This message has been coming to the followers of the threefold angel’s message since the last century, when it was first applicable to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The servant of the Lord stated: “The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time.” 2 “Dear Brethren and Sisters: The Lord has shown me in vision some things concerning the church in its present lukewarm state, which I will relate to you. The church was presented before me in vision. Said the angel to the church: ‘Jesus speaks to thee, “Be zealous and repent.” ’ This work, I saw, should be taken hold of in earnest. There is something to repent of. Worldly-mindedness, selfishness, and covetousness have been eating out the spirituality and life of God’s people.

“The danger of God’s people for a few years past has been the love of the world. Out of this have sprung the sins of selfishness and covetousness.” 3

Unfortunately, the repentance which was called for never took place. On the contrary, a more intense departure from God’s will finally had to be punished. The fiery sword of the destroying angel was stretched over Battle Creek, the “Jerusalem” of the Adventist people. The sanitarium and the publishing house, the two most important institutions of the Adventist church, were reduced to ashes by a devastating fire in 1902.

This painful rebuke that the Lord sent in 1902 was not enough to arouse His people, for, in 1903, the servant of the Lord wrote:

“Our position in the world is not what it should be. We are far from where we should have been had our Christian experience been in harmony with the light and the opportunities given us, had we from the beginning constantly pressed onward and upward. Had we walked in the light that has been given us, had we followed on to know the Lord, our path would have grown brighter and brighter. But many of those who have had special light are so conformed to the world that they can scarcely be distinguished from worldlings. They do not stand forth as God’s peculiar people, chosen and precious. It is difficult to discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.

“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: ‘Found wanting.’ By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” 4

Fortunately, the SDA Reform Movement as the remnant people of God, as an organization, still stands on the platform of truth. These are they who “keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

Yet the message to Laodicea comes also to us and exhorts us individually. We are all Laodiceans in the sense that we live in the period of Laodicea. But there are two classes of Laodiceans. A minority is applying the prescription of the faithful and true Witness (Revelation 3:18, 19), is undergoing a visible healing process, and is coming out of the Laodicean condition. 5 There is hope for this class, to which we profess to belong. On the other hand, a majority will decidedly remain in the Laodicean state.6 “They say by their actions: . . . ‘we are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.’ ” 7 But what does the Faithful and True Witness say? “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot . . . and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15, 17).

Laodiceans have a lot of Bible texts to show that they know the truth, and supposedly have need of nothing. In this sense they feel that they are rich. They possess a wealth of knowledge of the truth. It is hard for them to receive any message that would indicate that they need to possess the practice of the truth.

Notwithstanding, God grants a time of probation to all. While we have not been rejected—while we indeed hunger and thirst after righteousness—we still have an opportunity to rise up like the prodigal son, and go without delay to meet our loving Father to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Like Bartimeus, the blind man, we should confess to Jesus our sins, pleading for His mercy (Mark 10:47). Then, with restored eyesight we will see our real condition, the peril in which we found ourselves, and at the same time be able to see the abundant blessings that are before us.

The Saviour offers us gold tried in the fire, so that we may become rich, white raiment to cover ourselves, and eyesalve so that we may see.

The gold tried in the fire is faith and love, the true riches that the Faithful and True Witness counsels the lukewarm to buy. If the faith and love possessed are not of the high quality required, they are not acceptable.

Brethren and Sisters, could this happen to us? How is our faith? Is it dying out? “Faith in the soon coming of Christ is waning. ‘My Lord delayeth His coming’ is not only said in the heart, but expressed in words and most decidedly in works.” 8

Faith and love that are compared to gold tried in the fire will inevitably be shown in our earnestness and zeal for God’s cause. Everywhere there is need of workers and means to support the various enterprises of the Lord’s work that will help. This help will promote the spiritual growth of the churches and the preaching of the gospel.

Some may assume it is not necessary to invest much of our means in God’s cause. But is it really God’s will for us to cling to our resources and properties until the Sunday decree, when right now the fields are already white for the harvest? How much did Christ give for our salvation? And how do we handle the goods that the Lord has given us until now? What zeal do we show for His work? The disciples gave all, and all the known world was enlightened with the glory of primitive godliness. The last pleading of Jesus with him that clutches his talents and gifts to his breast is: “be zealous, therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

“The white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner.” 9 The believer is called to reflect more and more the character of Christ in his life, as a testimony of the transforming power of the gospel, to obtain spiritual fitness and be able to live in the eternal abode.

By beholding Christ daily and at every moment, we are changed. Grafted into Christ, we become fruit-bearing branches, and even then, it is necessary for the Lord to prune the branches so that they may bring forth more fruit. “God prunes us with sorrow, with disappointment and affliction.” 10 This way, all that which is unnecessary in our lives—like worldliness, self-indulgence and pride—may be eliminated.

Some brethren do not understand the reason for God’s pruning process. They are full of discontentment because they have trials in their lives. “They see failure where there is triumph, loss where there is gain. Like Jacob, they are ready to exclaim, ‘All these things are against me,’ when the very things whereof they complain are working together for their good. ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.’ ” 11

From the very start, the Laodicean does not realize that he is in a state of self-deception. He says in all sincerity: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Because of this Christ warns him, “[Thou] knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

In reality, the question of salvation for the Laodiceans requires having “a clear view of their standing before God.” “The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal.” “They do not engage thoroughly and heartily in the work of God, identifying themselves with its interests; but they hold aloof and are ready to leave their posts when their worldly personal interests demand it.” 12

The Laodicean believer needs the heavenly eyesalve to be able to see his condition. The divine eyesalve applied by the Holy Spirit will impart clearness and understanding. “The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise.” 13

Let us heed the warning: “Oh, that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among His professed people!” 14 Referring to the most noticeable signs of the nearness of the coming of the Son of God, such as: hurricanes, earthquakes, storms, conflagrations, floodings, disasters by land and sea, the servant of the Lord says: “To those who are indifferent at this time Christ’s warning is: ‘Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth.’ Revelation 3:16. The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you.” 15

Sadly, many will remain in the Laodicean condition. They do not repent and become born again as did Nicodemus. He dedicated himself entirely to the infant church, following the example of our Saviour who became poor in this world’s goods that we might be made spiritually rich.

To open the door is to separate sin from oneself. “I saw that many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of their heart that they cannot get the door open. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove. Others have evil tempers, selfish covetousness, to remove before they can open the door. Others have rolled the world before the door of their heart, which bars the door. All this rubbish must be taken away, and then they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in.” 16

Uriah Smith makes the following description: “Notwithstanding their offensive attitude, their unlovely character, such is his love to their souls that he humbles himself to solicit the privilege of making them blessed. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’ Why does he? Not because he is without home elsewhere. Among the mansions in his Father’s house there is not one entrance closed to him. He is the life of every heart, the light of every eye, the song of every tongue, in glory. But he goes round from door to door in Laodicea. He stands at each, and knocks, because he came to seek and to save that which is lost, because he cannot give up the purpose of communicating eternal life to as many as the Father has given him, and because he cannot become known to the inmate unless the door be opened and a welcome given him. Have you bought a piece of ground? have you bought five yoke of oxen? is your hat in your hand, and do you pray to be excused? He knocks and knocks. . . . It is the hour for church prayer-meeting. . . . There is opportunity to pay a Christian visit to an individual or a family; but you move not. . . . Oh, nauseous lukewarmness! Oh fatal worldliness! The Lord of glory comes all the way from His celestial palace—comes in poverty, in sweat, in blood—comes to the door of a professed friend, who owes all to him, and cannot get in!—comes to rescue a man whose house is on fire, and he will not admit him! Oh, the height, the depth, of Jesus Christ’s forbearance! Even the heathen Publius received Paul, and lodged him three days courteously. Shall nominal Christians tell the Lord of apostles that they have no room for him?” 17

Prompted by the message, the members of the remnant church will become one, persevering unitedly in prayers and supplications. The indifferent and careless will be left behind, and they will join the ranks of the opposition. Others will take their places.

The great outpouring of the latter rain will not come upon a mixed church, but upon those that feel sorrow for their own spiritual debasement and weep for the sins of others.

Dear Brethren and Sisters, by God’s grace it is our privilege to heed the counsel of the Faithful and True Witness, and be prepared to receive the latter rain.