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Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Alistair Huong and Norman McNulty: The Book Of Revelation

Alistair Huong

An Overview on The Book of Revelation

Revelation Chapter 1

Ephesus

Smyrna and Pergamos

Thyatira

Norman McNulty

Sardis And Philadelphia

Laodicea

The Book With Seven Seals

The Seven Seals

The 144,000

The Seven Trumpets, Part 1

The Seven Trumpets, Part 2

Revelation 10: The Second Advent Movement

Revelation 11:1-14 The Two Witnesses and The French Revolution

The Seven Trumpets, The Woman And The Dragon

Revelation 12: The Accuser of The Brethren

Revelation 13: Big Picture of The Beast

Revelation 13: The Image To The Beast

Revelation 14:1-5: The Characteristics of the 144,000

Revelation 14:6-8: The 1st and 2nd Angels’ Messages

The Third Angel’s Message

Revelation 14 and 15: The Harvest

Revelation 15: The Close of Probation and the Fit Man

Revelation 16: 1-13: The Seven Last Plagues

Revelation 16: 16-21: Armageddon in Jacob’s Time of Trouble

Revelation 17:1-7: The Judgment of the Great Whore

Revelation 17: The Seven Heads

Revelation 17:8-18: The 7 Heads: 7 Popes or 7 Kingdoms?

Revelation 18:1-4: The Loud Cry

Revelation 18:4-24: The Fall Of Babylon

Revelation 19&20 - Marriage of the Lamb and the 1000 Years

Revelation Final Class: Our Prophetic Identity and Mission

Father this morning as we look at present truth, as we look at a message that is directed squarely to us, may we take it to heart and may we seek to conform our wills to yours and that we may be ready for you to come.

All right, Laodicea is in Revelation chapter 3, so why don't we just turn our Bibles there quickly.

We've looked at the 7 churches so far, and so far it's been history.

You know, there's some good applications, there's been good lessons that we can learn, but we need to approach the Church of Laodicea differently.

It's 1 thing for us to be looking at the stories of Napoleon and Hitler and Alexander the Great, but it's totally different when we're talking about Obama and Hillary and Bush and McCain.

Because 1 of those scenarios, 1 group of those is history.

But the other side is talking about present-day issues that affect us right here, right now.

And even more importantly, the Laodicean message is speaking directly to the church in the end times, which we believe that we are a part of.

And so when we look at the message to Laodicea, We need to be careful we do not look at it as though it's just another period in church history that has already passed and that is stuff that has already gone down through history.

And so we need to have that proper perspective so we don't get caught up with thinking, oh man, those people, God is really blasting them or He's really rebuking them.

So let's look at Laodicea, Revelation chapter 3, beginning in verse 14.

So if I could have a volunteer raise your hand, wait for the mic, and We are going to read from verse 14 until the end of the chapter.

We're going to go through the whole message right from the get-go, and then we'll take it piece by piece.

And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans write, These things saith thee, amen, that faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God.

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot, how would thou wert cold or hot?

So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich in white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see as many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous and therefore and repent Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me To him that over cometh 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.

It's a fairly lengthy message, fairly lengthy discussion with them.

A couple things to note though, right off the bat.

Perhaps the most notable 1 is that this final church has no commendation.

It has no praise that God or Jesus mentions, but it has a fairly lengthy section in which God rebukes this church soundly.

And then there is also a lengthy section with admonition.

What you ought to do now to solve your predicament.

So God is particularly careful to give counsel to this church.

Verse 14 is Christ's introduction of Himself.

Christ, we've already discussed before, when He introduces Himself, He gives the description or the description of him that John gives is somehow related to the message.

And there are 3 things if I can break it down for you.

And then he's the faithful and true witness, and then he's the beginning of the creation of God.

So the Amen, what does the word Amen mean?

It is a definite confirmation of what has been said and pretty much finale yeah that's exactly right the official definition if I if I can put it this way is so be it so be it so when you say amen to someone in a sermon you're confirming saying so be it I agree I affirm that's right and Christ introduces himself with this term of confirmation It's as though he's standing up and saying, it is as it is.

It's almost a confirmation of whatever I'm about to say is the truth.

But it also has to do with the idea that some people, we're going to talk about this, some people don't necessarily believe anymore.

Some people don't necessarily believe that what Christ said is simply what he said.

But the next characteristic is he is the faithful and the true witness.

Now we've mentioned this before so I'll just gloss over this and deal with something a little bit deeper.

When you think of a faithful and true witness, what kind of a situation is that person needed?

And the name Laodicea, the definition, is a people judged.

And this church actually began shortly after 1844.

And we discussed that, I believe, last week, the open and the closed door.

And the judgment church, the church that is living within the antitypical day of atonement, the day of judgment, is the Church of Laodicea.

And Christ introduces Himself as, look, I am the faithful and true witness.

And what does it mean to be faithful and true?

To be, just put in 1 word, he doesn't lie.

That means if you are righteous and you are innocent, a faithful and true witness is a good thing for you but if you are guilty and if your sins have not been acquitted you if they have not been forgiven and you have not been justified then a faithful and true witness is bad news for you but Christ is simply saying I am the true and faithful witness.

Whatever has been recorded in the books, whatever your life has been, that is what I'll testify.

But then he continues and he says I am the beginning of the creation of God now There's a there's a place in I believe second, peter Where there are some who say?

My lord delays is coming all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation.

But Christ here is saying almost as though those skeptics are going to come.

But look, I'm the beginning of the creation.

I'm the 1 that set everything into motion in the first place.

And so some people who say everything is just going on naturally, the naturalistic view of history, things are just going to continue to evolve down the millennia.

Christ is saying, no, I changed the beginning of the world I started it and I can come whenever I want but there's something more here let's look in the book of Colossians chapter 1 Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 verse 15 through 17 Let's have a volunteer to read for us.

Colossians 1.15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature?

For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created by Him and for Him and He is before all things and by Him all things consist.

So Christ here in a sense He is demonstrating or sharing His sovereignty.

By me, Christ is saying, all things consist.

And all of these things somehow have to do with what the message to the Laodiceans have to be.

Actually before we go there, before we go there, just an interesting side note, let's flip a few pages over to Colossians chapter 4.

All right, We have a volunteer in the front here.

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Series

Alistair Huong and Norman McNulty: The Book Of Revelation

Laodicea

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

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The Remnant

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Knock, Knock. Who’s There?

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Revelation’s Seven Churches- Part 2

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The Three Angels' Message

06 The Third Angel’s Message

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Why Most Church Members Won’t Make It Through the Shaking

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Behold, I Stand At the Door and Knock

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