Laodiceans: The Great Decision
We arrive at seventh or the last letter:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” Rev 3:14
In each of these letters, or stages of revelation, the seeker learns something new about the God Within. He learns of qualities, which are essential for crossing the hurdle of the particular step he is about to take.
Here the inner Master reveals three qualities about himself:
(1) He is the Amen.
This is said to be the most universally recognized word in the world and is written AMEN in the Hebrew, Greek and English equivalents.
It is more universally used than realized, for it is the word translated “verily” that Jesus used so much when teaching. Time and time again he said “verily, I say unto you…” and then he would teach a true principle.
If we translated the word consistently it would read “Amen, I say unto you…”
The question that must be asked is what could be the meaning of this word that could apply to the three situations in which it is used? First, it is a title for God; second, it is a statement preceding the declaration of truth; and third, it is the consummation of a prayer.
The word in its Hebrew roots is described by scholars with these three words: truth, faithfulness and firmness. These convey the idea that what is said and affixed to this word can be trusted to be true and real.
In other words, when Jesus said “Verily (AMEN), I say unto you” he was stating that the listener can rely one hundred percent on the truth of the teaching.
When Amen is used at the end of a prayer it is an affirmation that what is said is either currently true or will surely come to pass.
When the inner God calls himself the Amen, he is saying that what is revealed from the true inner voice is solid truth that can be relied upon. All the seeker has to do is listen. This is why he is told again and again in each letter to “let him hear what the Spirit saith…”
If the seeker does not listen correctly he may be deceived by a false voice. But if he listens with no self-deception, he will discern a voice that is true and reliable in every way.
(2) He is “the faithful and true witness.”
This seems to be a reiteration of the meaning of Amen, but the word “witness” adds a new dimension. It is true that the inner voice is reliable, but many things that are true and reliable get overlooked or are not trusted. The seeker receives an inner knowing because of the aspect of the witness that comes from the kingdom within. When communion within is achieved, a powerful witness comes to the seeker that what is received is true.
How does this witness come? It comes from the connection and oneness each of us has to the One Great Life we call God. When the disciple truly listens and receives, it is as if he were receiving from himself. He knows he would not consciously lie to himself, and thus learns to trust the Inner Voice as if it were his own.
(3) He is “the beginning of the creation of God.”
When the seeker hears the Voice and realizes he can depend on it and has a firm faith in it, the beginning of the creation of God manifests through him. He no longer is attracted to lower creations that satisfy the lower nature, but is driven to manifest upon the earth truths from the mind of God.
Now, finally, after many cycles of existence the pilgrim has a chance to create the good, the beautiful and the true.
That said, it is interesting indeed that this is the only set of instructions wherein no praise is given to the seeker. You would think that after traversing six previous hurdles he would receive a pat on the back with some encouragement.
He is probably expecting to hear something like “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Now you just have one more little step to take to arrive at discipleship.”
Instead, he receives a stern wakeup call:
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Rev 3:15-16
Indeed, no pat on the back here. Instead, he is reprimanded for being indecisive and lukewarm. He achieved some progress, yes, but now he is just coasting along, making no new decisions in relation to the great work.
What the seeker does not realize until he receives this seemingly rude awakening is that he has arrived at a great point of tension and a tremendous crisis.
It is at this point in his progress that he must decide to be either hot or cold. In other words, he must choose the light or the dark, the right or the left-hand path. The voice awakens him to his responsibility to decide. He can sleep no longer. He can drift no longer. He can delay no longer.
He has clearly seen the inner and the outer kingdoms and can no longer be allowed to waffle in allegiance between the two. Either he must commit to the inner voice or yield to the praise and pleasures of the outer world as his motivating power.
If he chooses the light he will experience the initiation of transfiguration and become an accepted disciple. If he feels negative, because of the starkness of the latest message, and chooses the darkness of the world, he will become a disciple to the adversary of truth and tread the path of a dark brother.
He faces the greatest choice of his existence. Will he tread the same path as Hitler, or seek to become as Jesus?
The communication does not get any easier for him:
“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:” Rev 3:17
The seeker responds and says “I am rich in spiritual gifts. I am surely on my last life and have need of nothing. I am on the path of light and am increasing in knowledge. All of God’s gifts are manifest in me and there is nothing else to seek. I have abundance of all there is.”
To this delusion the Voice replies:
“You know not that you are ‘wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
He contemplates and hears in a language he can understand: “You think you have achieved a fullness in spirituality, but you have only taken a first step. You think you have achieved liberation, but you are still imprisoned. You think you see all truth, but you are still blind. You think you are rich in spiritual gifts but you have nothing compared to what is to come if you are faithful.”
Does this not describe the situation of many we meet who seek to follow the path of liberation? It not only fits the advanced seeker in Laodicea but the vast majority of all seekers high and low. Only when the seeker reaches the seventh stage in Laodicea is he close to being prepared to hear how little he actually knows and applies. Before this his ego is too fragile to hear the truth, and he must believe he is making great strides when he is in reality only taking baby steps.
He is told how to turn things around:
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Rev 3:18
First he is to buy “gold tried in fire.” This is a symbol of great spiritual struggle. He was deceived into thinking he could relax, go with the flow and receive liberation. Instead, he must motivate himself to continue the quest which will take great effort.
Note that he must “buy of me.” He must commit to a struggle toward the purpose of God, or the whole, above the satisfaction of the lower self.
Second, he must obtain “white rainment.” White is a symbol of synthesis as well as purity. Not only must he remember the importance of living up to the highest of standards recognized by humanity, but he must see the whole picture rather than the part. There are many others who may seem much different than himself, but who are also performing divine service; they should be seen as fellow workers rather than adversaries.
In addition, the wholeness of the work needs to be seen. The work not only includes religion and spirituality, but all the good endeavors of humanity in education, science, the arts, politics, philosophy and others.
Finally, he must anoint his eyes with eyesalve that he may see.
Before one can see he must first realize that his vision is impaired. The seeker thought he was seeing fine and is at first disappointed at how blind he has been. Now he must purchase eyesalve from God to really see. Eyesalve sooths the eyes and is a symbol of the inner peace that comes with true vision. If the seeker follows the direction of the peace that passes understanding he will be led to true vision.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev 3:19
The Master applies tough love, not because he rejects the seeker, but because he loves him. The inner voice is speaking plainly to the seeker in words that cannot be misunderstood.
Feb 15, 2007
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