History
This was a large and prosperous city on the banks of the river Lycus. It was the twin of Hierapolis, 6 miles away, which was renowned for it’s hot springs. The water was feed to Laodicea by an aqueduct, by the time that the water arrived it was luke warm and of little use. It was originally founded in 2000 B.C. by the Ionians. It’s position meant that it was not easily defended, so changed hands often. It was a city of merchants and bankers. Textile manufacturing brought in considerable revenue, especially from it’s production of black wool.
Verse 14
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”
Laodicea means ‘the rule of the people’. In a church this is a problem - God should rule.
Title of Jesus
Amen means true.
The faithful and true witness reference can also be seen in John 18;37
Beginning of the creation of God refers to rank and honour. Jesus was at creation and the most important. This is the last church listed, if we assume that this therefore refers to the last days of the earth, then think what is happening to creation now - it is being undermined by the theory of evolution.
Good News
None - This is the second church about which no good thing can be said of it.
Verse 15-17
“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. 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:”
Criticism
“Thou art lukewarm” - this is the only letter in which Jesus expresses disgust. He is saying that indifference is not acceptable.
“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” - This is a condition that the world and many churches find themselves in today.
“Wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” - this is the condition that we are in if we do not have God in out lives.
Verse 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.”
Exhortation
In verse 18 Jesus speaks to them in terms that they can understand. It is a business city, so He uses terms and refers to goods that they use.
Gold - money - riches of God
White remnant - as opposed to black wool - white, pure. Clean
Anoint the eyes - The city was famous for it’s ointment, but God can provide a
healing and let them see where they stand before Him. He can heal
them from their sins.
Verse 19
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
God loves us no matter what, and sometimes He has to place difficulties into our lives and things across our path, so that we show our love for Him and become zealous once again.
Verse 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.”
He is outside, and He knocks because He wants us to let Him in. He cannot get in Himself, there is no handle on the outside, only on the inside for us to use.
Many churches fail to tell their congregation that they are sinners and that they need to repent. They fail to tell people that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
Verse 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.”
Promise to the Overcomer
We can overcome luke warmness, we still can get to Heaven, we can still join Jesus in Heaven.
Verse 22
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Phrase
The last time we are told this phrase. If you have an ear it is your responsibility to listen to what God has said in these letters.
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