«　WEEK 43　DAY 3　»

　　Rev. 2:25 Nevertheless what you have hold fast until I come.

　　3:11 I come quickly; hold fast what you have that no one take your crown.

　　[The churches in Revelation 2 and 3] were seven actual churches in Asia Minor…At that time there were many churches in Asia Minor, but God chose only seven for prophetic representation [1:3]…God chose these seven churches as a prophecy to foretell the pathway the church takes on the earth.

　　The seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are divided into two groups. The first three have disappeared, but the last four are still with us today…The first three churches did not receive any promise of the Lord's coming, but the last four all received a promise of the Lord’s coming. They will surely remain until the Lord Jesus comes again. (CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” pp. 765, 767)

　　The first is Ephesus. The church in Ephesus refers to the period of church history during the end of the first century, when the book of Revelation was written. When John wrote the book of Revelation, the condition of the church was like that of the first church—Ephesus.

　　The second church is Smyrna. The church in Smyrna is a picture of the condition of the church under ten periods of persecution in the Roman Empire from the second century after John’s death to the early part of the fourth century…During this period of time, the church suffered great persecution.

　　The third church is the church in Pergamos. It began with Constantine’s acceptance of Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the fourth century in A.D. 313.

　　The fourth church is Thyatira. After the Caesar of Rome accepted Christianity as the state religion, he promoted Christianity and propped it up with his political power. Prior to this, the Roman Empire exercised its political power to suppress Christianity. Then it began to exercise its political power to support Christianity. Consequently, Christianity was not only married to the world but even exalted above the world.

　　Five of the seven churches were rebuked. One did not receive a rebuke, and one received only praise. The one which received only praise was Philadelphia…Laodicea is a distorted Philadelphia. When brotherly love is gone, Philadelphia immediately turns into the opinions of many. This is the meaning of the word Laodicea…In the eyes of the Lord, the characteristics of Laodicea are lukewarmness and spiritual pride…Brothers and sisters, if you want to continue in the way of Philadelphia, remember to humble yourselves before God.

　　Those around us may be full of death, but we do not need to be conscious of the fact that we are full of life. Those around us may be poor, but we do not need to be conscious of the fact that we are rich. Those who live before the Lord will not be conscious of their own riches. May the Lord be merciful to us that we may learn to live before Him.

　　Laodicea means to know everything, but in reality to be fervent about nothing. In name it has everything, but it cannot sacrifice its life for anything. It remembers its former glory but forgets its present condition before God. Formerly, it was Philadelphia; today it is Laodicea.

　　Today every child of God has to choose the pathway he should take with regard to the church. We must learn to stand on the ground of Philadelphia. Always keep the Lord’s word and never deny His name. Hold fast the brotherly stand and never be proud!…Once you are proud, you become Laodicea and are no longer Philadelphia!…Which way do you want to take? May God bless His children and may the brothers take the upright path with regard to the church. (CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” pp. 765-766, 768, 783-787)

　　Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers(3),” ch. 45