The difference between the church of Laodicea and the Wife of the Lamb is brought into focus as soon as we consider the new creation—that of which the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is the Beginning. The church of Laodicea consists of religious men and women who believe, to a certain extent, in the theological facts concerning Jesus and who work together to promote in the earth what they believe to be the will of Christ concerning mankind.

The Wife of the Lamb does not consist of religious men and women, except in an exterior, "husk" sense. The inner life of the Wife of the Lamb has been born of God. It is not of the world. The members do not work together to promote in the earth what they think is Christ's will concerning mankind, except as a by-product of something totally different in essence from anything experienced by the church of Laodicea.

The Wife of the Lamb is a new creation. She has died with Christ on the cross and has risen with Christ in newness of life. She is seated in Christ at the right hand of the Father.

The world understands the church of Laodicea very well. The world does not understand the Wife of the Lamb. The world does not understand the new creation.

The world and the church of Laodicea are of the first creation. They both consist of human beings who are attempting to lead a happy, productive life. The world understands very well indeed the attempts of the Laodicean church to raise money and gain members.

The Bride of the Lamb is a part of God. She belongs to another world, another Kingdom. She was born into the present world, and then was born again into another world. It is the profit of the second world that she is seeking. Therefore she is the archenemy, not the friend, of the world. She soon has reason to know that whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4).

The members of the Laodicean churches will talk about being born again and about the new creation. But to them these are points of doctrine, not a new life. The Laodicean never has laid down his life in Christ to the extent that the new life of the Kingdom of God has taken over his thoughts, words, and deeds. He assents to such experiences, but they are doctrines to be believed, not radical changes in his image, his relationships, and in the manner in which he achieves accomplishment and rulership.

In order to enter the new creation an individual must be crucified and then raised with Christ. The crucifixion and resurrection take place every day of his life. They are painful to the natural man, to the old nature, to the first creation.

The concept of suffering in Christ is the opposite of what Laodicea is in spirit, of what Laodicea believes and teaches. Laodicea views the Gospel of Christ as making man immediately happy and prosperous. The idea of delayed gratification of desires in the hope of achieving joy in some future time and place is distasteful and unrealistic. The idea of laying aside one's life and patiently following Christ in cross-carrying obedience and patience does not come as good news to the Laodicean.

To be continued.