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Being Remarkable
Remarkable is defined as - worthy of being, or likely to be, noticed especially as being uncommon or extraordinary, unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning
Let’s talk a little bit about the book of Revelation first as we begin this series.
First, it is a blessed thing to realize that this book comes from none other than the Lord Jesus Christ
However, it is written by John, probably while he is in exile on the island of Patmos.
It is believed to have been written around AD 95 This date would place the writing during the reign of Domitian the Roman Emperor known for his severe persecution of Christians.
The Second Persecution, Under Domitian, A.D. 81
The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians.
In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates.
He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death.
This means this book was written to churches that were likely experiencing severe persecution.
It also carries a feeling of being imminent.
The things in this revelation “must quickly” or will soon “take place.”
This phrase occurs seven times in Revelation and emphasizes imminence and expectancy.
We must put this phrase in biblical and theological context.
teaches we are now in “these last days.”
tells us, “The judge stands at the door.”
affirms, “It is the last hour.”
teaches we are now in “these last days.”
tells us, “The judge stands at the door.”
affirms, “It is the last hour.”
tells us, “The judge stands at the door.”
affirms, “It is the last hour.”
affirms, “It is the last hour.”
“Imminent” describes an event that is “possible any day, impossible no day.”
It could literally happen at any moment.
(Revelation, 22)
Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) .
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) .
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
The book begins with “The revelation of Jesus Christ.”
The word revelation is the title of the book and translates the Greek word apokalupsis, which means “to reveal, unveil, uncover, or disclose.”
This is the only time the word appears in the entire book.
It tells us God is pulling back the curtain in order to show us something previously hidden and unknown.
Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) .
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
It is important to remember that this book is written to real people in real churches.
The message of Revelation could be stated in five words: it’s going to be OK!
It was written to the seven churches that are addressed in the first three chapters.
Sometimes we tend to think only the beginning is written to them but the entire book is to these seven churches.
We are going to take a look at the last church being written to today.
The Church at Laodicea
Laodicea was a wealthy city during the Roman period.
Not only was Laodicea located on major trade routes that connected it to important cities like Ephesus, Smyrna and Sardis, but also it was a center of textile production and banking.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the church of Laodicea is noted as being wealthy in the Bible.
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This was a problem for the church.
Filled by the exact measure of your emptiness.
Laodicea was full of themselves.
There was no room for God to fill them.
The way I have heard this preached before.
Two ways I have heard this.
Archeology helps us here.
We will take a look at two possibilities.
Lost are Cold, Saved are Hot
If one is lost, and knows themselves to be, there is always hope.
Rev.
Remember, you are filled to your level of emptiness.
Hourglass
In the grand scheme of God’s mission, this church was utterly unremarkable.
This is the only church to which Jesus had nothing good to say.
So, let’s take a look at the neighbors and see if it gives us a second look at the possible meaning of this passage.
Heiropolis & Colossae
When Heiropolis
Heiropolis was known for its hot springs.
Colossae was known for its cold springs
Laodicea was known for many things but, its water was unremarkable.
Laodicea was the only town in that region that was totally dependent on aqueducts to pipe in water.
One of the principles of medicine at that time was that compound diseases required compound medicines.
One of the compounds used for strengthening the ears was made from the spice nard (spikenard? an aromatic plant).
Galen says that it was originally made only in Laodicea, although by the second century A.D. it was made in other places also.
Galen also described a medicine for the eyes made of Phrygian stone.
Aristotle spoke of it as a Phrygian powder.
Ramsay tries to explain what kind of medicine it was by saying it was not an ointment but a cylindrical collyrium that could be powdered and then spread on the part affected.
The term used by John in Revelation is the same that Galen uses to describe the preparation of the Phrygian stone.
For all their wealth they lack remarkable water.
Actually the mineral deposit were so heavy that they had to build little dam like structures to be able to clean the deposit out every so often
What can you learn from this church?
Laodicea took great pride in her financial wealth—yet the Lord told them to buy “gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.”
“gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.”
Laodicea took pride in its clothing—yet the Lord told them to buy “white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.”
that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.”
Laodicea took pride in its eye medicine—yet the Lord told them to “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
They needed to empty themselves to be filled.
Room temperature coffee.
Hourglass
They needed to stop thinking certain material blessings made them remarkable.
Maybe we need to do the same.
What are you full of?
The remains of the city have only recently begun to be excavated, so most of what we know about the history of the city comes from written sources.
Over the next couple weeks, I hope to show you how we can empty ourselves to be filled by God.
The remains of two theaters, one Greek and one Roman, are on the northeastern slope of the plateau.
How we can go from unremarkable in the eyes of God to Remarkable.
Let us commit to be Remarkable.
A large stadium which also served as an amphitheater, dedicated by a wealthy citizen to the Roman emperor Vespasian in 79 A.D., can be found on the opposite end of the plateau.
The unexcavated stadium at Laodicea was used for both athletic contests and gladiatorial shows and was one of the largest in Asia (810 feet long).
Archaeologists discovered a life-sized statue of the goddess Isis in the ancient nymphaeum, or monumental fountain.
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