Revelation 3:14-22
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Introduction
Introduction
City of Laodicea
The Wealthy city - After an earthquake devastated the region in a.d. 60 Laodicea refused Imperial help to rebuild the city, successfully relying on their own resources. They didn’t need outside help, they didn’t ask for it, and they didn’t want it. “Laodicea was too rich to accept help from anyone.
A Compromising city - One of their problems was a poor water supply that made Laodicea vulnerable to attack through siege. If an enemy army surrounded the city, they had insufficient water supplies in the city, and the supplies coming into the city could be easily cut off. Therefore, the leaders of Laodicea were always accommodating to any potential enemy, and always wanted to negotiate and compromise instead of fight.
A Luke-warm water city - Their main water supply came on a six-mile aqueduct from the hot springs of Hierapolis. Because the water came from hot springs, it arrived unappetizingly lukewarm.
A Medical School City - “It is frequently noted that Laodicea prided itself on three things: financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world.”
A Jewish city - A large Jewish Settlement
The church at Laodicea
The church at Laodicea was a sister church to the church at Colossi
Very possible that Epaphras founded the church at Laodicea.
Paul mentions Laodicea twice in the Book of Colossians.
Colossians 2:1
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Colossians 4:16
And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
The Introduction of Jesus
The Introduction of Jesus
Importance (Amen)
Amen - so be it, It is done, firm and truth.
Before a statement speaks of the truthful of a statement
After a statement speaks of the veracity and surety of a statement
His words are fulfilled
This is both positive and negative
Positive
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Negative
Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Promises of God - 2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Allegiance to the truth - He is faithful and true
Jesus is faithful and true in witness - The word witness is used in English for martyr. Faithful and true describe the kind of witness He is. The word witness speaks of a person giving testimony on the witness stand. In most cases in the NT it has a broader meaning. Where the witness stand is life, and our actions validate our words.
Faithful - trustworthiness
Faithful is an amazing character trait people can have.
However, the object of faithfulness determines the character of the person..
Their are gang members faithful to the fraternity of the gang they belong to.
Jesus is faithful to the Father
He’s faithful to the saints - John 13:1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
He’s faithful to the churches
He is faithful to Testimony! - He wanted His words and life to mean something.
True
Mark 12:13-14
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
And this is a good way to begin the letter because it affirms to the people in Laodicea that He knows what He’s talking about. That whatever assessment He gives of the church is absolutely accurate, that whatever promise He offers the church is absolutely affirmed in His perfect work.
Jesus is the beginning of creation
The word beginning does not mean first in a successive series of events - rather, it means commencement or the chief reason creation occurred. Jesus was the originating source of creation - through whom God worked creation.
As someone once said Jesus is the author and efficient cause of creation.
Revelation 21:6
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:13
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Conclusion
Jesus is the supreme authority
Because He is the Amen and faithful and true witness, you best listen to what He has to say.
Rebuke - Revelation 3:15-16
Rebuke - Revelation 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Neither cold nor hot - Lukewarm
Indifference
Compromise
A mixture of doctrine a worldliness
Mixture in the Bible is not good
Grace and works
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Mixing truth with worldliness softens the blow of truth. It removes the sharp edges of God’s word.
It makes the church useless for the plan of God!
He wants the church to be hot
Or, Cold - cold speaks of weakness - you see your need
A lukewarm Christian has to be the most unhappy Christian
Too much of the world to be happy in Jesus
Too much of Jesus to be completely happy in the world
Jesus is nauseated with this church
He want to spur (vomit) them out of His mouth.
Justification - Revelation 3:17
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:
The church justified her actions as she was being blessed externally.
There are some big differences between the Old and New Testament
Old Testament - Good things happened when faithful to God
New Testament - Sometime, just the opposite
Church at Smyrna and Philadelphia
The church used the wrong model
Not the wealth of the church
But the witness of the church - was their church reflective of a holy God.
He rebukes the church with five adjectives:
Wretched - afflicted
Miserable - pitiable
Poor
Blind
Naked
Corrective action - Revelation 3:18
Corrective action - Revelation 3:18
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
The language speaks of the merchants within the city
Isaiah 55:1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,
And he that hath no money;
Come ye, buy, and eat;
Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
I am the true wealth - The commercially-minded Laodiceans are being urged to forsake their former vendors (the peddlers of materialism, sex, drugs, alcohol, pride, self-sufficiency, success, reputation) and come to Jesus for true wealth. Christ is the only proper source of goods that will last, so they have to switch their broker from the marketplace to him.
The Laodiceans church needed true spiritual gold which would stand the test of the bema seat of Christ:
1 Corinthians 3:12-13
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
But white raiment
The mention of white garments would be especially noteworthy since Laodicea was known for its production of high quality glossy black wool:
“Laodicea’s wools were famous. Christ offers infinitely whiter raiment.”128 The same white garments which are promised to the overcomer in Sardis (Rev. 3:4-5+).
Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve - so you can see
Open the door
Revelation 3:20
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.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
“This is the worst of the seven Churches, and yet the most eminent of all the promises are made to it, showing that the worst may repent, finally conquer, and attain even to the highest state of glory.”
