Right-click to download PDF version

Are you going to drift into the Laodicean Congregation? Will you be among those spewed from Yahshua’s mouth? Here’s what you can do about it NOW—to be sure you do not meet this tragic end!

      One of Yahweh’s names would shock you! That name has an important connection with the Laodiciean Congregation era and YOUR LIFE! That name, which is a part of Yahweh’s character, should also be a part of your character. This character trait has great influence on your life. It affects your prayer, Bible study, work at your job, housecleaning, sewing—in short, your whole life. It makes the difference between real spiritual growth in Yahweh’s Congregation and slipping back from love, true spirituality, and interest in Yahweh’s work.

Strange Name

Many have been perplexed by this name of Yahweh. To them it seemed strange indeed. Read it in Exodus 34:14. “For you shall not bow to another Elohim, for Yahweh whose name is Jealous, He is a jealous Elohim.”

Why “Jealous”? Why should this be one of Yahweh’s traits? Isn’t Jealously a sin?

We need to understand the full meaning of this Hebrew word translated “Jealous” in order to understand why it is Elohim’s title. This word is “qana.” It means “to be or make jealous or ZEALOUS” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). This same word in the Old Testament can be translated either way—jealous or zealous. And everywhere in the Old Testament that you see the words “zealous” or “jealous,” they are translated from this same Hebrew word.

Actually, then, Yahweh is an Elohim filled with ZEAL. He is a Zealous Elohim for His people, His relationship with the Israelites and their obedience to Him. Notice Isaiah 59:17, “For He put on righteousness like armor, and a helmet of Y’shua He put on His head. And He put on robes of vengeance as clothing; and He put on zeal like a mantle.”This is speaking figuratively of Yahweh’s character and the ZEAL which is a part of it. But here again the Hebrew word is “qana”—which can be translated “jealousy” or “zeal.”

Yahshua’s Character

What was Yahshua like? Did He have this character trait? Notice: “And the Passover of the Jews was near. And Yahshua went up to Jerusalem. And He found those selling oxen and sheep and doves in the sanctuary, and the money changers sitting. And making a whip out of ropes, He threw all out of the sanctuary, both the sheep, and the oxen, and the money changers, pouring out the money and overturning the tables. And to the ones selling the doves, He said, Take these things from here! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:13-16).

But now notice the next verse which explains why Yahshua acted in this heated manner of zeal and “jealously.” “And His disciples remembered that it was written, “The zeal of Your house has consumed Me.”Here is how the Amplified New Testament renders Verse 17: “And His disciples remembered that it was written, [in the Holy Scriptures], The Zeal—the fervor of love—for your house will eat me up. I will be consumed with jealously for the honor of Your house.” Today we say, “It burned me up.”

Now notice the connection! The Greek word for “zeal” is “zelos.” It means literally: “hot, heat, zeal, jealously, envy, and fervent.” This also bears out and connects with the statement made in Deuteronomy 4:24, “For Yahweh your Elohim is a consuming fire; He is a jealous [zealous] El.” So we see that the words “zealous” and “jealous” are alternate translations of both their Greek and Hebrew root words.

Notice how this word is used in the New Testament.“For I am zealous over you with the zealousness of Elohim. For I have promised you to one husband, to present you a pure virgin to Messiah” (2nd Cor 11:2).

In Acts 18:25 we read of a very zealous individual named Apollos. “He had been instructed in the way of Yahweh, and burning with spiritual zeal, he spoke and taught diligently and accurately the things concerning Yahshua, though he was acquainted only with the baptism of John” (Amplified New Testament). The Hebraic Roots version says, “Fervent in Spirit.” Again, the word “fervent” means zealous, jealous or burning. It is that same Greek word—“zelos.”

Jealous or Zealous?

If the Greek word “zelos” can be translated either jealous or zealous, what is the difference? Doesn’t the Bible say that envy and jealously are sin? Yes there is a difference. That difference depends on the attitude—the motivation behind this fervent, heated way of doing things. In today’s world Elohim does not want believers to fall into this tranquilized state of existence. He says, “Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving Yahweh” (Rom 12:11, Amplified New Testament). The Hebraic Roots says, “…fervent in spirit.” It means zealous, burning, hot with energy and zeal for Yahweh’s service.

Do you remember what David said when it was time to attend Yahweh’s Congregation? “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of Yahweh” (Psa 122:1). He had a zealous attitude toward Yahweh. He loved to serve Yahweh and do His will. He was so filled with zeal and service and gratitude toward Yahweh that he would dance before Yahweh even in the sight of other people. He was not ashamed of his ZEAL for Yahweh Almighty!

Laodicean Attitude

What does Yahweh’s name have to do with the Laodicean attitude? How can you tell if you are a Laodicean or close to that attitude? What characterizes the Laodicean Congregation’s attitude?

Yahshua pleads with us to hear His Word to all the Congregations (Rev 3:16). So notice what He says to the Congregation of the Laodiceans. “And to the messenger of the congregation of Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of Yahweh: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold, or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev 3:14-16).

The “cold” refers to unconverted, but the Laodiceans are not unconverted. They are members of Yahweh’s Congregation. They keep Yahweh’s commandments (Rev 12:17). But they are not “hot.” But just what does it mean by “hot”? Actually, the root word for “hot” comes from the Greek word “zeo.” It means “to be hot, be fervid, earnest.” This word is a verb. Its noun is “zelos” which means “zealous, fervent, HOT!

In plain language then, the trouble with the Laodiceans is that they are not zealous! They are lukewarm! “Because you say, I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing, and do not know that you are miserable and a wanderer and poor and blind and naked” (Rev 3:17). These people think they are doing enough. They are complacent. They feel they have studied the Bible enough. They think that if they spend a half hour on their knees that they have really done a service to Yahweh. But even worse, they say they “have need of nothing.”

Have you ever heard people criticize Yahweh’s work today? Many will put it this way: “Why do we need more pages in magazines? I think we have enough. And why do we want to build more buildings for the International congregations? Don’t we have enough? “WE HAVE NEED OF NOTHING.”—Brethren, this type of attitude is a typical LAODICEAN attitude!!

A Laodicean THINKS he needs nothing else. He THINKS he is rich (spiritually as well as physically). He doesn’t realize that he has lost his spiritual zeal—that he is not HOT and burning with zeal to accomplish Yahweh’s Work in this end time. Also, that he is not hot or zealous to overcome his own carnal nature and to serve his brethren. This is what Yahshua Messiah says to Laodiceans: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: BE ZEALOUS [be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal (Amplified New Testament] THEREFORE, AND REPENT!” (Verse 19).

Yahweh wants the Laodiceans to recapture that spark of fire and to let it BURN in service to Him. He wants them to have the attitude of Yahshua Messiah when He saw the money changers in the temple. He wants them to have the attitude of Phinehas when he saw the Israelite defiantly bring the Moabitess into the tabernacle. He wants them to have the attitude of David who was glad when it was time to go to Yahweh’s house for worship. Yahweh wants Laodiceans to have the attitude of Apollos who was FERVENT in carrying out Yahweh’s work. He wants them to have the attitude of Paul who was willing to go through all kinds of hardships because of his “Elohim guided jealously” or INSPIRED ZEAL for Yahweh’s Congregations (2nd Cor 11). Do you have it?!

How Not to Know

There is a way to keep yourself from knowing that you are actually falling into the Laodicean attitude. Actually, the Laodiceans don’t really know that they are Laodiceans—that is, that they are lukewarm and have lost their zeal for Yahweh. But why don’t they know? This involves a fundamental principle of Yahweh’s Word which is violated.

Let’s suppose you have three basins in front of you. The one on the extreme right is filled with almost scalding hot water. The one in the middle has lukewarm water. And the one on the left contains ice-cold water. If you were to dip your left hand first into the ice-cold water, and then, back into the lukewarm water—the lukewarm water would feel hot. Now, if at the same time, you dip your right hand into the scalding hot water for just a second, and then, dip it also into the lukewarm water, the lukewarm water would feel cool or cold.

Actually, if you were to depend upon a comparison between the lukewarm and the cold water for the needed knowledge as to how hot the lukewarm water was, you would be completely deceived. For in comparison with the ice cold water the lukewarm would feel hot. You would not know that it was actually lukewarm. It would indeed seem to be hot.

How hot are you? If you violate this important principle of the Bible, you won’t be able to tell. Yahweh warns us not to open ourselves up for this deception when He gives this principle: “For we dare not rank or compare ourselves with some of those who are proud of themselves; for it is because they MEASURE THEMSELVES BY THEM-SELVES, that they do not understand.” (2nd Cor 10:12).

I should say not! For the violation of this principle enables Satan the Devil to get the upper hand. It leaves you wide open for the Laodicean attitude. For instance: If you, as a truly converted believer were to compare yourself to the worldly people around you in prayer, you would seem to be on fire for Yahweh. Most people don’t pray at all. And most so-called “religious” people pray five minutes a week. Well, look how much more zealous you appear if you pray fifteen or twenty minutes some days.

Average congregational goers give less than $1.00 per week. You certainly would look zealous, hot and fervent if you paid a straight ten percent of your income. Yes, and many brethren compare themselves with one another. “Well,” they say, “old Joe Smith doesn’t know any more about the Bible than I do.” To them this statement means that they are all right—they are zealous. They don’t know that they are “miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked!”

If you begin to compare yourself with others, you are taking the first and biggest step toward the Laodicean attitude. You will DECEIVE YOURSELF into thinking that you are all right, in need of nothing, that you are doing as much as “anyone else.” And it will surely follow that those who lose their zeal will become jealous. Instead of serving zealously in the Congregation, they will begin to slander, impute motives and envy those who are really zealous. How about you? Does someone else’s zeal make you jealous?

The True Standard

There is a true standard by which you can actually measure and which will tell you just where you stand. Yahshua Messiah is that Standard! WE must measure ourselves with Him to see how much we are growing. We must compare ourselves with Him in order to know our spiritual temperature.

Messiah is the Standard of measurement! It is by Him that we must test our zeal. It is next to Him—His perfect life that we must judge whether or not “we are in need of nothing.” Indeed, we are foolish to compare ourselves with ourselves and measure ourselves by ourselves. Let’s measure ourselves with Yahshua Messiah! And then, “BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT!”