Page 363 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

LANTERN - LAUGHTER

LANTERN. A burning lamp or torch (Jn. 18:3). [See Fornication, Jesting, Lust, Modesty, Nakedness, Sodomy,
Lamp.] Wanton.]
LAODICEA. The location of one of the seven LASEA (stony). Ac. 27:8.
churches of Asia addressed by Christ in the book of LASHA (for delight). Ge. 10:19.
Revelation (Re. 1:11; 3:14-22). This church was already LASHARON (for a great plain). Jos. 12:18.
apostate (Re. 3:18). The apostasy began in the first
century and has increased through the church age (2 Ti. LAST DAYS. The last days began with the apostles (1
3:5; 4:3-4). Laodicea is located about 40 miles south of Ti. 4:1; 2 Ti. 3:1; He. 1:2; 1 Pe. 1:20; 1 Jn. 2:18). It also
and a little east of Philadelphia and 18 miles west of includes the Tribulation (Je. 30:23-24), the regathering
Colosse, Laodicea was a large and important city in and conversion of Israel (Jo. 3:5), the return and
John’s time. It was situated upon six or seven hills about glorious reign of Christ (Is. 2:2-5; Mi. 4:1-7), the
a mile and a half from the small river Lycus. It was resurrection (Jn. 11:25), and the final judgment of the
located on the crossroads of the most important unsaved (Jn. 12:48). [See Day of the Lord, Great
highway running from Ephesus to the east. The road Tribulation, Prophecy, Millennium, Resurrection, Second
entered the city on the west through the Ephesian Gates Coming.]
and left the city on the east by the Syrian Gates. The city LAST END. The end (Nu. 23:10).
was the residence of the Roman governors of Asia under LASTING. Ancient; durable (De. 33:15).
the emperors and had magnificent public buildings, a LATCHET. The thong or strap of a sandal (Is. 5:27;
large stadium, and three marble theaters, one of which Mk. 1:7).
was 450 feet in diameter. It was famous for its wealth. It LATTER DAY. Same as the Last Days (Nu. 24:14; De.
was a banking and trading center. It has been called the 4:30; 31:29; Je. 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; 49:39; Eze.
“Wall Street” of Asia Minor. It was so wealthy that when 38:8,16; Da. 2:28; 10:14; Ho. 3:5; 1 Ti. 4:1). [See Last
the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 61 A.D. the Days, Prophecy.]
citizens rejected the help of the Roman government and LATTER DAY SAINTS. [See Mormons.]
rebuilt at their own expense. It was a clothing and
fashion center. The fine glossy black wool of its sheep LATTER END. The end (Nu. 24:20).
was known far and wide. One thing made from this was LATTICE. Latticework, made by crossing laths or
a soft wool tunic called trimita, which was extremely other material across an opening, served a threefold
popular (William Ramsay, The Letters to the Seven purpose: privacy; ventilation; decoration (Ju. 5:28; Pr.
Churches). The city was also devoted to sports and 7:6; 2 Ki. 1:2) (Compact).
music. The enclosed stadium 1,000 feet in length served LAUD. To applaud; worship (Ro. 15:11).
for gladiatorial games as well as musical contests. The LAUGHTER. Convulsive merriment; an expression of
city was given over to idolatry, worshipping Zeus, mirth peculiar to man, consisting in a peculiar noise and
Dionysus, Helios (the sun), Athena, Aphrodite, and configuration of features, with a shaking of the sides
others (Yamauchi, New Testament Cities in Western Asia and expulsion of breath (Webster) (Ec. 3:4). There are
Minor). There was a renowned school of medicine there, 40 references to laughter in the Bible.—34 in the O.T.
where a popular Phrygian powder for weak and sick and 6 in the N.T. (1) Scornful laughter. This type of
eyes was manufactured. The ancient city of Laodicea laughter is connected with unbelief or mocking and
was abandoned and eventually covered with dirt. derision (Ge. 17:17; 18:12-13, 15; 21:6; 2 Ki. 19:21; 2
Archaeological excavations have begun only recently, Ch. 30:10; Ne. 2:19; Job 9:23; 12:4; 22:19; 41:29;
but much has been uncovered, including bath houses, 52:6; 80:6; Pr. 29:9; Eze. 23:32; Mt. 9:24; Mk. 5:40; Lk.
the foundations of major buildings, fountains, theaters, 8:53). The witnesses to Christ’s crucifixion laughed him
temples, gates, and two of the colonnaded streets. [See to scorn (Ps. 22:7). God will laugh at the unrepentant
Apostasy, Prophecy, Roman Catholic Church, Tares, wicked (Ps. 2:4; 37:13; 59:8; Pr. 1:26; Is. 37:22). (2)
Timothy.] Joyful laughter (Job 8:21; Lk. 6:21). This is the laughter
LASCIVIOUS. Immorality (Mk. 7:22; 2 Co. 12:21; associated with true happiness and good cheer and
Ga. 5:19; Ep. 4:19; 1 Pe. 4:3; Jude 4). It refers to lack of satisfaction. (3) Victorious laughter (Job 5:22; Ps.
moral restraint, shameless conduct. It has been defined 126:2). (4) Worldly laughter (Pr. 14:13; Ec. 2:2; 7:3, 6;
as “the stirring up of lustful desires which cannot be 10:19; Lk. 6:25; Ja. 4:9 ). This is laughter connected
satisfied within God’s boundaries” (Bunnell). The Greek with sinful behavior. Commenting on Ja. 4:9, Adam
word (aselgeia) is also translated “filthy” (2 Pe. 2:7) and Clarke notes, “It appears most evidently that many of
“wantonness” (Ro. 13:13; 2 Pe. 2:18). In 2 Pe. 2:7 this those to whom James addressed this Epistle had lived
word refers to the moral perversion of Sodom. [See very irregular and dissolute lives. He had already
Adultery, Concupiscence, Filthy Communication, spoken of their lust and pleasures, and he had called

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 363