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Rev 3:14-18 What The Spirit Says to The Church of Laodicea – Part 1

Updated December 8, 2023

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 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:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Introduction

Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches within those who have been “given ears to hear.” It is the capstone of our spiritual condition as we look behind ourselves to see the voice speaking to us and giving us this revelation of Jesus Christ. What we see in “what the spirit says to the church” of Laodicea within us is a “lukewarm” spirit which is totally unaware of its lackadaisical attitude and is completely self-satisfied. Until we face this angel of the church of Laodicea within us and give an accounting of the fact that its self-satisfied attitude is in us, we will never be given the “open heavens” of chapters 4 and 5 and all the revelations that follow. When we do “look behind us to see the voice that speaks with us”, we begin to be given the sum of the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Rev 18:12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Rev 18:13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. [That would include Antipas who was martyred “where Satan dwells” in the church at Pergamos (Rev 2:13)],

Rev 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Here now is what the spirit has to say to “he that hath an ear to hear” what the spirit says to the angel of the church of Laodicea within us all.

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Here Christ calls Himself three things. He is the Amen, the faithful and true witness and the beginning of the creation of God. As the ‘Amen’ we know Christ as the Truth. The Greek word is pronounced about the same as is the English ‘amen’ except that the ‘e’ is pronounced as a long ‘a’ and is defined by Dr. Strong as “Properly firm, figuratively trustworthy.” It is by far most often translated in the King James as ‘verily,’ meaning ‘truly,’ and is often seen repeated as “Verily, verily,” especially in the gospel of John. For example:

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

G281
αμην
ame n
am- ane’
Of Hebrew origin [ H543]; properly firm, that is, (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially surely (often as interjection so be it): – amen, verily.

So Christ and His Words are definitely firm, true and trustworthy. But he also wants to be known as “the faithful and true witness,” and it is always instructive to note that the Greek word for ‘witness’ is ‘martus,’ from which we derive our English word martyr. While it is generally used simply in the sense of being a faithful witness, the example of Antipas, along with Christ’s own example, demonstrates that the willingness to remain a faithful witness until death is the deepest application of this Greek word:

Rev 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr [same Greek word, ‘martus’], who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

We find it hard to understand how the Lord can tell us that we have not denied His name nor His faith and yet find us guilty of the blood of Antipas among us where Satan dwells. Yet that is exactly what Isaiah said would happen in this prophecy:

Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Christ is God’s ultimate “faithful martyr” at our hands, and so He introduces Himself to us as being martyred by the angel of the church in Laodicea. Christ’s final revelation of Himself to the angel of the church of Laodicea within us is as “the beginning of the creation of God.” There is really nothing new in Christ’s claim to being “the beginning.” We have already covered this in chapter 1 where we were told Christ is “the beginning and the end.”

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty

The Greek word translated ‘beginning’ here and in Revelation 3:14 is ‘arche,’ and it literally means “a commencement.” Here is Strong’s definition:

G746
αρχη
arche
ar- khay’
From G756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concrete) chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank): – beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

So it is also properly translated as ‘chief,’ and ‘principalities.’

Eph 1:20  Which he [the Father] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In telling us that He is the beginning of the creation of God, Christ is telling us that He is the head of all principality and power. The God head is understood by the things that are made, and just as the man is the head of the woman, and the woman came out of the man, so also, the Father is the head of Christ, and Christ came out of the Father:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

As “the head of all principality and power” there is nothing the Adversary can do that he is not commissioned by Christ to accomplish. In other words, there is no uncertain struggle going on between Christ and Satan. The outcome of the “war in heaven” includes a necessary struggle, which struggle and its outcome were “predestined… and written in his book… before the world began.” (Eph 1:11, Psa 139:16, 2Ti 1:9)

Christ being “the head of all principality and power” means that Christ is Satan’s overseer and his boss, and Satan cannot as much as raise his little finger without being told to do so. However, the most controversial part of this verse is the fact that Christ tells us He is “the beginning of the creation of God.” So whether you apply this Greek word ‘arche‘ in either “an abstract sense as a commencement or concretely as chief in order, time, place or rank,” this verse of God’s Word, these words of the revelation of Jesus Christ from His own mouth, have the Father as Christ’s predecessor and as His Superior, and that is exactly as Christ would have us to understand it:

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

The trinitarian answer to that verse is that this was only true of Christ as long as He was in the flesh, but here in Revelation 3:14, Christ tells us He is “the beginning of the creation of God.” This true doctrine of Christ fits perfectly with all the rest of scripture which declares to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear:

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and [besides the “one God of whom are all things” there is also] one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Col 1:15  Who [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It was long after Christ had died and was risen from the dead and was no longer ‘in the flesh’ that Paul made that statement in:

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

It is clear that He of whom are all things is much greater than He by whom are all things. For more on this subject see our paper entitled Is God a Trinity? on iswasandwillbe.com.

Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

This is an incredible statement. Christ prefers that we be completely cold over being lukewarm. Why would that be? The answer to that question is very clear. A person who is “lukewarm” is a fence sitter who is “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” because he is not really excited or hot about his relationship with the Man who is supposed to be his Head. He is not dedicated, and lack of dedication within any of us leads to infidelity. We are not just unreliable, but we can actually be relied on to bring a reproach upon the name of God. God demands “whole-hearted” service or we will not be His servants:

Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Jer 3:10  And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

It will always be easier to just go along to get along with all the faults within ‘the seven churches of Asia’ than it is to remain faithful to our Lord and master who is supposed to be our head. For example, how do verses like these affect a person who is “neither hot nor cold.”

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Here is how such a person is affected by these verses:

Mat 13:20  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

The truths of God sovereignty, His love for all men and His definition of love, and equating that love with obedience to His commandments, has “offended” us all at some time in our lives. Then being “neither hot nor cold… being lukewarm” is very closely akin to “receiving the seed into stony places, having no root in himself, but during for a while and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, becoming offended,” and denying our Lord and His Word.

It is at this point that Christ spews us out of His mouth, because Christ’s mouth is a clean mouth which speaks nothing but the words of His Father:

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

That is a white-hot desire to please the Father, and that is what Christ must see in us. It is not in the flesh to be that dedicated, and so it is first spewed out of God’s mouth and made to experience the bitterness of repentance before we are brought to being “on fire” in Christ’s service. The story of the apostle Peter demonstrates the spirit of the angel of the church in Laodicea within us all at its appointed time. Peter, just like this “angel of the church in Laodicea,” thought that he was in very good spiritual condition, when in reality he was neither hot nor cold but was lukewarm. Just like Peter we, too, must come to see this in ourselves. Here is how Peter conceived himself:

Mat 26:33  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

“All the disciples” means you and me, and “because you are neither hot nor cold” also means you and me. We simply must “keep the things which are written therein.” We cannot do as Peter and try to side-step the admonitions of Christ and think we can somehow avoid denying our Lord. Yet that is exactly what we do when we think we can somehow avoid all the admonitions of our Lord to all the churches except Smyrna and Philadelphia. It simply cannot be avoided. “All the disciples” is each of us, and we all are lukewarm to the extent that we all deny Him at our appointed time.

When any of us think that there is any part of “the things written therein” which have no personal application, we will soon enough find ourselves looking our Lord in the eye and being reminded that we must “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Anything less is to deny our Lord and His words, where we find ourselves with Peter and “all the disciples, … weeping bitterly ” as we realize that we do indeed “keep [all] the things written therein.”

Mat 26:69  Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70  But he denied before [them] all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71  And when he was gone out into the porch, another [maid] saw him, and said unto them that were there, This [fellow] was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto [him] they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art [one] of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74  Then began he to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Luk 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luk 22:62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

The self-confidence of Peter and “all of His disciples”, who had said they would never forsake their Lord is really nothing more than being lukewarm, and it reflects an attitude that places the strength of the flesh above the power of God’s Word and His spirit. Here is the result of this spiritually “lukewarm”  attitude of a Laodicean spirit within us:

Rev 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:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

This is exactly how Peter and all the disciples felt just before they all forsook and denied Him. All of Christ’s disciples felt that they were prepared to “drink the cup” that Jesus drank and be baptized with His baptism, but the Truth was that nothing could have been further from the Truth. The fact that they forsook Him at His time of trial demonstrated that all His disciples thought that they “were rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” when in reality they were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” One of the disciples was literally naked, which is just a type of the spiritual condition of us all at that time in our own walk.

Mar 14:50  And they all [the disciples] forsook him, and fled.
Mar 14:51  And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52  And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Another scriptural example of this phase of our walk with our Lord, is the example given us in the church at Corinth. Notice what the apostle reveals to us of this church and of its spiritual standing at the time of the writing of this epistle:

1Co 1:1  Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

This congregation was well aware that they were being called, and they realized that they were being sanctified in Christ Jesus. Verses 6 and 7 reveal that “the testimony of Christ was confirmed in these Corinthian disciples, and they were even blessed with every gift of the spirit:

1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Now comes a revelation that few have ever even heard and which even fewer are given to receive. It is a revelation of what happens to you and to me when we say “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” and we don’t even know that we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked: Here is our true spiritual standing while we are yet in the Babylonian phase of our walk.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Whoever heard of a “carnal babe in Christ?” How does such a verse of scripture fit into the false doctrine of a ten-second sinner’s prayer? These Corinthians are just like “the Jews that believed on Christ” and were also “of their father the devil in John 8:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Now look at how these same believing Jews, who are “Abraham’s children,” are also “of their father the devil” and want Christ killed.

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God.
Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 

The angel of the church in Laodicea, cannot receive the Truth, because at this point we are “Yet carnal,” even thought we are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, [and] come behind in no gift.” These are the very words of scripture, and yet they are completely foreign to the angel of the church in Laodicea.

Conclusion

This is the first part of what the spirit has to say to the angel of the church in Laodicea. We have come to see that these seven angels are actually one spirit within one church.

1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

In our study today we have seen that Christ identifies Himself to the angel of the church in Laodecia as the firm and trustworthy Word of God. We also saw that He considers Himself to be the actual beginning of, and the commencement of, God’s creation. It was through Christ that God then went on to create all the rest of His creation.

Col 1:15  Who [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

We have seen Christ’s disdain for all halfheartedness and being “lukewarm” in His service. Christ wants us all to be either hot or cold, either on fire in His service, or not in His service. Christ would actually prefer us to be cold rather than “lukewarm.”

We also saw that we will not be found “in His mouth,” meaning we will not be His mouth piece, speaking His words, if we are just lukewarm. We saw that being lukewarm was akin to receiving the word in stony places and that the apostles all forsaking Christ demonstrated that they were nowhere near as “on fire” for Him as they thought they were. Of course “all the disciples” means what it says and includes all of us who must “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and keep the things written therein.”

We have seen that keeping every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God includes all the qualifying words which tell us that we are not hurt of the second death because we are the first to trust in Christ and are the first to be baptized into His death.

We have seen that God’s Word, His “gold,” is not really a part of us until it is “tried in the fire” with the many trials which we all fail for many years before we are granted the strength to endure and rejoice in the fiery trials that mature us and grant us that gold bought of God, gold tried in the fire of His words. The very words of which we are told we “must live by every word…”

Finally, we also saw that when the all the disciples forsook Christ, they demonstrated how they thought of themselves as “rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing”, when in reality, nothing could have been further from the truth. Peter ends up denying Christ three times that very night, and doing so with an oath and while swearing, that he did not know Christ.

We also saw this same phenomenon demonstrated by “the Jews that believed on Christ,” but wanted to kill Him in John 8, and in 1 Corinthians 1 and 3, by the church at Corinth, which was called, sanctified, and came behind in no gift, and were yet “carnal babes in Christ.”

So these are all types of us, as the angel of the church in Laodicea.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see more of what the spirit says to the angel of the church in Laodicea.

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, 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.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Video Links

Audio Download

Rev 3:19-22  What the Spirit Says to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans – Part 3

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, 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.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Introduction

Last week we were reminded that these admonitions are all to the angels of the various churches within “he that reads and keeps the things written therein (and within) he that hath been given an ears to hear.” In other words, every word to all seven churches is addressed to every one of God’s elect down through the centuries which have passed since Christ’s death and resurrection. These messages to these seven angels are the words of Christ, and they are addressed to these seven churches within each of us. They are addressed to the angels of the kingdom of God within us:

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Once again these words to the “seven churches which are in Asia” all serve to demonstrate the ‘is, was and will be’ nature that is Christ and His words; which words “will never pass away.”

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Christ’s words never pass away, including these words.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and [a thousand years later (Rev 20:7)] they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

If we “keep the things which are written therein, then we must believe what is “written therein” is the Truth, such as:

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh [in “this present time”, Rom 8:18] shall not be hurt of the second death.

These are words which must be believed and kept (Reb 1:3) by “he that overcometh”. This promise is repeated in:

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead [Those in “the resurrection of judgment”, Joh 5:29] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

If we are given eyes that see and ears that hear, then we will believe and “keep the things” written in the above verses. We must be very careful that we do not stretch the meaning of ‘living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ to the extent that we deny that “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”, and deny that “the second death has no power over… he that hath a part in the… blessed and holy… first resurrection”.

We will live by every one of the promises made to that “blessed and holy” group, if we are granted to have a part in the first resurrection, and we will keep “every word” promised to us, just as those in the resurrection to judgment will keep every word which applies to them. That is the meaning of “hearing the words of this prophecy and keeping the things written therein.” Properly understanding this is so important to understand that it is so stated at the very beginning of this book of Revelation, and it is repeated again at the very end, along with a very ominous warning:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Which of these words are the revelation of Jesus Christ? Is the revelation of Jesus Christ just what we read in chapter one describing His glorified, risen spiritual body? Or is the revelation of Jesus Christ “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?”

Which of these words are the revelation of Jesus Christ? Is the revelation of Jesus Christ just the words we read in chapter one describing His glorified, risen spiritual body? Or is the revelation of Jesus Christ “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”? Most of the ministers of the churches of Babylon would have you believe that the revelation of Jesus Christ involves no sin in the flesh of the body of Jesus Christ. As “the head” of “His body, which is the church” (Col 1:24), it is certainly true that even though Christ “emptied himself (and) took on Him the seed of Abraham”, He Himself “knew no sin” (2Co 5:21). It is equally true that the Christ who “knew no sin” was the head of a spiritual body, which is called “His body”, and that “body of Christ” is still alive in physical bodies of “sinful flesh”, also known as “earthen vessels”, still “fill[ing] up that which is behind in the afflictions of Christ.”

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure [Christ, vs 6] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Christ knew this commandment to “keep the things which are written therein” would be ignored and misunderstood by those who do not know that He and His words ‘are, were and will be.’ He also knew that the whole world would be deceived and would never acknowledge that the revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation of Jesus Christ within those who are His body. Christ knew in advance that the whole church world would one day deny all of this, and the whole world would claim that this is a book about end-time events, having to do only with that generation which would immediately precede His physical rulership and reign over “the kingdom of this world” (Greek, ‘kosmos’, Rev 11:15) meaning this physical earth. So He twice emphatically tells us just exactly how much of this book we are to “keep”, and He does that right here in the book of revelation. The first time is at the very beginning of this book.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

“The things that are written therein” is exactly how much we are to keep. As His elect we must keep “[all] the things written therein.” The fact that this statement is repeated at the end of this book demonstrates how important it is that we understand what we are reading:

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This same message telling us that we are to keep all “the sayings of the prophecy of this book?” is twice recorded earlier in the gospels where Christ tells the adversary in a very emphatic way:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

There are no scriptural grounds at all to say, as one brother told me, “My beast has only six heads”. Lest there be any doubt that all of this is for all of us, we are seven times told:

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 1:11 [Christ] Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

We must note that Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches, and the sad state of the angel of this church within us tells us that these seven angels signify what we are as carnal babes in Christ who have never gotten past the six milk doctrines of Hebrews six. Let’s look at those doctrines, but before we do, let’s also look at the preceding verses of chapter 5 which demonstrate that these doctrines mentioned in the first two verses of chapter six are, one and all, mere “milk of the word… the first principles of the oracles of God.”

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Those who agree with Christ that we are to “keep the things written therein, [and] live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, [and] fill up in our own bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ” will certainly “have their senses exercised to know good and evil.”

“Living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” requires that one be able to digest “strong meat.” However, it is given to very few to go beyond these six milk doctrines, which are enumerated immediately after being called “the first principles of the oracles of God… milk, and not strong meat.” Some of us still think that milk is meat:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

So many who have discovered the doctrine of “as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive” actually believe that they have just stumbled upon a T-bone steak of spiritual “meat of the word.” I certainly felt that way when I first was introduced to this doctrine. The fact is that it was, at first, more than I could stomach or digest. Nevertheless these verses of Hebrews 5:12 through Hebrews 6:2 reveal that eonian judgment, which is the doctrine of universal salvation for all men, is nothing more than a doctrine of milk, which we must go beyond if we are ever to “go on unto perfection.”

What is “going on unto perfection?” That is exactly what “the revelation of Jesus Christ” within us, and keeping the things written therein” are all about. That is what the whole revelation addressed to these seven angels of these seven churches is all about. Only “he that hath an ear can hear what it is that the spirit says to the churches” and only he that has been given an ear to hear will “leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on unto perfection. All others will stay on the milk of the word, all the while telling themselves they have repented of their sins, accepted Christ as their Savior, and they have been baptized, and they are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.”

Here is just a little bit of what it means to leave and to go beyond the first principles of the doctrine of Christ:

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

These words are addressed to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. It is not being addressed to a new convert, but to a “Son who is loved by His Father.”

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The holy spirit is showing us that there is a connection between “not striving against sin” and “the chastening of the Lord.” When we are not diligent, sober and vigilant against sin and false doctrines in our lives, God chastens and scourges “every son He receives.” There are no exceptions whatsoever. This is going beyond the “first principles of the oracles of God, [and is] going on unto perfection.” This is the very function of grace which is completely hidden from and foreign to all of orthodox Christian doctrine. The Greek word translated ‘chasten’ here is ‘paideuo‘, and ‘chasten’ is a right and proper translation of this Greek word. Let’s see how this word is mistranslated elsewhere in the New Testament in a way that has served to keep hidden what is the very function of grace in the life of the believer and the overcomer:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

The word ‘teaching’ here in Titus 2:12 is the same Greek word translated ‘chasten’ in Hebrews 6:12. So grace is seen to be much more than a mere noun, which gives a name to God’s favor and mercy upon us. It is now also ubderstood to be a very active verb, which chastens us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly lives in this present world.”

Both Titus 2:11-12 and Hebrews 12:4-8 describe those who are “going on unto perfection, who do not use the word of righteousness unskillfully” but are able to receive and to digest the strong meat of God’s Word because they have “by reason of use had their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I recently heard a minister with a national audience denying every word of this. He actually read Hebrews 6:12 and was explaining that “God is not an abusive Father.” This man was contending that the word chastening here should be translated as “child train.” I personally know of no modern day books on child training which speak of chastening and scourging. However, that is what God does to “every son whom He receives.” God is obviously not intimidated by the Department of Family and Children Services. I am not encouraging anyone to scourge their children, but I do believe what God’s word says about how He deals with “every son He receives.”

Grace chastens us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, and the Father chastens and scourges every son He receives. Here now, is some more of what is promised to those who have ears to hear what the spirit says to these seven angels of these seven churches within us; to those to whom it is given to overcome all the faults enumerated in all the churches which we have covered thus far:

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, 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.

What does this verse tell us? One thing is certain, this verse does not deny nor contradict the fact that:

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I was shocked to discover that The Truth of this 13th verse follows the very verse I had erroneously quoted to support the false doctrine of “free moral agency”. Look at what precedes Philippian 2:13:

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The Lord has miraculously blinded the eyes of the vast majority of mankind, Christians included, to the Truths which are hidden in plain sight right here in His Word.

In our studies on the law of the offerings, we saw Christ presented to us as the Father wants us to see Christ. One of those offering shows us how Christ stands at the door knocking and wanting to come in and sup with us.

There are five different categories of offerings used to show us who the Christ is. The first three of those offerings are called “sweet smelling savor” offerings. Sin and trespass are not so much as mentioned in any of the “sweet smelling savor offerings.” The first is called “the burnt offering” and it is all burnt upon the altar as “an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.”

Lev 1:11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
Lev 1:12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The burnt offering was wholly consumed by the fire of God, and was not shared or partaken of by either the priest or the offerer. It was all God’s portion and it is called a sweet savor, and there is not so much as the mention of sin in any of the three sweet savor offerings.

The second offering is the meal offering; called a ‘meat offering’ in the King James Version. This offering was never, ever to be given without first offering a burnt offering. That is what the story of Cain and Abel teaches us. Grain comes out of the ground, which means that grain symbolizes what we as “the dust of the ground” produce for God and for our fellow man. If we fail to recognize that our efforts to serve Christ and His body are not of ourselves, but are of Him, then we have offered a meal offering without first acknowledging the need for a blood offering; that blood being the blood of Jesus Christ upon whose offering we all present our own offerings. We are dead and risen in Him, and by Him we now walk “in newness of life.” We must never think that our own works can save us without the shedding of the blood of Christ to wash away our sins.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Just as the burnt offering was all to be burnt upon the altar in submission to God, with none of it going to the offerer, so, too, with the meal offering the offerer was not permitted to partake of the meal offering. The priest does receive his portion of this offering.

Lev 2:2 And he [the offerer] shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
Lev 2:3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

So the meal offering is consumed by God and His priest, and once again, the offerer is excluded from partaking of and being nourished by the offering he has brought to God as an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.

Now we come to the the third offering. This is the peace offering, and it is in this offering that we sup with both the Father and His priest, our Savior and our Lord. “Behold, I stand at the door, 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.”
This is the one offering in which The Father and His priest Son, our Lord and the Son’s son, all partake of and are nourished by the offering of the Christ, and the offering of “His body which is the church.”

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

“I stand at the door and knock” in no way denies God’s sovereignty. “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” in no way whatever contradicts the truth of this verse:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

We were called in Christ “before the world began,” and while the scriptures also say things like “choose you this day…” and “if any man hear my voice and open the door..,” these verses in no way deny that God “know what the morrow brings” and that He knew it all “before the world began.”

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

What an honor! Those who are known of God “before the world began” will sit with Him in His throne, just as Christ has overcome His sinful fleshly desires and is set down with His Father in His throne.

What is the advantage of being an overcomer? I was just recently chastised as being vain and self-centered for even wanting to be an overcomer and wanting to sit with Christ in His throne. If such foolishness were so, it would certainly make God a fool for making all these promises and for openly exhorting us to strive to overcome the flesh for these very reasons.

Should we aspire to do that which we know to be predestined and “written in thy book” already? What do the scriptures say?

Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

“Be careful to maintain good works.” These things are good and profitable. Affirm this constantly!” Was Paul self-centered and vain? Or was he simply obedient?

Again we are told:

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

So both “the high calling” and the “pressing toward that mark” are “of God.” There will be no vanity or self-centeredness in any who attain that prize, and any and all accusations to the contrary will not change that Truth. It is rather, to be expected.

Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Both the desire and the doing are all of God, and He is working both within us. Nevertheless we need to expect to be falsely accused and denigrated for His name’s sake:

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

So we conclude what the spirit says to the angels of the seven churches of Asia; to”you which hear” and to those who “read and hear and keep the things written therein.”

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Conclusion

This is what Christ tells us is within the kingdom of God which is within all who are His. The faults and problems within us, as revealed by the messages to these seven angels of these seven churches, are the same admonitions concerning the kingdom of God within us as revealed to us through the parables of Christ in the gospels. From the parable of the good Samaritan, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the parable of the sower, the parable of the prodigal son to the parable of the murderous husbandman of their masters vineyard; all of Christ’s parables had to do with “the mysteries of  the kingdom of God”, and we are plainly told that kingdom is within us:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

That is what all of Christ’s parables concern, and that is their purpose; to keep those mysteries a secret. It is miraculous their effectiveness in accomplishing that purpose to this very day.

Those parables which all concern “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” are full of the descriptions of the murderous sins of those who are to become the heirs of that kingdom. What this reveals is that the heirs of the kingdom of God were once the children of wrath and the children of disobedience, just as men like king David and Saul of Tarsus both demonstrate for us. We are all the tares in God’s field before we have those tares gathered out, tied in bundles and burned out of His kingdom which is within us.

That is the message of all the messages of the seven angels of the seven churches of Asia concerning the purging of the tares out of the kingdom of God within us. Now we are prepared to begin to see the symbols of the heavenly things themselves, and now that we know where that kingdom is, we can begin to see that those symbols and proverbs are no longer speaking to us in proverbs but are showing us plainly the mind of our heavenly Father, because we are now being given an “open heaven”, which means that our understanding is about to be opened up exponentially.

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

When the time comes that “a door is opened in heaven,” it is the same time as “the time comes when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs but show you plainly of the Father.”

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Here now are the verses which, Lord willing, we will discuss next week:

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

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Rev 3:18 – Laodicea, Part 2

What The Spirit Says to The Angel of the Church in Laodicea – Part 2

Updated December 15, 2023

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Introduction

In our last study we saw that the spirit of the angel of the church of Laodicea within us is lukewarm and believes he is rich and in need of nothing. This is what the Lord says to that spirit within each of us:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 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:

What we saw in our last study is all addressed “unto the angel” of the church in Laodicea within us. It is “unto the angel” that the spirit says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were either cold or hot but since you are neither but are lukewarm, I will spue you out of my mouth.” All the rest of verse 17 is also addressed “unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans.” These ‘angels’ are all spirits whom the Lord uses to accomplish His work within us just as He used “a lying spirit” to accomplish His work and His purpose in the life of King Ahab:

1Ki 22:19  And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1Ki 22:20  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

King Ahab, as well as all men, are nothing more than “clay in the Potter’s hand”, and He is working His pleasure in all things, including that which is appointed for each of us:

Job 23:13  But [the Lord] is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

It is “the angel of the church of Laodicea” within us who thinks of himself as rich and increased with goods and having need of nothing, when in reality he doesn’t even realize he is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. All of the things we discussed last week are directed to “the angel of the church of the Laodiceans”, which angel is within “he that has an ear to hear.” All those things we saw last week must be burned out of that angel, and they must be burned out of “he that has an ear to hear.” Everything we read in verses 14 through 17, ‘being lukewarm and thinking you have everything and are in need of nothing’, is all the fuel for the fire which must burn within that angel and within “he that has an ear to hear, and he that reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things written therein.”

Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

Verses 14 -17 are part of “the things which are written therein.” They are the fuel for the fire which is mentioned in our next verse:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

This study will be on this one verse and the spiritual meaning of all the words of this one verse.

We will begin by asking, what is “gold tried in the fire?” Here is an example of “gold tried in the fire.”

Exo 25:31 And thou shalt make a [singular] candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

It is instructive to note that the singular “candlestick of pure gold” of Exodus 25 is the seven candlesticks of Revelation 1. There are to be no alloys of any metals other than God’s pure precious gold to be found in the making of the “seven golden candlesticks”, which we are told are the seven churches to whom these seven angels are sent as messengers.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Exodus 25 tells us that the candlestick of beaten work was of pure gold, and any jeweler knows that pure gold is “tried in the fire” to have all the impurities burned out of it. What is this “pure gold” of which the seven branches of the singular “candlestick of pure gold, tried in the fire” is made? Here is that pure gold of which, not only the candlestick but, everything else in the tabernacle of God must be made.

Eze 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Eze 16:12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Eze 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

This is what God does for Israel within us all when He first comes to us and draws us to himself.

Eze 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
Eze 16:5 None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born [This is the natural condition of all flesh].
Eze 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

What do we do with God’s gold and His silver with which He decks us? Here is what we all do as we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Eze 16:17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Two chapters earlier, Ezekiel had told us what these “images of men” were: idols which we have covered with God’s gold and with God’s silver. These are not physical ‘images’ or physical “idols.” They are “idols of the heart.”

Eze 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

“Idols of the heart” become “stumbling blocks of iniquity.” They are one and the same. They are the perversion of the words of God into the words of men. They are all the false doctrines of men who have placed their own heart’s idols, their own doctrines, ahead of the “doctrine of Christ:”

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

It is “the doctrine of Christ” that comprises God’s gold and God’s silver, and it is with this gold and silver He decks us all from the moment He first begins to drag us to Himself. It is also with this same gold and silver, given to us by God, that we make our heart’s idols and the stumbling block of our iniquity, as we twist and pervert His words into our false doctrines, “the doctrines of men.”

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

The “doctrines of men” are the ordinances to which we subject ourselves for many years before we are given to see or understand that false doctrines are ‘the stumbling block of our iniquity.’ Both God’s gold and God’s silver are “tried in the fire”, and both are His words and His doctrines as they are tried in us all as living “furnaces of earth” in which all the impurities of all of our false doctrines are burned out of us.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

“Pure gold” and “pure silver” are “pure words of the Lord”, and as Christ’s own disciples all demonstrated, we all think we have those “pure words” long before we discover that it was all just head knowledge; it was God’s gold perverted and wrapped around the idols of our hearts. It was cankered gold, the stumbling block of our iniquity, and it was not “gold tried in the fire” at all.

Your Gold and Silver are Cankered

As we saw last week, “Peter… and all the disciples” signify all of us, and until the gold we have been given is “tried in the fire”, God’s gold within us becomes “cankered.” Until it is “tried in the fire” it will become “the stumbling block of our iniquity”, and we will use it to cover the “idols of our hearts.” Look at what James has to say to us concerning this time in our walk:

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men [who are in reality poor], weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

There it is again. Our ‘gold’, our ‘garments’ and the ‘fire’ which is needed to try our gold. If our gold is cankered, then our clothes are moth eaten, and our nakedness is apparent, and we “shall eat our flesh as it were fire.”

However, if our gold is “tried in the fire” of bitter repentance after years of failure, and we come to see the inadequacies of our flesh, then it will make us “rich in faith,” and it can then be used to adorn the “white linen raiment” which will clothe us and hide “the shame of our nakedness.”

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

 What is “white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed?” Here is our raiment which covers our nakedness:

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

“The fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” Where else do we find this phrase in scripture?

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Like our gold and our silver, our righteousness is also “of the Lord” and belongs to Him. It is not of ourselves in any way whatsoever.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jer 33:16  In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Jer 51:10  The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

What is “the shame of thy nakedness?”

Why should we be ashamed of our nakedness? Did not our Creator make us that way? Yes, indeed He did:

Gen 2:25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Was Christ born naked? Of course, He was:

Luk 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

When did “the man and his wife” become ashamed of their nakedness? They became ashamed of their nakedness only after they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Until that time they were totally unaware that nakedness represented the shameful sin that is naked flesh:

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

There is a false doctrine which denies all of these truths and declares that flesh is not sin or shameful. There is a false doctrine which declares that ‘in me, that is in my flesh, there is no sin’, and sin is only the result of a conscious decision of something that is completely separate from sinless flesh. According to this false doctrine, flesh is of itself sinless and the only thing that can sin is the carnal mind, which we are told is independent of the body of flesh. Such reasoning is totally unaware of the meaning of the word, ‘carnal’, which means flesh. It is the mind of the flesh that rules us until Christ comes to dethrone that carnal mind.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked [carnal mind] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Flesh is “corruption”, and anyone who says otherwise does not believe this verse of scripture:

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Do the scriptures teach that the flesh is separate from the carnal mind, and that the carnal mind must consciously commit sin before I can say, “In me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good thing?” Or do the scriptures teach that “In me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing… by nature?” In other words, what do the scriptures teach? Are we sin in the flesh, or is sin something which the scriptures separate from flesh?

The answer is that in both the Old and the New Testament, both King David and the apostle Paul, taught that flesh is in and of itself sin, apart from any conscious personal decisions. In other words, both King David and the apostle Paul considered the carnal mind to be just that, the mind of the flesh, which is what the word ‘carnal’ means.

Here again is the apostle Paul:

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Paul’s wording, under the inspiration of the holy spirit, is “in me, that is my flesh.” In other words flesh, dust, is what we are:

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The holy spirit through the apostle Paul declares that “in me… in my flesh, dwells no good thing.” To this evaluation of who we are and what we are, King David agrees in every detail, and it has nothing to do with our making conscious decisions with a mature carnal mind. We are told, by the holy spirit, that we are sin by virtue of being “made of a woman” before we are even born.

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

The doctrine that the carnal, fleshly mind is somehow not connected with the flesh, is the same false and lying spirit which demands that Christ is really not the son of man at all, and is not the son of Adam in any way whatsoever. “This is that spirit of antichrist.” It is a spiritual “idol of the heart,” and it will cost us our reward if we use the word of God to cover this false doctrine which denies that Christ was “made sin.”

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Here is this same verse in the Conservative Version:

2Co 5:21  For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (ACV)

It is Christ Himself who tells us there was “no good thing” in His own flesh:”

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

If Christ’s flesh were not “sinful flesh” like the flesh of “the seed of Abraham” and like the “conceived in sin” flesh of King David, He could easily have said, “Yes, as the Son of God, I am good, and being ‘separate from sinners’ I am perfected.” That is not what Christ told this young man who called Him “Good Master.” Those who want to argue with Christ on this point refuse to accept His own testimony that He had to be resurrected on the third day in order to be perfected:

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

All who deny Christ His own claim to be the seed of Abraham and the seed of David “according to the flesh,” are denying that He was the same naked, shameful flesh, as you and me. What exactly do the scriptures have to say about this particular idol of our hearts? Here is what the scriptures teach concerning this particular doctrine:

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

“The flesh” is the only flesh there is. It is “the same as the children.” Christ’s flesh was as naked as yours and mine, and it had to be covered just as does our sinful flesh.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Even here in the book of Revelation, Christ introduces Himself as “the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot.” Yes, just like you and me, Christ is both ‘the son of man’ and simultaneously the Son of God, and whenever He is “come in the flesh”, He must be “clothed with a garment:”

2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Christ and His words are “our house which is from heaven.” If Christ’s mother Mary did not even contribute a human egg to the conception of Christ, then Christ has no connection at all to us. If Christ’s mother Mary were not of “the seed of Abraham”, then Christ has no claim to be “the seed of Abraham according to the flesh.” If He were really the son of Abraham, then He was also the son of Adam, just as Luke 3 tells us He was.

Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Luk 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, …

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

As such, Christ’s flesh was the same sinful flesh as the flesh of Adam and Eve. It, too, was “marred in the hand of The Potter… shapen in iniquity, and conceived in sin,” just as was the flesh of all of Adam’s seed.

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Does the absence of a physical Father preclude being “made sin, marred in the hand of the Potter, shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin?” If it does, then Adam was not a vessel of clay which was marred in the hand of the Potter, but if Adam were “made sin,” then so are all who are his children.

“He Himself suffered being tempted” (Heb 2:18). How is every man tempted?

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Christ’s flesh lusted after its own preservation to the extent that Christ had to pray this prayer:

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Christ is not ashamed to reveal His connection to our flesh, but our own hearts’ idols want to deny Him this connection to the first Adam. That is how we abuse the golden words of God which are our Lord Himself.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The truth of Christ being “made sin” cannot be understood without seeing Christ as the Father Himself reveals Christ to us in the law of the offerings in the book of Leviticus. In that book there are five different offerings given to ancient Israel. The last two are the sin offering and the trespass offering. They are as different as the other three offerings are. The sin offering is Christ, who is offered for what we are, as corruptible, naked clay which has been marred in the Potter’s hand. The trespass offering is not for what we are, but it is for what we do in the marred vessel which we are. The only way Christ can be a trespass offering is through us. That is why the sin offering is given first, for what we are as “marred clay vessels in the Potter’s hand and as “shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin.” We then furnish the trespass offering by “fill[ing] up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ, in our flesh, for His body’s sake which is the church.”

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

It is only “through our offenses” that Christ was delivered up and it is only through our justification that He was raised from the dead.

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for [Greek: ‘dia‘, through] our offences, and was raised again for [Greek: ‘dia‘, through] our justification.

Neither Christ nor His Father seek to separate Christ from the work of His own hands. It is only “that spirit of antichrist which you have heard should come, and which is already here” which seeks to make that separation between Christ and His brothers.

That is how we pervert God’s Words before we “buy of Him gold, tried in the fire.” Here is how we have used God’s Words to cover our hearts’ idols:

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them [those who come to God’s Words of pure gold tried in the fire], Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

What are those idols? Where did they originate?

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Therefore idolatry, just like the subject of marriage, is primarily a spiritual matter of worshiping the false doctrines of the Babylonian system. It is a matter of being unfaithful to our True Husband, Christ and His doctrines. Rather than obeying the words and doctrines of Christ, who we claim as our spiritual husband we believe and live by the idols of our heart. In spiritual terms, this is called “adultery, fornication and whoredom.”

Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father [Satan] and mother [Babylon The Great], and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Christ gave up everything His flesh wanted to please His heavenly Father. He is our example.

When asked by the rich young ruler what he must do to inherit eternal life this is what Christ said:

Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

So again, this ‘whoredom’ of Ezekiel 16 and Revelation 17-18, just like ‘marriage’ in Ephesians 5, is primarily spiritual, and the very fact we are commanded not to commit adultery is proof that we have all done so spiritually.

… and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

What is this “eyesalve” which gives us our sight? As is always the case, this, too, is a ‘Christ-centric’ spiritual concept which is clearly explained in these verses:

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye [Eyes in need of spiritual eyesalve] hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him [Obey Him – 1Jn 5:2-3].

What then will give us spiritual eyes that have spiritual “eyesalve” which can see and know and understand spiritual what are the spiritual gifts we are given and eyes that can “compare spiritual things with spiritual, and can understand “the things of the spirit?”

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

“Gold tried in the fire” and spiritual “eyesalve” are the same thing. It is “Christ in us” and His fiery Words being lived out in us. Peter thought he had Christ in Him, and like Peter, we, too, think that just because we have been learning at Christ’s feet for several years, we understand deep spiritual matters. The Truth that is being revealed to us through the revelation of the angel of the church of Laodicea within us, is that our spiritual depth is not even revealed to us until we have walked through the fiery trials that Peter and all the disciples endured.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

What does that verse say about the false doctrine of the substitutionary death of Christ? The anointing of our eyes with eyesalve is the anointing by God’s spirit. “God reveals the things that eye hath not seen “by His spirit.” It is His spirit which gives us the “eye salve” of spiritual vision. What is “the spirit?” Listen closely to the Word of God, and do not be deceived by false ministers who claim that the spirit is somehow independent of, and above, what is written. It most certainly is not:

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

The words ‘of men’ are not in the Greek, and while they may well be implied, the direct command of the spirit is that we are never to allow ourselves to “think above what is written.” When we fall for that false spirit which urges us to do so, we are doing nothing less than succumbing to the desire of the beast within, to circumvent the written word, and it yields us completely vulnerable to every wind of doctrine. When we are conquered by that very powerful false and lying spirit, which tells us that God’s spirit thinks above what is written, we are never again able to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God,” and we are adrift without a rudder in very dangerous and stormy seas.

Do you want to “anoint your eyes with eyesalve” so that you can see the things of the spirit? We all need to know what are the “things of the spirit.” How can we know “the things of the spirit” which things “eye hath not seen?” Let’s continue on with the verses right there in 1 Corinthians 2 which explain how the spirit reveals things which “eye hath not seen:”

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The natural man “cannot know the things of the spirit, because they are spiritually discerned.” There are two schools of false doctrines. One is ‘science falsely so called,” and the other is those who think that the written word is something less than the spirit of God. Both those who “think above what is written” and those who believe “contradictions of science falsely so called,” will use these golden words of the holy spirit to encapsulate the idols of their hearts. Both of those schools of false doctrines are condemned by these Words of our Lord:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

“The [“That which is written”] words that I speak unto you, they are spirit.” We would have no concept of “the words Christ has spoken unto us” were it not for His written word. “Whosoever readeth let him understand… Learn in us not to think above that which is written”:

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

“Thinking above that which is written” and believing the “contradictions of science, falsely so called” are both written in God’s Word to give us the warning and admonition that we need to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God.”

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Anyone who prefers the “falsely so called” [‘facts’] of science to these inspired Biblical words, has simply not been granted faith to believe in “things that do not appear.”

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Isa 48:3  I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did  them suddenly, and they came to pass.

The Hebrew word translated as ‘suddenly’ [H6597: ‘pithom’] means, “instantly”, not over thousands and millions of years], and they came to pass.

H6597
פִּתְאֹם     פִּתְאוֹם
pith’ôm    pith’ôm
pith-ome’, pith-ome’

From H6621; instantly: – straightway, sudden (-ly).

“They went forth out of my mouth” tells us that God literally spoke His creation into existence with a man who had the appearance of age, and a hen which was capable of laying and setting eggs and tall stately trees with hundreds or thousands of age rings already within them.

Whenever we “think above what is written” we have accomplished nothing less than placing the beast himself, “the man of sin, that spirit of antichrist,” right back on the throne of our hearts and minds.

Ask those who so easily and willingly “think above what is written” by what means they try the spirits, and you will soon discover the absence of any means of trying the spirits in any such person, and when it comes to the “contradictions of science, falsely so called” we are admonished in “that which is written” to “Let God be true and every man a liar.”

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Rom 3:3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Modern science and modern history are nothing but “seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” which are destroying our children. Carbon 14 dating is based upon the false premise of the theory of uniformity, which teaches that the earth has always been as it now is. The earth has not always been as it is, and it is “science falsely so called” which teaches otherwise. Beware of those who put false science before the word of God. Let God be true and every man a liar.

Conclusion

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We have seen in this study what the scripture reveal is God’s gold, and God’s silver, and we saw that it is His “pure words… tried in the fire…  purified in a furnace of earth seven times.”

We saw that God has called those who are poor in this world to be “rich in faith” in His precious and purified Words.

We have seen the scriptures which reveal that the white raiment is “the righteousness of the saints”, and that those in that “pure linen clean and white” are called “the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath, [and] the armies in heaven.” We have seen that those who are clothed in “white raiment which covers their nakedness” are God’s elect, and “the white linen is the righteousness of the saints.”

We saw that the righteousness of God’s saints is really of Him.

We saw all the scriptures which demonstrate that our shameful nakedness was given to us by our Creator, and that we are “shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin”, and we were shamefully naked long before we ever committed our first conscious trespass or ever became aware that we needed “white linen, pure and clean, that the shame of our nakedness does not appear.”

Finally we also saw that the “eyesalve” which gives us spiritual vision, is nothing less than the spirit of God, and the spirit of God is nothing less than “the words I have spoken unto you, which are spirit and they are life… the things that are written…” We saw that it is the spirit which reveals to us what those who are in need of eyesalve cannot see and cannot hear “because they are spiritually discerned.”

Next week, Lord willing, we will finish chapter three and the admonitions of the spirit to the angel of the angel of the church of Laodicea, or “He that hath an ear.” Here is the rest of what the spirit has to say to the angel of the church in Laodicea within us all.

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, 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.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.