It is not fundamentalism in doctrine that will deliver the saints from deception in the last days. Deliverance will come only by entering the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, and cleaving to Him and depending on Him at all times. Sharing in Christ's power and sufferings is our insurance against being led astray by the deceiver.

The Lord's advice to the Christians in Laodicea. The Lord Jesus Christ has some things to say to the believers in Laodicea.

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. (Revelation 3:18)

The Christians in Laodicea will be wealthy and secure in material things but spiritually impoverished. The Lord counsels them to seek faith that can be purified only in the fires of tribulation in order that they may be rich in the sight of God Almighty.

The believers in Laodicea will be adorned in the finery of the world, admiring one another as they assemble in their ornate structures. But in the spirit realm they will be naked. Christ advises them to be filled with His Presence that they may behave in a righteous manner, thus clothing themselves with white raiment.

The members of the Christian assemblies in Laodicea will be confident that they see and understand the things of the Kingdom of God. The truth is, they will be blind, not seeing the Lord at all and understanding little of the Kingdom. The Lord Jesus warns them to begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit that they may truly see and understand His will for them.

For if these things [the traits of godliness] be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (II Peter 1:8,9)

The Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Babylon all urge the Christian in Laodicea to seek ease, to seek pleasure, and to live sensuously. But the righteous Lord rebukes and chastens those whom He loves.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

Some Christian leaders are telling their followers that a Christian must not repent. They claim that because we have made a profession of faith in Christ we have obtained an eternal amnesty that nothing can injure. No matter what we do, God sees us perfect in Christ. They claim there no longer is a need for repentance, except for the unsaved who are coming to Christ for the first time.

But Revelation 3:19 is addressing the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, not the unsaved community. It is the apathetic Christians in Laodicea who will be rebuked and chastened and who are to be zealous and repent.

These facts are so clearly stated it appears that those who attempt to refute them are willfully leading themselves and their followers into destruction.

To be continued.