THE CHURCH BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE

The Lord's letter to the church of the Laodiceans could just as well been written to the apostate church of today, and according to those who view the seven letters to the churches of Revelation as being both descriptive and prophetic, it very well may have been.  The word "Laodicea" means "the people rule," and as is the case with many churches, including mine, the secular (democratic rule) has been assimilated into the church organization.  However, the Bible teaches that church leaders were appointed, not "voted in." 

The Apostle Paul prophesied about the condition of the majority of the members of today's churches in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.  "Falling away" is the translation of the Greek ἀποστασία (apostasia) in the KJV, and it is clearly described in Revelation 3:14-22: 

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans (Note:  this is the only letter addressed to a church identified with the people of a city, rather than with the city.  In other words, it belongs to them, and not to Christ.)  write; These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue 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 (sinful - see Rom. 7:24), and miserable (to be pitied - see 1 Cor. 15:19), and poor (spiritually dead - see Mt. 16:26), and blind (Note:  no blind man remained blind after meeting Jesus; these had not met Him), and naked (Note:  awareness of one's nakedness is the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and these had not accepted the gift of the Lord's robe of righteousness offered by Christ - see Gen. 10-21; Isa. 61:10; Mt. 22:11-12):  I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire (true wealth comes from being rewarded for faithfulness - see 1 Cor. 3:8-15), that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear (see above); and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see (only Jesus can open the eyes of the blind - see Jn. 9:1-38).  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (repentance and remission of sin need to be preached - see Lk. 24:47).  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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 (Note:  the church in Philadelphia had an open door, but Laodicea's door was closed to Jesus - see Rev. 3:8).  To him that overcometh 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."

Repent and allow Jesus to be LORD of your life, before it is too late!