"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." {Rev. 3:20}
This verse is addressed to the Laodicean church—God’s people in the last days who are self-satisfied, “rich and increased with goods,” but spiritually blind, poor, and naked (Rev. 3:17). Christ is outside, knocking, longing for fellowship, but the door must be opened from the inside.
1. Hearing the Voice of Christ
“If any man hear My voice…”
The first condition is sensitivity to His voice through the Word and Spirit.
Bible: “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15).
SOP: “The voice of God is heard in His Word. Those who hear, if they will, may open the door of the heart” (COL 412.2).
SRod: The Rod explains that Laodiceans often reject the present truth, but only those who heed Christ’s knock—His timely message—will open the door and let Him in (1TG 42:23).
2. Conviction of Need (Humility and Repentance)
Christ knocks, but the heart will only open when a person recognizes their wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked condition (Rev. 3:17).
Bible: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Ps. 34:18).
SOP: “The Laodicean message is applicable to all who have had great light and many privileges, and yet have not walked in the light… Their only hope is to see their true condition, and repent” (4T 87.2).
SRod: The message to Laodicea is God’s last call to His church before purification. Only those who acknowledge their need will open their hearts to Christ’s entrance (2TG 11:13).
3. Acceptance of Christ’s Counsel
Jesus counsels Laodicea to buy:
Gold tried in the fire (faith and love),
White raiment (Christ’s righteousness),
Eyesalve (spiritual discernment).
SOP: “The great Redeemer represents Himself as a heavenly merchantman… He invites them to buy of Him the true riches” (RH, Mar. 11, 1902).
SRod: Accepting the present truth message is the only way to receive the “eyesalve” that heals Laodicean blindness (SRod, Vol. 1, p. 240).
4. Personal Decision and Surrender
“If any man… open the door.” Christ never forces entry; the human will must yield.
Bible: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:15).
SOP: “The heavenly Guest is standing at your door… He honors you with His presence. Shall we refuse to open the door of the heart?” (COL 235.2).
SRod: God will not save anyone against his will; the choice to open to Christ is individual and voluntary (1TG 10:18).
5. Fellowship and Obedience
When the heart is opened, Christ enters for communion and fellowship. He “sups” with the believer—a symbol of intimate relationship.
Bible: “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
SOP: “The presence of Christ in the soul is a vitalizing power, strengthening every faculty, quickening the entire being” (DA 388.1).
SRod: When Christ enters, He reigns as King, preparing the believer to be part of the Kingdom subjects (2TG 41:18).
The heart will be opened to Christ when:
We hear His voice through His Word and Spirit.
We recognize our true condition and repent.
We receive His counsel—faith, righteousness, spiritual discernment.
We personally surrender our will and open the door.
We walk in fellowship and obedience as Christ reigns within.
This is the final appeal of Christ to His church before the close of probation. The Laodicean who responds opens the door not only to communion with Christ now, but also to citizenship in His soon-coming Kingdom.