The Laodicean Syndrome
God is the source of life, light, and joy for the whole universe. His rich blessings such as water and sunlight are graciously bestowed upon all His creatures. For the past six thousand years He has been working out His great plan of redemption in behalf of fallen humanity. The great sacrifice of love was made in order to save us. And for us especially, who are living in the last period of this earth’s history, His voice is beckoning us, saying: “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28). Our prayer to God is that we may always hear His voice, which directs us to the true way of salvation.
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken” (Isaiah 1:2). Who is interested in hearing God’s voice today? Many voices are speaking in the world. They all are trying to draw the people’s attention, to win the people’s heart. That is why we need to discern the source of these voices and obey God’s voice. His is the only voice which can direct everyone individually and the church as a whole to the right path. The Lord declares, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, two voices are always speaking to us.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed the privilege not only of hearing, but also of seeing, their Creator. They heard His voice, blessing and warning them.
Tragically, our first parents fell by listening to the wrong voice - the voice of Satan. Yet even after their fall, the loving voice of God has called out to humanity in different ways: “Adam, where are you?”
“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).
Meanwhile, Satan’s voice is always present also, trying to say to us: “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Ever since the dawn of human history, this insidious enemy has been carrying on his seductive work.
Today the same enemy of souls still employs his agents in sinister acts of deception against humanity. He assailed Christ Himself with the dare: “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. . . . All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:3, 9).
“With the same temptation Satan approaches men, and here he has better success than with Christ. To men he offers the kingdom of this world on condition that they will acknowledge his supremacy. He requires that they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness. Christ bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; but Satan walks by their side and says: Whatever may be true in regard to life eternal, in order to make a success in this world you must serve me. I hold your welfare in my hands. I can give you riches, pleasures, honor, and happiness. Hearken to my counsel. Do not allow yourselves to be carried away with whimsical notions of honesty or self-sacrifice. I will prepare the way before you. Thus multitudes are deceived.”1
We can hear God’s voice through nature: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3).
“Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us.”2
“God has bound our hearts to Him by unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature, and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know, He has sought to reveal Himself to us.”3
“Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:16, 17).
Yet inspiring as these things are, it still does not give us a full knowledge of God’s love to us.
God speaks to us from the pages of the Bible. This is His Holy Word - it reveals His will for us. It is His voice. The Holy Scriptures can make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The Word of God is helpful and necessary. It will be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus prayed to God in behalf of those who would be His disciples until the end of time: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
“In the Bible the will of God is revealed to His children. Wherever it is read, in the family circle, the school, or the church, all should give quiet and devout attention as if God were really present and speaking to them”4
Jehoshaphat, one of the few faithful kings among God’s ancient people, declared an important principle: “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).
At the present time the church is in a great danger because the devil “went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” that is, the Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 12:17; 19:10).
“The Lord designs to warn you, to reprove, to counsel, through the testimonies given, and to impress your minds with the importance of the truth of His word.”5
“Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).
The Holy Spirit is a permanent, infallible, and divine Teacher (John 14:16, 17).
If we study the Word of God with the help of the Spirit of Prophecy, and seek the Lord in prayer and meditation, then the Holy Spirit will speak to us and will show us which way to follow. If we heed the voice of the Holy Spirit, then, like the apostle Paul, we will do God’s work and will walk in His path.
“As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
God addresses us through the three angels of Revelation chapter 14, telling us that the grand tribunal is set up in heaven, where the destiny of His children of all times is decided. They tell us that people are not fearing God nor giving glory to Him through their works, behavior, diet, dress, and life. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The threefold angel’s message warns us about the dangers of clinging to the world, and of illicit compromise with the state and with the other churches that will result in apostasy and fall.
The third angel speaks in a loud voice of the changes in Bible doctrine that have been accepted by the majority of the Christian churches. He warns against worshipping the beast and receiving the mark of the beast - the false sabbath - the first day of the week. This angel proclaims the true Sabbath and the holiness of the Ten Commandments and the faith of Jesus: “And the third angel followed [the other angels], saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. . . . Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:9, 12).
The third angel carries out the important sealing work of God’s people living in this era. The Lord’s messenger was shown this in vision: “I . . . saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.”6
God addresses us through the angel of Revelation 18, with whose glory the earth is to be lightened. This message reveals to us the character of our Lord Jesus Christ that will be reflected in His followers in this last time. And it includes a final call to all sincere souls to come out of spiritual Babylon (confusion), and be separate (Revelation 18:4) and join the remnant of His people.
Above all, in this last period of history, the voice of God is heard especially in the message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans: Revelation 3:14-20. The Lord plainly declares: “I know thy works!”
Here He speaks about the condition of the church, about the dangers that are threatening it, and also He advises us to come out of the lukewarm state of self-satisfaction and self-righteousness.
“[The message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans] is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel.”7
Let us take earnest heed of Christ’s appeal found in Revelation 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.”
In considering this plea, the Lord’s messenger testifies: “I saw that many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of their heart that they cannot get the door open. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove. Others have evil tempers, selfish covetousness, to remove before they can open the door. Others have rolled the world before the door of their heart, which bars the door. All this rubbish must be taken away, and then they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in.”8
“Your worldliness does not incline you to throw wide open the door of your hard hearts at the knock of Jesus, who is seeking an entrance there. The Lord of glory, who has redeemed you by His own blood, waited at your doors for admittance; but you did not throw them open wide and welcome Him in. Some opened the door slightly and permitted a little light from His presence to enter, but did not welcome the heavenly Visitor. There was not room for Jesus. The place which should have been reserved for Him was occupied with other things.”9
“Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into forbidden association with the heathen. In a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. . . . All who are not decided followers of Christ are servants of Satan. In the unregenerate heart there is love of sin and a disposition to cherish and excuse it. In the renewed heart there is hatred of sin and determined resistance against it.”10
Many members of the church become slaves of fashion, imitating the world, and listening to the voice of the tempter saying, “Ye shall not surely die.” If the church imitates the customs of the world, it becomes similar to the world.
The people of God should shun worldly amusements. We are not to set any wicked thing before our eyes and ears. Television programs, movies, and the improper use of the Internet are a great curse in this generation. These things result in the destruction of many families and the moral degradation of our youth.
“‘With the increase of business, and the brightening prospects of commerce and manufacture, there is an increase of worldly-mindedness.’”11
It’s a pity that many people will remain in this Laodicean state!
The Majesty of heaven humbly asks you to do Him an honor and let Him come into your home. He promises you His blessings: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” (Revelation 3:20). He has glorious heavenly mansions, He has joy of life in the heavenly mansions, yet He humbly stands at the door of your heart and asks you to open the door to give you His light and let you rejoice in His glory.
“Why does [Christ] not enter? It is because the love of sin has closed the door of the heart. As soon as we consent to give sin up, to acknowledge our guilt, the barrier is removed between the soul and the Saviour.”12
Someone may ask: “Why is this message sounding constantly?” Because you have not fully repented, you are not living totally for Christ and He does not abide in you! When you cast away one idol from your heart, Satan has already prepared another one. If you do not consecrate yourselves fully to Christ, if you neglect to communicate with Him daily, if you do not make Him your counselor, you will see that your heart is open to vicious thoughts, and is prone to serving self instead of serving God.
The work of the True Witness today, as mentioned earlier, applies to the church and to every individual personally. He reveals the dangers and deceptions of Satan that are threatening the church, such as the lowering of God’s standards clearly stated in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, the changing of the doctrinal truths, the influence of the world, the imitation of other popular teachings, pride, and complacency.
“Unless there is thorough repentance, unless men humble their hearts by confession and receive the truth as it is in Jesus, they will never enter heaven.”13
“God leads His people on step by step. The Christian life is a constant battle and a march. There is no rest from the warfare. It is by constant, unceasing effort that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. As a people we are triumphing in the clearness and strength of the truth. We are fully sustained in our positions by an overwhelming amount of plain Scriptural testimony. But we are very much wanting in Bible humility, patience, faith, love, self-denial, watchfulness, and the spirit of sacrifice.”14
Why are so many rebukes and instructions given us? Christ tells us: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
We still have the possibility to open the door of the heart and receive our Saviour: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
He is waiting for us to open our heart and say: “Stay with us!”
“No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple.”15 Jesus says: “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world.”16
“Do you ask, ‘How am I to abide in Christ?’ In the same way as you received Him at first. ‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.’ ‘The just shall live by faith’ (Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 10:38). You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour. You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart; but having given yourself to God, you believe that He for Christ’s sake did all this for you. By faith you became Christ’s, and by faith you are to grow up in Him - by giving and taking. You are to give all - your heart, your will, your service - give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all - Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper - to give you power to obey.”17
Dear friends! Today we need not just the knowledge of the truth. Our great need today is to be born again: “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. . . . Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 7).
It is today that Christ knocks at the door of our heart, but the time will come when people will knock and will cry: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matthew 7:22).
“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness)” (Hebrews 3:7, 8).
Soon the time of probation, the time of possibilities, will be finished. Soon the heavenly gates will be opened for God’s children and they will hear, like the most wonderful song of glory, the words of blessing from the King: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
May God bless us! May God help us to hear His voice always and to give heed to His call! Amen.