Roughly 2000 years ago John the apostle wrote:

1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is a hand.

A serious question in all this "reconsideration" is how does it reveal to us Jesus Christ and His testimony? A testimony that enables us to overcome the dragon by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. Rev. 12:11

How can turning Revelation from a historicist view point, into a futuristic view point make it a reliable prophecy? There needs to be a foundation in order to find understanding,

Has anyone considered that the trumpets lay out the history for us to look back upon and learn, because, yes, HISTORY will repeat, (not prophecy but history repeats) and we all know the saying, it is those who refuse to learn from history who are bound to repeat it.
Each of the trumpets reveals something about people's response or rather distortion or rejection of the gospel, throughout history and it's non-redemptive and destructive results.
Now it is true that in the end every form of evil power will unite to overthrow truth. But what are these key forms of power? I believe the trumpets have already revealed them.



What are the "modes of deception" that evil angels have developed as the best modes of deception over the centuries?
The fact that the plagues allude to them all being active in the last struggle does NOT mean they were not developed in historic sequence in the past. We don't have to destroy their relevance in the past, to know every form of evil is to spring into intense activity in the end.

However, as we look at the historic progression it can "remind us that other believers also have drunk of the cup and been baptized with the baptism. He who sustained these early witnesses to the truth will not forsake His people in the final conflict." {CTr 314.2}

Revelation is very much about Christ and the sanctuary truths -- but where in this reconsideration is Christ, as He takes His place as our high priest, and pours out the first Pentecost upon His church, and begins His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary? Rev. 4 and 5 is not about judgement, it's all about Christ beginning the sanctuary message of DELIVERANCE. It begins with great consternation (NOT about who will execute judgment on sinners, as all sinners are already doomed due to their sin) the consternation shows that all hope of salvation is gone if no one is found to open the book of covenant. Then Jesus Who has completed the sacrifice, ratifying the covenant with His own blood, opened the door of salvation. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Everyone rejoices with great joy, singing His praises day and night!

Revelation 8:2-5 also gives an outline of Christ's whole sanctuary work. Beginning with His work in the Holy Place before the altar of incense as He mediates for the saints, then He takes the coals from the altar and puts them in the censor. Something that was done every year by the high priest BEFORE He entered the Most Holy Place. He would carry the censor with Him into the Holy Place, as it poured forth smoke of incense throughout the Most Holy. It's only once that phase ministry is done that the censor is cast down . Thus we see Christ, first in Holy Place, then preparing to enter the Most Holy, it's only once He is finished and comes out, that the censor is thrown down.
And notice: The angels were given the trumpets already in verse 2. These are two sequences, that happen at the same time, they run parallel. All the time the trumpets are warning people to turn away from evil, Christ is ministering in the sanctuary, mediating for the people, it's not until the END of the seventh trumpet that we see both these sequences ending with thunder, lightning, earthquake, etc. (Rev. 8:5 and Rev. 11:19) They start together and end together.

Revelation covers the WHOLE sanctuary doctrine, repeatedly, not just the investigative judgment. The churches, seals, and trumpets all announce the investigative judgment at the end of their sequence, they cover both the time of Christ's ministry in the holy and then the Most Holy.
Churches -- 6th church, Christ moves to open one door of the sanctuary and closes the first. Indicating the time of the great disappointment when Christ moves from the Holy to the Most Holy. The seventh is the church living during the investigative judgment who are either "spewed out" if not with Christ, or promised to sit with Christ on His throne if they cherish His presence here on earth.
Seals -- 5th seal has martyrs, who have not yet received judgment, they are crying out for judgment, given "white robes" told to wait. The 6th seal reveals the signs announcing the beginning of judgement, and revealing the outcome, with the unsealed running in terror from Christ, while the sealed receive salvation and stand on the sea of glass.
7th Trumpet -- the time has come of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward... the Most Holy Place is opened to view.

They all cover the full time from Christ's return to heaven until His second coming.

THE ROLE OF THE LAST CHURCH
Where is the prophecy concerning the development of the last church in all of this?
Did God raise a last church with a special message?
That prophecy is there in a powerful way, IF one sees things in a historicist manner.
The church with the three angel's message, comes into existence AFTER the sixth trumpet.
The great disappointment, the formation of the Adventist church, and it's sanctuary message, as well as it's 3 angel message, is clearly revealed in Rev. 10 and the first part of 11. God's last church (Seventh-day Adventist church) is formed after the 1260 years have ended.
This is all clearly confirmed in Ellen White's writings, who also clearly tells us the seventh trumpet began in 1844.
She identifies the "seven thunders" in Rev. 10 as beginning in 1842, involved in raising awareness of the coming "judgment hour" (ushering in, and obviously part of the seventh trumpet).

Yes, they wanted to have the "dominion" in their own hands. Christ came proclaiming, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand". The authority of God and His Law is to be implanted in hearts and souls in a kingdom motivated by God's love, where people are citizen's of a heavenly dominion.

The ruling class could sense their whole official position would no longer be needed! No more need for a high priest, Christ would now be their High Priest, no more sanctuary services with it's sacrifices and multitude of rituals, for Christ was the Passover Lamb, the all sufficient sacrifice. In their day, the priests were the ruling class. They had considerable authority over the people. They were the teachers and instructors of the people. They felt they were the judges of the people, knowing who was in God's favor and who was not.

They profited from their corruption turning the needy from their right, and obscuring God's love for the poor. The love of God was concealed from sinners, and men made merchandise of God's grace.
What they wanted was a king who would acknowledge and elevate their power, remove the Romans and let them (the priestly, authoritive class) handle the people. They could see that if Christ had His way their whole priestly privileges, position' and authority would be replaced.

Interesting title at the head of this thread. I could not find the sermon by David Gates, but the title causes one to think.

The Church of Laodicea, will it die?
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

This is what the Amen says:,
Amen means "this is true," "so it shall be," "I agree". For us to say Amen is "affirming the truth of what was said".

But how is "Amen" the name of One Who is speaking?
John 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life
John 18:37 for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.:
Jesus is the ultimate truth, His words are truth, He bears witness unto truth.
He is the faithful and true witness.
He is Creator of all things. The First and the Last

It is He Who says:
This Laodicea church is neither cold nor hot, but a nauseating lukewarm that is about to be "spued" out.

So the answer to the first question:
The Church of Laodicea, will it die? The answer is yes, if it remains in that condition it will die.


But the message doesn't end in verse 16.

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


Jesus loves the Laodicean church!
He's not speaking in anger, but in tender hearted appeal. He greatly desires the Laodicean's to repent and come to Him Who can re-created their hearts and lives and fill them with all the good things He has to offer for their salvation and eternal happiness!

So what is the problem with Laodicea from which they need to repent?

Rev. 3:17 They say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that they art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

This is probably the most deceptive sin a person can find themselves in. They are not active in open sin, they are good church going people. They may even by teachers and hold leadership position within the church. They know Bible verses to defend their doctrines. They know the Bible stories, they know about Jesus. They think they have all they need.

So what is the problem?
Are they missing the life giving presence of Jesus in their daily lives.
Just like Nicodemus, they must be born again.
This includes recognizing our need for the "true gold" of Christ's truth (temporal "gold" they have accumulated may seem to offer security but it won't carry anyone through to Christ's kingdom) ,
Recognizing our need for Christ's robe of righteousness, realizing that all our righteousness is as fifthly rags is absolutely necessary, we need His robe of righteousness.
Recognizing our need for eye salve to see what is of God and what is of human nature.

It means dying to self and no longer placing self's achievements as merits to make us worthy of eternal life.
It means recognizing our need to totally depend on Christ, to invite Him into every aspect of our lives, and having a meaningful daily relationship with Him.
Christ needs to be our all in all.

Yes, Laodicea needs to die, the self centered spirit of Laodicea needs to die within us -- within our minds and hearts, by inviting Jesus fully into our lives, by throwing open wide the door and inviting Him in.
If He is the master of our lives, the Laodicea effect will die, and we will be on fire for Him.

Not only will we walk with Him here, following Him where ever He leads, but will reign with Him in eternity!!!

Jesus has the means to rid us of the Laodicean effect, and He promises to give us what we need, if only we accept Him fully into our lives. Sadly those who are too comfortable in the lukewarm state of Laodicea and resist this loving, tender appeal to open wide the door and invite Him in, will eventually be spued out.