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QUESTION 26:
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." What does this verse mean?

ANSWER:
This verse is often used to preach the gospel, and has been used much of God in the salvation of sinners. However, the application of a verse is not necessarily the meaning. There are often many applications of a verse, but usually just one meaning. Sometimes we miss what the Lord wants us to know by using applications, instead of meanings. The meaning is very clear in the context. The church of Laodicea is prophetically the church of the last days, prior to the Lord's return. It is self-sufficient, rich, and knows not that it is wretched, poor, blind, and naked. It answers well to the many churches of our days that have departed from the faith, now only existing for earthly gains and values. Revelation 3:19-20 is an appeal to the individual Christian to repent, let the Lord Jesus into his life so there can be fellowship with Him. It answers well to this verse. "But if we walk in the light, as he (God) is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.." 1 John 1:7. That is with the Lord.

In the New Testament there was a call to the believers, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Hebrews 13:13. The camp there is Judaism. The camp in our day is the Laodicean churches that have fallen away from the faith and are being formed into an ecumenical union that fit well the system described in Revelation 17, as Babylon the Great. The Lord's people should be identified with the Lord Jesus alone, and not the corruption that prevails everywhere.

Are you among the Lord's people? Only if you have taken your place as a lost sinner and received Christ as your Saviour. Why not do that today? "Repent and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen