DISPENSATION OF THE LAODICEAN CHURCH

The Dispensation to Which the Laodicean Church Belongs

"Of the Laodiceans" (KJV); "In Laodicea" (ASV

The name and conditions suggest the period.

 

The Name of the Church

Laodicea is a compound Greek word. "Laos" means people, "dicea" means judgment. The two together mean the judg­ment of the people. It is comparable with another com­pound word of Greek derivation, "democracy." This word likewise means the judgment of the people. That is why we see the "official board" mentality in the local church today. The One standing outside knew this was coming back at the outset.

As far as we can follow, the church and the city were one on this principle. The voice of the people was the controlling force in Laodicea and in its civic affairs. This atmosphere invaded the church and also controlled its affairs.

The Conditions of the Church

All the conditions of the church coincide with the church and its conditions in the period 1900 and on. Worldli­ness, wealth, without regard for Christ, self-sufficiency, self-concern, spiritual blindness, compromise. The exaltation of people in general to the level of control in all affairs, in church affairs, and in civil government is significant. This corresponds with the iron and clay of the image in Daniel 2.

All these things argue that this church is representative of the final period in the course of Church History.
The Church that God announced in Matthew is Theocratic, not democratic. It was formed and ruled by God using His word not the opinion of men. It is not to be board ruled but God ruled.