAS TO BE OVERCOME? The fact that they were lukewarm, thinking they were rich and had need of nothing. The fact they were wretched, miserable and blind.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES? Repent, be zealous, open the door, being in a church is not a religion but a relationship with Jesus Christ.
WHAT KIND OF A CHURCH WOULD THIS BE TODAY? Any denomination sitting on any corner in any town or in the world.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TODAY? The key is the recognition of a relationship with Him and not just going to church.

EVERY MESSAGE TO EACH CHURCH WAS TO A REAL CHURCH AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME BUT EVERY CHURCH REPRESENTS VARIOUS CHURCHES TODAY. EVERY CHURCH HAS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES AS WELL, I.E. EPHESUS AND THEIR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO HAD LEFT FIRST LOVE, SMYRNA AND THEIR MESSAGE
TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SUFFERING TODAY IS TO BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, LET THAT SUFFERING REFINE YOU, IN PERGAMUM WHERE SOME HOLD TO TEACHING OF BALAAM AND THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS IS NOT TO COMPROMISE, IN THYATIRA WHERE FALSE TEACHING WAS TOLERATED AND THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS WAS NOT TO TOLERATE FALSE TEACHING IN YOUR MIDST, IN SARDIS THEY HAD A NAME THEY WERE ALIVE BUT THEY WERE DEAD AND THE MESSAGE WAS THEY JUST LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ALIVE. THE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS IS THAT BE CAREFUL YOU ARE NOT DEAD BUT SIMPLY LOOK ALIVE, IN PHILA. THE FAITHFUL CHURCH THE MESSAGE WAS TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON AND THE MESSAGE IN LAODICEA IS REPENT, OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE TO YOU THUS FAR IN THIS STUDY.
JESUS WAS A FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS. WHAT KIND OF WITNESS WOULD GOD SAY YOU ARE?