Revelation 3:14-21 - Lukewarm and Lost: Laodicea’s Rebuke

Introduction

Illustration of lukewarm chicken noodle soup that makes someone want to vomit.

How is it like self-sufficiency?

Patmos and the Seven Churches

Laodicea was rich and prosperous because of their trade routes and their fertile agriculture. They were able to rebuild their own city without the Emperor’s help after an earthquake in 17 AD.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Christ Is Characterized by His Dependability (Revelation 3:14)

The Roman historian Tacitus said of her, “Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us” (Annals XIV 27).

It was known for its banking as well as two of their main exports: black wool and eye salve from their famous medical school.

It, like many cities in Asia Minor, had a temple dedicated to the worship of the emperor of Rome

It was the dominant city in the Lycus Valley with Hieropolis to the north and Colossae to the south

Colossae was built near cold-water springs that provided water to the city.

Hieropolis was built near hot medicinal springs at the top of a cliff. The white cliff walls, from which the thermal waters dripped, was visible from Laodicea.

I. Christ is the Rightful Ruler of all Creation (Rev 3:14)

Full of Truth and Ruler of All (Rev 3:14)

He is the “Amen”

the the true and faithful witness. (cf. Isa 65:16 “God of the Amen”)

Isaiah 65:16 ESV

so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.

The faithful and true witness

Refers back to Revelation 1:5

Revelation 1:5 ESV

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Jesus maintained his witness despite dying on the cross for it.

This must have encouraged these early churches in their persecution.

The word witness is μάρτυς where we get our word martyr.

John views Jesus as the ideal Davidic King, whose death and resurrection have resulted in his eternal kingship and in the kingship of his beloved children.

The Beginning of God’s Creation

This does not mean he is a created being

Arius (250-336 AD) used this verse to deny that the Son is fully God. He declared "there was a time when the Son was not" and "God was not always a Father.” (NPNF, Deposition of Arius, 70).

“firstborn” can mean originator or chief/head. He is first in time and position. He is the beginning and source of creation.

It means that it is through the Son that the Father created all things (by the Spirit).

John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” ,

John 1:10 “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”

1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

Colossians 1:15–18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Hebrews 1:2–3 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Hebrews 1:10 “And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;”

It was fitting for the Son, through whom all things were created, to enter his creation, redeem it, inherit it, make all things new, and rule over it forever!

Biblical theology of the throne

Father

Psalm 11:4 “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.”

Isaiah 66:1 “Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?”

Revelation 1:4 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,”

Revelation 4:2 “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.”

Revelation 4:9–10 “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”

Revelation 19:4 “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!””

Revelation 20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.”

Isaiah 6:1–3 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

Son

2 Samuel 7:13 “He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Psalm 45:6 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;”

Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.””

Luke 1:32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Matthew 25:31 ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.”

Hebrews 8:1 “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,”

Revelation 5:13 “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””

Revelation 7:10 “and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””

Our Response

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

II. Christ Condemns their Self-Sufficiency (Rev 3:15-18)

No word of commendation. Straight to rebuke.

Strongly rebukes their works.

They believe their are self-sufficient (Rev 3:15-16)

What is the meaning of lukewarm?

It does not mean what our English idiom lukewarm means: half-hearted, mediocre in contrast to cold=indifferent and hot=passionate. (That would mean that Jesus prefers cold, indifference to him than lukewarmness!)

They believe they are self-sufficient. Only Christ can provide what they need.

Laodiceans are not in control. Christ is in control of all creation, including the Laodicean wealth.

Therefore, they are offensive to Jesus, and he is ready to vomit them out of his mouth.

Illustration of no relief from the ocean in the Philippines. I wanted it to be cold and it was warm. Even hot would’ve been better, which is refreshing to the joints and cool when you get out.

What Are We Waiting For? A Commentary on Revelation Revelation 3

The Laodiceans were lukewarm in the sense that their Christianity provided neither healing for the spiritually sick nor refreshment for those who were spiritually weary.

In their self-sufficency they are self-deceived (Rev 3:17-18)

“I am rich, I have prospered, I need nothing”

They are self-deceived. There is difference between who they think they are and who Jesus knows they are.

Perhaps they are doing well financially because they are compromising with the pagan trade guilds. Later in chapter 18, merchants will grow rich because of their “immorality” with Babylon. We don’t know for sure.

What is true is that wealth can make us feel self-sufficient.

“not realizing you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”

When we think we are something special to God because of our “riches.” Reality: we are nothing apart from him. He does not need us. We desperately need him. He alone deserves the glory, not us.

Christ gives them the remedy in Revelation 3:18 “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 areas of life that give them smug satisfaction: 1) their banking (like the Swiss banking of the Asia Minor), 2) their black wool, and 3) their medicinal eye salves

These are the very areas in which they need the greatest spiritual help from Christ. He already has these qualities!

Revelation 1:13–14 ESV

and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

He is true treasure and purity. His righteousness is the clothing we really need, and his healing opens our eyes to spiritual realities!

III. Christ Wants Us to Find Our Sufficiency in Him (Rev 3:19-20)

He reminds us of his love and invites us to repentance (Rev 3:19)

The Book of Revelation can be frightening at times, and it is easy to lose the sense of Christ’s love. But remember, even this church of Laodicea that is acting self-sufficiently still belongs to Christ. He loves them.

He loves you!

This truth comes from Proverbs 3:11-12

Proverbs 3:11–12 ESV

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

When we wake up to our spiritual condition, the only solution is to change our direction, to repent.

Come to Christ!

He reminds us of his relationship and fellowship (Rev 3:20)

“Heaven” or eternity on the new earth, is all about being in the presence of our Triune God. Communion with God is the goal of the Christian life. Jesus uses a picture of sharing a meal as his offer of communion and relationship.

Revelation 19:9 ESV

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

This here is not an invitation to conversion, per se, but rather an invitation to renewal of relationship. Christian, have you become self-sufficient and complacent? Return to your fellowship with Jesus.

Relationship and fellowship is pictured like sharing a meal “to share a meal is to share life”

We have an opportunity to do this when take Communion after the sermon. This would have been read in church, and they would have responded immediately in their own taking of the Lord’s Table.

It is a reminder to eat and drink in a worthy manner; remembering the person and work of Jesus and drawing near in the Spirit to the Father.

IV. We Rule with Christ (Rev 3:21)

This picture is repeated at the end of the book.

Revelation 20:4 “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Revelation 21:3–5 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””

Revelation 7:15 ““Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.”

Revelation 22:1–3 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.”

Ruling and reigning with Christ go hand in hand with being in the presence of our Triune God and having communion with Father, Son and Spirit forever.

Conclusion

This message shouldn’t just “comfort the afflicted but afflict the comfortable.”

Our church must be careful not to lose her first love (Ephesus).

She must trust God in the midst of suffering (Smyrna).

She must not compromise the Gospel (Pergamum).

She must not waffle on her morality (Thyatira).

She must be on guard against spiritual deadness (Sardis).

She must walk through open doors for sharing the gospel (Philadelphia).

She must avoid at all costs becoming self-sufficient in her passion for Jesus (Laodicea).

(adapted from Danny Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation)

Just like Jesus experienced, the way of the throne for us is a way of tribulation, of suffering, even of death.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”