How fitting were the characteristics of this last age to represent the age in which we now live. Robert baralepistlespaperon the lukewarm church at laodicea2032006 adpage 6 it is in revelation 3. Explorations into the laodicean church age christian forums. The last, and the laodicean, age, the last of christs churches, make him sick. Many christians today attend churches that barely teach the real gospel of jesus christ. Andnow,inthis,isgoingtobethe the winding up of the seven church ages. Laodicea represents the church age from 1925tribulation.
The laodicean church was deceived and fell from grace to disgrace as the above scripture reference in rev. These things saith the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of god. Then there was sardis, a church with only a few genuine believers, a church which had a name but was actually dead. The dates may be muddied, but roughly they could be from 1930 until the rapture. Regardless of the truthfulness of the church age interpretation, it must be admitted that the modern church greatly resembles the laodicean churchespecially in america. An exposition of the seven church ages chapter 9 the. The laodicean church, you know, its pretty hard to escape the comparison to the church today. 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. In his letter to the church of laodicea, jesus warns us about the danger of selfsufficiency. The facts are clear that laodicea is now the church type that is identified with this generation, jesus is coming soon.
Very few among us wish to be associated with the church of the laodiceans. Was there ever an age like the twentieth century church age that has seen all. Lessons from the laodicean church christiantoday australia. We are in the final stage of church history, the church that will see the end times. 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. The plot exhibits devices uncommon in hardys other fiction, such as falsified telegrams and faked photographs. Lets move through these verses as we consider the last church in our study. 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. The last church the lord jesus christ addressed was the church at laodicea. Shaking hands, and joining churches, and sprinkling, oh, mercy, thats not the. This lesson will study seven aspects of the cultural history of laodicea and how it influenced the church of laodicea. Frequent earthquakes finally, caused its complete abandonment. The laodicean church was a christian community established in the ancient city of laodicea.
The world, the church, and laodiceanism church of the. Laodicea was a wealthy city during the roman period. For example, in 60 ad laodicea was heavily damaged by an earthquake. The seven churches of revelation, then and now way of life. Eng601211e the laodicean church age vgr voice of god. The church ages laodicea part 1, the seventh age, 1906. Rather than accepting aid from the roman empire, the people of laodicea refused any help and rebuilt the city themselves with. As with the historical philadelphia, the historical city of laodicea reveals some interesting things about the lastgeneration church. Reading this letter is like looking into a mirror and seeing our own faceour own time. Among the seven churches, laodicea is the last before the return of christ, and it is unquestionably dominant today. 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 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 revelation rev. Laodicea was a wealthy banking center and proud of her rich resources. 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. Age of laodicea the last days of the final church age. Seven church ages is given by divine revelation, light upon light follows, until the. Whether one believes in the idea that the seven churches of asia portray seven historical stages the church would go through or not, certainly this church illustrates conditions. The church at laodicea herself shared the materialistic satisfaction of the surrounding citys culture. The church of laodicea lesson 11 study the revelation. Philadelphia, both chronologically and organizationally, has now virtually disappeared from the scene, leaving only patiently enduring individuals scattered through many church groups.
Laodicea the apathetic, pathetic church maranatha today. The church was established in the apostolic age, the earliest period of christianity, and is probably best. For example, ephesus represents the age of apostolic purity, and thyatira represents. We begin our reading at chapter 3 and verse 14, and it will take us right to the end of the chapter. These combine to produce a disillusioning lukewarm churchgoing groupthink experience. This age is the age of laodicea, the last of the church ages described in revelation.
Laodicea was a wealthy, industrious city in the province of phrygia in the lycos valley. Laodicean church age, the consummation of all ages. We are moving into the spirit of the laodicean age. Members of the church must take this observation into consideration because we have an urgent and critical responsibility to prevent the world from impressing itself upon us. The laodicean church became predominant towards the end of the twentieth century. 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. Philadelphia represents the church of the great awakening.
What began in the first or ephesian age must and will come to full fruition and harvest in the last or laodicean age. Laodiceathe apathetic, pathetic church by gerald e. I said, i was late for my wedding, borned a little late, a little late for my wedding, if. Weve been at the church of ephesus, the church at smyrna, the church at pergamos, the church at thyatira, the church at sardis, the church at philadelphia and now we come to the church of laodicea. This means that all the seven churches with all their rebellion have come together in one church. The laodicean remedy gods church on earth gold, white. Laodicea lay on the south bank of the river lycus, approximately 100 feet above the valley floor on. Jesus said, thou art wretched, miserable, blind and naked.
The church of laodicea in the bible and archaeology biblical. A story of today is a novel by thomas hardy, first published in 188081 in harpers new monthly magazine. There is now much criticism and skepticism regarding the inerrancy of scripture, creating a lukewarm attitude concerning the lord and his word. Living word broadcast 601211e, the laodicean church age. What was jesus message to the church in laodicea in revelation. This city was one of the most politically important and financially flourishing cities in asia minor. The two spirits will terminate their manifestation in each of their final destinations. The church age is the period of time from pentecost acts 2 to the rapture foretold in 1 thessalonians 4. The laodicean church is the lukewarm, practically apostate church, about which christ has nothing good to say rev. In prophetic history, it falls between the 69th and 70th weeks of daniel daniel 9. 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. It was one of seven cities mentioned in the prophecy of revelation 2 and 3.
When i was a new christian and student in primary school i would spend quite a number of my lunch breaks in the school library reading about men and women of the faith, from decades past, who impacted the world for christ in their lifetime. These things said the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of god. It certainly is going to be a major player in the coming oneworld apostate religion that operates without jesus christ as the only begotten son of god. There is a wide variety of music in this laodicean age from rap to rock and roll to praise and worship. Enormous amounts of property were bequeathed to the city by prominent citizens. The laodicean period of the church is where we are today. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. The next church age, of philadelphia, is represented by the stage of christianity in the years of the 1700s1850 ad. William branham, 630317e the breach between the seven church ages and the seven seals william branham, 650117 a paradox william branham, an exposition of the seven church ages chapter nine the laodicean church age william branham, audio letter to. Thou sayeth, we are rich, increased with goods, have need of nothing wow. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the book of revelation.
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. Is this really supposed to symbolize the church of jesus christ at the end of the age. 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. The world will be converted by the holy ghost, powerful preaching of the holy ghost and the cross will be the only thing thatll convert the world. I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot. And unto the angel of the church of the laodiceans write. Laodicea was a city in asia minor in the first century. It is called the church age because it covers the period in which the church is on earth.
Traits of the laodicean church pastor charles lawson duration. The church of laodicea is the last of seven churches addressed in revelation. With the apostasies of the modern church including chrislam, new age ideas, and ecumenicalism, it is easy to see how this laodicean church could evolve into the great whore. Six miles north of laodicea were the thermal springs not drinkable at hierapolis, whose white calcareous cliffs were visible in the distance. The preachers teach a feelgood message that makes everyone feel good about themselves. The laodicean church is a lukewarm, indifferent, insipidly spiritual church. The laodicean lukewarm church is not destined to dominion, power and authority of any kind. 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 said, i am rich, increased with goods, etc. Finally, the church of laodicea represents the modern church beginning around the mid1900s.
This replaces the personal first love a person had for jesus and the. This teaching regarding the church ages is part of dispensationalism. The city became a bishopric seat of a christian bishop, and a christian council was even held there in the fourth century c. The age of laodicea has arrived next comes the rapture and. The laodicean church is known as the lukewarm church. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, i will spue thee out of my mouth. You look at the property, look at the churches that there are today, some of. What was jesus message to the church in laodicea in. The laodicean church age series preached on sunday evening, 11th december 1960 at the branham tabernacle in jeffersonville, indiana, u.
The church of laodicea in the bible and archaeology. 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. Living in the age of the laodicean church bellator christi. The joining of the two temples of a god and goddess is the seed of. The largest church at laodicea, called the church of laodicea took up an. Because thou art lukewarm nauseating i will spew thee out of my mouth revelation 3. This has made way for religious worship wars as you have portions of the church pulling for the laodicean sound and portions of the church preferring to be.
Archaeologists have discovered about 20 ancient christian chapels and churches at the site. 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 church his name means jehovah. We live in the laodicean church age the majority of christendom is a lukewarm church that has forgotten her first love. The laodicean condition describes the spiritual lukewarmness and worldliness that will prevail in the professing church of christ at the end of the. The seventh and final letter to the churches of ancient asia minor is to the church in the city of laodicea. The age in which we live has been challenged by the same forces. These words are from the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation. In fact, if there were any believers in this church, they arent even referred to in the letter at all. 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. In every attribute ancient laodicea is found reborn in the twentiethcentury laodicean age. Magazine canada, usa magazine worldwide magazine pdf e newsletter. We are at present at the end of the age of the laodicean church which is described in revelation 3.
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