Revelation 3:14-22 (Laodicea)

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Introduction

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

This week we reach Jesus’ seventh and final letter to the churches, his letter to the church in Laodicea. This letter is probably the most well known of the seven letters, to Christians today, followed by Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia that we looked at last week. These seven churches were meant to represent the church at large in the first century, leading up to the great tribulation that would come upon the whole earth in just a few short years. These letters were intended to prepare the churches for what would shortly take place. Therefore, we’ll see hereafter the events of this great tribulation described and anticipated, Christ’s judgment and triumph over the devil and his two beasts, the Roman Empire and apostate Israel. That at the first coming of Christ, his death and resurrection, had overcome the devil, that Christ had ascended to his throne and that his kingdom would triumph.
So, today, let’s begin by looking at this letter to the church in Laodicea, starting there in verse 14,

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

The city of Laodicea was founded in 260 BC, by the Greek king Antiochus II, and the city was named after his wife, Laodice. The city was located within the Lycus River Valley and positioned at the crossroads of several trade routes. It was a center for banking and commerce, and by the first century when Laodicea was under Roman rule it had become known for its wealth, in fact, it may have been the wealthiest city in Asia. For example, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake in the first century, the Roman historian, Tacitus, wrote, “Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us” (Tacitus, Annals, xiv.276)
Like the other cities in Asia Minor it was dominated by the Roman Imperial Cult (i.e. Caesar worship), and their chief pagan deities were Zeus and Asclepius (uh-sklee-pee-us), the god of healing, and patron of the city’s famous medial school. Just as we saw in Pergamum, the symbol of Asclepius (uh-sklee-pee-us) was a snake twined around a pole, which, of course, is still a familiar medial icon today.
Within the context of the NT, the church in Laodicea was likely founded by a co-worker and companion of the Apostle Paul - a man named Epaphras. Epaphras is mentioned in Paul’s letter to Philemon as his “fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus”, and then again in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Paul writes in Colossians 1:7-8,

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

and then again at the end of his letter in Colossians 4:12-13, when Paul mentions Laodicea specifically,

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

Laodicea was only 6 miles to the south of Hierapolis, and 10 miles to the west of Colossae. Epaphras would have passed through Laodicea when traveling between Colossae and Hierapolis. Paul even goes on in his letter to the Colossians to say in chapter 4, verses 14-16,

14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

So, the church in Laodicea isn’t only mentioned here in John’s Apocalypse, but also in two of Paul’s own letters. In fact, it may be implied here that Paul wrote a letter specifically to the church in Laodicea, or that his letter to Ephesus had been forwarded on to Laodicea, which those in Colossae were instructed to read.

Prologue

Now, with that, read again with me verse 14,

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

Jesus calls himself the Amen, that his words are true, that he is the God of truth, and that he is the faithful and true witness. Probably contrasting himself with the unfaithful and ineffective witness of the church in Laodicea. And that he is the beginning of God’s creation, not that he was the first of God’s creation (as though he were created), but that he is the source, or first cause of all creation.

Lukewarm & ineffective

Then in verse 15 he tells the church in Laodicea,

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

As I mentioned earlier Laodicea was positioned between two other cities, Hierapolis to the north and Colossae to the east. Hierapolis was known for its mineral hot springs and Colossae was known for it’s cold drinking water coming from nearby mountain streams. Whereas, Laodicea was more than 5 miles from its nearest water source, therefore water had to be piped into the city by siphoning it from distant springs. In fact, the city’s clay pipes and aqueduct systems can still be seen today.
The mineral hot springs of Hierapolis were considered medicinal, and the cold drinking water in Colossae was seen as refreshing. In the ancient world both hot and cold water were considered beneficial to one’s health. However, because Laodicea had to pipe their water in from afar, by the time the water reached the city it was lukewarm, dirty, and barely drinkable.
And so Jesus uses these circumstances to draw an analogy between the lukewarm water of the city and the works of the church in Laodicea. He says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. And I wish that you were either cold or hot!” Now, Jesus isn’t saying that he would rather them be either spiritually zealous (hot) or spiritually antagonistic (cold), but that their works would at least bring spiritual healing or refreshment, just like the hot springs of Hierapolis or the cold drinking water at Colossae. He is not saying that apostasy is preferable to being lukewarm, but that the works of the church in Laodicea should have a spiritual impact upon their city.
However, their works, had become lukewarm, neither medicinal or refreshing, good for nothing and for no one. The church had become ineffective in their work. You might say they had lost their saltiness, that their works were no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. The church’s witness had become lukewarm, it had blended in with the pagan culture around it, it had been corrupted and compromised. Their witness was no longer of any value to those in Laodicea. Therefore, like lukewarm water, they had become distasteful and nauseating in the Lord’s mouth. He says there in verse 16, “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Application

One of the lies that’s prevalent within the church today is that we must become like the world in order to win the world, that in certain ways we must compromise to reach others for Christ. Now, most of us don’t think of it like that or in those terms, but many times I’ve heard professing Christians justify sinful conduct or false teaching as a means to reach unbelievers. Participating in activities and with unbelievers that are either sinful or give the appearance of sin, and justifying their actions by claiming that Jesus ate with sinners, or that Paul "[became] all things to all people”.
However, Jesus eating with sinners or Paul becoming all things to all people was not intended as a prescription to compromise. When Jesus dined with sinners he did not become like them, he called them to repentance. The Apostle Paul didn’t call us to be all things to all people and mean that were to live worldly lives in order to impress the world, so that they might hear the Gospel. No, compromise doesn’t win the world, compromise makes us like the world. While we are certainly sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel, we are never intended to become like the world to win the world, rather we’re sent into the world to be faithful witnesses. This doesn’t mean that we’re not to be sensitive to the cultures around us, or that we’re not to be kind to our unbelieving neighbors or coworkers, but that our proclamation must be faithful.
Our culture is constantly challenging our faithfulness to Christ. Will we tolerate sexual immorality within the church? Will we tolerate fornication within the church? Will we embrace homosexuality within the church? Will we embrace so-called homosexual marriage? Will we embrace transgenderism within the church? Will we embrace an androgynous culture within the church? Will we embrace the redefining of men and women’s roles within the church and home? Will we embrace modern ideologies like social justice and critical race theory? Will we tolerate abortion within the church? Will we tolerate idolatry within the church? Or will we be faithful witnesses? We must remember that compromise doesn’t win the world, compromise makes us like the world. If you intend to have any spiritual impact upon the world, compromise will ruin it every time, and lead ultimately to the Lord spitting you out of his mouth.

Lest the land vomit you out

You might recall the Israelites, while they were in the wilderness, they were warned of what would happen if they became unclean like the nations in Canaan. We read this in Leviticus 18:24-28,

24 “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, 25 and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you 27 (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), 28 lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

We have the greatest impact upon the world when we’re faithful witnesses, not willing to compromise. The church is the most effective when it is most faithful.

Rich but spiritually bankrupt

Now, let’s continue there in verse 17,

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

The church in Laodicea stood in contrast to the church in Smyrna. Jesus said in Revelation 2:9 to Smyrna, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)”. They’re the flip opposite of Laodicea. Laodicea possessed monetary wealth and had experienced earthly prosperity, but they didn’t realize that they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Whereas, Smyrna did not possess monetary wealth, in fact, they were described as poor, yet Jesus said they were rich.
We also saw in the letter to the church in Thyatira that most commerce was controlled by trade guilds, guilds that required the participation in pagan practices in order to engage in trade, including sexual immorality and idolatry. Therefore, to make a living it would have been difficult, unless the church was willing to compromise their faith. This is probably why the church in Smyrna was poor, their faithfulness had resulted in their poverty. And the church here in Laodicea undoubtedly faced similar circumstances, yet they were apparently wealthy, so they likely had to compromise their faith in order to acquire such wealth, simultaneously rendering their work ineffective, because they had become like the world.

In need of nothing

And more than that, Jesus indicates here that their wealth had compounded the problem. Their compromise had rendered them ineffective in ministry, and their wealth had blinded them to their own spiritual bankruptcy. Notice again what it says there in verse 17, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing...” Their wealth had given them a sense of self-sufficiency, it had made them conceited. They had concluded that they were in need of nothing, not even from the Lord.
Similarly, when the Israelites were preparing to enter the land of Canaan Moses told them in Deuteronomy 8:16-18,

11 “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth,

Wealth creates in the minds of men a false sense of security, and we tend to think that material wealth is indicative of our spiritual health. This is why the church in Laodicea had become blind to their own spiritual bankruptcy. Therefore, we must always remember that wealth is not a litmus test of our spiritual condition. Most of us know this is true, but an abundance of wealth can quickly reveal otherwise, so we must guard our hearts. The church in Laodicea had undoubtedly been influenced by the world more than they realized. As I mentioned earlier, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60 the Roman historian Tacitus recorded that, “Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with not help from us.” (Tacitus, Annals, xiv.276)
As Christians we must always be mindful of wealth and prosperity, not because money is sinful, but because of the corrupting influence it can have upon our hearts. This is why Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 19:23-24, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier to a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And why the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-10,

godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

and then later in verse 17,

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

The church in Laodicea had set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, and they believed they were in need of nothing, not realizing they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Gold refined by fire

So, Jesus tells them there in verse 18,

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Jesus counsels them to buy from him true riches. The Bible speaks frequently of faith and obedience as precious stones. The Apostle Peter describes the genuineness of our faith as being more precious than gold refined by fire (1 Peter 1:7). In other words, genuine faith proven by trial is worth infinitely more than earthly wealth. The Laodiceans are counseled to treasure their faith more than their wealth, and even if their faith results in trial, that their faith is more precious than gold. Therefore, we should ask ourselves, do we treasure our faith, though it may invite adversity and poverty, do we treasure it more than earthly prosperity? James says,

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

The Apostle Paul also describes our works as gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12-13). For these are true riches, faith, obedience, and godly character.

White garments

Then Jesus tells them to buy from him white garments. White garments are a symbol of righteousness, referring to both the righteousness of Christ and righteous deeds of the saints. In Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned they hide themselves, for they were ashamed of their nakedness, and as early as Genesis chapter 3 we’re told God clothed them with animal skins. At the very beginning of the Bible we’re taught that our nakedness, our shame, must be covered. And so Jesus counsels the church in Laodicea to buy from him white garments so that the shame of their nakedness might not be seen.
And more than that, later, in Revelation 19 when the Bride of Christ has made herself ready we read that, “‘it was granted to her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure,’ for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Therefore, we’re also to clothe ourselves with righteous deeds. The Christians in Laodicea were undoubtedly well dressed, but Jesus counseled them to buy from him, white garments.

Eye Salve

They’re also counseled to buy from him salve to anoint their eyes, so that they might see. The irony here is that Laodicea was known especially for its Phrygian eye salve, yet the church was blind, they had lost their spiritual sight. They were unable to see that they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Similarly, in 2 Peter 1:5-10 the Apostle Peter describes those those who do not persevere in spiritual growth as those who are nearsighted. Listen to what he says,

make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

The church in Laodicea was apparently not practicing these qualities, nor were they increasing, therefore the church was nearsighted and ineffective, so Jesus counsels them to buy from him eye salve to anoint their eyes, that they might see.

The Lord disciplines him whom he loves

At this point, notice that, despite how far this church has fallen, Jesus does not give up on them. He counsels them to buy from him true riches, despite their unfaithfulness. Though his rebuke is harsh, he loves his church. He says there in verse 19,

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

I don’t think that we value and appreciate discipline and reproof like we should, especially in our day. We tend to categorize discipline and reproof as simply being mean. We live in a culture that hates offense, that despises discipline and rebuke. And any hint of it offends the modern sensibilities of our culture, as if discipline and reproof were inherently contrary to love. But the Scriptures teach us that discipline and reproof are fundamental to biblical love. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way,

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

And so it is here in Jesus’ the letter to the church in Laodicea. The letter would have been read aloud to the congregation by the elders, with the intent that the those within earshot would be compelled to repent, in fact, zealous to repent. And in the same way these letters ought to be read and preached in churches today with the same intent.
And just think of how personal verse 20 would have been,

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The picture here is that Jesus had become an outsider at the church in Laodicea, but that he still stood outside the door and knocked. While many have used this verse to paint a picture of evangelism, as if Jesus were knocking at the hearts of every unbeliever, this is obviously not what is meant here. Jesus is not knocking on the door of the temple built to Zeus. The idea here is that’s it’s not too late, if they are zealous to repent, if they open the door to him, their intimacy with Christ will be restored.

Conclusion

And more than that, in verse 21 he tells them,

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

This is not only a future hope, but both a present and future reality for all Christians. In Hebrews we’re told that after Jesus made purifications for sins, that he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty of high (Heb. 1:3). Then in Ephesians (Ephesians 2:6) we’re told that we have been raised up and seated with him in the heavenly places. That just as the Father shares his throne with the Son, so the Son shares his throne with those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Therefore, for those who overcome in Laodicea, it will be granted him to sit with Christ on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Prayer

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