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He is Still Knocking

Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
The Apostle John writes this letter from the Island of Patmos. It is a small rocky island about ten miles long and six miles wide.  It is located southwest of Ephesus in the Aegean Sea.  We learn from the early church fathers that John was exiled by the Roman ruler, Domitian and forced to work in the mines that were located on the island.
It was during this time of exile that the Apostle has an encounter with the resurrected Christ of Revelation.  In Revelation 1:10 the Lord commissions the Apostle John to write this revelation in a book and to send it to seven churches. In Revelation 1:12 we find the Lord in the midst of seven golden lampstands, which we learn in verse 20 are the seven churches of Revelation.
These seven churches are located in Asia Minor.  They are located in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.  These cities were strategic cities.  The Lord addresses each of these seven churches individually.  He brings both commendation and correction.
The seven churches are representative of the church throughout the ages. Many Bible scholars teach that each of these churches serve as a prophetical preview of seven great periods in Christendom beginning at Pentecost and continuing until the Rapture.   The last of the seven churches that the Lord addresses is in the city of Laodicea.  This is a very large wealthy city.  The city had a famous hot springs health resort.  There was a medical center that produced a well-known eye salve that was in large demand.
It was to the church in this city that the Lord says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.”  He continues in Revelation 3:16, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” 
This church was wealthy and in need of nothing, yet the Lord describes them as poor, blind, and naked.  He then counsels them to “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”  In Revelation 3:20 He is standing outside the door of the church.  Listen to His words, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

The Lord is standing outside the door of the church today.  He is still knocking.  In the last verses of Revelation 3 He is pleading with this church not to close the door to Him.  He still stands knocking today.  What will our answer be? My prayer is that we will open the door and allow Him to gain entrance.

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