The Laodicean Message by E. P. Butler

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1863

The Laodicean Message.

By E. P. Butler

In examining the message to the Laodicean church, Rev. iii, 14-22, we find that after describing the offensive state of the church, it being lukewarm—neither cold nor hot—the faithful and true Witness informs it of its wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked condition; and then he counsels this deplorable church to buy of him "gold tried in the fire," that it might be rich. As gold is refined by fire to purify it of all its dross, so gold tried in the fire must stand as a representative of a principle or grace that is of the highest value. As gold is the most precious metal used in exchange, we have the greatest reason to believe that infinite wisdom would select that grace which is not surpassed.

1. As gold is acknowledged to be the most precious of metals, so love is likewise set forth in the Scriptures of truth as being universal in its application.

2. Gold is a durable, reliable substance, that will be received in any nation for the payment of debts; so "love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. xiii, 10. In this scripture there is a general principle brought to view, comprising the whole duty of man.

3. As we continue to investigate the qualities of gold, it being the heaviest metal in use, and far the most valuable of its heft, it can be packed in less compass, and is less liable to loss by fire or exposure to air, than any other metal used as coin. It regulates the value of all articles of exchange. As we apply this to spiritual things, we find it is more particularly defined as brought to view in Matt. xxii, 37-40, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment: the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

4. Gold being a dense, fixed substance, it is well suited to be used as coin. It is easily moulded into any shape to suit the convenience of the owner. Its ductility and malleability render it the most suitable material for gilding. It can be spread on sheets so thin that a large surface may be covered with little expense. It then appears that the law, or the ten commandments, hangs on the two great commandments of love to God and love to man. The first commandment is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Then we are forbidden an image or likeness of anything to bow down to as an object of worship, with the promise of mercy to them that love him. Third, we are expressly commanded not to take God's name in vain. Fourth, we are particularly told that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God, that in six days he made heaven and earth, thus assuring us that the God who requires the keeping of these commandments is the Creator of all things. These four commandments are fulfilled in supreme love to God. Fifth, the principle of loving our neighbor as ourselves would lead us to honor and respect our parents. It would not lead us to kill, nor to commit adultery, nor to steal, nor to bear false witness, nor to covet any thing that is our neighbor's. This principle of love carried out, would lead to all acts of kindness to our fellow-men, and as strict a regard for their interest and well-being as our own. It would lead to acts of mercy to all animate creatures.

5. The adaptability of gold to deposit for future wants, renders it far more valuable than any other article of exchange in use. All bills issued from companies of men or from national legislatures, must be redeemable with gold, or they must be constantly depreciating in value till they are worthless. Their circulation must be limited to a knowledge of these companies' and legislatures' ability to redeem their notes with gold; and as these companies are constantly liable to fail, there is no safety in depositing for future wants. In other respects they are liable to a loss by fire and water; and even the damps of earth will soon destroy them. But gold is of daily use. It will purchase any and all useful articles for our benefit and comfort as we pass along through this life, that can be bought with money, and at the lowest rate. But most of its value consists in its durability. It may be treasured in the least possible space, and deposited in the sea or dens of the earth, or be exposed to fire, and yet suffer no depreciation in value.

So as gold is by far the most valuable treasure to supply the temporal wants of man, so is love represented as the most valuable grace to supply his spiritual wants here and hereafter. For proof of this I shall introduce the testimony recorded in 1 Cor. xiii. In chap. xii, the apostle Paul enumerates the gifts in the church, and sets forth these gifts as means of instruction to the body, and tells their various uses,—but by the same Spirit. At the close of chap. xii, he says, "Covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." This more excellent way he commences in chap. xiii, by saying, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing." I here use the word love instead of charity, as translated in Bernard's revised and emended edition of the Bible. The apostle continues, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind. Love envieth not. Love vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly; seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." When will prophecies fail? Answer. "When that which is perfect is come." When shall we see face to face? When we know even as we are known. As love never faileth, but prophecies, tongues, and knowledge cease as they enter the perfect state, the argument is clear that love is a resident grace in the kingdom to come. The same grace is brought to view in the last verse in the chapter. Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love. Here is a greater grace than faith, from which all the power and strength of the Christian is derived; a greater than hope, from which his joys proceed. O how valuable must this love be to the Christian! How earnestly ought the Laodiceans to heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, that we may be rich,—eternally rich. While I write I feel the need of it. Brethren and sisters, there is no grace we need more. We must have it, or fail at last.

E. P. BUTLER.

Waukon, Iowa.

NOTE.—We would not say any thing to undervalue the importance of the excellent grace set forth above, as corresponding to the gold in the Laodicean message. But we should have been glad if Bro. B. had given an exposition of the other parts of that message, especially the white raiment. If we mistake not, the white raiment, which is the righteousness, right doing, or good works of the saints, includes much of what is above claimed to be represented by the gold. The Bible is careful to class together faith and works, as both essential and inseparable; and we give it as our opinion that the gold and white raiment represent respectively these two Christian characteristics—faith and good works.

U. S.