Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Laodicea
Posted By Joe on December 2, 2009
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Introduction
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Ephesus
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Smyrna
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Pergamum
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Thyatira
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Sardis
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Philadelphia
- Seven Letters to Seven Churches: Laodicea
Today we conclude the series, Seven Letters to Seven Churches.
We have looked at the first six letters to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia.
We have looked at each of these letters and churches from a contemporary, composite and chronological application as well as the way each is structured.
And so we conclude with the letter to the church of Laodicea. It is one of the most sobering of the letters but one that is not without a hopeful ending.
Laodicea: "The Apostate Church"
Laodicea was located about 90 miles due east of Ephesus and 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
The name is "Λαοδίκεια" in the Greek. Transliterated it is "Laodikeia" which means "justice of the people." It was named for the wife of Antiochus: Laodice.
It was destroyed by an earthquake in 66 A.D. and rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius. It was the seat of the Christian church. Under Roman rule it was a wealthy city.
Laodicea was a place of great wealth, of commerce, and of Greek culture. It was a place of science and literature. It boasted an excellent medical school which, again, was very primitive and actually very heathen. Here is where they developed what was known in the Roman world as Phrygian powder, a salve for the ears and the eyes. Laodicea was also a center of industry with extensive banking operations. Cicero held court here. It is said that he brought notes here to be cashed in this city. Jupiter, or Zeus, was the object of worship in Laodicea. --J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee.
In church history, Laodicea and Philadelphia represent the same time period: now. The line of division between these two churches and these two letters are those who follow the Word of God and those that do not. This isn't a denominational division. This isn't about Roman Catholic and Protestant. This is about following God's Word or abandoning it.
Jesus' Letter to the Church at Laodicea
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this." --Revelation 3:14.
Here is the seven description Jesus gives of Himself. This is the only time in the Bible where Amen is a proper name. This is the name of Jesus Christ.
Here is a little interesting background on the word from the Blue Letter Bible:
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence. -- HMM
Jesus says that He is:
The Faithful One
The Sure One
The Absolutely Trustworthy One
The Alpha and the Omega
The First and the Last
The Fulfillment of all of God's promises
The Creator
The Amen!
Like the letter to Sardis, Laodicea will receive only very brief commendation. Jesus will move quickly into condemnation.
The Bad News
"'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.'" --Revelation 3:15-16.
The last part of this verse should read "I will vomit you out of my mouth." Can you imagine? This is Jesus, the Creator of the universe, telling this church that He is sick and nauseated by this church! He's going to puke! Why?
Here is some vivid background that will help paint the picture:
This had a local meaning for the people in that day. Being down in the valley, they had difficulty getting water in Laodicea. The Laodiceans built an aqueduct to bring . . . cold water down from the mountains. When it left the mountains, it was ice cold, but by the time it made that trip all the way down the mountains to Laodicea, it was lukewarm. And lukewarm water is not very good.
Down in the valley where the Lycus River joins the Maeander River, there are hot springs. The springs are so hot that steam is produced. The Turkish government has capped it and is using it today, and . . . they intend to develop its use even more because it is there in abundance. It is the hottest water you can imagine; a lot of it is just steam. However, when they would take this hot water up to Laodicea, by the time it got there, it was no longer hot--it had become lukewarm water.
When the Lord Jesus said to the Laodicean church, "You are neither cold nor hot," they knew exactly what He was talking about. They had been drinking lukewarm water for years. --J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee.
So we are dealing with two extremes. The cold church is one that has abandoned the Word of God and have denied the faith. The hot church is like the one found at Ephesus, although they had "left [their] first love."
But here in Laodicea, this church is neither one of those extremes! This church is neutral and/or compromising and/or accommodating. And it is utterly repulsive to our Lord!
It's the church that attempts to maintain a moderate position, playing both sides of the fence. It's the church that is more comfortable with being gray than black and white. It's the politically correct church. It's the church that wishes to call themselves Christian, but will not take a stand for what is truth as revealed in the Bible.
"'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.'" --Revelation 3:17.
The Laodicean church was so busy being wrapped up in their outward material "success," they failed to realize that they were indeed wretched. Sadly, many mainstream churches are in this very condition. Outwardly, they have all the trappings of material success, but are spiritually dead. They boast large numbers of attendees but are they spiritually alive?
There is a cathedral in Lübeck, Germany. It has a famous inscription that reads:
Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us:
Ye call Me Master and obey Me not.
Ye call Me Light and see Me not.
Ye call Me Way and walk Me not.
Ye call Me Life and choose Me not.
Ye call Me Wise and follow Me not.
Ye call Me Fair and and love Me not.
Ye call Me Rich and ask Me not.
Ye call Me Eternal and seek Me not.
Ye call Me Noble and serve Me not.
Ye call Me Gracious and trust Me not.
Ye call Me Might and honor Me not.
Ye call Me Just and fear Me not.
If I condemn you, blame Me not.
A Ray of Hope
"'I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.'" --Revelation 3:18.
So what does Jesus counsel Laodicea to become rich? It has nothing to do with money! It has everything to do with seeking Jesus' atoning blood, His righteousness, and the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth. These are the true riches.
"'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.'" --Revelation 3:19.
With this statement, Jesus concludes His specific messages to these seven churches. He concludes by telling this lukewarm church to get on fire! Be zealous! Be hot! And repent.
Jesus' Invitation
"'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.'" --Revelation 3:20.
Jesus doesn't force Himself on to anyone. He has given each one the gift of free will. He loves you so much that He has given you the choice to choose to love Him or not.
The eating aspect of this is somewhat lost on us in our modern dining practices. In Jesus' time, they ate with their hands. There weren't forks and spoons and knives. You shared a meal with your hands. It was intimate. It was also a matter of trust. This is the kind of relationship that Jesus, the Creator of all, wants to have with you and me.
The Promise to the Overcomer
"'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" --Revelation 3:21-22.
Jesus reminds the reader that in the coming kingdom, we will be co-rulers with Him.
Closing Thoughts
As we postulated, we are living in the days of the Philadelphian and the Laodicean church. Both of these churches exist in the world today. The question then, becomes are we part of a Philadelphian or a Laodicean church? Are we attending one of those? Are we, personally, a Philadelphian or a Laodicean in our relationship with Christ?
One church will be raptured. One church will be left behind to face the Great Tribulation. Which one are you and I?
May He Increase!
About the author
Christ said to his church in Laodicea, “You say, I am rich, . . . not realizing that you are wretched . . . .” (Revelation 3:17). Then he counseled them to do new business with him, “so that you may see” (Revelation 3:18). Their loss would be the comforting illusion of okayness, but their gain would be his living presence (Revelation 3:20).
Ike, love it! Thanks for the insight (as always).