The Church at Laodicea I. Introduction and review A. The Church at Philadelphia 1. No condemnation 2. They lasted longer than any other church 3. The Church at Laodicea received no commendation, only condemnation B. Laodicea 1. Established circa 260 B.C. by the Seleucid king, Antiochus II and was named for his wife 2. It was approx. 40 miles east (i.e. inland) from Ephesus on the Lycus river a. This river valley was a natural east west travel route b. Laodicea was close by the towns of Hierapolis and Colossae 3. It was a town of great wealth a. It was the banking center for all of Asia Minor (1) a pursuit that brought large amounts of money to the area (2) it was an extremely wealthy town as a result (3) the wealthiest town of the seven b. It was also a center of the textile industry (1) a very high grade of black wool was produced here (2) these products were glossy and soft c. It was the location of a well-known medical school (1) it had large poppy fields around it (2) and produced an expensive eye salve or ointment [it was produced in tablet form and then pulverized 4. About 60 A.D. it was leveled by the same earthquake that toppled Sardis and Philadelphia, but by 90 A.D. it had rebuilt itself without Roman help [unlike the towns of Sardis and Philadelphia ] C. The church located in Laodicea had communications with the apostle Paul [see eg. Col. 2:1 & 4:15-17] II. Rev. 3:14:-22 A. Jesus starts this message with a greeting that does not relate to the vision of John recorded in chapter one 1. He did this also when writing to the church in Philadelphia 2. He uses three words or phrases: 1 5
a. The Amen (1) avmh,n amen {am-ane'} (2) [at the end} - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled (3) here the concept is certainty b. The faithful and true Witness (1) pisto,j pistos {pis-tos'} (a) Meaning: 1) trusty, faithful 1a) of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties (2) avlhqino,j alethinos {al-ay-thee-nos'} (a) meaning both: genuine and real, and true and correct (3) ma,rtuj martus {mar'-toos} (a) Meaning: 1) a witness 1a) in a legal sense 1b) an historical sense 1b1) one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest 1c) in an ethical sense 1c1) those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death, martyr (4) this phrase denotes the aspect of consistency (a) He=s always genuine, always accurate c. The Beginning of the creation of God (1) avrch, arche {ar-khay'} (a) Meaning: 1) beginning, origin 2) the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader 3) that by which anything begins to be, the originator, the active cause 4) the extremity of a thing 4a) of the corners of a sail 5) the first place, principality, rule, magistracy 5a) of angels and demons (2) why would He want to stress this characteristic of His (3) Creativity d. Jesus is the one describing Himself (1) he has instructed us to become more Christ-like (2) If so, we will develop more certainty in our life (a) we understand and live like God is in control (b) emotional and psychological responses indicate that that is true (3) we also portray a consistency in our lives (a) we are known as genuine and trustworthy (b) we will stand for and testify to what we know to be right, no matter the cost 2 5
(4) we exercise creativity in our life (a) it comes from Him (b) he is the originator of creative effort and can provide us with that ability (5) How do we measure up in Christ-likeness? B. Hot or cold? 1. Hot B would describe those with real spiritual fervor and passion for the cause of Christ a. Those who are Ahot@ want to accomplish what the Master has proclaimed to be the goal of the church b. It only includes those persons whose name has been permanently written in the Lamb=s Book of Life 2. Cold B would describe those who are in active opposition to the cause of Christ a. They either are non-believers or Christians who are so deluded that Satan is able to use them as dupes b. The non- believers can be divided into two categories, those who believe that they are believers and those who know that they are not 3. Lukewarm is the description that the Lord gives to those who make up this church a. The only place in the Scripture that this word is used b. Members of this church may have been believers and some may not have been (1) if they were believers they were those who had faith but now did not act as though they did (2) Their actions were inconsistent with the acts of God=s men and women [e.g. Ananias and Saphira] (3) if unbelievers, they were acting without inner conviction or spiritual direction c. Their actions could be described as tolerant and neutral (1) spiritual zombies (2) see II Timothy 3:1-5 C. Our Lord=s reaction to the lukewarm 1. Spit B evme,w emeo {em-eh'-o} Meaning: 1) to vomit, vomit forth, throw up a. Reasons we vomit (1) we force ourselves to (a) psychologically ill (b) ingested poison (2) our body does because of poison ingested (3) illness cause regurgitation (4) something eaten or considered to be eaten that is so gross, we react 3 5
III. with vomiting urge or actual vomiting 2. Here the Lord is referring to several causes a. this Luke warmness is considered by Him to be poisonous to the church b. it also is so repulsive to Him that His response is to want to vomit [Second Part] A. There are believers in this church which are acting like the world without any thought of repenting or even thinking that they need to B. There are also non-believers in this church who think that they are in fact believers C. What does Jesus say about them? [What is it that repulses Him to such a degree that He wants to vomit?] 1. Consider the springs of Hierapolis and Colossae and the aqueduct that brought water to Laodicea D. What was God seeing in the hearts of these Achurch-members@ that so sickened Him 1. These church members claim to be rich and in need of nothing, i.e. self-sufficient a. Their claimed condition (1) Rich (2) Wealthy (3) No needs i.e. self-sufficient b. God sees them in exactly the opposite state (1) Wretched B talai,pwroj talaiporos {tal-ah'-ee-po-ros} (a) Meaning: 1) enduring toils and troubles 2) afflicted, wretched (2) Miserable B evleeino,j eleeinos {el-eh-i-nos'} (a) Meaning: to be pitied, miserable (3) Poor B ptwco,j ptochos {pto-khos'} (a) Meaning: reduced to beggary (4) Blind B from the Greek word meaning Ato wrap in smoke@ (5) Naked B from the Greek word meaning either unclad, without clothing, the naked body or ill clad, clad in undergarments only 2. God=s response is to tell them to seek to acquire real or genuine wealth a. Remember Jesus=s description of Himself (1) the faithful and true Witness (2) true B genuine or real b. Remember also their economy (1) wealth from banking and financial endeavors (2) wealth from the textile industry (a) unusual black wool with the natural sheen (3) wealth from the pharmaceutical industry 4 5
(a) in particularly eye salve c. acquire wealth that is genuine and real d. acquire the valuable or important garments (1) the white garments e. acquire medicines that will enable you to really see IV. Rev. 3:20 A. Written to believers or unbelievers? B. What were in the Church at Laodicea? C. It speaks to both 1. To the unbeliever about his spirit 2. To the believer about his soul V. The Overcomer A. Will sit down with Jesus on His throne B. The Church will rule and reign with Him as His bride and His queen 5 5