# 19 - Laodicea

Poems for the seven churches in Revelation

John, I tell of Seven churches, who are shown as seven lamps
Some have been commendable, but some are scamps
It would be nice to you to visit them, with dinner and hobnobbing
But for now you’ll write a letter, as a big round robin

## to the church in **Ephesus**

I respect the fact that actually act
And test the words of apostles
And finding them lies, close your ears and your eyes
and reject deceits colossal!
But **you**'ve abandoned **your** first love
The **pass**ion for the pigeon of the **ho**ly old dove
Re**mem**ber that love, re**pent** and be a region
That's re**now**ned for loving Jesus with a **pass**ion that's Ephesian!

Listen, **if** you are victorious, you’ll eat from a tree
In a paradisal garden where your God will be.

## to the church in Smyrna

Smyrna, babe, get ready for testing.
You’re doing great, but the cops’ll come arresting.
They’re gonna shoot you up, gonna knock you down
Just be **faith**ful, even unto death, you’ll get a victor’s crown.

I know that’s not what anybody wants to hear, soz.
But you’ll escape the second death, and that’s a good ‘because’.

## to the church in Pergamum

You had great faith, I reckonned you were based man,
But **I** don’t rate the **state** of you now, **Perg**amum, you wasteman
Your Mission’s quittin listenin to quotations Nicolatian
despite the Incarnation, what you’re missing brings damnation
Damn, your nation should be hatin,
You’re the throneroom of the Satan
But idolatrous libations are the source of your hydration,
While I’m waiting you’re gyrating and I smell adulteration!
Don’t wait, I say again, objurgate the Nicolatians,
Don’t hesitate, dear Pergagmum you’re making me impatient.

Listen up, guys, this is the word of the Lord
And kindly keep in mind that I am handy with a sword.

## to the church in Thyatira

church of Thyatira, your prayers are desultory,
Jehova Jirah knows that you’re caught up in adultery
**you’re eating up baloney,** you’re falling to idolatry,
Your faith is looking phoney, did you buy it from a Dollar Tree?
The devil’s in your smalls, and you cast off your apparel
When Satan **has** you by the balls, give him both barrels

Open your ears. Make Jesus your priority:
And they who are victorious will rule with authority.

## to the church in Sardis

You seemed alive but you’re dead dead dead
You put a pretty face on but your heart is made of lead.
You timed-out browsers, you’re soiling all your trousers,
You need to get out of bed.
There are still a few in Sardis whose clothes got washed
I’ll speak of them to God and when this world gets squashed
They’ll live for evermore, but I’m inclined to just ignore
The sleepy, slack and slovenly and sloshed.
See your standards? Pick ‘em up.
If you’ve got ears, better prick ‘em up.

## to the church in Philedelphia

Oh, a church could hardly be healthier
Than the **one** that is lo**ca**ted, in **Phil**adelphia!
Listen up folk, I know it sounds odd,
But you could be a pillar in the temple of God

## to the church in Laodicea

You are neither cold nor hot
Hardly north, hardly south
Because you are so luke-warm
I spit you out of my mouth.
Because you’re saying
'I am rich, I need nothing’
You’ll wind up naked!
You’re neither sommat nor nowt!
If you won’t warm up you’ll never make it!
It’s getting so luke-warm in here
That it's gotta be the church of Laodicea.
I stand at the door and knock knock knock
If you hear my voice, OPEN THE DOOR