Biblical Church History Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

ChurchReferenceApprox. date Meaning EphesusRev. 2:1-790 – 200 ADFully purposed SmyrnaRev. 2: ADBitterness and death PergamosRev. 2: ADMuch marriage ThyatriaRev. 2: ADOder of affliction SardisRev. 3: ADRed ones PhiladelphiaRev. 3: ADBrotherly love LaodiceaRev. 3: RaptureCivil rights THE 7 PERIODS OF CHURCH HISTORY

Revelation 3:14-22 c.1900 A.D- Rapture. “Civil Rights” ThyatIraThyatIra LAODICEaLAODICEa

I. The Commission Rev. 3: 14a LAODICEaLAODICEa

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans (Rev 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

A. The Period of time “Civil Rights” Laodicea

 Rapture of the Church  (Rev 4:1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  This church age will be the ones that see the rapture of the Church and it is the 1 st church age that didn’t look forward to that event. We always have so “stuff” we won’t to do 1 st, stuff that pleases us. LAODICEaLAODICEa

B. The Perspective of the name “Civil Rights” Laodicea

 Laodicea means “rights of the people”  God’s perspective of theses people and time… LAODICEaLAODICEa

For men shall be lovers of their own selvescovetousboasters proud unthankful, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2Ti 3:1-4) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

(Rev 4:11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

C. The Priorities of church people in choosing a local church. “Civil Rights” Laodicea

(Jud 1:3) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

 What their priorities are: What can this church do for me and my family? Do I like the style of preaching? What kind of music do they sing? LAODICEaLAODICEa

II. The Character Rev. 3: 14b LAODICEaLAODICEa

These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 The key to understanding this church age is to look at the “door”  (Rev 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.  The Door is shut. (Jesus is on the outside knocking) (Rev. 2:1)  This is in contrast to the Philadelphian Church age. (Rev. 3:8) LAODICEaLAODICEa

 In the end of Sardis age (which was the “dark ages”) their was no major presents of a real bible and those that were around were that of the Catholic Church. But God provided the “Morning Star of the Reformation” and he translated the Bible from Antioch in to English.  During the Philadelphian church age God purified this English translation 7 times (Ps. 12:6-7) in order to give us the KJV which is “The Preserved Word of God” to the English speaking people. This translation of the Bible in 1611 is what God used to open a door in Philadelphian age to reach the world for Christ LAODICEaLAODICEa

 In 1881 when B.F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort released their Greek New Testament witch was built on the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts, England switched from the KJV Bible to the Revised Version of the Bible. This bible was translated from the linage of Greek manuscripts that go all the way through the RCC to, to Eusuebuis, Pamphilus, to Origen  Thompson Chain- Reference: “It will be noted by glancing at the drawing that the Revised Version, while it was supposed to be a revision of the Authorized Version, has one distinct advantage over all its predecessors. It reached down and touched the most ancient copies of the original scriptures.” LAODICEaLAODICEa

 In 1901 America published the “American Standard” bible. This is the Bible that scholars say is the most accurate  We went from believe that God had given every man the Word of God to us trusting scholarship to tell us what is the “real” truth and the “DOOR SHUT” LAODICEaLAODICEa

A. The Proclamation of the truth “Civil Rights” Laodicea

 The Amen Absolute truth  The Faithful Witness LAODICEaLAODICEa

(Mat 7:28-29) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

(Act 4:33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

(1Jn 5:7-9) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

 The Amen Absolute truth  The Faithful Witness  The Beginning of Creation LAODICEaLAODICEa

(Gen 1:1-3) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Joh 1:1-5) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(Heb 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

III. The Commendation Rev. 3: LAODICEaLAODICEa

 Volumes of are spoken by what Christ doesn’t say in the way of commendation.  This is the only church Christ doesn’t have anything good to say. LAODICEaLAODICEa

IV. The Condemnation Rev. 3:15-17 LAODICEaLAODICEa

) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Rev 3:15-17) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

A. The Passive Christian life “Civil Rights” Laodicea

 The one drawback to Laodicea's location was its lack of a local water supply. It had neither the cool well water of nearby Colossae nor the healing, hot water springs of Hierapolis across the Lycus valley. Water had to be piped in via an aqueduct from the Baspinar Spring five miles to the south. By the time the water arrived it was lukewarm -neither hot nor cold. The city's lukewarm, mineral-laden water was suitable only as a means to induce vomiting ("spit you out," from Greek emeo, literally "to vomit, throw up). Christ metaphor comparing the church to the city's lukewarm, stale tasting water would have been easily understood by the Christians of Laodicea. Their apathy and complacency made Christ sick to his stomach. LAODICEaLAODICEa

(2Ti 3:5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

B. The Propaganda of the Laodiceans “Civil Rights” Laodicea

Because thou sayest (Rev 3:15-17) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

draw near me with their mouth (Isa 29:13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

They profess that they know God (Tit 1:16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Having your conversation honest (1Pe 2:12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

If we say do not the truth (1Jo 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: If we say the truth is not in us (1Jo 1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say his word is not in us (1Jo 1:10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us

But if we walk (1Jo 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess (1Jo 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

The self- Preservation of the Laodiceans B. The self- Preservation of the Laodiceans “Civil Rights” Laodicea

I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing (Rev 3:15-17) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 Riches Compare the 2 nd Church with the last Church (Rev 2:9) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Mat 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. LAODICEaLAODICEa

(1Ti 6:10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith… We are the only Church age that thinks they can be close to God and pursue after the wealth of this world. LAODICEaLAODICEa

 Goods  Need of nothing We don’t need to trust God for our daily bread we have our money. We don’t need God to send us a revival, after all if we get the right preachers, the right singers and invite enough choirs we can shout it out. LAODICEaLAODICEa

We don’t need God to move in our Churches because we got them set up just the way we want them. We don’t even need God’s forgiveness of our sin, because we now have Christian physiologist to tell us it is not our fault. LAODICEaLAODICEa

C. The Proper analysis from the Lord “Civil Rights” Laodicea