He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
He that has an ear is summoned, every one able to hear, to heed what the Spirit says not to one congregation only but to the churches, standing as the impressive closing word to Sardis and likewise to Laodicea to receive counsel, repent and overcome. They are the words of Christ Himself to His people, given in vision on Patmos to John through an angel from heaven message after message to the seven, penned by inspiration of the Spirit of God, coming not from human lips but from heaven's Messenger with sure truth and the voice of God Himself. The names are symbolic of the Christian church in different periods and seven indicates completeness, so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force today. To Sardis the Spirit lays open two classes, those having a name to live but dead and the few undefiled striving to overcome, commanding the dead to be watchful, strengthen what remains, remember, hold fast and repent lest He come as a thief, and promising the overcomer to walk with Him in white, to be clothed in white raiment, never to be blotted out of the book of life, and to be confessed before the Father and His angels. To Philadelphia He who is holy and true with the key of David sets before those of little strength who kept His word an open door no man can shut and bids them hold fast till His quick coming, while to Laodicea the True Witness rebukes the lukewarm neither cold nor hot and the self-satisfied rich and increased with goods, counseling gold tried in fire, white raiment and eyesalve. What is heard must now be applied by the present church, especially by God's people today who have great light yet are like Laodicea, by truly hearing in self-examination, conversion through the Holy Spirit, and obedience in home, temperance and love, and by holding firmly the light of the sanctuary opened at the close of the 2300 days with the commandments including the Sabbath against new theories that would loosen the platform of truth.
Wording and Divine Setting
He who is able to hear is summoned to heed what the Spirit says to the churches, and the summons is not confined to a single congregation but extends to the churches as a whole. The whole third chapter presents a picture of spiritual life and holds out precious promises to those who overcome. The call belongs to the messages to Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
It stands as the impressive closing word to the message to Sardis, calling all to give careful attention to the instruction of the Spirit and applying that call to the churches generally. It closes the promise to Sardis, bringing to view two classes and distinguishing those striving to keep themselves in the love of God as those who have not defiled their garments and are worthy. In that setting it follows the promise that the faithful will walk with Christ in white, that overcomers will be clothed in white and remain in the book of life, and that Christ will confess them before the Father and the angels. In the Laodicean message it likewise closes the appeal to receive counsel, repent, and overcome.
The words are Christ speaking to His people, made known by Christ Himself to His servant John in vision on the Isle of Patmos, given through an angel from heaven, and concerning the last events of earth's history. They came one message after another to Ephesus, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The whole third chapter was penned by inspiration of the Spirit of God and must be carefully studied and understood, reading the whole chapter and tracing from the first three verses through the whole as a most tremendous testimony.
The warning comes not from human lips but from the lips of One who cannot be swayed or moved by any human influence, from the Messenger of heaven. Its words contain no soothsaying but sure truth, words of mercy and encouragement and warning to be watchful, to do the first works, to repent, and to strengthen the things that remain. It brings education coming from the highest source, the voice of God Himself, to be read and learned as God's own teaching, on the same level as His law pronounced from Sinai.
The names of the churches are symbolic of the Christian church in different periods of the Christian era, and the number seven indicates completeness, so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force today. They portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today, with wheat developing among the tares and truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error, while Christ weighs the characters, thoughts, intents, words, acts, religious experience, loves and service of those who have taken His name, every individual under His supervision. The messages close the sixth of seven church states covering the entire period from the first advent of Christ to His second appearing, the sixth state representing those who with one united voice proclaimed the coming of Jesus in the autumn of 1844 and were about to enter a period of great trial. Hearing what the Spirit says therefore means receiving light from the heavenly sanctuary that at the close of the 2300 days the ministration of the holy place was shut and the ministration of the most holy place was opened, seeing Jesus standing before the mercy-seat and the ark of the ten commandments, holding the Advent movement and the preaching of time as correct, keeping the commandments of God including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and holding past experience, present duty, and future glory and reward together against those who labor to open the door God shut and shut the door God opened.
Messages the Spirit Speaks
To Sardis the Spirit sets forth two parties and two classes within the church, those who have a name to live but are dead and the few striving to overcome, and the few are those who have not defiled their garments but keep themselves in the love of God as worthy. The undefiled are commended as not contaminated with the world in dress, conversation, selfishness, pride and idolatry, and they are distinguished as souls striving to keep themselves in the love of God. The call to hear is a call to read the whole third chapter and make personal application of it, with the message to Sardis and the message to Laodicea to be applied by the church of the present day.
To those who are dead the Spirit commands watchfulness, doing the first works, and strengthening the things that remain which are ready to die because works are not found perfect before God. They are to remember how the truth was received and heard, to hold fast, and to repent, putting the light on a candlestick to shine to all in the house, which is the world, including souls ready to die outside the church, by communicating received truth in love for souls and doing the work appointed to each. If they do not watch and repent, Christ will come upon them as a thief at an unknown hour. These are words of mercy and encouragement as well as warning, to be given careful attention.
To the faithful in Sardis the Spirit gives a precious promise to hold against all the powers of darkness arrayed against believers. The undefiled shall walk with Christ in white, and he who overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment. His name shall not be blotted out of the book of life where all names are, but shall be kept there, and Christ will confess his name before the Father and before His angels. Overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony brings at last a crown of life from Christ, and the third chapter as a whole holds out such precious promises to the overcomer while picturing the spiritual life of many. The promise contains no soothsaying but sure truth.
To Philadelphia the Spirit presents Him that is holy and true, who has the key of David and opens so no man shuts and shuts so no man opens. He knows works, and He sets before those who have little strength and have kept His word and have not denied His name an open door that no man can shut. He will make those of the synagogue of Satan who lie about being Jews come and worship and know that they are loved. He will keep those who kept the word of His patience from the hour of temptation coming upon all the world to try those who dwell on the earth, and because He comes quickly He commands holding fast what is held so no man take the crown.
What Christ opens no human power can close, and what He closes no opposing force can open. He is to open the windows of the soul heavenward and close them earthward so the heart is illuminated by rays from the throne of God. When He closes the door of the heart against the enemy, no power can open that door to Satan; but when lack of repentance closes the door of the heart against the Saviour, prayers, good works, and all human praise are of no avail. There is an open entrance to God that no man on earth can close so that anyone who will may send petition within, and while the door stands open today the heart is to be opened to rich grace; but when that door is shut and mercy's voice is no more heard in invitations, all the sympathy of the world and of friends can never open it.
To Thyatira the Spirit tells those who have not accepted false doctrine to hold fast what they have until Christ comes, to overcome and keep His works to the end. The overcomer receives authority over the nations and the morning star. The message belongs with Christ's messages in the first three chapters, which are to be taken seriously and followed. To Laodicea the True Witness warns against being neither cold nor hot lest He spew the lukewarm out of His mouth. He rebukes saying I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing while wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and He counsels buying gold tried in the fire to be rich, white raiment to be clothed, and eyesalve to see, closing with the appeal to receive His counsel, repent, and overcome.
Through all the messages Christ weighs the characters of those who have taken His name as Christians, knowing the thoughts and intents of the heart as well as every word and act. He knows all about religious experience and whom each loves and serves, and every individual is under His supervision. God loves His church and knows His own even though tares are mingled with the wheat, with wheat developing among the tares and truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error. Hearing therefore calls for close self-examination.
Call to the Present
What the Spirit says in the third chapter is sent to the church of the present day and must be heard by reading the whole chapter and making a personal application of it. The call presses with special force in the first three verses and then by tracing down through the whole chapter as a most tremendous testimony. The Laodicean part applies especially to the people of God today, to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen. It is a present call for Seventh-day Adventists to take heed to the warning of the whole chapter, especially the church described in the last part, for they are like that church. A most trying time is before them, and perils thickening around them will continue to increase until the close of this earth's history.
The messages are heavenly messages calling the churches to awaken and do the work God has given them. The message to Laodicea applies to the church in Los Angeles and to churches generally. The chapter was given as the Word of life holding out Christ as physician who rebukes disease and raises sufferers to health in answer to faith. He is lifted up as the risen Saviour who is the resurrection and the life and alone can heal the sick and raise the dead.
The verse is a special message commanded to be brought before the professed Christian churches that are not obeying the truth and are living in transgression of the law of God. Their eternal interests are involved as a matter of life or death. Those addressed are found in every church, and they are not the common sinner or those making no profession of piety, but church members professing godliness who must hear the voice directed to the churches.
The message to Sardis applies to people in this age who have received great light but have not opened their hearts to Christ's knock. It warns them that God has a controversy with His people and that a similar spiritual condition is arising among them. Joined with the message to Ephesus, it declares that the fires lately raging in New York and other cities were no accident but the hand of omnipotent power. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the world because the warnings of heaven have not been heeded.
The words were made known by Christ Himself and concern the last events of this earth's history. They were meant to prepare for the trying times ahead. Those words are being fulfilled today. They give earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory. Indifference to the signs foretold is rebuked, and the evidence presented that the end of the world is right upon them. If minds can be kept confused about this solemn warning given from God for these last days, a great victory is gained against them.
True Hearing in Life
Having an ear does not guarantee truly hearing, for a person can refuse the light given, turn from truth, sever connection with God, and refuse to become wise through sacred truth. Those willing to learn and obey receive light, take up the message revealed to the churches, invite others to come, and become fellow workers with God.
Hearing requires studying every word of the third chapter with determination to understand, keeping what Christ said to the churches in mind, being established in truth and not giving up what was heard, so that its words are heard and kept and bring blessing. It warns that men will arise claiming new light, using true texts but misapplying them with wrong application, whose theories if received would destroy faith in truths that stood the test for half a century, especially the light on the sanctuary question given to those who passed through the disappointment of 1844. Those watching for souls as those who must give account must guard every outpost, speak in clear decided tones under the Holy Spirit, and rouse from stubborn unbelief.
Hearing means close self-examination under One who never mistakes and weighs character, thoughts, intents, words, acts, religious experience, and whom each loves and serves, to find hardness of heart toward brethren, selfishness, covetousness, self-love, self-deception, and self-justification for gross neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds. Excellent qualifications are neutralized like a dead fly in the ointment when the love of Christ is not an abiding principle in the soul, while wheat develops among tares and truth stands on its eternal basis in contrast with error. It means being watchful when having a name to live while dead, strengthening things that remain ready to die because works are not perfect before God, remembering how truth was received and heard, holding fast, doing the first works, and repenting lest Christ come as a thief at an unknown hour and lest the candlestick be removed. It means ceasing to be neither cold nor hot lest He spew the lukewarm out of the mouth, ceasing to say I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing while wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and buying gold tried in the fire to be rich, white raiment to be clothed, and eyesalve to see.
Hearing means knowing there is a right side and a wrong side and standing on the right side at highest consequence, refusing to follow the majority as in Noah's day when the largest number chose the wrong side. It means refusing a world gone mad under Satan's training and inspiration in sustaining and popularizing sin and transgression of God's law, since popularity for sin does not demerit or lessen one principle of Jehovah. This presses especially on students, young men and women, and students preparing for immortal life, who must study diligently, remember how truth was received and heard, hold fast and repent, and not remain where the atmosphere is poisoned with skepticism and falsehood. They must not accept teachers who distort truth with false coloring, nor listen for a moment to human interpretations, fables, and theories so subtle spreading mind to mind through those departed from the faith, which would loosen one pin and remove one pillar from the platform of truth and let Satan imperceptibly imbue minds with a spirit that draws away from faith.
Hearing means yielding to the Holy Spirit's convicting power unto true conversion by coming to Christ through the open door, letting the Spirit enter, cleanse thoughts that hinder God's will, take possession of the soul, and bring healthy inner life and joy. It means crucifying self and dying to self, putting away faultfinding and self-righteousness, and bending from self-exaltation and grasping all for self to study and relieve the necessities of those doing severe and trying work, so hardness like steel and flint gives place to love for one another. If self is cherished and exalted Christ will not work with them and pride, haughtiness, and spiritual poverty will show how little is in them, but those who follow, keep His word, and deny not His name, though they have little strength, draw strength from the living fountain.
Hearing is obeyed in home life through religion in the home and educating and training children to well-balanced characters the Lord can approve, with thorough work that must not be neglected lest the blessing be withheld, for the Lord works with human effort but will not do the assigned home work. It includes the light on health reform, for those who keep the commandments must be brought into sacred relation with Him and by temperance in eating and drinking keep mind and body in most favorable condition for service. Flesh meat animalizes nature, robs love and sympathy, and, since human beings are built up from what they eat, brings those eating largely of animal food where lower passions control higher powers, so where fruits, grains, and nuts abound there is no need for dead flesh, and denying perverted appetite brings God's cooperation, better health, and conversion of backsliders.
Hearing means ceasing to lean heavily on finite erring human beings for help and strength and pour troubles into their ears, but taking minds off human beings and learning from God as little children in comparison with Him. It means humbling the heart in submission and contrition, speaking kind, tender, compassionate words, being polite to God and one another with the best manners to glorify Him, and living in unity and love that leads to living with the redeemed through ceaseless ages. It means stopping self-management and keeping self in one's own hands to fix things to suit one's own ideas, and instead letting God mold and fashion while looking to Jesus, who knows works, faith, and trust, has set an open door before him, and can care for interests better than self.
Hearing means advancing and receiving God's grace so its effect is saving day by day, with living faith sending petitions with promise to receive and find, access through the ever-open door no devil can shut unto expected victory, and watchfulness and prayer in faith bringing rich blessing through the Holy Spirit. It leaves no time for idleness and indifference but requires striving to develop character with understanding cleansed, purified, sanctified, and ennobled by obeying truth, while all take sides for blessing or curse under a heavenly Watcher who marks words, deportment, and motives. It is an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds with power and great glory, rebuking indifference to foretold signs as evidence the end is right upon them, with words being fulfilled today.
Hearing charges ministers, doctors, and all watchmen watching for souls to preach, report, and urge these Bible truths held for fifty years, given by the heavenly messenger and applicable to many today who have a name to live and are dead. They must call to be watchful, strengthen things remaining ready to die, remember how they received and heard, hold fast, and repent, or He will come as a thief at an unknown hour. Members are on trial so those dishonoring God and refusing to testify lose their place while faithful witnesses shine and others take the places of the failing, lest God require at their hands the blood of souls left in uncertainty and led into confusion and the enemy's snare.
Holding Fast Against Deception
He that has an ear is summoned to study carefully the message given on the Isle of Patmos in the third chapter, for it warns that men will arise claiming new light while taking true texts and giving them a wrong application, and their theories if received would destroy faith in truths that have stood the test for half a century, especially the light on the sanctuary given to those who passed through the disappointment of 1844. Hearing is receiving that sanctuary light that at the close of the 2300 days the ministration of the holy place was shut and the ministration of the most holy was opened, seeing Jesus standing before the mercy-seat and the ark of the ten commandments. It is holding the Advent movement and the preaching of time as correct, keeping the commandments of God including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and holding past experience, present duty, and future glory and reward together. This closes the message to the sixth of seven church states covering the whole period from the first advent of Christ to His second appearing, representing those who with united voice proclaimed the coming of Jesus in the autumn of 1844 and were about to enter great trial, against those who labor to open the door God shut and to shut the door God opened.
To hear is to hold firmly what was heard and learned from the Source of all light, to repeat as faithful watchmen the messages given in the past under manifestations of the Holy Spirit, to be fortified with the light given and to strengthen the things that remain ready to die. It is to give not a moment to human interpretations and fables that would loosen one pin or remove one pillar from the platform of truth, since they spoil faith, confuse understanding, and make faith in Jesus Christ of no effect. It calls even students preparing for the future immortal life to study diligently, to remember how truth was received and heard, to hold fast and repent in view of the danger of losing hold upon what was learned.
Hearing also means not remaining where the spiritual atmosphere is poisoned with skepticism and falsehood, and not accepting teachers who give a distorted representation and false coloring to truth. For faults come in the form of theories so subtle, spread by mind upon mind through those who have departed from the faith, that Satan imperceptibly imbues minds with a spirit that draws away from faith. It means not letting Satan steal away truth by working through doctors or ministers, and not allowing anyone to rob what was heard and received, for those who know the truth yet refuse to walk in it and brace themselves against all warnings will cause trouble, refuse messages sent from heaven, go to great lengths, and bring in fallacies and specious devisings.
The messages give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church, which must be met today, and they warn that people who once rejoiced in faith can abandon it, lose first love and spiritual strength, and fail to hold confidence firm to the end. They join the call to remember from whence fallen, to repent and do the first works, lest those become like salt that has lost its savor and the candlestick be removed from its place. Quibbling over matters never made tests magnifies differences until believers are separated from Christ and from one another and unity and love are destroyed. Hence the whole book from beginning to close, and Revelation 3:1-8 with it, is to be read and studied most earnestly with determination to understand, so that its words are heard and kept and bring blessing.
The call is a warning to all who are changing faith and receiving the false science coming from the archdeceiver, to those in Battle Creek and in every other place influenced by sentiments brought in there to spoil the flock of God. Accepting those sentiments prepares the way for the bewitching influence of skepticism and the science proceeding from satanic agencies. Hearing what the Spirit says therefore means the voice of warning must be lifted whether men will hear or whether they will forbear.
He that has an ear is summoned, every one able to hear, to heed what the Spirit says not to one congregation only but to the churches, standing as the impressive closing word to Sardis and likewise to Laodicea to receive counsel, repent and overcome. They are the words of Christ Himself to His people, given in vision on Patmos to John through an angel from heaven message after message to the seven, penned by inspiration of the Spirit of God, coming not from human lips but from heaven's Messenger with sure truth and the voice of God Himself. The names are symbolic of the Christian church in different periods and seven indicates completeness, so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force today. To Sardis the Spirit lays open two classes, those having a name to live but dead and the few undefiled striving to overcome, commanding the dead to be watchful, strengthen what remains, remember, hold fast and repent lest He come as a thief, and promising the overcomer to walk with Him in white, to be clothed in white raiment, never to be blotted out of the book of life, and to be confessed before the Father and His angels. To Philadelphia He who is holy and true with the key of David sets before those of little strength who kept His word an open door no man can shut and bids them hold fast till His quick coming, while to Laodicea the True Witness rebukes the lukewarm neither cold nor hot and the self-satisfied rich and increased with goods, counseling gold tried in fire, white raiment and eyesalve. What is heard must now be applied by the present church, especially by God's people today who have great light yet are like Laodicea, by truly hearing in self-examination, conversion through the Holy Spirit, and obedience in home, temperance and love, and by holding firmly the light of the sanctuary opened at the close of the 2300 days with the commandments including the Sabbath against new theories that would loosen the platform of truth.
Wording and Divine Setting
He who is able to hear is summoned to heed what the Spirit says to the churches, and the summons is not confined to a single congregation but extends to the churches as a whole. The whole third chapter presents a picture of spiritual life and holds out precious promises to those who overcome. The call belongs to the messages to Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
It stands as the impressive closing word to the message to Sardis, calling all to give careful attention to the instruction of the Spirit and applying that call to the churches generally. It closes the promise to Sardis, bringing to view two classes and distinguishing those striving to keep themselves in the love of God as those who have not defiled their garments and are worthy. In that setting it follows the promise that the faithful will walk with Christ in white, that overcomers will be clothed in white and remain in the book of life, and that Christ will confess them before the Father and the angels. In the Laodicean message it likewise closes the appeal to receive counsel, repent, and overcome.
The words are Christ speaking to His people, made known by Christ Himself to His servant John in vision on the Isle of Patmos, given through an angel from heaven, and concerning the last events of earth's history. They came one message after another to Ephesus, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The whole third chapter was penned by inspiration of the Spirit of God and must be carefully studied and understood, reading the whole chapter and tracing from the first three verses through the whole as a most tremendous testimony.
The warning comes not from human lips but from the lips of One who cannot be swayed or moved by any human influence, from the Messenger of heaven. Its words contain no soothsaying but sure truth, words of mercy and encouragement and warning to be watchful, to do the first works, to repent, and to strengthen the things that remain. It brings education coming from the highest source, the voice of God Himself, to be read and learned as God's own teaching, on the same level as His law pronounced from Sinai.
The names of the churches are symbolic of the Christian church in different periods of the Christian era, and the number seven indicates completeness, so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force today. They portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today, with wheat developing among the tares and truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error, while Christ weighs the characters, thoughts, intents, words, acts, religious experience, loves and service of those who have taken His name, every individual under His supervision. The messages close the sixth of seven church states covering the entire period from the first advent of Christ to His second appearing, the sixth state representing those who with one united voice proclaimed the coming of Jesus in the autumn of 1844 and were about to enter a period of great trial. Hearing what the Spirit says therefore means receiving light from the heavenly sanctuary that at the close of the 2300 days the ministration of the holy place was shut and the ministration of the most holy place was opened, seeing Jesus standing before the mercy-seat and the ark of the ten commandments, holding the Advent movement and the preaching of time as correct, keeping the commandments of God including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and holding past experience, present duty, and future glory and reward together against those who labor to open the door God shut and shut the door God opened.
Messages the Spirit Speaks
To Sardis the Spirit sets forth two parties and two classes within the church, those who have a name to live but are dead and the few striving to overcome, and the few are those who have not defiled their garments but keep themselves in the love of God as worthy. The undefiled are commended as not contaminated with the world in dress, conversation, selfishness, pride and idolatry, and they are distinguished as souls striving to keep themselves in the love of God. The call to hear is a call to read the whole third chapter and make personal application of it, with the message to Sardis and the message to Laodicea to be applied by the church of the present day.
To those who are dead the Spirit commands watchfulness, doing the first works, and strengthening the things that remain which are ready to die because works are not found perfect before God. They are to remember how the truth was received and heard, to hold fast, and to repent, putting the light on a candlestick to shine to all in the house, which is the world, including souls ready to die outside the church, by communicating received truth in love for souls and doing the work appointed to each. If they do not watch and repent, Christ will come upon them as a thief at an unknown hour. These are words of mercy and encouragement as well as warning, to be given careful attention.
To the faithful in Sardis the Spirit gives a precious promise to hold against all the powers of darkness arrayed against believers. The undefiled shall walk with Christ in white, and he who overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment. His name shall not be blotted out of the book of life where all names are, but shall be kept there, and Christ will confess his name before the Father and before His angels. Overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony brings at last a crown of life from Christ, and the third chapter as a whole holds out such precious promises to the overcomer while picturing the spiritual life of many. The promise contains no soothsaying but sure truth.
To Philadelphia the Spirit presents Him that is holy and true, who has the key of David and opens so no man shuts and shuts so no man opens. He knows works, and He sets before those who have little strength and have kept His word and have not denied His name an open door that no man can shut. He will make those of the synagogue of Satan who lie about being Jews come and worship and know that they are loved. He will keep those who kept the word of His patience from the hour of temptation coming upon all the world to try those who dwell on the earth, and because He comes quickly He commands holding fast what is held so no man take the crown.
What Christ opens no human power can close, and what He closes no opposing force can open. He is to open the windows of the soul heavenward and close them earthward so the heart is illuminated by rays from the throne of God. When He closes the door of the heart against the enemy, no power can open that door to Satan; but when lack of repentance closes the door of the heart against the Saviour, prayers, good works, and all human praise are of no avail. There is an open entrance to God that no man on earth can close so that anyone who will may send petition within, and while the door stands open today the heart is to be opened to rich grace; but when that door is shut and mercy's voice is no more heard in invitations, all the sympathy of the world and of friends can never open it.
To Thyatira the Spirit tells those who have not accepted false doctrine to hold fast what they have until Christ comes, to overcome and keep His works to the end. The overcomer receives authority over the nations and the morning star. The message belongs with Christ's messages in the first three chapters, which are to be taken seriously and followed. To Laodicea the True Witness warns against being neither cold nor hot lest He spew the lukewarm out of His mouth. He rebukes saying I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing while wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and He counsels buying gold tried in the fire to be rich, white raiment to be clothed, and eyesalve to see, closing with the appeal to receive His counsel, repent, and overcome.
Through all the messages Christ weighs the characters of those who have taken His name as Christians, knowing the thoughts and intents of the heart as well as every word and act. He knows all about religious experience and whom each loves and serves, and every individual is under His supervision. God loves His church and knows His own even though tares are mingled with the wheat, with wheat developing among the tares and truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error. Hearing therefore calls for close self-examination.
Call to the Present
What the Spirit says in the third chapter is sent to the church of the present day and must be heard by reading the whole chapter and making a personal application of it. The call presses with special force in the first three verses and then by tracing down through the whole chapter as a most tremendous testimony. The Laodicean part applies especially to the people of God today, to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen. It is a present call for Seventh-day Adventists to take heed to the warning of the whole chapter, especially the church described in the last part, for they are like that church. A most trying time is before them, and perils thickening around them will continue to increase until the close of this earth's history.
The messages are heavenly messages calling the churches to awaken and do the work God has given them. The message to Laodicea applies to the church in Los Angeles and to churches generally. The chapter was given as the Word of life holding out Christ as physician who rebukes disease and raises sufferers to health in answer to faith. He is lifted up as the risen Saviour who is the resurrection and the life and alone can heal the sick and raise the dead.
The verse is a special message commanded to be brought before the professed Christian churches that are not obeying the truth and are living in transgression of the law of God. Their eternal interests are involved as a matter of life or death. Those addressed are found in every church, and they are not the common sinner or those making no profession of piety, but church members professing godliness who must hear the voice directed to the churches.
The message to Sardis applies to people in this age who have received great light but have not opened their hearts to Christ's knock. It warns them that God has a controversy with His people and that a similar spiritual condition is arising among them. Joined with the message to Ephesus, it declares that the fires lately raging in New York and other cities were no accident but the hand of omnipotent power. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the world because the warnings of heaven have not been heeded.
The words were made known by Christ Himself and concern the last events of this earth's history. They were meant to prepare for the trying times ahead. Those words are being fulfilled today. They give earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory. Indifference to the signs foretold is rebuked, and the evidence presented that the end of the world is right upon them. If minds can be kept confused about this solemn warning given from God for these last days, a great victory is gained against them.
True Hearing in Life
Having an ear does not guarantee truly hearing, for a person can refuse the light given, turn from truth, sever connection with God, and refuse to become wise through sacred truth. Those willing to learn and obey receive light, take up the message revealed to the churches, invite others to come, and become fellow workers with God.
Hearing requires studying every word of the third chapter with determination to understand, keeping what Christ said to the churches in mind, being established in truth and not giving up what was heard, so that its words are heard and kept and bring blessing. It warns that men will arise claiming new light, using true texts but misapplying them with wrong application, whose theories if received would destroy faith in truths that stood the test for half a century, especially the light on the sanctuary question given to those who passed through the disappointment of 1844. Those watching for souls as those who must give account must guard every outpost, speak in clear decided tones under the Holy Spirit, and rouse from stubborn unbelief.
Hearing means close self-examination under One who never mistakes and weighs character, thoughts, intents, words, acts, religious experience, and whom each loves and serves, to find hardness of heart toward brethren, selfishness, covetousness, self-love, self-deception, and self-justification for gross neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds. Excellent qualifications are neutralized like a dead fly in the ointment when the love of Christ is not an abiding principle in the soul, while wheat develops among tares and truth stands on its eternal basis in contrast with error. It means being watchful when having a name to live while dead, strengthening things that remain ready to die because works are not perfect before God, remembering how truth was received and heard, holding fast, doing the first works, and repenting lest Christ come as a thief at an unknown hour and lest the candlestick be removed. It means ceasing to be neither cold nor hot lest He spew the lukewarm out of the mouth, ceasing to say I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing while wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and buying gold tried in the fire to be rich, white raiment to be clothed, and eyesalve to see.
Hearing means knowing there is a right side and a wrong side and standing on the right side at highest consequence, refusing to follow the majority as in Noah's day when the largest number chose the wrong side. It means refusing a world gone mad under Satan's training and inspiration in sustaining and popularizing sin and transgression of God's law, since popularity for sin does not demerit or lessen one principle of Jehovah. This presses especially on students, young men and women, and students preparing for immortal life, who must study diligently, remember how truth was received and heard, hold fast and repent, and not remain where the atmosphere is poisoned with skepticism and falsehood. They must not accept teachers who distort truth with false coloring, nor listen for a moment to human interpretations, fables, and theories so subtle spreading mind to mind through those departed from the faith, which would loosen one pin and remove one pillar from the platform of truth and let Satan imperceptibly imbue minds with a spirit that draws away from faith.
Hearing means yielding to the Holy Spirit's convicting power unto true conversion by coming to Christ through the open door, letting the Spirit enter, cleanse thoughts that hinder God's will, take possession of the soul, and bring healthy inner life and joy. It means crucifying self and dying to self, putting away faultfinding and self-righteousness, and bending from self-exaltation and grasping all for self to study and relieve the necessities of those doing severe and trying work, so hardness like steel and flint gives place to love for one another. If self is cherished and exalted Christ will not work with them and pride, haughtiness, and spiritual poverty will show how little is in them, but those who follow, keep His word, and deny not His name, though they have little strength, draw strength from the living fountain.
Hearing is obeyed in home life through religion in the home and educating and training children to well-balanced characters the Lord can approve, with thorough work that must not be neglected lest the blessing be withheld, for the Lord works with human effort but will not do the assigned home work. It includes the light on health reform, for those who keep the commandments must be brought into sacred relation with Him and by temperance in eating and drinking keep mind and body in most favorable condition for service. Flesh meat animalizes nature, robs love and sympathy, and, since human beings are built up from what they eat, brings those eating largely of animal food where lower passions control higher powers, so where fruits, grains, and nuts abound there is no need for dead flesh, and denying perverted appetite brings God's cooperation, better health, and conversion of backsliders.
Hearing means ceasing to lean heavily on finite erring human beings for help and strength and pour troubles into their ears, but taking minds off human beings and learning from God as little children in comparison with Him. It means humbling the heart in submission and contrition, speaking kind, tender, compassionate words, being polite to God and one another with the best manners to glorify Him, and living in unity and love that leads to living with the redeemed through ceaseless ages. It means stopping self-management and keeping self in one's own hands to fix things to suit one's own ideas, and instead letting God mold and fashion while looking to Jesus, who knows works, faith, and trust, has set an open door before him, and can care for interests better than self.
Hearing means advancing and receiving God's grace so its effect is saving day by day, with living faith sending petitions with promise to receive and find, access through the ever-open door no devil can shut unto expected victory, and watchfulness and prayer in faith bringing rich blessing through the Holy Spirit. It leaves no time for idleness and indifference but requires striving to develop character with understanding cleansed, purified, sanctified, and ennobled by obeying truth, while all take sides for blessing or curse under a heavenly Watcher who marks words, deportment, and motives. It is an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds with power and great glory, rebuking indifference to foretold signs as evidence the end is right upon them, with words being fulfilled today.
Hearing charges ministers, doctors, and all watchmen watching for souls to preach, report, and urge these Bible truths held for fifty years, given by the heavenly messenger and applicable to many today who have a name to live and are dead. They must call to be watchful, strengthen things remaining ready to die, remember how they received and heard, hold fast, and repent, or He will come as a thief at an unknown hour. Members are on trial so those dishonoring God and refusing to testify lose their place while faithful witnesses shine and others take the places of the failing, lest God require at their hands the blood of souls left in uncertainty and led into confusion and the enemy's snare.
Holding Fast Against Deception
He that has an ear is summoned to study carefully the message given on the Isle of Patmos in the third chapter, for it warns that men will arise claiming new light while taking true texts and giving them a wrong application, and their theories if received would destroy faith in truths that have stood the test for half a century, especially the light on the sanctuary given to those who passed through the disappointment of 1844. Hearing is receiving that sanctuary light that at the close of the 2300 days the ministration of the holy place was shut and the ministration of the most holy was opened, seeing Jesus standing before the mercy-seat and the ark of the ten commandments. It is holding the Advent movement and the preaching of time as correct, keeping the commandments of God including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and holding past experience, present duty, and future glory and reward together. This closes the message to the sixth of seven church states covering the whole period from the first advent of Christ to His second appearing, representing those who with united voice proclaimed the coming of Jesus in the autumn of 1844 and were about to enter great trial, against those who labor to open the door God shut and to shut the door God opened.
To hear is to hold firmly what was heard and learned from the Source of all light, to repeat as faithful watchmen the messages given in the past under manifestations of the Holy Spirit, to be fortified with the light given and to strengthen the things that remain ready to die. It is to give not a moment to human interpretations and fables that would loosen one pin or remove one pillar from the platform of truth, since they spoil faith, confuse understanding, and make faith in Jesus Christ of no effect. It calls even students preparing for the future immortal life to study diligently, to remember how truth was received and heard, to hold fast and repent in view of the danger of losing hold upon what was learned.
Hearing also means not remaining where the spiritual atmosphere is poisoned with skepticism and falsehood, and not accepting teachers who give a distorted representation and false coloring to truth. For faults come in the form of theories so subtle, spread by mind upon mind through those who have departed from the faith, that Satan imperceptibly imbues minds with a spirit that draws away from faith. It means not letting Satan steal away truth by working through doctors or ministers, and not allowing anyone to rob what was heard and received, for those who know the truth yet refuse to walk in it and brace themselves against all warnings will cause trouble, refuse messages sent from heaven, go to great lengths, and bring in fallacies and specious devisings.
The messages give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church, which must be met today, and they warn that people who once rejoiced in faith can abandon it, lose first love and spiritual strength, and fail to hold confidence firm to the end. They join the call to remember from whence fallen, to repent and do the first works, lest those become like salt that has lost its savor and the candlestick be removed from its place. Quibbling over matters never made tests magnifies differences until believers are separated from Christ and from one another and unity and love are destroyed. Hence the whole book from beginning to close, and Revelation 3:1-8 with it, is to be read and studied most earnestly with determination to understand, so that its words are heard and kept and bring blessing.
The call is a warning to all who are changing faith and receiving the false science coming from the archdeceiver, to those in Battle Creek and in every other place influenced by sentiments brought in there to spoil the flock of God. Accepting those sentiments prepares the way for the bewitching influence of skepticism and the science proceeding from satanic agencies. Hearing what the Spirit says therefore means the voice of warning must be lifted whether men will hear or whether they will forbear.