Good News / Bad News

KEY VERSE: “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my Word, and has not denied my name. … I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot.” —Revelation 3:8,15

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Revelation 3:7-22

THE LAST TWO letters to the churches represent messages to those in the last two periods of the Christian era. The reformation movement had revealed that God was still selecting a people for his name, and that the door to the high calling was still open. (Rev. 3:8) The church of the Philadelphia period was seeking to be faithful to the Lord.

This was good news. As a church they had undergone many difficult experiences, and made marvelous progress against the ministers of Satan who were disguised as the ministers of God. Events in the world were rapidly approaching a climax, and the world was facing the advent of the hour of temptation or trial in the closing period of the Gospel Age. The church of Philadelphia had been enduring their trials faithfully and God would spare them living through this special trial period.

In spite of the general progress made by the church in this period, a gradual apathy was starting to set in. By the time the last period of the Christian era began—the Laodicean period of the church—the Lord was ready to reject them as his mouthpiece. He says: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot.”—vs. 15

The Lord desired that they would either be zealous for him, or completely cool to him. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (vs. 16) This meant that they would no longer be used to communicate messages for him. The bad news for the church in this period is the special hour of trial, and their rejection by their Lord.

It is during this last period that our Lord returns. In all previous messages he says: “I will come …,” “I will come quickly,” “Behold I come quickly,” “Hold fast till I come,” “I will come as a thief”; but now he says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” (vs. 20) In spite of the special trials that come in this period, there is compensation in the special blessings from the presence of the Lord. The signs accompanying his presence include the great outburst of knowledge and learning, with technological advances that have made possible Bible helps, concordances, and many new Bible translations. Especially blessed is the knowledge given to us as “meat in’ due season,” through the Laodicean messenger.

An affluent society promotes apathy, and this period of the church continues to beset its members with such trials. The Lord counsels the church to buy gold ‘tried in the fire’ (a divine nature, by developing character through trial), white raiment (the robe of Christ’s righteousness), and to anoint their eyes with eye-salve (be able to see the message of his plan through meekness, consecration, and submission to God’s will). It is necessary for all to exert great care so that neither the deceitfulness of riches, nor the availability of pleasures dissuade us from continuing faithful to the end. For only in this manner shall we be overcomers and be granted to sit with our Lord in his throne.—Rev. 3:21

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