Where Are We In Revelation Right Now?
Where are we historically in the book of Revelation right now? We're between Revelation 2:18 and Revelation 3:22 which are Jesus' own words to the last days churches. After John penned and published the book of Revelation toward the end of the first century, the biggest mystery to early readers wasn't the 7 scenes in Heaven, the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, the 7 signs, the 7 plagues or the 7 final visions. The biggest mystery to early readers was probably the easiest portion of the book to understand, which were 7 short little messages that Jesus sent to 7 churches: the church of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
In those 7 short little messages, Jesus gave those contemporary assemblies a Spiritual progress report and pep-talk. It was the easiest and least cryptic portion of the entire book of Revelation. But why those 7 churches? There were so many other churches around besides those 7, why didn't Jesus say anything to them? Why didn't Jesus send a message to the church in Jerusalem or the church in Rome? What's the real point behind Jesus sending those 7 little text-messages to those 7 churches?
Upon further investigation, the early readers of Revelation discovered that with those 7 short messages, Jesus had managed to address every individual Christian of every individual church of every church age from the 1st century to the time of the Great Tribulation. If any individual Christian will read those 7 messages, they will discover that one of those messages is specifically for them no matter what time of history they're reading. A Christian living in the 21st century, for example, can read those 7 messages and find that one of them is Jesus specifically speaking to them, addressing their problems, offering constructive criticism and encouragement. The same applies corporately for Christian assemblies. If any Church or Christian assembly will read those 7 messages, they will also discover that one of those messages is specifically written for their group.
The final application for these 7 messages is probably the most astounding. As the centuries progressed after John published the book of Revelation, it became apparent that the history of the church with all of its highs and lows had been prophetically anticipated and revealed by the order in which Jesus gave those 7 messages.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:1-7 To The Assembly In Ephesus.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Ephesus anticipated the age of apostolic planting (1st Century) which started off with a serious devotion to doctrinal purity due to the overwhelming presence of demonic doctrines that were constantly in competition with the 1st Century Church. Unfortunately, the demand for doctrinal purity became a legalistic obsession that overtook the Christian's original walk of love for the One Who bought them. This can happen to any Christian if they aren't careful. But it happened to the whole assembly in Ephesus and many other 1st century churches during this time in history.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:8-11 To The Assembly In Smyrna.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Smyrna anticipated the age of persecution (1st - 3rd Century) in which Christians were hunted down and killed by the leading governments and religious factions of the world. Being persecuted is part of the job description of being a Christian. Christians have been persecuted in all manner of ways throughout the past 2000 years. No Christian at any point in history is immune to persecution. But it was during the first three centuries that it would seem that Satan went out of his way to wipe Christians off the face of the earth.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:12-17 To The Assembly In Pergamum.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Pergamum anticipated the age of the Imperial church (4th - 6th Century) when world governments and religious factions stopped persecuting Christians and decided to work with them instead. Church and State became one and the same. The result was a massive growth of Christianity that became so large that individual assemblies had to resort to imposing hierarchies and dignitaries within each group, which had to report back to local government officials. Because world governments did not always agree with Biblical doctrine, Christianity began to compromise with governments by allowing the doctrine of other religions into their practices and teachings to keep the peace.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:18-29 To The The Assembly In Thyatira.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Thyatira anticipated the age of the Papacy (6th Century - Present Day) which began when the massive, powerful, world empire of Rome became one with the Imperial Church. Christian devotion, Christian teaching, Christian education, Christian charities and Christian outreach programs exploded all over the world. To this day, no church group can outmatch the level of giving, love, charity and outreach efforts of the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately, since the Roman Empire was the pagan capital of the world, almost all of it's idolatry and paganism had been re-packaged as Christian practices under the Catholic Church to keep the followers of all religions satisfied. Rituals and formalities that once honored Zeus, Apollo, Athena & Venus became rituals and formalities to honor Jesus Christ. Demonic rituals became Christian rituals. The Holy Scriptures, which had been the ultimate authority of Christian doctrine, was usurped and replaced by the authority of the Pope and the Priestly order of the Roman Catholic Church. In time, political conquests and outreach ministries became married to one another which resulted in campaigns of converting people into Christianity at the point of a sword.
In recent centuries, all manner of outrageous occultic spiritualism and idolatry has been embraced by the Roman Catholic Church under various Christian aliases. In the 21st Century, many Christian groups (both Catholic & Protestant) began to embrace "a larger view of Christianity" which marries itself into Islam, Hinduism, the New Age and every religion on the planet. This hybrid spirituality is accepted, promoted and will one day be lead by the Roman Catholic Church. Islam's Queen of Heaven and the Catholic's interpretation of the Virgin Mary are one and the same. This is also where the "coexist" movement is going, for those of you who may have seen those bumper stickers on people's cars.
Not all Catholics hold to these occultic and idolatrous strongholds of Roman Catholicism, which is why Jesus made a point to clarify in this letter who the targets are of His commendations and His threats. To those who do not hold to these demonic doctrines, Jesus has nothing but good things to say. To those who DO hold these demonic doctrines, Jesus makes the most violent threat found in any of the 7 letters. He promises that He will personally kill the idolatrous promoters and their followers during the time of the Great Tribulation.
In other words, faithful Christians within the Roman Catholic Church will be raptured outta here before the Great Tribulation. Those left behind in the Roman Catholic Church after the rapture (who aren't true Christians) will be joined by the false Christians who are left behind within protestant and non-denominational groups. Together, they will broaden their idolatry by aligning themselves with the Antichrist and will endorse the Beast of Revelation. This super-satanic religion under the banner of Christianity is prophetically called, "The Woman Who Rides The Beast" in Revelation 17.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:1-6 To The Assembly In Sardis.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Sardis anticipated the age of the Protestant Reformation (16th Century - Present Day) in which individual Christians rediscovered their roots in Biblical authority. The Bible was translated into English and many other languages for the first time under great protest and persecution from the Roman Catholic Church. The re-awakening of Biblical Christianity started a movement within Europe that migrated over into the United States, a land free from persecution. In the United States, a Christian could rely on the Bible to define their faith instead of the Roman Catholic Church.
As Christian groups studied the Scripture, they each segregated into different denominational groupings that complimented their interpretations. All denominations agreed to the vitals of the Christian faith while agreeing to disagree over everything else. While this age of church history was rich and vibrant in its founding, reestablishing the Word of God as it's ultimate authority, it wasn't long before most of its churches became dead in their formalities. Today, most denominational churches are merely churning through the motions, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.
Before Jesus has anything nice to say to Sardis, He accuses them of being spiritually dead and admonishes them to wake up before what little there is left among them dies also. He also warns them that if they don't wake up from their spiritual coma, they will be caught off guard by HIS RETURN when He comes! I've noticed this among most of today's denominational churches. They have no idea where we are in prophetic history because they choose not to teach Bible prophecy. Much like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, they can't interpret the signs of the times; neither are they interested.
Then after painting with a broad brush, Jesus clarifies that there are a few exceptions among the members of denominational churches that are still awake and haven't soiled themselves in their coma. It is from out of the snoring of the sleeping church that two church groups escape and make up the following two church ages: Philadelphia and Laodicea.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:7-13 To The Assembly In Philadelphia.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Philadelphia anticipated the age of individual Christians, missionaries and Bible-based assemblies of small numbers (18th Century - Present Day) outside the traditional confines of either Catholic or Protestant Denominationalism. Personally, I would call this the "Reformation 2.0" with the same motives and objectives of the first reformation, only this time getting it right and going all the way; getting the focus away from church buildings and religious ritualism and returning the Christian assembly back to its roots: Home-Prayer, Home-Bible-Study, living out the Christian life daily and faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit, gaining support and giving support to other Christians along the way who are engaging in the same walk, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
No focus is made on church buildings or on which days to worship because the small Philadelphian assembly can meet in people's living rooms as often as they wish. Since the Christian walk is a constant way of life for Philadelphians and not just a religious ritual that's performed once a week, they may desire to meet as often as 7 nights a week. No one has to force a Philadelphian Christian to assemble with other Philadelphian Christians. You don't have to "get them in the mood" to talk about Spiritual things. They're always in the mood for it. There are no rules or regulations about where to meet or how often because they aren't necessary.
Philadelphian Christians might visit or attend a local church, but their attendance is merely an additive or a supplement to their walk, not the walk itself. Their loyalties are to Christ and His Word and to their fellow brothers and sisters in the Family of God, not to any local church group or pastor.
Jesus has nothing but good things to say to the Philadelphian assembly and encourages them with a promise that they would be raptured outta here before the time of the Great Tribulation. I've noticed this among most of today's Philadelphian Christians. They have a healthy anticipation for the imminent rapture. They have a healthy and progressive grasp on where we are in prophetic history because they choose to learn all of the Bible, including Bible prophecy which makes up more than a third of the entire Bible.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:14-22 To The Assembly Of The Laodiceans.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Laodicea anticipated the age of lukewarm Christianity (20th Century - Present Day) which Jesus found disgusting enough to induce vomiting. Much like the Philadelphian Christians, the Laodicean Christians felt an urgent and desperate need to wake up and escape the sleeping church of Sardis. But unlike Philadelphia who accomplished this by returning to the Bible, Laodicea simply took Sardis and made it contemporary.
Choirs were abolished. The same old hymns of the past 400 years were replaced with contemporary pop/Christian music. Organs and pianos were replaced with guitars and drums. Church hymnals were replaced with overhead projectors. Suits and ties were replaced with blue-jeans and t-shirts. And last but not least, the slow-moving, white-headed preacher was replaced with a young, outgoing and charismatic fellow who could double for a stand-up comedian.
While there isn't anything wrong with newer music, guitars and drums, overhead projectors, casual attire and upbeat speakers, the Laodicean reasoning behind it is what's sickening. It's as if the dead church of Sardis were a man going through his mid-life crisis grasping for relevancy in a modern culture. Instead of turning to the timeless wisdom of Scripture for relevancy, they turn to the culture.
Ladies, you know how you feel when you see a man over 50 wearing the latest teen fashions, driving a brand-new red convertible with a young 20-something leaning on his shoulder as they zoom down the main drag listening to Meghan Trainor, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift? That's how Jesus feels when he looks at a Laodicean church.
It's gotten so much worse in recent years. Many of these churches today have no problem integrating worship with entertainment. Their worship leaders run around on stage like Aerosmith and they've got explosions and smoke screens to go with them. Their pastors include both men and women, gay and straight and even transgendered. The church properties include bowling alleys, movie theaters, internet cafes, clothing stores, music stores, etc... It's as if none of these people remember why Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple.
What's worse, is that in order to remain relevant with the latest cultural trends, the Laodicean church is willing to water down, skip-over, delete and/or compromise immovable doctrines of Scripture, without even admitting it. At least Thyatira has the guts to deny Biblical authority while standing behind demonic doctrine. Laodicea stands behind demonic doctrine while claiming to actually believe the Bible from cover to cover!
Being a Lukewarm Christian doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. It doesn't have anything to do with backsliding or how passionate you are for the Lord. Jesus uses the term "lukewarm" to describe the Church of the Laodiceans who are neither cold nor hot, who are neither backslidden nor passionate, who are neither asleep in their faith nor on fire for the Lord. This church is filled with lost people who were never even saved, but are playing church anyway.
Every other church that Jesus addresses is called a church "IN" the town that's addressed. Only in Laodicea does He refer to them as the church "OF" the town that's addressed. In other words, Laodicean (lukewarm) Christians make themself God. They make up their own rules for what is and isn't sin and they make up their own rules for atonement. The Blood of Jesus isn't covering their sins because they either don't know about it, don't believe in it or they don't think it's necessary. According to what Jesus says to them, He's never even been invited into their church. He's outside, knocking to get in, puking His guts out.
Jesus responds to the Laodiceans with a wake up call. While these merchants believe themselves to be rich, wealthy and in need of nothing, Jesus tells them that they're wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Since buying and selling is all they understand, He tells them to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, that they may be rich (Jesus' Sacrifice); and white garments, that they may be clothed (Jesus' Righteousness), that the shame of their nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint their eyes with eyesalve, that they may see (Holy Spirit).
So where are we in the book of Revelation? We're between Revelation 2:18 and Revelation 3:22. All of us reading this right now in May of 2025, fall into one of these categories: we're either in Thyatira, in Sardis, in Philadelphia or we're of Laodicea. Where do you see yourself? How do you feel about Jesus' own personal words to you in 2025?
In those 7 short little messages, Jesus gave those contemporary assemblies a Spiritual progress report and pep-talk. It was the easiest and least cryptic portion of the entire book of Revelation. But why those 7 churches? There were so many other churches around besides those 7, why didn't Jesus say anything to them? Why didn't Jesus send a message to the church in Jerusalem or the church in Rome? What's the real point behind Jesus sending those 7 little text-messages to those 7 churches?
Upon further investigation, the early readers of Revelation discovered that with those 7 short messages, Jesus had managed to address every individual Christian of every individual church of every church age from the 1st century to the time of the Great Tribulation. If any individual Christian will read those 7 messages, they will discover that one of those messages is specifically for them no matter what time of history they're reading. A Christian living in the 21st century, for example, can read those 7 messages and find that one of them is Jesus specifically speaking to them, addressing their problems, offering constructive criticism and encouragement. The same applies corporately for Christian assemblies. If any Church or Christian assembly will read those 7 messages, they will also discover that one of those messages is specifically written for their group.
The final application for these 7 messages is probably the most astounding. As the centuries progressed after John published the book of Revelation, it became apparent that the history of the church with all of its highs and lows had been prophetically anticipated and revealed by the order in which Jesus gave those 7 messages.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:1-7 To The Assembly In Ephesus.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Ephesus anticipated the age of apostolic planting (1st Century) which started off with a serious devotion to doctrinal purity due to the overwhelming presence of demonic doctrines that were constantly in competition with the 1st Century Church. Unfortunately, the demand for doctrinal purity became a legalistic obsession that overtook the Christian's original walk of love for the One Who bought them. This can happen to any Christian if they aren't careful. But it happened to the whole assembly in Ephesus and many other 1st century churches during this time in history.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:8-11 To The Assembly In Smyrna.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Smyrna anticipated the age of persecution (1st - 3rd Century) in which Christians were hunted down and killed by the leading governments and religious factions of the world. Being persecuted is part of the job description of being a Christian. Christians have been persecuted in all manner of ways throughout the past 2000 years. No Christian at any point in history is immune to persecution. But it was during the first three centuries that it would seem that Satan went out of his way to wipe Christians off the face of the earth.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:12-17 To The Assembly In Pergamum.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Pergamum anticipated the age of the Imperial church (4th - 6th Century) when world governments and religious factions stopped persecuting Christians and decided to work with them instead. Church and State became one and the same. The result was a massive growth of Christianity that became so large that individual assemblies had to resort to imposing hierarchies and dignitaries within each group, which had to report back to local government officials. Because world governments did not always agree with Biblical doctrine, Christianity began to compromise with governments by allowing the doctrine of other religions into their practices and teachings to keep the peace.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 2:18-29 To The The Assembly In Thyatira.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Thyatira anticipated the age of the Papacy (6th Century - Present Day) which began when the massive, powerful, world empire of Rome became one with the Imperial Church. Christian devotion, Christian teaching, Christian education, Christian charities and Christian outreach programs exploded all over the world. To this day, no church group can outmatch the level of giving, love, charity and outreach efforts of the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately, since the Roman Empire was the pagan capital of the world, almost all of it's idolatry and paganism had been re-packaged as Christian practices under the Catholic Church to keep the followers of all religions satisfied. Rituals and formalities that once honored Zeus, Apollo, Athena & Venus became rituals and formalities to honor Jesus Christ. Demonic rituals became Christian rituals. The Holy Scriptures, which had been the ultimate authority of Christian doctrine, was usurped and replaced by the authority of the Pope and the Priestly order of the Roman Catholic Church. In time, political conquests and outreach ministries became married to one another which resulted in campaigns of converting people into Christianity at the point of a sword.
In recent centuries, all manner of outrageous occultic spiritualism and idolatry has been embraced by the Roman Catholic Church under various Christian aliases. In the 21st Century, many Christian groups (both Catholic & Protestant) began to embrace "a larger view of Christianity" which marries itself into Islam, Hinduism, the New Age and every religion on the planet. This hybrid spirituality is accepted, promoted and will one day be lead by the Roman Catholic Church. Islam's Queen of Heaven and the Catholic's interpretation of the Virgin Mary are one and the same. This is also where the "coexist" movement is going, for those of you who may have seen those bumper stickers on people's cars.
Not all Catholics hold to these occultic and idolatrous strongholds of Roman Catholicism, which is why Jesus made a point to clarify in this letter who the targets are of His commendations and His threats. To those who do not hold to these demonic doctrines, Jesus has nothing but good things to say. To those who DO hold these demonic doctrines, Jesus makes the most violent threat found in any of the 7 letters. He promises that He will personally kill the idolatrous promoters and their followers during the time of the Great Tribulation.
In other words, faithful Christians within the Roman Catholic Church will be raptured outta here before the Great Tribulation. Those left behind in the Roman Catholic Church after the rapture (who aren't true Christians) will be joined by the false Christians who are left behind within protestant and non-denominational groups. Together, they will broaden their idolatry by aligning themselves with the Antichrist and will endorse the Beast of Revelation. This super-satanic religion under the banner of Christianity is prophetically called, "The Woman Who Rides The Beast" in Revelation 17.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:1-6 To The Assembly In Sardis.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Sardis anticipated the age of the Protestant Reformation (16th Century - Present Day) in which individual Christians rediscovered their roots in Biblical authority. The Bible was translated into English and many other languages for the first time under great protest and persecution from the Roman Catholic Church. The re-awakening of Biblical Christianity started a movement within Europe that migrated over into the United States, a land free from persecution. In the United States, a Christian could rely on the Bible to define their faith instead of the Roman Catholic Church.
As Christian groups studied the Scripture, they each segregated into different denominational groupings that complimented their interpretations. All denominations agreed to the vitals of the Christian faith while agreeing to disagree over everything else. While this age of church history was rich and vibrant in its founding, reestablishing the Word of God as it's ultimate authority, it wasn't long before most of its churches became dead in their formalities. Today, most denominational churches are merely churning through the motions, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.
Before Jesus has anything nice to say to Sardis, He accuses them of being spiritually dead and admonishes them to wake up before what little there is left among them dies also. He also warns them that if they don't wake up from their spiritual coma, they will be caught off guard by HIS RETURN when He comes! I've noticed this among most of today's denominational churches. They have no idea where we are in prophetic history because they choose not to teach Bible prophecy. Much like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, they can't interpret the signs of the times; neither are they interested.
Then after painting with a broad brush, Jesus clarifies that there are a few exceptions among the members of denominational churches that are still awake and haven't soiled themselves in their coma. It is from out of the snoring of the sleeping church that two church groups escape and make up the following two church ages: Philadelphia and Laodicea.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:7-13 To The Assembly In Philadelphia.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Philadelphia anticipated the age of individual Christians, missionaries and Bible-based assemblies of small numbers (18th Century - Present Day) outside the traditional confines of either Catholic or Protestant Denominationalism. Personally, I would call this the "Reformation 2.0" with the same motives and objectives of the first reformation, only this time getting it right and going all the way; getting the focus away from church buildings and religious ritualism and returning the Christian assembly back to its roots: Home-Prayer, Home-Bible-Study, living out the Christian life daily and faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit, gaining support and giving support to other Christians along the way who are engaging in the same walk, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
No focus is made on church buildings or on which days to worship because the small Philadelphian assembly can meet in people's living rooms as often as they wish. Since the Christian walk is a constant way of life for Philadelphians and not just a religious ritual that's performed once a week, they may desire to meet as often as 7 nights a week. No one has to force a Philadelphian Christian to assemble with other Philadelphian Christians. You don't have to "get them in the mood" to talk about Spiritual things. They're always in the mood for it. There are no rules or regulations about where to meet or how often because they aren't necessary.
Philadelphian Christians might visit or attend a local church, but their attendance is merely an additive or a supplement to their walk, not the walk itself. Their loyalties are to Christ and His Word and to their fellow brothers and sisters in the Family of God, not to any local church group or pastor.
Jesus has nothing but good things to say to the Philadelphian assembly and encourages them with a promise that they would be raptured outta here before the time of the Great Tribulation. I've noticed this among most of today's Philadelphian Christians. They have a healthy anticipation for the imminent rapture. They have a healthy and progressive grasp on where we are in prophetic history because they choose to learn all of the Bible, including Bible prophecy which makes up more than a third of the entire Bible.
___________________________________________________________
Revelation 3:14-22 To The Assembly Of The Laodiceans.
___________________________________________________________
The letter to Laodicea anticipated the age of lukewarm Christianity (20th Century - Present Day) which Jesus found disgusting enough to induce vomiting. Much like the Philadelphian Christians, the Laodicean Christians felt an urgent and desperate need to wake up and escape the sleeping church of Sardis. But unlike Philadelphia who accomplished this by returning to the Bible, Laodicea simply took Sardis and made it contemporary.
Choirs were abolished. The same old hymns of the past 400 years were replaced with contemporary pop/Christian music. Organs and pianos were replaced with guitars and drums. Church hymnals were replaced with overhead projectors. Suits and ties were replaced with blue-jeans and t-shirts. And last but not least, the slow-moving, white-headed preacher was replaced with a young, outgoing and charismatic fellow who could double for a stand-up comedian.
While there isn't anything wrong with newer music, guitars and drums, overhead projectors, casual attire and upbeat speakers, the Laodicean reasoning behind it is what's sickening. It's as if the dead church of Sardis were a man going through his mid-life crisis grasping for relevancy in a modern culture. Instead of turning to the timeless wisdom of Scripture for relevancy, they turn to the culture.
Ladies, you know how you feel when you see a man over 50 wearing the latest teen fashions, driving a brand-new red convertible with a young 20-something leaning on his shoulder as they zoom down the main drag listening to Meghan Trainor, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift? That's how Jesus feels when he looks at a Laodicean church.
It's gotten so much worse in recent years. Many of these churches today have no problem integrating worship with entertainment. Their worship leaders run around on stage like Aerosmith and they've got explosions and smoke screens to go with them. Their pastors include both men and women, gay and straight and even transgendered. The church properties include bowling alleys, movie theaters, internet cafes, clothing stores, music stores, etc... It's as if none of these people remember why Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple.
What's worse, is that in order to remain relevant with the latest cultural trends, the Laodicean church is willing to water down, skip-over, delete and/or compromise immovable doctrines of Scripture, without even admitting it. At least Thyatira has the guts to deny Biblical authority while standing behind demonic doctrine. Laodicea stands behind demonic doctrine while claiming to actually believe the Bible from cover to cover!
Being a Lukewarm Christian doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. It doesn't have anything to do with backsliding or how passionate you are for the Lord. Jesus uses the term "lukewarm" to describe the Church of the Laodiceans who are neither cold nor hot, who are neither backslidden nor passionate, who are neither asleep in their faith nor on fire for the Lord. This church is filled with lost people who were never even saved, but are playing church anyway.
Every other church that Jesus addresses is called a church "IN" the town that's addressed. Only in Laodicea does He refer to them as the church "OF" the town that's addressed. In other words, Laodicean (lukewarm) Christians make themself God. They make up their own rules for what is and isn't sin and they make up their own rules for atonement. The Blood of Jesus isn't covering their sins because they either don't know about it, don't believe in it or they don't think it's necessary. According to what Jesus says to them, He's never even been invited into their church. He's outside, knocking to get in, puking His guts out.
Jesus responds to the Laodiceans with a wake up call. While these merchants believe themselves to be rich, wealthy and in need of nothing, Jesus tells them that they're wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Since buying and selling is all they understand, He tells them to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, that they may be rich (Jesus' Sacrifice); and white garments, that they may be clothed (Jesus' Righteousness), that the shame of their nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint their eyes with eyesalve, that they may see (Holy Spirit).
So where are we in the book of Revelation? We're between Revelation 2:18 and Revelation 3:22. All of us reading this right now in May of 2025, fall into one of these categories: we're either in Thyatira, in Sardis, in Philadelphia or we're of Laodicea. Where do you see yourself? How do you feel about Jesus' own personal words to you in 2025?
The Antichurch
