1st Angel’s Message to the Laodicean’s

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” writes the prophet of Patmos, “and heard behind me a great voice, as a trumpet, saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” (Rev. 1:10, 11) ST, 2-4-1903

The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian era. AA Pg. 585 “The woman” is a symbol of the church, and the seed of the woman is the number of believers in any generation, and the “remnant of her seed” means, of course, the last generation of the church.” 3BIO Pg. 483 “Laodicea” signifies “the judging of the people,” or according to Cruden, “a just people.” The message to this church brings to view the closing scenes of probation. It reveals a period of judgment. It is the last stage of the church. Daniel and the Revelation, Pg. 391. The words addressed to the Laodicean church describe their present condition perfectly. (See Rev. 3:14-20) EW Pg. 107

In the word of God an angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, “having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give glory to Him; and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’” 8T Pg. 26, 27. Under the appropriate symbol of an angel flying through the midst of heaven is represented the work of the people of God. In this work heavenly intelligences cooperate with human agencies in extending the last message to the inhabitants of the world. FE Pg. 209. The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the “everlasting gospel;” and it announces the opening of the Judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of Judgment had come. GC Pg. 355, 356.

The prophecy of the first angel’s message, brought to view in Revelation 14, found its fulfillment in the Advent movement of 1840- 1844. 4SP Pg. 222. The Scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the Advent faith was the declaration: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Dan. 8:14) 4SP Pg. 258.

In the typical system, which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ, the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the closing work of the atonement—a removal or putting away of sin from Israel. It prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of His people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory; for when He comes, every case has been decided. GC Pg. 352.

When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous, will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy, will be unjust and filthy still, for there will be no priest in the sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father. FLB Pg. 213.

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,” Matt. 22:2, “and sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.” Luke 14:17. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” Matt. 22:11.

By the king’s examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. COL Pg. 310. The Laodicean message applies to all who profess to keep the law of God, and yet are not doers of it. 7BC Pg. 962.

The law of God is the standard by which the characters and lives of men will be tested in the Judgment. GC Pg. 483. It is the standard that all must reach if they would enter the kingdom of God. HP Pg. 137. The law cannot save you, but it is the standard of character, and to represent the character of Jesus Christ you must live the law, for He lived the law in our world. 7BC Pg. 970. The love of God underlies every precept of His law, and he who departs
from the commandment is working his own unhappiness and ruin. MB Pg. 52.

Many are flattering themselves that they are right with God, when they have not the principles of the truth in their hearts. 4T Pg. 227. They feel that they are “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” while Heaven pronounces them poor, miserable, blind, and naked. 5T Pg. 265. Such reckon themselves among the chosen, peculiar people of God, yet they experience not His presence and power to save them from yielding to temptation
and folly. 2T Pg. 125. Many deceive themselves in thinking that they can continue in sin, and transgress God’s holy law, and yet claim Christ as their Saviour. RH 10-15-1895.

The true disciple of Christ will bear the divine impress. Their teaching will be in harmony with the teaching of the Son of God. Their character will be molded after the great Pattern. ST, 4-13-1888.

Tying the judgment in with the message to the Laodicean church, [Sister] White argued: “It is most reasonable to conclude that there is a special call to the remnant, and a special work to be performed by them, and for them, preparatory to the decisions of the judgment in regard to them, and that their salvation depends upon fully obeying the calls and counsel to them. 1BIO Pg. 354. Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? KC Pg. 114. Will the
people of God now humble their hearts before God, confessing and forsaking their sins, that they may receive the forgiveness and favour of God, and come into complete harmony with Him? EW Pg. 58.

My dear brethren and sisters, let the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ be in your minds continually and let them crowd out worldly thoughts and cares. When you lie down and when you rise up, let them be your meditation. 1SAT Pg. 248. AMEN

Chester Cosby, Detroit, USA