I am indebted to Dave Fieldler’s wonderful book, Hindsight, for much of the information in this section.
In October, 1856, James White published an editorial in the Review and Herald in which he showed points that made it clear that the Laodicean message applied to the Seventh-day Adventist church, not just to other denominations, as SDAs had been inclined to believe. At first many people rejected that message, but within a few months, many pastors and lay people responded positively, saying that they could see that the message really did apply to them, and not to others. It seemed that a revival was beginning to take place in the church, but it too soon died away. In late 1857, Ellen White published a testimony to the church which presented an inspired account of what had taken place just over a year before, and what could have happened if the revival had continued.
“I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God’s people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from the sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart, it led to deep humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and His people were acquainted with their position. If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for His people in greater power. Yet the efforts made since the message has been given, have been blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and darkness to rejoice in the truth.
“God will prove His people. Jesus bears patiently with them, and does not spew them out of His mouth in a moment. Said the angel: ‘God is weighing His people.’ If the message had been of as short duration as many of us supposed, there would have been no time for them to develop character. Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings, and excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work which God designed that it should. God reads the heart. Lest His people should be deceived in regard to themselves, He gives them time for the excitement to wear off, and then proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the True Witness.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pages 186, 187
If I am reading that quote correctly, there is a latent potential in the Laodicean message that has yet to be realized. “This fearful message will do its work.” There is a power that God has chosen to make available through that message that has not yet been unleashed in its fulness. God has “designed” that the Laodicean message will be an integral part of the events on earth in the last days, and we can know that it will happen as He has planned.
When I was teaching classes on the book of Revelation in Africa, I began to understand the fabulous importance of the message to the last of the seven churches. In my eagerness to help others see and experience the power of the message to Laodicea, I offered the students money if they would memorize Revelation 3:14-22! With that kind of incentive, many students made sure they got their dollar, but I wonder how effective such a method really is. “God reads the heart. Lest His people should be deceived in regard to themselves, He gives them time for the excitement to wear off, and then proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the True Witness.” Excitement or a desire for money can get us to do much, but time will reveal to us and to those around us whether the Laodicean message has done a true and lasting work in our hearts.
Much could be said about the Laodicean message, and much has been said in many venues already. Understanding and applying the message to the church of Laodicea is a primarily personal matter that takes time. I recommend to you to read and memorize those few verses for yourself, that you may actively participate in this special message.
Jesus says that the church in Laodicea is “lukewarm,” and specifies that they are: “Wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” English Standard Version. Those five words are not exactly flattering, to say the least, but at least Jesus lets us know the truth, and does all He can to help us out of our self-deceived, lukewarm condition. After describing Laodicea’s condition, He counsels them to buy of Him remedies for three of the five problems He has listed. “Gold” would change the state of somebody who is “poor.” “Eye-salve” would remedy the problem of the “blind,” and “white raiment” would cover the shame of the “naked.” So, what about the “wretched” and “pitiable” attributes? I believe that in the understanding of those points, the bulk of the power in the Laodicean message lies. I personally feel that it was in understanding this part of the message that the SDA church began to experience true revival over 150 years ago.
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