What do I imagine when I hear the expression “eyesalve”? Most likely, it brings to mind some medicinal preparation in a tube, bottle, or jar that can be applied to the skin around the eyes or to the eyeballs themselves.
But what is symbolized by the eyesalve in the book of Revelation, which Christ counsels me to buy so that I may anoint my eyes with it?
We read in Revelation 3:18: “And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Jesus offers me something from the Heavenly treasury with which to anoint my eyes, after which I will begin to see what I did not see before. Prior to this, the Lord declares that I am blind. He does not mean physical blindness, but spiritual blindness. The Savior assures me that His salve will heal this affliction. Jesus once healed a blind man by making clay from a mixture of His saliva and earth. After anointing the blind man’s eyes, Christ commanded him to wash. The man returned seeing.
What blinds a person? We read in Ecclesiastes 2:13–14: “Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness.”
Spiritual blindness means sin, which blinds a person and makes him foolish. When the serpent tempted our first parents, he declared that their eyes would be opened and they would become as gods. In reality, when Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened as a result of the Fall, they saw that they were naked.
The Laodicean’s problem is that, despite all the abundance of light and knowledge, he chooses darkness, which makes him foolish and blind. How else can I be described when, possessing the fullness of truth, an abundance of revelations, purity of doctrine, and deep knowledge of the Word, I turn toward the world, come under its influence, and try to mix burning truth with the coldness of spiritual Babylon? Only a foolish and blind person could do such a thing. Jesus calls me precisely that and offers a way out of this situation. Merely acknowledging my blindness will not give me sight. I need the Divine anointing with the clay He offers me. The Lord counsels me to treat my eyes. My eyes symbolize my mind, which chooses either wisdom and light or foolishness and darkness. Proverbs 17:24 states: “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Eyesalve is Heavenly wisdom given to me so that I may understand clearly what is happening to me, where I am, Whose I am, who I am, and how to escape the situation in which I find myself.
The Lord counsels me not only to buy the salve but also to apply it to my eyes. The very word “anointing” has profound meaning in the spiritual world. It signifies the consecration of the anointed person to a ministry appointed by God and to a special vision and understanding of what is taking place. Wisdom speaks of herself in Proverbs 8:22–23: “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” Wisdom possesses a special Divine anointing by which she makes wise those who receive her.
I had previously understood the symbol of eyesalve as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but I could not understand why I receive this gift in such a particular way. Yet it was precisely through the influence of the Holy Spirit that I saw my sins, repented, learned to fulfill the requirements of the law, clung to Jesus, and realized my true condition. The Holy Spirit is directing the writing of these words now, and afterward He reveals their true meaning to those who read them. Without the influence and blessing of the Holy Spirit, all wisdom will become foolishness, lead to pride and vanity, and plunge the soul into destruction and darkness. When Jesus counsels me to anoint my eyes with eyesalve so that I may see, He expects the Holy Spirit to transform my mind. This will happen when I consent to this work and begin taking steps in that direction. Divine wisdom opens my spiritual eyes so that I may see and understand what I did not know before.
I understand what it means to possess gold tried in the fire and what it means to have white raiment. I understand the advantage these gifts give me. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, wisdom teaches me to love, strengthens my faith, and reveals to me the depth of the knowledge of God and the power of His authority in me and through me.
The Heavenly anointing clothes me with Heavenly authority, which is my special identifying mark in the spiritual world. The enemy of souls also sees this anointing and furiously attacks me with all his temptations. He desires to plunge me into Laodicean darkness. He does not prevent me from studying the truth, but tries to keep my eyes closed so that I remain blind. If it were not for God’s protection, what would become of all of us?
Eyesalve possesses healing properties for the human mind. The mind was damaged while under the influence of the world and the carnal nature, but God’s Spirit gives the believer discernment and helps him notice all the previously hidden details in the plan of his salvation.
The Spirit of God uses a person to reveal through him to others the beauty of the plan of salvation, the beauty of God’s character, the purity of God’s holiness, and the power of God’s love and wisdom. The Lord desires His faithful children to have sight. Through such believers, He can pour His light into the lives of other people who sit in darkness.
Where can a blind person lead other blind people? Into the pit of sin and error. Laodicea is a city of blind, naked, poor, unhappy, and wretched children of God who, despite possessing so many spiritual advantages over their predecessors, prefer to remain in the darkness, from which they watch those who are trying to come into the light. The Laodicean’s greatest achievement is that he agrees with the description given to him by the Faithful and True Witness. He does not dispute that he is naked; he does not object to being called blind and poor. But what can a sleeping person do for himself?
Yet Jesus does not leave His people in this condition. He sends a message to Laodicea. The Lord comes to every son and daughter of God and knocks. He offers His goods and sends His messengers to those who are blind so that they may turn their gaze toward Him.
The Lord knows what storm of trials is approaching and what tribulation will soon come upon the whole world. And who will be able to stand? We must have the right answer to this question in order to be among those who endure the trials. Once our planet was sentenced to destruction by the waters of the Flood. Everyone was warned, but only the few who heeded God’s counsel and entered the ark were saved. The doors of grace were open to all; everyone heard the call to salvation, but deliverance came to those whose eyes were anointed with eyesalve. These people had faith that God’s prophecies concerning the Flood would be fulfilled, and their wisdom helped them make the right decisions at the right time. It saved them from death.
But as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, and took no thought.
They took no thought! What are Laodiceans thinking about now? How to become richer and survive in this world of sin. But the wise among them took oil in their vessels.
All Heaven is now watching a world sleeping in sin. Vanity of vanities has swallowed everyone. Sin stands upon a pedestal, and the kings of the earth compel people to worship and serve it. But the Lord offers a remedy that gives life. And who will hear this voice?
Homework 87
What new things did you learn from this lesson? How do you understand the expression “eyesalve”? Why is it so important to possess this salve in the last days? Why did Jesus call the sleeping virgins wise and foolish? What do the words “anoint thine eyes” mean for me? Please read Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 16:8–9; John 9:5–7; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; 1 John 2:20; and Proverbs 8:1–21 in the light of our lesson.