The Church of the Laodiceans

Revelation 3:14-22

When we approach Revelation 2 and 3, we observe the messages of the Lord to the “seven churches of Asia Minor.”

I believe there are three keys to interpretation or understanding of these passages.

1. These were seven literal churches of the first century.

2. The literal conditions of the seven churches are reflected in churches throughout history.

3. These seven churches serve as “types” of seven stages of church history since the first century.

FOR EXAMPLE: Looking back from this time we could see...

The church at Ephesus

This was a literal church

It was a type or symbol of the post-apostolic church

But it can also be in various churches throughout the church age.

People who have left their first love.

The church at Smyrna

A literal church in Smyrna

A type or symbol of the persecuted church during the persecution of the Caesars

But also can be seen in various churches in every age - there are many persecuted churches today.

The church at Pergamos

A literal church in Pergamos

A type or symbol of the churches who allowed pagan religions to influence them (doctrine of Balaam)

There are still those who try to mix the world’s religion with Christianity.

The church at Thyatira

Literal church

type of the papal age church

there are still churches who allow idolatry and pagan feasts today

The church at Sardis

Sardis had a literal church

type of the Dark Ages church

There are still some churches who find themselves in a dead religion, they have tolerated sin and decay.

And they are called to wake up, and be watchful

The church at Philadelphia

Literal church at Philadelphia

type of the Reformation and Revival times in Church history

There are still some churches who want to spark the fire of revival and reformation.

The church at Laodicea - Present Day church

Laodicea — was a wealthy inland city, about forty miles from Ephesus... it was along the trade routs that connected the two cities.

It was a center for banking and textile production.

Famous for their production glossy looking linen.

It was also a banking center - not surprisingly a wealthy area.

They boasted of a famous school of medicine (where they created and exported a special eye salve medicine).

They were known as a lukewarm church in the literal church because of the difficulties during the persecution from the Roman Caesars during this time.

Because they would not worship the Caesar, they were persecuted, which even effected their ability to buy or sell.

So they seemed to have compromised to adapt.

In verse fourteen, we learn a little of the “philosophy” of this church — “the church of the Laodiceans” (not —”the church of Laodicea” as used six times before)

This was a church that had forgotten its Divine ownership.... not the pastor's, not the deacon's, not the congregations.

Acts 20:28 reminds us

Acts 20:28 KJV

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The people's rights were preeminent at Laodicea.

This was a church that placed “felt needs” above the Word of God.

I. The Concern of Our Lord

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

If the Lord is concerned with a matter — we should be!

HE is the “Amen” — the true, perfect and final word.

HE is the “faithful and true witness”.

His word, His verdict should mean more than the “church growth expert” or some mega-church pastors somewhere.

He knows our works.

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

The church at Laodicea was neither hot nor cold — the church was spiritually sickening because it was spiritually sick.

In this day and age, lukewarm water was dangerous water.

Cold water suggests flowing spring or river coming from the source.

Hot water has been cooked and cleansed by fire.

Anything in between can bring sickness and disease.

I believe there are several symptoms of a sick church:

A. Loss of Appetite for the Word

Many of our churches today care more about spiritual quips that will make them feel better, than they are hungering for the Word of God itself.

But even new Christians ought to seek the Word of God itself...

1 Peter 2:2 KJV

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

People who have lost their appetite for hearing the Word of God preached (which by the way is God’s design for our growth) a loss of appetite brings a loss of growth.

Sunday morning/ Sunday night/ Wednesday night is a good pattern.

“Three to Thrive”

Listen, I have seen the difference…In 25 years of being in full time ministry …I have seen the difference in the lives of those who faithfully and open heartedly attend as often as they can and those who come as much as they need to!

Is coming to church three times a week going to guarantee your children turn out right…of course not!

There is much more involved like for instance consistency at home.

Is going to church three times a week going to guarantee a growing Christian - no absolutely not - it’s going to depend upon an open and seeking heart.

The truth is Churches as a whole are forsaking the assembling of themselves together.

They are cutting out services, and cutting down the preaching time.

B. Lessening of Doctrine

Paul told Timothy to guard against this shift.

2 Timothy 4:2–5 KJV

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

I know people who push that all of the Christians ought to just come together, forget about the differences of doctrine and let’s get together.

However, it is interesting they are not willing to come to a Baptist church!

They want their church, they just want everyone to come to them.

This is usually found in a Catholic mindset, because they are wrapped up into the traditions, rather than the doctrine.

As the unbiblical, ecumenical spirit sweeps across this nation, doctrine is going out the window — Sunday messages are being reduced to milk and fluff.

C. Lapse of Convictions

Especially in regard to worship.

There is an emphasis on entertainment over preaching.

1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Main Place Christian Fellowship (a self proclaimed county western church ) says, “We liken Jesus to Butch Cassidy and Isaiah to Louis L'amour.”

Andrew Stanley this last October hosted a two-day conference geared toward supporting LGBTQ+ parents, and children in their church.

He says in a nutshell, those who struggle with same-sex attraction are convinced that traditional marriage is not an option for them, and if they can’t live a chaste life, then they choose to marry for the same reason we do, love and companionship.

So instructs that we ought to sit with them and accept them.

Love them yes, Accept their decision no!

Other so called churches like Bethel Church, believes that God will always heal from every disease…if they are not healed the deficiency is not on His end, so it must be the persons fault.

His wife teaches a very false doctrine of angelology, claiming many angels have fallen asleep and need to be waken up.

So she has taken some of their college students through the desert and stopping at different locations got out of the car crying out, “Wakey, wakey” so the angels can wake up and can get busy doing what God wants them to do again.

Or the practice of grave soaking, or grave sucking, where they will lie on the graves of great Christians to soak up the anointing from the diseased’s body.

These may be extremes, but there are many levels between!

Many pastors today are more interested in programming than preaching or posturing than praying.

Worship services become places of confusion and focused only on feelings, and leave behind doctrine and truth.

Are feelings bad in a worship service - absolutely not!

God created our emotions, and they ought to be involved.

Our worship ought not be a dry and dusty service.

But if we are solely focused on emotions, we will be led astray!

D. Lowering of Standards

Personal and Ecclesiastical Standards especially

The modern day church, like Laodicea is emphasizing her rights and freedom over responsibility.

Example — “I'll do what I want”

IN the church setting...“I'll preach what I want.”

I just read an “article” called 18 misunderstood acts the Bible says aren’t actually sin.

There is not one verse from the Bible in this “article”.

I have to say that I agree with some of the things on the list, but they should have at least said what the Bible actually does say.

But the entire thing was about...

You can wear what you want

You can do what you want with your body

You can drink what you want

You can buy what you want (ignoring biblical principles)

You can play golf instead of going to church - Of course the Bible doesn’t say you can’t play golf on Sunday…But it has much to say about our priorities.

Then it began to condone swearing, consulting psychics, divorce, and gambling.

This is the world today - even in Religious circles - How can something that feels this good be wrong?

Don’t get me wrong!!!

Outward standards do not equal spirituality.

But if you understand and appropriate GRACE — your life will change.

Titus 2:11–12 KJV

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

An inward change will always result in an outward change!

Unfortunately what happens too often is one of two extremes: there is either no change at all, or there is only an outward change.

II. The Conditions of the Church

The lukewarmness has manifested itself in two distinct ways:

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

A. Materialism

There is nothing wrong with God blessing an individual or a church with resources and goods.... but we must not allow our building and people and resources to replace God.

Today we see churches hiring style experts to dress the pastor, image consultants to approve the messages, publicists to handle the advertisement.

All focused on making sure the image looks wealthy and successful…and nothing will offend.

We need to focus on honoring God and His image, not focused on ourselves.

As John the Baptist said,

John 3:30 KJV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

I believe we ought to put the best foot forward!

But if our focus is on our image rather than the testimony of Christ…we may have a problem!

If we look around us and say…we have enough…we don’t need God…that is what the Laodicean church was doing!

They were materialistic…but they also had an...

B. Ignorance

Rev. 3:17b “...and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”

Frog in the kettle.

They don’t even see that things are changing.

And this is true in many churches today, things have changed so drastically in the last ten or twenty years, and yet they don’t really see it.

A good crowd does not necessarily mean spirituality.

God is more interested in the health of our church than the size of our church.

God looks past our buildings and brochures, even our carpet and paint!

“Man looks on the outward.”

But God sees the heart!

III. The Counsel of the Lord to the Church

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

This reflects back to other verses that speak to our works going through the fire and coming out gold, silver and precious stones.

Also ...

1 Peter 1:7 KJV

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rich in what he gives us…not what this world offers!

That thou mayest be clothed - white raiment given to the righteous.

Eye salve to heal their sight - earlier they could not see where they went wrong.

Gold, garments and eye salve are all Laodicea’s chief exports.

But God wanted them to receive the gold of faith unfeigned and works from a pure heart

He wanted them to be clothed in righteousness, not blind to their current works.

He wanted them to receive this spiritual eye salve to heal their spiritual blindness, and their lukewarm condition.

So He calls them to...

A. Repent

This is the call of a loving Savior!

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

We need to change our minds about ourselves — as preachers we need to humble ourselves.

Go back to what God wants for His church - not what we want and not what the people want!

Laodicea were the church of the people’s rights…but we want what is Right!

And then he says...

B. Return

Return to God's Spiritual Values

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

“Buy of me gold tried in the fire,” this signifies a pure relationship with God based on obedience to His purified Word.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

He stands and in love - he rebukes and chastens them.

And He calls for them to return to Him.

Be zealous for him…Websters defines zealous as “showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.”

Does that describe our pursuit of God, and His Will for our church and our Christian life?

Conclusion

God is calling these churches and us to repent.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Someone may say — All this talk about the Laodiceans and now, repentance, where's the GRACE?

Notice verse twenty.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

This is one of the most humbling verses in the Bible.

In His grace and mercy Jesus is outside knocking on the door of your church.

He would like to fellowship.

He’s not trying to burst in and interrupt the rock concert.

He’s not trying to burst in and upset the safe space corner for those who get their feelings hurt (real thing in some churches).

No doubt he wants to burst in and turn some tables!

I know I do!

And I’m not even talking about churches, so called, that have the rainbow flag up by the altar, or that have completely gone apostate in many other ways.

I’m talking about those who still claim to preach the gospel, but are trying to look like the world in order to reach the world.

He is knocking at the door…it is up to us to go and let him in!

Not only is He showing grace by knocking on our church doors but He's still knocking on individual hearts still today!

It is interesting to note that the Historical Laodicean church’s lukewarm legacy did not become it’s final legacy:

The church at Laodicea survived Domitian’s reign.

The city became a seat of a Christian leadership.

A Christian council was even held there in the fourth century A.D.

Archaeologists have discovered about 20 ancient Christian chapels and churches at the site.

The largest church at Laodicea, called the Church of Laodicea took up an entire city block and dates to the beginning of the fourth century.

Laodicea remained an important city until the seventh century A.D. when it was struck by a devastating earthquake and subsequently abandoned.

My point is that perhaps this lukewarm church heard the rebuke and repented.

I hope that others that may be around today will hear the rebuke as well - including us!