| Deliverance
from Religious Bondage
Wade
E Taylor
Where
the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty. II Corinthians 3:17b, Paraphrase
At
this present time, many are feeling an intense burden for the Body
of Christ, and sense that something very special is about to unfold. It is very important that the mistakes
of the past are not repeated during this coming visitation.
The
Word of the Lord to the seven Churches (Revelation
2:1-3:22)
prefigures the progression of events that span the entire Church
Age. Indications as to why past visitations
did not come into the fullness of all that was intended, or, why
they did not last, can be found within the Word of the Lord to these
Churches.
The
first of these, the Church at Ephesus, was told that it had departed from its
first love (Revelation
2:4). This was the Church that witnessed the
power and zeal of the early Apostles who had personally been with
the resurrected Jesus. The
Lord expected them to maintain this experience of His personal (manifest)
presence, but they had already begun to fall away.
This
Church was commended because it hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes,
which I also hate (Revelation
2:6b). There is no explanation given in Scripture
as to who these Nicolaitanes were. However, we can come to an understanding
of their identity through the meaning of the word Nicolaitane
itself.
Nikao
means to conquer or consume the Laos or laity, the people.
The Nicolaitanes advocated a compromise with the world system
so Christians would be able to take part, without embarrassment,
in the social and religious activities of the society in which they
lived. They attempted
to harmonize heathen practices with the Christian faith. In the time of the Church at Ephesus, their teaching
allowed Christians to participate in the Roman civil religion.
This
resulted in the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from their meetings,
which caused the loss of the spontaneous impartations and movings
that came to the members of this Church.
Thus,
the Nicolaitanes represent a clergy that departs from the presence
and power of the supernatural, and substitutes form and
ritual in its place.
The compromise that they advocate causes the dulling
of the spirits of the Lords people, as they respond to this
teaching and become conversant with the society and practices of
their time.
In
His message to the Church at Ephesus, the Lord clearly said that He hated
the deeds of a clergy that causes His people to depart from the
operation of the supernatural within the Church, and from experiencing
His manifest presence. This
Nicolaitane doctrine was the reason why the Church at Ephesus fell away from their fervent first
love for the Lord.
In
Ephesus,
these Nicolaitanes were present, but hated.
In the third Church, Pergamos, they are again mentioned by
the Lord, So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate (Revelation
2:15). Here, they were firmly entrenched.
Then
in the forth Church, Thyatira, the Lord said, But to you I say,
and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine
(Revelation
2:24). By now, the Nicolaitanes were in control
and only a remnant remained.
This
teaching of compromise by the clergy lead
to a progressive spiritual declension that culminated in the Dark
Ages. During this time of intense spiritual
apostasy and darkness, a spark of revelation concerning Justification
by Faith came to Martin Luther.
This began a progressive restoration that developed within
the fifth Church, Sardis, and found
its full outworking in the last two Churches, Philadelphia
and Laodicea.
Concerning
the fifth Church, Sardis, the Lord said, I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead
(Revelation
3:1b). This Church had returned to right doctrine,
but did not experience the restoration of the fervent first
love that had been lost at Ephesus.
Apparently, the Nicolaitanes still exercised considerable
control and hindered the Lords people to the extent that they were
not able to experience the quickening of the manifest presence
of the Lord, or the power of the Holy Spirit moving in
their meetings.
The
sixth Church, Philadelphia, speaks of an overcoming Church
that is presently experiencing this manifest presence and power
of the Lord. They have
contended for, and gained, an open door into the operation of the
supernatural in their meetings.
Of this Church the Lord said:
I
have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you
have a little strength. Revelation 3:8b
Here,
the Nicolaitanes were totally defeated and lost all of their influence
and control.
This
Church has cultivated the presence of He that has the key of
David, He that opens, and no man shuts: and shuts, and no man opens
(Revelation
3:7b). Once again, the Lords people are possessing
this same fervent first love for the Lord that had been
lost at Ephesus. His manifest presence is burning within
them, and all bondage is melting away, as the Holy Spirit is having
His way in their lives and assemblies.
Much will be accomplished through this present-day Philadelphia
Church that is allowing an open display of His presence and
power.
The
seventh is the Church of the Laodiceans.
The Word of the Lord to this Church is:
Because
you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17
This
present-day Church has received more prosperity, gifts, and ministry
than any previous Church.
Though it is quick to testify about these blessings, this
Church is exposed by the Lord as being spiritually immature (blind,
and naked).
However,
this prosperity is not the primary cause of their spiritual blindness
and nakedness. Their
problem rests in the fact that they do not recognize their spiritual
need, and have need of nothing (Revelation
3:17a). They are satisfied with the things they
possess and are not seeking after the One who gave these riches
and goods.
The
Lord is revealed as standing outside of this prosperous Laodicean Church, knocking upon its door, seeking
to attract their attention:
Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
Me. Revelation 3:20
Because
this Church has lost its sensitivity to His voice, the call of the
Lord has changed to seeking out individuals who are responsive
if any man.
The
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes has caused this Church to become dull
of spirit. Their
acceptance of and adjustment to material prosperity has effectively
hindered the visitation of the Lord within this end-time Church.
This is one of the primary causes of the failure of the Charismatic
visitation.
Thus,
the Nicolaitane spirit that sought to bring about compromise with
the world system in the early Church is still present within the
Church of our day. Jesus clearly said, My Kingdom is
not of this world (John
18:36a). James told us that Whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James
4:4 b).
Notice
the contrast between these two present-day Churches. In Philadelphia, the Lord has set before
them an open door into the revelation of His manifest presence,
and the operation of the Supernatural in their midst. In Laodicea, He is outside of the Church knocking
upon a closed door seeking out any individual that is still
able to hear His voice, and inviting them to turn aside to commune
with Him.
The
Lord counsels these, who willingly open the door of their being
to Him, to buy of Me gold tried in
the fire, that you may be rich (Revelation
3:18a). This gold speaks of the divine
nature as being of far greater value than all of these external
riches that they possess and rejoice in.
A
glorious promise is given to the individuals who choose to turn
aside from this materialistic spirit within the Laodicean church:
To
him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne Revelation 3:21
This
is the greatest of the promises given to each of these seven Churches,
yet the most difficult to attain.
Even
more so today, because of the many subtle deceptions that must be
discerned, the intensity of the temptations that must be resisted,
and the hindrances to true spirituality that must be overcome, are
greater than any pressures other generations have had to face.
It is popular to compromise, but the cost is high. Those who do, will not able to hear the
gentle knock of the Lord on the door of their spirit If any
man hear My voice.
The
Lord is looking for those who are willing to pay the price in order
to be a part of the Church at Philadelphia and gain the
spiritual life and strength that is available therein.
Few do, because the Church at Laodicea is very popular. It knows and uses the techniques that
bring about Church growth and material prosperity.
A
passage of Scripture that the Lord is making very real at this present
time is: I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early
shall find Me ... that I may cause those that love Me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasure (Proverbs
8:17, 21).
This
speaks of overcomers who have entered this open door and
are experiencing a new first love for Jesus Himself. These are seeking His Kingdom by submitting
their lives to the rule of His government, and are purchasing gold
that has been tried in the fire.
These are finding an eternal treasure they had little anticipated.
Those
who turn aside to enter The Church at Philadelphia will
never be disappointed as they pass through this open door into His
presence.
|
