Has anyone ever read you a message without announcing who sent it?
Then when they get to the end and tell you, the first thing you want to do is read the message again, because now you know who it is coming from, the words mean something totally different.
This happened to me recently while reading my Bible.
The Message to Laodicea
The Bible tells us in the book of Revelation 3:14-22 about the message to the Church of Laodicea, which most Historicist Bible scholars agree is referring to the people of God at the end of time (yes, that’s us).
It is not exactly the most flattering message out there… no one likes to be told they are
“wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”
but it gives us hope too… we are told in verse 18 how the problems can be fixed.
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed
Eventually, if we take his advice we are promised the privilege of joining him on his throne.
This is certainly an interesting and useful prophecy, but the main point is still coming…
The other message to Laodicea
While I was reading Colossians recently I stumbled over 4:16 which instructs that this letter be read to the church in Laodicea as well.
Considering this is an intentional directive of the Holy Spirit through Paul, it made me wonder exactly how much of a coincidence it is…
My first clue was found here: The robe we are to buy from Jesus in Rev 3:18 is the robe of His righteousness, this is a call to righteousness by faith. When you compare that to the book of Colossians as a whole, what you find is an entirely Christ-centered book, giving more detail about what it means to be a new creation in Christ.
Is it possible that the letter Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse has special significance to the Laodicean church as well?
At this point the answer is “I’m not 100% sure” I only have a few possible links between the two passages so far, but I am continuing to study and I thought it was interesting enough to share with you for two reasons.
- Firstly, to ask if you have you studied this before? Do you have any thoughts or references to share? or even a comment on the topic? make sure you let me know in the comments.
- Secondly, keep reading your Bible because you never know when you will unearth another valuable piece of truth as you study here a little, there a little, line upon line precept upon precept.
