A Tale of Two Churches

It’s a church filled with joyous expectation of Jesus’ soon appearing to take His saints home to glory.

It’s a church that concentrates its efforts upon appealing to the lost and increasing attendance on Sunday mornings.

In short, it’s a tale of two types of churches that one finds in our world today.

Revelation 3:7-22 describes churches in the towns of Philadelphia and Laodicea. In Jesus’ letters to them, we discover aspects of each that help us understand the differences between these assemblies of believers today.

On any given Sunday, a casual observer might not notice any difference between these two types. The worship and preaching will sound identical at first. Over time, however, discrepancies become apparent.

What, then, sets apart churches more closely aligned with the ancient body of believers in Philadelphia from the Laodicea-leaning ones?

The first distinguishing aspect between the two is the differing focus; one is inward while the other is outward.

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Among the other things that we notice from this verse, we recognize that the focus of this church is upon itself. Their economic prosperity had blinded the leaders to their spiritual poverty. They were proud of their affluence and assume that numbers imply God’s blessing and approval.

The tone of seeker-friendly churches tends to be self-serving; they frequently emphasize what they are doing. Like the one in ancient Laodicea, they often showcase their achievements. Church membership signifies commitment to its programs and ministries.

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.”

Notice the telltale difference. Churches that resemble the one in Philadelphia pursue open doors even when those opportunities take the limelight away from themselves. Missions are not just a time to talk about what they are doing in the world but rather how other ministries support the overall cause of Christ.

Churches that resemble the one in ancient Philadelphia pursue “open” doors with the sole purpose of furthering the Gospel and glorifying the name of Jesus. Their focus is upon what benefits the body of Christ as a whole, not just those who walk in the doors of their own building.

While both types of churches typically display a high regard for the integrity and inerrancy of Scripture in their statements of faith that one finds on their websites, there’s a critical difference in how they treat all the words of Scripture.

Notice the emphasis on words in Jesus’ opening comments to the church at Laodicea:

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation'” (Revelation 3:14).

It’s been my experience that many Laodicean-leaning churches cherish the words of the Bible until it comes to the matter of future things. Many of them adhere to replacement theology, which relies on the spiritualization of the words found in biblical prophecies regarding the future of Israel.

Leaders of such churches overlook what the words of Scripture actually reveal; they tell of God’s glorious restoration of a kingdom for the descendants of Jacob during Jesus’ thousand-year reign on the earth, during which time He will sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:30-33).

In other instances, the pastors tragically remain quiet about the blessed hope of the Gospel even though they believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture and God’s future restoration of Israel.

Notice the sharp contrast that we see in Jesus’ commendations of the Philadelphian church:

“I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8b).

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance…” (Revelation 3:10a).

The word for “kept” in the above verses can carry with it the sense of guarding something so as to keep it in the state that one finds it. Leaders in these churches retain the words of the Bible in the state that they find them, words that signify Jesus’ imminent appearing to catch us up to meet Him in the air and His thousand-year reign during what we refer to as the “millennium.”

It’s to this church that Jesus says, “I am coming soon,” or quickly as the word suggests in the Greek (Revelation 3:11a). This promise of the Rapture brings us much-needed reassurance in these perilous times.

It’s in the words of Scripture that we find hope amid the perils of our day. It’s the glorious hope in Jesus’ appearing (the Rapture) that’s embedded in the Gospel that enables us to stand firm in today’s world.

Jesus stands on the outside of the Laodicean church knocking at its door (3:20). The leaders of these churches occupy themselves with promoting their programs and emphasize attendance numbers as a sure sign of God’s blessing. Perhaps they do not notice that they are serving themselves rather than the Chief Shepherd. Perhaps they do not miss His lack of participation in their many planning sessions for their future, which they assume is theirs for the taking in contrast to what Scripture tells us about presuming on the days ahead of us (James 4:13-17).

Many Laodicean-leaning churches today acknowledge the Lord and worship Him with music and praise, but He remains on the outside in what really matters. Smooth-running programs, ministries, and people filling the chairs at each service are the marks of success, even if the people in those seats do not hear the meat of God’s Word that would enable them to grow spiritually (Hebrews 5:11-14).

Looking at Jesus’ message to the Philadelphian church reveals a far different story. Jesus offers no criticism of the church but instead provides loving encouragement. It’s a message of praise for believers that clearly love Him. He’s the reason for their endurance as they patiently wait for Jesus’ appearing amid scoffing and distressful circumstances.

In such churches, Jesus is on the inside working through them to reach the lost and build up the saints.

Notice again the promises He makes to this ancient body of saints and to us as well:

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown” (Revelation 3:10-11).

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus’ promise in the above verse applies to living saints? There’s no need to assure the “dead in Christ” that they will miss the “hour of trial” that everyone living in the world in the last days will experience. Jesus assumed that His promise to the church in Philadelphia would apply to saints living during the season of His appearing to take us home to glory.

Jesus’ glorious promise applies to all born-again believers. All those in Christ will be caught up in the air to meet the Savior, exactly as Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. After that, the “Day of the Lord” wrath will descend upon the earth-dwellers that Jesus refers to in the above verse (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

Perhaps the greatest need for today’s leaders of Laodicean-leaning churches is “salve to anoint” their “eyes” (Revelation 3:18).

Pastor and Bible commentator John MacArthur wrote this regarding the need for sight on the part of the Laodicean church:

“Though they prided themselves on their allegedly superior spiritual knowledge, the Laodiceans were, in fact, spiritually stone blind. Blindness represents lack of understanding and knowledge of spiritual truth.” [i]

His words not only ring true regarding this late first-century AD church but speak to today’s lack of insight into the prophetic texts of the Bible. So many pastors today fail to recognize the signs of the times, which reveal that we live in the last moments before the Rapture and the start of the seven-year Tribulation.

We live in a world filled with continuing threats of a nuclear World War III, warnings of catastrophic food shortages for 2023, and dire forecasts of continued soaring inflation for the basic necessities of life, which cause many to wonder how they will be able to both heat their homes and put food on the table for their families at the same time this winter.

This is not a time to shy away from proclaiming what the Bible says about our glorious hope that starts with Jesus’ return for us, His beloved bride.

It’s the true state of our world that scares people (or at least it should). Biblical prophecy, on the other hand, both comforts us and prepares us for what lies ahead.

The Bible said that the world would look exactly as it does today in the days leading up to the Tribulation period. By faith, we see His hand at work even during this time of lawlessness. We glorify God as we recognize that He remains sovereignly in control of history and of the nations. And most encouraging, He controls our future as well.

As we witness a multitude of signs telling us that the world is right on the edge of seeing the fulfillment of all that John wrote about in Revelation 6-19, we magnify the greatness of the name of Jesus. The book of Revelation glorifies Christ from beginning to end. (See my post: Don’t Mess With the Book of Revelation.)

My heart breaks for believers who sit in churches never hearing about the glorious news regarding our future.

Many will protest my criticism of seeker-friendly churches by citing that its leaders often proclaim a pure Gospel in spite of teaching errant views or remaining silent regarding future things.

I agree that it’s wonderful that many seeker-friendly pastors proclaim the true saving message of the cross and people are coming to the Lord through their preaching.

However, as I have written in the past, those who divorce our “blessed hope” from their proclamation of the Gospel err in at least three ways:

They must ignore or gloss over many biblical texts that speak to our glorious hope in Jesus’ appearing. They minimize the future glory that lies ahead for believers by making eternity appear distant and far less wonderful than what the Bible reveals. They fail to prepare the saints under their care for what might lie ahead before Jesus comes for us and God’s wrath descends upon the world. This is the tale of two churches.

Though most do not check all the boxes of the Laodicean church that Jesus describes in Revelation 3, the seeker-friendly churches of our day exhibit many of its characteristics. My primary criticism is that, more often than not, they fail to emphasize the glorious, amazing, and over-the-top joyous message of Jesus’ appearing to take us up to glory. They sacrifice this teaching on the altar of church growth and booming programs.

Those that follow the lead of the Philadelphian church in today’s world hold tightly to Jesus’ words regarding His return for us and persevere in their watchfulness of His soon appearing.

Excellent Bible commentary regarding the contrast between the Church of Philadelphian and the Luke warm Laodicean church.

There is so much that can be derived from John’s vision as it pertains to the seven churches of Asia.

In the first message to the church of Ephesus, Jesus is described as being in the “midst of the seven golden candlesticks”

...and, as the author of this commentary concludes, we find in the message to the church of Laodicea, He is no longer welcomed inside with those assembled together, and speaks from outside the “church”

Revelation 3:20
King James Version

20 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.

I would encourage all Christians to read Revelation chapters 3 and 4 and compare Biblical Scripture to what is being taught at the church they attend.

We, whether Philadelphian or Smyrna ( those of the Philadelphian Spirit of Faith who have been martyred for the Truth and those who have died looking for that Blessed assurance, have this hope of being Raptured. Notice the following verse in Revelation 4:1 following chapters 2 and 3 describing the Church Age Dispensation:

Revelation 4:1
King James Version

4 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

We have a Blessed assurance.

Remembering the Words spoken by Brother Paul to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:7-8
King James Version

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Great commentary, and once again, thanks for posting.

This could be the day! If so, see you in the air!

The Great Tribulation is distinguished in scripture from the Day of the Lord. The rapture comes at the end of the former and the beginning of the latter. The Great Tribulation begins in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week at the abomination of desolation. It affects the whole world, including those who follow Christ. In fact, a time of persecution against “Christians” will begin even before the Great Tribulation but will turn into the most severe persecution ever when the Antichrist begins his reign of terror from the temple in Jerusalem. But during the second coming/Day of the Lord, God will separate His people who will not undergo His wrath, just like He separated the Israelites from the Egyptians during His final judgments in Exodus.

He will rapture out all Christians who are still alive, and Israel will come to national repentance and faith in Christ when they “look on Him who they have pierced” (which applies to ALL of us because we ALL pierced Christ, not the Jews only). The followers of Christ who remain on earth during the Day of the Lord will be sealed and protected from His wrath, while all other believers have been safely evacuated from the earth. It is during this time period, i.e. Day of the Lord/second coming, that God will pour down fire from heaven to destroy the earth.

There will be a great sign AFTER the Great Tribulation and BEFORE the Day of the Lord: a simultaneous eclipse of the sun AND moon, a cataclysmic shower of meteors onto the earth, and people of all walks of life forced to flee underground in hopes of survival.

The rapture will be imminent after this final sign.

See Joel 2, Isaiah 2, Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 6.

Numerous passages of scripture support this order/sequence of events.

The important takeaway is that the last generation of Church-age believers will go through the Great Tribulation and face the Antichrist. Those who are taught and believe otherwise will be woefully unprepared for this reality and will be at risk to be numbered among those who fall away/depart from the faith/apostatize.

We are kept by the power of God for salvation through continued faith and fidelity to the Gospel. This is not a one-time act of believing (though it certainly begins with that). It is believing with ALL of the heart as evidenced by a sustained faith through trials by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the basis of our assurance of salvation.

Assurance of salvation and the security of the believer are related but not the same. The security is based on God’s sovereign choice and exists even long before a believer is ever born. The believers’ certainty of salvation is the work of God in us. However, our assurance of this, that is our ability to grasp its reality and live accordingly without fear of damnation, is based on not only an understanding of the doctrine of eternal security but also a few other factors:

Do we continue to believe (ongoing) in Christ for salvation?

1 John 5:13 NKJV
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Do we produce the promised works of faith by the power of God’s grace and the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is supernatural evidence?

1 John 3:9 NKJV
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

Are we aware of God dwelling in us experientially?

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

While prophecy is not exactly part of the Gospel (except in the sense that Christ’s death and resurrection were prophecied beforehand), it is an important part of scripture and therefore required for practical Christian living and being Christ’s “disciple indeed”. The expectation of those who believe the Gospel is continually emphasized to include adversity, suffering, persecution, and tribulation.

Acts 14:22 NKJV
[Paul and others were] strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 2:10 NKJV
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

When we have confidence in Christ’s resurrection and His power and promise to raise us from the dead, we can overcome our natural fear of death. When we are aware of God dwelling in us and giving us the strength and power we need to face the scary things that are coming, then it is possible to face them with boldness and confidence. The supernatural evidence exemplified by believers in Acts was that they even rejoiced in their suffering!

We should aspire to be like them and pray that God will enable us to do so.

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