“Behold I stand at the door, and knock.’’—Revelation 3
Here is the very last state of Christendom before it becomes the Babylon described in chapter 18:2 “The habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit,” &c.
To those who understand these seven addresses to the churches, as describing the whole course of Christendom, there can be no question but that we are now at the very close of that course. Jesus speaks to us just now: “Behold I come quickly,” and, “Behold I stand at the door, and knock.”
We will, then, suppose the reader to understand that the address to Ephesus described the state of the church in its first decline. The address to Smyrna, its period of persecution; Pergamos, the period when it so sadly mixed with the world; Thyatira, the dark ages of popery, and which is seen to continue to the end; Sardis, the period of the Reformation, or its results in the condition of Protestantism; the last two, Philadelphia and Laodicea, describe the condition of souls at the end of Protestantism. We have the close of Christianity on earth. The judgment of the Lord Jesus, His promises and warnings, what He approves, and what He disapproves. In fact, He speaks to us, and He knocks at the door of Christendom at the moment we read this paper.
In Philadelphia we see what the Lord finds as true. In Laodicea we see that which is false. The more we study these two addresses, the more we shall see it is not here a question of false assemblies and true ones, but that which marks a true christian condition of soul, and false profession, wherever found now at the end. Do these words, then, apply to the reader? “Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Surely these are the marks of a true Christian in these days of human boasting, rationalism, and the denial of Christ. Verse 9 intimates that ritualism also will abound, and is declared to be the synagogue of Satan; it does not rest in the word of Christ, but seeks to set up the Jewish principle of a ritual, that can never purge away sins. It is unmistakably of Satan. To all who have kept the word of His patience is the promise given, that they shall be kept from the hour of temptation. (Ver. 10.) This must in-elude all that are Christ’s. To all true Christians, then, at this time the Lord Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Oh, let us meditate on these words, morning, noon, and night. Is it not as if we heard His voice from the glory, “Behold I come quickly”? Let us now hearken to the last knock at the door of a false Christendom.
There is something deeply solemn in the thought, that there is not one thing in the last condition of Christendom that the Lord can approve; and He is “the faithful and true witness.” Let us read, and may we, by the Spirit, understand that He is the faithful and true Witness of what the state of Christendom is in this its closing state.
Jesus says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” Assuredly this witness is true. Indifference, and utter want of love to Christ, is the first mark of all the false profession of this day, of that which bears the name of Christ, of that which calls itself the church. We read, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15, 1615Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:15‑16).) Instead of separation from the world, does not hollow, heartless profession take the very lead in all its pleasures and follies? What are the shameful bazaars of Christendom in the eyes of the Lord Jesus? Is it not going mad after sport and worldliness? Yes, the Faithful Witness says, Thou art neither cold nor hot. Oh, deceived multitudes, sporting on to perdition, hear these solemn warnings of the Lord Jesus. He says, “because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” This is the certain doom of Christendom—to be utterly rejected, and cast out as loathsome.
It may be said, How can this be? Was there ever a time of such religious activity, such wealth in buildings, in able men, in knowledge, in temperance societies, and efforts and works of every kind. Look at our armies and blue ribbon societies; think of the crowds that sign the pledge. Certainly there is very little of Christ in all this; but no one can deny the church never was so rich in all these things.
Hear the last knock, and hearken to the voice of Jesus: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Is not this the condition of thousands of souls? Men must have excitement of some kind, to drown their thoughts—one day the pleasures of the world, another the busy activities of religious or temperance excitements. All this may be, nay, is, whilst those thus occupied are “wretched” If such calmly think of death, they are wretched. If they think of their sins, of a future judgment, they are wretched. Religious activities without Christ leave the soul miserable. These are the words of the faithful and true Witness. He knows the true spiritual condition of the professing masses to be wretched, and miserable, “and poor.” Ah, whatever may be the possession of wealth or religious fame, in the light of the solemn fact that Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly” how poor is the soul without Christ! “And blind.” What, this highly cultivated, educated, christian world, blind! Yes, He, the faithful Witness, says it. Yes, Christendom, in thy last, boasting state, thou art blind. Like Israel, thou also seest no beauty in Jesus. Do not forget this—that highly-favored, polished nation saw no beauty in Him to desire Him. It is so with unconverted Christendom, with all its polished teachers and privileges. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” What a scene in His sight is the hollow profession of these last days! Blind leaders of the blind. This applies to every unconverted professor, be he teacher, preacher, or hearer. The Lord Jesus testifies of this, the last state of Christendom, Thou art “blind.”
“And naked.” Yes, with all the effort to make a religious apron. Oh, poor deceived ritualist, or moralist, or half-hearted professor, thou must stand before the face of Him in judgment who says, Thou art “naked.” Why dost thou make a profession, since thou art naked? “How earnest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment?” How terrible will be those words, “Take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” God, who clothed Adam and Eve with skins, also gave His Son, not only to bear the sinner’s sins, but also to be raised from the dead, to be his righteousness; and yet, Christendom, even now, at the end, thou art declared to be naked. When we remember it is the Lord who thus speaks, nothing can be more solemn.
We shall see all this more than confirmed by the last counsel of Jesus: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich”—the righteousness of God accomplished by Christ passing through the fire of divine judgment. This is neither known nor possessed by professing Christendom. All pretensions to righteousness by law must be given up; and this is just what the natural man will not do. On which foundation are we resting? Are we vainly seeking righteousness in ourselves, or by works of law; or are we resting in the righteousness of God, apart from law, even Jesus, the fine gold that passed through the fire? (Read Rom. 3:19-2619Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:19‑26).) Yes, eighteen hundred years ago, Jesus thus described Christendom at the end, without this righteousness. Let anyone read the Epistle to the Galatians, and say, Are not all unconverted preachers and people seeking righteousness by works of law? God grant that the last knock of Jesus may be heard.
And what does He further counsel thee to buy? “White raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” What has a believer to give for the white raiment? We learn in Phil. 3 It is very simple when the eye is open to see. Paul had to give up his own righteousness. Before God he had found all to be filthy rags. He counted all but dung, that he might win Christ. “ That I may be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Yes, filthy rags defiled with sin, or in Christ whiter than snow. If not in Christ, all our efforts leave us naked. If not accepted in Christ, we cannot be accepted in any other way. If He is not made unto us righteousness, we are not Christians. And if we are mere professors, it is to be on the way to apostasy. All this is exceedingly solemn. What a state of soul is here described by the Faithful Witness! We beg the reader not to take refuge in any mere position, but inquire whether this address to Laodicea describes the condition of your unclothed, Christless soul.
Jesus further says, “and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.” This witness also is true. If we have not received Christ as our righteousness, if we are not resting in His finished, atoning work, we certainly are not anointed with the Holy Ghost. He bears witness to the value of the blood of Jesus. Thus this boasting Christendom is found wanting in everything that marks a true Christian. It is that state of soul which ends in final apostasy, and eternal perdition. Still, the heart of Jesus lingers, and all He loves He rebukes and chastens. Are any found in Laodicea? He rebukes them, and bids them be zealous, and repent. To repent would be to judge and give up all that the natural man boasts of in these last days—it would be to cease to be a Laodicean. Jesus lingers still, He knocks at the door of Christendom. Soon it will be forever too late. To all who are in that stale described in the address to Philadelphia, He will surely quickly come, and take them to Himself: they shall be kept from the storm of judgment about to fall on apostate Christendom.
It may be asked, Is it not written, that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea? Most assuredly this will be the case, but if we examine the scriptures, we shall find this, and all such promises, are not in connection with, or to Christendom; but in connection with Israel, and the kingdom, or reign of Christ, which cannot be set up until after the false apostate Christendom: and the lawless, infidel nations of Europe have been destroyed. (Rev. 17; 18) Then shall He come whose right it is to reign (chap. 19), and shall reign a thousand years. (Chap. 20)
Hark, hark, then, to the last knock of Christ. There can be no question that the true children of God are about to take their flight, like the swallows of autumn, to be “forever with the Lord.” Then, for the poor, frivolous, lukewarm, yet boasting apostate Christendom, with thee it shall be forever too late, God shall send thee strong delusion. (2 Thess. 2) Child of God in the midst of this scene, the night is far spent, the day is at hand: “Wherefore, he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Let us boast no more of Philadelphian position, but ask ourselves, Are we in the Philadelphian state of soul? C. S.
The Holy Ghost dwells not in any particular assembly, but in the whole church.