4-daleth-Laodicians:

Laodicians...I am speaking to you in a special way at a special time (the other letters of Revelation were addressed to Ephesus, Smyrna, and others, against whom, God had only a few things). The Spirit of God is speaking to you individually as citizens of the doomed city of Laodicia. My breath is drawn to spew out the faithless and wordly city. Come out of Babylon...come out of Laodicia. They have already said'peace and safety' and the mark of the beast has already been issued (see 11-caph the 13 steps). I am speaking to you individuals within and without all churches and also to some independent churches; but, I will not speak in the conference halls of the organized selfwilled antichurches. I will not give my glory to anyone other than my Beloved Son. Beloved, I have begun to finish; and yet my outstretched hand of judgment is offered to you. " 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).

Gold claims...gold claims...prepare for tribulation and get rich!!! "...knowest not that thou art wretched (Rom.7:24!!!), and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked..."? Firstly, let us speak of blindness and eyesalve. Can you open your Bible to the book of Laodicians, the forgotten, 'lost' doormat of Hebrews? Paul dictated two letters to Timothy for Tychicus to deliver; one was addressed to Colosse (this is the principle letter; a response to the information recently received from Epaphras) and another to the Laodicians (Paul used this opportunity to take care of Onesimus) In his letter to the Colossians, Paul urged them to read their letter to the Laodicians since his letter to the Laodicians was brief and mainly addressed the situation as to Onesimus. Epaphras had reported to Paul about all three of the neighboring cities(Laodicia,Colosse,and Hierapolis). Nymphas was the under-shepherd of Hierapolis and Archippus (wife was Apphia) ministered in his house to the church at Laodicia. Clearly, Philemon would be better titled as Laodicians. Some would quibble that "Onesimus...is one of you"(Col.4:9) shows Onesimus to be a Colossian rather than a Laodician. But this is easily understood to mean simply that he was a runaway slave from their area. Having choked on this gnat, they proceed to swallow the larger issue that Laodicians is either lost or is actually Ephesians... truly, the blind leading the blind.

A digression...Paul was partially blind (since Damascus) and usually dictated his letters; but Galations is an exception, as is Laodicians in that he personally writes the portion as to the account. This speaks to us as Laodicians. Paul also speaks to us as Laodicians in the book of Colossians (here you may find the gold, linen, and eyesalve of Rev.3). Paul speaks to us as Laodicians in that he is the last of the apostles. Paul speaks to us also in that he always started his letters with 'grace' (Hebrews moves forward of the usual salutations) and he always ended his letters with 'grace' as he wrote the final salutations with his own hand in painfully large letters..."...which is the token in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."(IIThes.3-17,18). Do you suppose it is only coincidental that this 'token' statement should be the seal upon the Thessalonian letters which proclaim the coming of the Lord?

What does this 'lost' letter tell us? Imagine if you can...being blind and not knowing that you are blind. You see only what you want to see when the problem is in the will ( when saw we ). It is akin to insanity...insane, and not knowing it. Oh, beloved ... apart from Him...without out faith in Him...apart from His love...we are insane and know it not. Make us pillars Lord...lead us not in and out any longer...Oh no Lord...not lukewarm... not lukewarm...not enough oil...help us overcome! O the flesh... it is insane... hopeless... faithless... loveless... worthless...blind...dead, twice over...A cross that must be taken up daily...never cured. Daily, we must take up our cross; and the flesh of others must also be carried. Despicable flesh...O wretched man that I am! Righteous Father above , deliver us from the heavy oppresive spirit of the old man...we despise him as we do Satan and the world. He is wretched, miserable,poor, blind, and naked as you well know ( for you tell us merely to abstain from fornication). What does Laodicians say to us? We have been blind and the time is now very short. We need to prepare a place for Christ in our lives...be profitable as Onesimus...good soldiers like Archippus, contending with the horsemen... loving like Philemon.....proper businessmen, making our purchases of oil, and linen, and gold... faces turned upward........comforted in all of our tribulation by the coming of Christ.