Winter 1996
The Burden of the Lord
Wade E Taylor

In the book of Revelation, chapters two and three, seven Churches are listed in progressive order. These Churches span the entire Church age.

The first, the church of Ephesus, received a corrective word that they had left their first love. They had experienced the initial zeal and power of the early Apostles who had seen the resurrected Christ, but had failed to maintain it. However, they were commended because they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, whom the Lord said He also hated.

The gradual development of these "Nicolaitans" is chronicled until in the Church of Thyatira, they were in control. This term speaks of a clergy who ruled over and exploited the people, rather than lifting them into the presence of the Lord to guide them as a shepherd leads his sheep.

This led to a falling away from the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the structuring of the Church under the control of man, until it came to its fullness in the dark ages. Finally, through Martin Luther, a spark of revelation came and the Church began to be set free from bondage.

Then followed a progressive restoration which led through the Churches at Sardis, Philadelphia, and the seventh and last Church, Laodicia. We are presently living in the time of this Church.

The Word of the Lord to the Laodician Church was, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" Rev 3:17a. We are living in a time of relative prosperity, when possessions are considered to be a sign of the Lord's blessing. Also, there is a spiritual aspect to this prosperity as there is an abundance of gifted ministries in the Church.

As with the first Church, there is a similar present day problem. Christians today are basically satisfied with the level of spirituality to which they have attained. Their testimony was that they "have need of nothing" (see Rev 3:17a.)

The root of this problem is in our being satisfied with the things of God, while the God of these things is outside, knocking on the door of our heart, seeking to make Himself known to us. Therefore, His call in this hour is to the individual, "If any man hear my voice and open the door."

A promise for those who overcome is given to each of these seven Churches. In each of these, there were individuals who rose above the problems of that Church and overcame. To the seventh Church, the overcoming promise is perhaps the greatest promise of all because the pressures that are faced today are so much greater; it is far easier to compromise and go the way of popularity.

But there are those who will heed the quiet knock upon the door of their heart, and rise above these things to sit with the Lord in His Throne. This is an end-time promise to partake with Him in the closing out of this age and in the birthing of the Kingdom age.

The Lord is seeking out a people in this day who will cultivate the hearing of His voice and come apart to spend time with Him in His presence.

This is difficult because there are so many temporal things to occupy our attention, and these things will dull our spirits and rob us of our sensitivity to His voice. Thus, it is important that we recognize that television is a primary means of producing this spiritual dullness.

I might ask, "do you intend to become an overcomer?" If your answer is yes, then I have caused a problem for you. This is because we cannot become an overcomer unless we have something to overcome. So, our very desire to overcome will cause increased problems in our lives. Rightly seen, this is a blessing, for now we have the necessary opportunity to overcome.

When a child is born, the pain of the birthing process is intense. But soon afterwards, when the baby is brought to the mother, she quickly forgets any pain, as the reward is greater than the pain.

"Doth the plowman plow all day to sow?" Isa 28:24a.

The Lord only works upon us until we are ready to receive all that He has in reserve for us. We can trust His judgment and fully place our lives in His hands.

We are living in the time of the seventh Church. There are among us those who are "rich and increased in goods, having need of nothing." But along with these are those who are pressing onward, being made ready for the day that is just before us. May we be among the latter.