A Tale of Two Brides - Part 2

Bobservations' Column

Titled - A Tale of Two Brides - Part 2

Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

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The Lord declared that five of the seven Churches in Asia are in trouble. Only two were commended and encouraged in their faith. In this seventh letter that the Apostle John was to write, we discover who the Laodiceans really were. They were a combination of four of the other six Churches. They were surrounded by Greek philosophies, and Roman laws. This last church had advanced to acceptance in a wicked world, and allowed false doctrines to be taught by false teachers and prophets. Unlike Sardis who had only a few that had not defiled their garments with the world, Laodicea had gained acceptance in the culture because they did not teach against sin. True Christians bend their thoughts and hearts to Christ view, not to the world’s! If this church existed in our modern day (and perhaps it does), Christ’s sacrifice would be left at the curb, and a politically correct social gospel would be preached, and all manner of sinners would be welcomed in, then left to die in their sin.

It is noteworthy that only Smyrna and Philadelphia did not receive a rebuke from the Lord in their letters, because they stayed close to the Word Himself, exalting Jesus, condemning sin and exposing it along with the fakes and flakes. While Laodicea looked like a successful church from the outside, their faith was severely lacking and like Sardis they were a dead church.

John writes in his opening line to them that they were The Church of the Laodiceans. All the others were churches in, or of a city, but this was The Church of the Laodiceans, not the Church of Jesus Christ. It reflected the society around them, not Christ their presumed Savior.

This is the Church we have today; wealthy and in need of nothing. They have everything under control, and they are “The Church!” Jesus says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They don’t even see their daily need of Christ in their lives. This is the church’s final state in the church age. They read the words of scripture. But they don’t hear the words that they read.


“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8

Sunday Morning's Audio Sermon

Revelation 3:14-22 - "A Tale of Two Brides" - Part 2

Sermon/Notes: 

Laodicea is the final church of the seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation.  It is the last letter, and it is the worst! It addresses the apostates, the liberals, the Christ-deniers, the Bible-deniers; all those who have elevated themselves above God's Word with a false gospel message producing false converts. 

It is the worst of all possible representations of a church. A church full of people who have a wrong view of Christ, a wrong view of themselves, a wrong view of the church.  

Laodicea was an immensely wealthy city, and extremely self-sufficient city. Not only did the church find its identity in material wealth, but also spiritual wealth. They had money, riches and spiritual pride to go along with material pride. This is the ultimate apostate condition. They know about Christ but have created a false Christ. They know about God but have created a false god and are smugly self-confident in that. This certainly characterizes entire denominations throughout the world, and particularly in today's western culture - including Christian universities and seminaries.

To give you an idea of the attitude of the people of Laodicea, after the earthquake of 60 A.D. which leveled this city along with others in the area, the people of Laodicea prided themselves on rejecting an offer of financial help from Rome because they had enough money of their own to completely rebuild a beautiful city without any help.  Tacitus (a Roman historian) wrote: "Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources with no help from us."

Along with its wealth, banking enterprises, wool industry, the city was known for its medical school which developed a highly valued salve for eye ailments. 

Of these seven churches represented in the book of Revelation, the first six letters begin with, "the church in."  This is not true of the last letter, it is written to, "the church of" which explains a lot.  John 17:14-16 tells us that we are in the world, but not of this world.  A church that is of this world does not belong to Christ.

We know the Lord is writing this letter, and He introduces Himself by referencing His deity.  He is the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, and the Beginning of the creation of God. 

Why is this so important to establish in a letter to Laodicea? Referencing the deity of Christ?  In Colossians 4:16 Paul says this: "Read this letter in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea."    It's interesting that Laodicea was only about ten miles away from Colossae.  It is very likely that what had plagued the church in Colossae found its way to Laodicea, the denial of Christ's deity.  

He is the Amen - This is a unique title, see Isaiah 65:16.  Amen is used in Scripture to affirm the truthfulness of a statement. The Lord is the firm, fixed, certain, faithful, unchangeable Amen, because He is the truth.  What He says is true, His promises are true, His covenants are true.  2 Corinthians 1:20, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."  All of God's promises are validated and made certain in Christ.

He is the faithful and true Witness - Not only does whatever He says is true, He is completely trustworthy, perfectly accurate, reliable.  All testimony which He bears to God, His purposes, plans, promises are faithful and true.  "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true" John 3:31-33

He is the Beginning of the creation of God - He is the first cause of creation, the Creator and governor of it, He is also the Creator of the Church, the Head of the body, the first born from the dead.  See Colossians 1:18.

After identifying Himself, Jesus says, "I know thy works" He knows everything, nothing is hidden from Him. "...that thou art neither cold nor hot... because thou art lukewarm... I will spue thee out of my mouth."  Laodicea's water supply derived from an artificial pipeline bringing water from the hot springs of Hierapolis.  By the time it reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm.  It was also dirty, foul, tepid water...absolutely nauseating.  It wasn't cool enough to quench, it made people sick.  That's what the Lord is saying about this church, "You make Me sick!"

Why?  Because they are self-deceived.  They are spiritually deceived.  They are self-sufficient.  They don't need anything.  Non-believers cannot assess their own spiritual condition.  They don't know that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked.  They are not Christians.  How do we know?  Because Christians are not wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.  The Laodiceans see themselves as spiritually rich, but they are bankrupt.  They have not the riches of God.  They are not clothed in righteousness; they don't know Christ. 

The Lord does not hold back His condemnation of them. There is in this church, apparently, absolutely no redeeming feature. This is the unsaved, unregenerate false church system. 

The Laodicean church is a church that Christ is not in.  How many dead, liberal churches bear the name of Christ in the name of their church.  Yet they deny His deity.  They deny His Word.  They deny Him as Creator.  They deny His Authority.  They create a false Christ in their own image.  They don't need a Savior.  They deny Him as Lord. 

"Therefore, be zealous and repent" - God in His mercy calls us to salvation.  He says Repent!  This is a decisive, zealous, eager act.  Repent and do it fast!  That is the message to the unsaved church. 

Jesus is standing at the door and knocking.  Individually, it is the door of our hearts.  Corporately, it is the door of our church.  "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.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" Revelation 3:20-22.

Anyone who hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in and abide with you and you with him.  

The Tale of Two Brides - Part 1

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "The Tale of Two Brides" - Part 1

Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

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Ephesus had left their first love. Pergamos? Jesus has a few things against them, and against Thyatira too. To Smyrna, Jesus knew their works, their tribulation, and their poverty, but to Sardis, “Thou art dead.” Coming to Philadelphia, they were given an open door and the promise that He would keep them. It sounds like the promise of John 3:16, from death to Eternal Life for those who believe.

Like today, there were good churches, and bad. Some stayed the course with good doctrine. Others had been led off the narrow path, and onto a broad way. The problem is a familiar one, because churches are led by mankind, and mankind is fickle. But for those who stayed focused upon Jesus, great promises were theirs because Jesus was at the core of their teachings, worship, and hope.

We start today with the Church at Philadelphia. The name comes from the Greek word “phileo” meaning a love based upon relationship, with a give and take. Our own City of Philadelphia, PA, known as the “City of Brotherly Love,” that was the likely motto of that Asian City of Philadelphia also.

But while they were a loving church, they found that their beliefs were at odds with the surrounding world. Just several kilometers to the southeast was the Church of Laodicea, a church that was wealthy, and in need of nothing, and Jesus tells them they are spiritually wretched, poor, and naked.

One might ask how some churches do well in the world, and others that stick close to The Word of God struggle continually. They hear the same words of Jesus. They read of the same Commandments and miracles of Jesus. The only difference is their individual leadership. Enter the human element: fickle, and subject to the goals of the world. Philadelphia, and the last church of the chapter, Laodicea, represent opposite ends of the spectrum of “the church.”

These seven churches represent different eras of the Church Age, and they also represent the different kinds of churches evident in each era. Jesus warns the problematic churches to overcome the temptations of the world: to lead, to be the most beautiful, or to be the largest, most active, most social, or most critically acclaimed for their good works.

Whether we are churches or individuals…

John 14:26-30

Jesus invited Peter to the miraculous: Peter walked on the water, then he saw the waves at his feet. Take our eyes off from Jesus, and we too will sink.

Sunday Morning's Audio Message:

Revelation 3:7-13 - "The Tale of Two Brides" - part 1

Summary/Notes:

This morning we are continuing our study in the Book of Revelation from chapter 3, verses 7-13.

In this morning’s text, we will look now at the sixth letter to the churches, the church at Philadelphia.

Remember these were real cities with real churches, but also, they set for us seven samples of kinds of churches throughout all of history. How instructive these verses are for us.

Philadelphia was about thirty miles southeast of Sardis. It was founded by a man name Attalus who was king of Pergamos. Philadelphia means brotherly love.

The writer of this letter identifies Himself. "He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens, and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this." Jesus always introduces Himself with a description of His character, a description of His person.

He who is holy - Who is holy? None other than God. Throughout the Bible, God is repeatedly identified as the One who is holy. The holy One identifies Himself as absolutely sinless, unstained, unblemished, flawless. What does holy mean? It means, separate. From what? Sin. The word holy means separate, and He is utterly separate from sin. In the gospels, Jesus is identified as the holy One, for He shares the holy, sinless, pure nature of God. He is God!

He "Who is true." He is true. He is the Author of truth. He is the Revealer of truth. John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." In the midst of a world of so much that is false, so much that is perverted, so much error... the Lord Jesus is truth.

He "who has the key of David." Who has the key of David? Jesus. See Isaiah 22:22. David symbolizes the messianic office. A key is a symbol in scripture. Whenever you see a key, you can equate it with authority. If the word "authority" gives you problems, try the word "control." Whoever has the key has control. Whoever has the key has authority. Jesus says that He is the One who has the key of David. He is the One who can open the treasure house and pour out on you His royal riches. Jesus is the key to all that they need, all that we need.

Not only that, but He alone opens the door. Open the door to what? Open the door to let anybody into the Kingdom. In John's gospel Jesus said, "No one comes unto the father but by me." If you're going to come, you've got to come by me. "I am the way, the truth and the life." John 14. In John 10, He said, "I am the door." Here He says, "I have the key." The key to salvation, to life, to the Kingdom. The open door to blessing and spiritual treasure. The door of spiritual opportunity for service and evangelism.

So, the Lord Jesus is identified as the author of the letter, and He has looked upon the church of Philadelphia. He knows they were not perfect, but He looks and finds that they were faithful.

He characterizes this little church. This is a small church, no doubt just a few, but they had some influence in the city. They have little power. A little dynamite. Small but mighty. It reminds us of 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul identifies some of the struggles in his own life, and he sums it up by making a great statement: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Sometimes in the weakest vessel comes the delivering of the greatest power, like a grain of mustard seed. This little church, with little strength, is spiritually faithful, lives were being transformed.

This church is characterized by obedience, "and has kept my Word." In John 14:23 Jesus defines the nature of discipleship. "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." This is the character of a believer.

This church is also characterized by loyalty, "and hast not denied my name." No matter the pressure, the trials, the hammering, the detractors, the persecutors, the intimidators and fierce persecution, through it all, they did not deny His name. They persevere. They hang in there. They don't deny His name, the mighty, powerful name of Jesus Christ. The name which is above every name. The name that will cause every knee to bow. They endured patiently and faithfully through it all. Some don't - they cave under the pressure. This church didn't deny Jesus, they were loyal.

In verse 9, He tells they that those who are their persecutors, He will make them bow down at their feet, knowing that Jesus loves them. Those who hated the fact that they were proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, proclaiming Jesus is God. They belong to the synagogue of Satan.

There are more promises to this little church... but you'll have to listen to the audio to find out more.

Things Which Shall Be

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Things Which Shall Be"

Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

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From Thyatira to Sardis brings us to and through the most politically charged era of “The Church.” The Latin Rite of Rome found itself at odds with the Eastern Rite of Constantinople. Eastern Orthodoxy was pitted against Roman Dogma: The Great Schism of 1054 A.D.

Doctrinal differences between the two, and the Universal Authority of the Papacy in Rome were the core of the disagreement. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, and Pope Leo IX of Rome brought the Schism to a head by mutually excommunicating one another from “The Church.” This was the watershed that brought full division within the faith, The Great Schism of 1054 AD. There were now two Popes of the Church.

Eastern Theology had its roots in Greek Philosophy, while Roman Theology had its roots in Roman Law. From the point of view of Jesus’ Church, neither was correct in their understanding of His teachings. And besides Rome and Constantinople, there were at times others that laid claim to the Papacy: The Bishops of Alexandria, and Antioch were also in the mix, but to a lesser degree.

Then in 1521, The Roman Church suffered another schism with the 95 Theses of a Roman Catholic Monk, Martin Luther. With Luther came more division: The Protestant Reformation. To say that these 500 years of Church history were filled with tumult, disagreement, doctrinal and cultural differences would be an understatement. It was a period when Apostolic Succession ended, though the Roman Catholic Church still holds to it in spite of its obvious loss. Muhammad brought yet another “truth” between 500 and 600 AD, and Islam became a threat to all the forms and names of Christianity.

False teachings, False Doctrine, False prophets, human egos, and even those that would alter God’s Word have all had their heyday within Church history. Confusion abounds within Christian Denominations, and so it takes a commitment to God’s Word to sift through the mess, and hit the pay dirt of Christ’s simple message of salvation. While East and West have us jumping through hoops, Jesus taught us that Salvation is by His grace through faith in Him, and Him alone.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

Sunday Morning Audio Teaching

Revelation 3:1-6- "Things Which Shall Be"

Summary/Notes:  

We are continuing our teaching in the book of Revelation, studying the letters written to the seven churches.

To recap, this book is the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ which the apostle John received in a series of visions. The first few chapters cover the past, the present, and the future. They are really about Christ and His church, and Christ addressing His church.

When the apostle Paul founded the church in Ephesus, that church became a strong church, taking the gospel throughout the rest of Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey (Acts 19:10). As the gospel spread, churches were established in many cities, seven of them are mentioned here. 

It wasn't long after these churches were established that we see false teachers, error, compromise and sin creeping into the church.  Churches then began differing from each other, straying from the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As we read the letters to these churches, we find out why.

Background:  Sardis is the ancient capital of the Lydian kingdom, going all the way back to 1,200 years before Christ; rich in gold, rich in silver. There are some historical indication that it might have been the first place where gold and silver were minted into coins. There was a river there that seemed to be rich in gold from which the gold was mined. Because of its wealth, a city that endured many wars, they were usually victorious because of the geographic location.

They became a center for wool and dying, things that were particularly common in the ancient world. By the middle of the sixth century B.C., the city attained such a high level of respect, that when its downfall came at the hands of a little-known enemy, the Greek cities received the news of it with disbelief. It was conquered. It was conquered not once, but it was conquered twice. It was conquered in 549 B.C. It was conquered again in 195 B.C. The Persians conquered it, and then Antiochus the Great, the Greek, conquered it.

By the time we come to the New Testament era, there’s a temple there to Caesar, to honor Caesar, and there is a temple there to the Empress Livia. There is the normal idolatry there. Seven hundred years before this letter, Sardis was one of the great cities in the world. If you go there today, you’ll find nothing but a pile of ruins near a little village called Sart. But once, it was the glory of Lydian Empire, and it’s greatest king was a man named Croesus. Have you heard that name? Have you heard “rich as Croesus”? Unlimited luxury and wealth.

Sardis stood 30 miles southeast of Thyatira in the fertile Hermus valley near a range of mountains, and it was elevated about 1,500 feet high; almost impregnable, sticking out from Mount Tamalpais like some kind of granite pier. Seemed to be impregnable. Under Croesus, it reached its greatest heights; and under Croesus, it plunged and collapsed.

It had some famous people. You remember the name Thales, the first Greek philosopher? You remember the name Solon, a wise legislator; or Xerxes, the great general; or Aesop, the fable weaver? This was some great city that had fallen into a degenerating cycle. 17 A.D. an earthquake hit it, massive earthquake, turning it into rubble. And Tiberius Caesar came and rebuilt it, and so that’s why they built a temple to Tiberius Caesar in the city of Sardis.

Its history was a history of degeneration. From its glory days under Croesus, it had crumbled into nothing and been rebuilt by the Romans. Politically it had declined, morally it had declined, economically it had declined, and the Christian church also was in a rotting condition. Its vitality and power were gone. It was a kind of corpse, a degenerate church in a degenerating city.

We come to the letter addressed to the church at Sardis. This letter reveals the sad and tragic state of the church - the church is dead. Clearly, we see this at the end of verse 1 where our Lord says, “You are dead.”  How horrifying and shameful.  For this church or any church that has fallen so far as to be called dead, spiritually dead, this is the ultimate shame. A church by definition is a place where God lives.  It is the place where Christ lives, and where the Holy Spirit lives.  God's not dead - He is alive and we have been made alive in Him.  A church is a place where Christians are alive, living out their faith in Jesus Christ, and sharing the gospel with others.  The church in Sardis is not alive, it is dead. This is a dead church, living a fake life.  Going through the motions. 

This church had succumbed to the influences of the world. They opened the door and just let the world in. They too had left its first love and adopted the vain philosophies of men, humanistic values, and compromise.  They had become politically and culturally charged but are spiritually dead.  They not only tolerated sin but indulged in it and even advocated for it. Sin has taken over, and the Holy Spirit is missing. Rather than faithful leaders leading the church, they are being led by false leaders completely void of the Holy Spirit. This church is dead.

This church is so defiled it is dead, decayed on the inside.  Like any liberal church that denies the Bible, or denies Christ and His gospel - it's dead.

What kills a church? False Teachers. False Teachings. Sin. Error. Compromise. No love for the truth. No love or adherence to God's Word. Placing man's ideas over God's Word.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Nothing is hidden from the Lord; He sees everything and misses absolutely nothing.  The opening of this letter states, "I know your deeds," and their deeds are unacceptable. 

The church is spiritual, not political, not worldly, not social. Dead churches are concerned with tradition, formalities, appearances, concerned with acceptance (from the world), concerned with social injustice, politics, materialism and an all-inclusive religion.  They are not concerned with spiritual things.  They do not uphold the Scripture. They do not seek the Lord. The do not pursue holiness.  They do not preach the gospel.

Yet even in this church, there are a few who have not soiled their garments. There are always a few faithful, genuine believers who are covered with the righteousness of Christ, among the unbelievers and the hypocrites. 

These few faithful believers are instructed to "strengthen the things that remain."  There is some hope here.  This word "strengthen" means establish in truth.  Remember the truth you received and heard and hold onto it.  He tells them to repent of any and all sin. 

Jesus is coming back, and He is either coming for us, or He is after us.  Those who overcome have their names written in the Lamb's book of life, those who do not will surely see the wrath of God. 

He who has an ear - hear the Word of our Lord and heed it.