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The Last Letter

The Lord's last words to a church are those that he directed toward the church in Laodicea. Of the seven apocalyptic letters, it is the most dramatic and the most painful. Whatever its interpretation be -like an x-ray of the whole of Christianity before the Lord's Second Coming, or as representative of a specific sector of Christianity-, its message touches the most intimate fibers of those who love Him who is rejected and left standing outside the door. Nor could anyone cease examining oneself in particular to see how, and in what measure, they could be falling into the disgrace of that church.

We have gathered diverse material in this issue -diverse authors, contexts and times-but all with one sense. How does this affect us, and how does the Lord hope we will react to His message to Laodicea? We have added, to the articles of our collaborators, the lucid analysis that Watchman Nee makes of Philadelphia and Laodicea, two united churches, yet so different; and also in the Scottish preacher's inspired text, T. Austin-Sparks gives us the keys to solve one of the serious problems of Laodicea: its blindness which prevents it from seeing its lamentable condition.

We finish this third year of the magazine "Aguas Vivas" with a deep sense of gratitude to the Lord to have allowed us to arrive to several thousands of Christians of Hispanic speech. We also thank our readers who have sent us excited words of encouragement on many occasions. We hope-if the Lord pleases-to begin the fourth year of "Aguas Vivas" with a rejuvenated format, with more solid contents and with renovated strength. So that the purpose of "edifying the saints for the work of the ministry" is completed more fully in these days, previous to Lord's glorious coming for his beloved.