THE LAST-DAY CHURCH REPROVED.
1. THE church, in the last historical stage, is called "the church of the Laodiceans." Rev. 3:14. 2. "Laodicea" means "the judging of the people," which proves that it is the last-day church, or the church of the last days of probationary time. 3. This church is reproved for unfaithfulness in not recognizing its obligation to God. Verses 15-19. 4. Verse 20 shows that this state of spiritual "lukewarmness," or carelessness, exists in the church just on the eve of the Lord's coming. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." 5. With this plain, definite warning comes the encouraging promise, "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." 6. The prophet Malachi, the last of the Old Testament writers, refers also to the conditions in the last days. This is made clear by the last chapter. 7. In his complaint of the church's neglect in the service of God, the Lord by His prophet notes that it is the same trouble that existed of old: "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them." Chapter 3:7. 8. But the prophet becomes even more specific, and charges the church with robbery, in withholding the tithes and offerings; and he further says that a curse is resting upon the church because of this robbery. Verses 8, 9. 9. This prophetic counsel to repentance is also specific as to what will prove genuine penitence: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in My house [or means to sustain His laborers], and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." 10. The cause of the spiritual declension in the church is the same in all dispensations, namely, selfishness—withholding that which is due to God. Counsel to Israel of old is counsel for Israel of today: "for we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Phil. 3:3; also, Rom. 15:4.