LAODICEA: The Apostate Church of Today

LAODICEA: The seventh, and last, church mentioned in the book of Revelation. The meaning of the term and name for this city means "the rights and the rule of the people.” There are two words used in translation to modern English that refer to the people of the church of Laodicea: Laodikeia and Laodikeus.

Through study, we see that the underlying structure and belief system of the City of Laodicea had become corrupted and infiltrated subtly by error and opinions that were man-initiated and not God-initiated. The people of Laodicea had a "form of godliness", yet the reality was that the truth had been perverted and clarity of Scripture had been replaced with unBiblical stances and doctrines. The focus had become the "rights of man" in society, and the label of “Christian” and “Church” had become nothing more than a banner under which the people gathered to lend credence to their false beliefs and stances.

Today, we have witnessed the rise of the Laodicean church out of the ashes of history, and it once again has gained prominence through the ideas of “rights of man” and “God loves everybody” mantras. Just as in Biblical times, we find the Laodicean church alive and well, showing itself strengthening with its support of gay marriage and other unBiblical stances. It again is focused on so-called “rights”, yet we find in Scripture that no such right is ever mentioned, nor given, by God. In this church, God has been relegated to a figure-head…again, nothing more than a banner under which the members can stand and claim they are part of the true Church of Jesus Christ, while, in truth, they are nothing more than deceived followers of an apostate gospel…far from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. This church is more concerned with personal comfort and sees God as existing to make them happy in life. God to them is loving…yet His love is absent of anything that in any way makes them feel bad about themselves or about any of their actions. This church is content with a life lived in personal pleasure, without much regard for eternity and the future. God exists…and they claim to love Him…yet He plays no role in their lives apart from making them feel good about themselves and the path they have chosen to follow. They are not “on fire” for God…neither are they atheistic and agnostic: God is there…but it is a god of their own making…not God Jehovah, Jesus Christ. Deception has them seeing an illusion…an illusion of righteousness available APART FROM the true giver of righteousness…Jesus Christ. In their delusion, to them, God is now advocating doctrines and stances contrary to His own Word. In truth, they traveled a path contrary to God…and they now are members of the most insidious, apostate church in history. By human evaluation, they are a strong and wealthy and a blessed church: by the Lord’s evaluation, they are poor and wretched and blind.

The Lukewarm Church (Revelation 3:14-22)
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

　
I will note that, in this passage, the Lord is STILL offering a change of course...and forgiveness...through repentance (turning away from its false beliefs and delusion). But, the deception is strong and a change of course will be difficult. The key is RECEIVING THE TRUTH and APPLICATION OF TRUTH to turn the ship before it hits the iceberg! "Lukewarm" in the Laodician case was not from HOT TO LUKEWARM (a cooling off), but it was, instead, a simple "warming up"...from COLD TO LUKEWARM. The water supply for Laodicea was from a source a distance away, brought in under the city. The water was cold at its source, but warmed up over the distance. Jesus was using this fact to speak to the condition of the church. Therefore, we can gain insight into the process: the source was "cold"...not heavenly at all...and it "warmed up" to God only to gain access and prestige: using the label of "Christian Church" to attain its true goal of wealth, stature, etc. More than likely, if the entire institution established by Christ did not exist...in other words, if history to that point was different...this group would have gathered under any banner that they saw would meet their need and desires.