The age in which we live has been challenged by the same forces. By 1991, many of the churches had changed their hymnals to suit the trends of the time. Laodicea, located at the junction of several important trade routes, is 77 kilometers 48 miles from philadelphia alasehir and 155 kilometers 96 miles from ephesus. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page.
Before considering the significance of this term and the rest of the message from christ, lets note a few things about laodiceas. An exposition of the seven church ages by william m. It is described as a time when men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters. Laodicea was a wealthy banking center and proud of her rich resources. What was jesus message to the church in laodicea in. The dates may be muddied, but roughly they could be from 1930 until the rapture. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich. Regardless of the truthfulness of the church age interpretation, it must be admitted that the modern church greatly resembles the laodicean churchespecially in america. Age of laodicea the last days of the final church age. Hes a very humble little guy, used to be one of the trustees here at the church, brother higginbotham, a precious, godly man. The two spirits will terminate their manifestation in each of their final destinations. The church of laodicea in the bible and archaeology. I suppose that if he is right, this blog ought really to be renamed exsardi. The laodicean churchs complacency and indifference to christ and the word of god rendered them ineffective to heal the brokenhearted or refresh the hurting people in the community.
Therefore the church, instead of giving way to the bible, has been trying to bend the bible to the church. This was in stark contrast to john wesley, who would donate his profits back into ministry. For example, in 60 ad laodicea was heavily damaged by an earthquake. Philadelphia, both chronologically and organizationally, has now virtually disappeared from the scene, leaving only patiently enduring individuals scattered. Branham set forth here in this revelation of himself to john what his glory and presence in the church would mean and do. Jesus said, thou art wretched, miserable, blind and naked. The laodicean lukewarm church is not destined to dominion, power and authority of any kind.
In prophetic history, it falls between the 69th and 70th weeks of daniel daniel 9. Well, this church is symbolic of the period of church history that we are in today, the last age. The world, the church, and laodiceanism church of the. The laodicean church, you know, its pretty hard to escape the comparison to the church today. Because thou art lukewarm nauseating i will spew thee out of my mouth revelation 3.
It is called the church age because it covers the period in which the church is on earth. This city was one of the most politically important and financially flourishing cities in asia minor. Eng601211e the laodicean church age vgr voice of god. Posted on december 8, 2009 december 9, 2009 by don i believe there are seven separate subdivisions within in the gentile church age and that jesus identifies each era by a certain church type. The laodicean church is a lukewarm, indifferent, insipidly spiritual church. The largest church at laodicea, called the church of laodicea took up an. The laodicean church has selfelected itself, without any guidance of the holy ghost, not to light the world, but to subdue it.
We are at present at the end of the age of the laodicean church which is described in revelation 3. What began in the first or ephesian age must and will come to full fruition and harvest in the last or laodicean age. The preachers teach a feelgood message that makes everyone feel good about themselves. Laodicea represents the church age from 1925tribulation. The kings letter of thanks and praise to god is in brother branhams files. This church does describe an attitude that we see so prevalent in our world today. Click here for an exposition of the seven church ages book in pdf. Thou sayeth, we are rich, increased with goods, have need of nothing wow. These words are from the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation. How fitting were the characteristics of this last age to represent the age in which we now live. I said, i was late for my wedding, borned a little late, a little late for my wedding, if i can just be late for my funeral. Robert baralepistlespaperon the lukewarm church at laodicea2032006 adpage 6 it is in revelation 3.
It is the last book of the bible, yet it tells the beginning and the end of the dispensations of the gospel. Mar 24, 2016 our current church age reflects that we are living in the days before the second coming of jesus. The church was established in the apostolic age, the earliest period of christianity, and is probably best known for being one of the seven churches of asia addressed by name in the book of. Now lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 3, and we come to the last of the letters to the seven churches, the letter to the church at laodicea, the church that made the lord jesus christ sick. He tells how he is going to deal with the devil and cast him into the lake of fire. The city became a bishopric seat of a christian bishop, and a christian council was even held there in the fourth century c. An exposition of the seven church ages chapter 9 the. I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot. A round trip visit to all the seven churches of revelation, starting at laodicea, would be 523 kilometers or 325 miles.
Laodicea was a city in asia minor in the first century. Likewise, this man sent from god was the seventh angel angel signifies messenger from revelation 1. The laodicean church was a christian community established in the ancient city of laodicea on the river lycus, in the roman province of asia, and one of the early centers of christianity. The name laodicea means judging the people which matches the seventh day adventist teaching, since 1844, that we are in the time of judgment now, with christ cleansing the heavenly sanctuary. The church was established in the apostolic age, the earliest period of. This church age began good with the rise of evangelicals such as billy graham, but has cooled down in which many.
Branham written by jesus himself, through personally appearing to a scribe. This lesson will study seven aspects of the cultural history of laodicea and how it influenced the church of laodicea. These things saith the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of god. This means that all the seven churches with all their rebellion have come together in one church. The laodicean church was a christian community established in the ancient city of laodicea. Pdf letter to the church at laodicea jim macgregor academia. Cumby it is most disturbing to the person who tries to live life according to the precepts and moral values set out in the word of god and who genuinely understands gods grace to see a so called christian person or church that represents god in an unholy, ungodly way. The church was established in the apostolic age, the earliest period of christianity, and is probably best known for being one of the seven churches of. But if that evil servant says in his heart, my master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards. We can learn from all these churches, but its generally accepted that we are now in the final church era, represented by the laodicean church. The last, and the laodicean, age, the last of christs churches, make him sick. Laodicea was a wealthy, industrious city in the province of phrygia in the lycos valley. Some have printed a new bible which puts god in the feminine, and now we see the overspreading of abominations daniel 9.
Mar 23, 2020 the church at laodicea survived domitians reign. Early indications of the laodicean church age can be traced to dwight l moody, who annoyed the english by making money off his publications. Pdf a historical and spiritual view of the seven churches of the. The laodicean period of the church reaches from about the middle of. And in this age laodicean the revelation of god will come in its due time. Among the seven churches, laodicea is the last before the return of christ, and it is unquestionably dominant today. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.
An exposition of the seven church ages vgr voice of god. The church of laodicea represents the state of the church during the church age just after it has gone through the spiritual revivals and just before the coming of christ. The church of laodicea lesson 11 study the revelation. The facts are clear that laodicea is now the church type that is identified with this generation, jesus is coming soon. Members of the church must take this observation into consideration because we have an urgent and critical responsibility to prevent the world from. The laodicean church is the lukewarm, practically apostate church, about which christ has nothing good to say rev. It was one of seven cities mentioned in the prophecy of revelation 2 and 3. This age is the age of laodicea, the last of the church ages described in revelation. It is the worst kind of spiritual blindness to line up with those who boast that the modern american church, charismatic or otherwise, faces its finest hour.
The laodicean period of the church is where we are today. In every attribute ancient laodicea is found reborn in the twentiethcentury laodicean age. Laodicea the apathetic, pathetic church maranatha today. In his letter to the church of laodicea, jesus warns us about the danger of selfsufficiency. The church said, i am rich, increased with goods, etc. This final letter to the church at laodicea was the most severe of the seven letters. The church age is the period of time from pentecost acts 2 to the rapture foretold in 1 thessalonians 4. The city, originally named diospolis the city of jupiter and then rhoas, was given the name laodicea by.
The laodicean church was deceived and fell from grace to disgrace as the above scripture reference in rev. The laodicean condition describes the spiritual lukewarmness and worldliness that will prevail in the professing church of christ at the end of the age. The seventh and final letter to the churches of ancient asia minor is to the church in the city of laodicea. The laodicean church was a church that had lost its impact on the world because it had become occupied with the world and because it had left the lord standing outside. This audio reading of an exposition of the seven church ages in mp3 format has. Frequent earthquakes finally, caused its complete abandonment. These things saith the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the. In the mercy of god, may those who have an ear to hear come out of her that they be not partakers of her sins and the consequent judgment. Open your bible to revelation chapter 3 and we will look again at our text, verses 14 to 22, the final of the seven letters to the churches in asia minor, namely the letter to the church at laodicea. The church of the laodiceans is mentioned in colossians 4. They are supposed to be prefigured by the 7 churches of asia minor at the start of the apocalpyse.
And unto the angel of the church of the laodiceans write. The letter to laodicea is a warning to the true church today. The messenger to the laodicean church age is gratefully dedicated to those. Philadelphia, both chronologically and organizationally, has now virtually disappeared from the scene, leaving only patiently enduring individuals scattered through many church groups. Now lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 3, and we come to the last of the letters to the seven churches, the letter to the church at laodicea. Our current church age reflects that we are living in the days before the second coming of jesus. You look at the property, look at the churches that there are today, some of the megachurches, you have all thesome of them look like. In august 1987, a wellknown evangelist in the church of god said, you would be surprised how often the work internally mirrors the world externally. It applied to the water of the city, and it was part of the message from jesus christ to the church of god that was located there revelation 3. Also notice what jesus says in a parable concerning the time just before his return. The laodicean church age series preached on sunday evening, 11th december 1960 at the branham tabernacle in jeffersonville, indiana, u. Then there was sardis, a church with only a few genuine believers, a church which had a name but was actually dead.
It seems more natural to think that this attitude would be the least likely to dominate in such terrible timesthat it ought to be obvious that the return of christ is near. She has become the greatest teacher of lies in the universe. Pdf it is a study of the seven churches of the revelation as they are. In fact, if there were any believers in this church, they arent even referred to in the letter at all. What was jesus message to the church in laodicea in revelation. Just as the church age ends one day with the church being caught up to heaven and the tribulation period beginning, we find the church being mentioned last at the end of chapter three, john a type of the churchhis name means jehovah. The laodicean church age discussion in christian debate forum started by rockytopva, mar 20, 2011. Dec 25, 2005 the laodicean church, you know, its pretty hard to escape the comparison to the church today. Philadelphia represents the church of the great awakening. The age of laodicea has arrived next comes the rapture and. Laodiceathe apathetic, pathetic church by gerald e. Archaeologists have discovered about 20 ancient christian chapels and churches at the site.
Several church denominations claim that they are now in the laodicean era that the many churches of this world are a part of that church described in revelation 3. Rich, cultured, religiously ritualisticthis church will have. Very few among us wish to be associated with the church of the laodiceans. Laodicea lay on the south bank of the river lycus, approximately 100 feet above the valley floor on a flat plateau. We are in the final stage of church history, the church that will see the end times. The next church age, of philadelphia, is represented by the stage of christianity in the years of the 1700s1850 ad. During the laodicean age jesus will come and rapture his faithful church to be with him in heaven while all the rest of the world will be tried in the fires of the tribulation on earth. Many christians today attend churches that barely teach the real gospel of jesus christ. And another little, humble brother here, hes here, hesought to be here somewhere. Rather than accepting aid from the roman empire, the people of laodicea refused any help and rebuilt the city themselves with.
The letter to laodicea is a warning to the true church today by sandy simpson, 43007 rev. In this revelation he tells us what the end of the devil is. She is confident of her own strength and wisdom, while mingling antichrist falsehoods with the truth of the gospel. Is this really supposed to symbolize the church of jesus christ at the end of the age. We live in the laodicean church age the majority of christendom is a lukewarm church that has forgotten her first love.
Dec 30, 20 we live in the laodicean church age the majority of christendom is a lukewarm church that has forgotten her first love. Age of laodicea the last days of the final church age are. The church at laodicea herself shared the materialistic satisfaction of the surrounding citys culture. Jim macgregor amdg 3 letter to the church at laodicea the letter and to the. Enormous amounts of property were bequeathed to the city by prominent citizens. The term lukewarm is a key word used to describe laodicea. Bartholomew holzhauser on the 7 ages of the church. We now find ourselves in the 7th and last age before our kinsman redeemer returns.
Jul 15, 20 likewise, this man sent from god was the seventh angel angel signifies messenger from revelation 1. Twentieth century prophet or the messenger to the laodicean. Mgr andrew wadsworth, provost of the oratorians in washington, summarizes ven. A few claim that we, the church of god, are the laodicean church because, as one person has stated, we do not have the gift of unknown tongues. Finally, the church of laodicea represents the modern church beginning around the mid1900s. Laodicea was known as the richpoor church, high on reputation, low on substance. Jan 02, 2020 jesus calls the laodicean church to repent of its sin. The period of church history before jesus christ comes again. The seventh and last of the attitudes within the church, laodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the era of the end time. There is now much criticism and skepticism regarding the inerrancy of scripture, creating a lukewarm attitude concerning the lord and his word. These things said the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of god. An exposition of the seven church ages christian hospitality.
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