Revelation 3:14-22

7. Laodicea: The materially rich apostate church

Background: The city was founded before 1000 BC but the city was named Laodicea in 250 BC. The physical location of the city was about 40 miles east of Ephesus. The city of Laodicea was known for the lukewarm water it got by aqueduct from the hot springs of Hierapolis. It was a very wealthy city of merchants, bankers and industry. Laodicea was the main center for rich black wool that came from the unique sheep that grazed the area. The wool was used in their industry to produce carpet and garments.

Laodicea had a famous school of medicine that was known for its eye ointment. There is evidence that the people in the city liked to be entertained. The ruins indicate that the city had a gymnasium, a large racetrack, three lavish theaters and some bathhouses. Laodicea was so wealthy that when it had a massive earthquake in 60 AD the city actually refused outside aid from Rome. The name of the city means, "rule by the people". The city is known to have had a large Jewish community.

The Christian church was also wealthy and ruins of her buildings can still be seen in that area. Even though we know this church had large buildings, nothing is known of the ministry of this church outside of Laodicea. This by itself tells us that the church was self centered and added little to early Christian evangelism and missionary efforts.

Prophetic application of this church on earth is from about 1900 AD until the completion of the Church in the great tribulation.

What may mark the beginning of this church prophetically was when Protestant seminaries started questioning the basic foundations of Christian truth with their higher criticism methodology. These seminaries produced lukewarm leaders who doubted the scriptures and many of the truths found in them. Many began to teach doctrines of secular humanism and points from satanic psychology from their pulpits and the people in their congregations became indifferent to the foundation stones of Christianity laid by the apostles.

This church represents materialistic churches that are poor spiritually that exist in the last days just prior to the second coming. It includes "prosperity churches" and some "large seeker churches" and "emergent churches" that have watered down the true gospel and provided an entertainment center for the flesh in order to make Christianity acceptable to everyone. They provide for every need of the flesh on their campuses but there is little Bible based spiritual enrichment offered. Many of the methods now used to reach people are not based on teaching biblical truths but are based on psychological concepts that work in the world's most successful corporations. The assembly at Pergamos was corrupted by the world political system but here in Laodicea the church is corrupted by the Madison Avenue techniques of the world market place.

Laodicea also includes possibility thinking and word churches that make themselves the creators of what they believe and say. The church of Laodicea includes some TV ministries, traveling self-anointed healers and all those who fleece the flock by living extravagant life styles on the offerings of others. It may also include some who think they are rich spiritually but are really spiritually bankrupt because they have actually embraced new age pagan theology and doctrines of demons. Others like these have embraced human emotionalism with altered states of consciousness as being spiritual riches from God. Laodicea might even include some latter day cults that are in great heresy but do not deny the name of Jesus Christ.

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;

Jesus created all things in creation. The text "beginning of the creation of God" should read the " beginner of the creation of God". Some take this passage in the King James and claim that Jesus Himself was created but the text is not saying that. It is saying that He is the one who started creation.  Other passages in scripture make it perfectly clear that Jesus is the Creator and is God.

Jonah 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (speaking of Jesus)

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,  The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jesus says that this church is neither cold nor hot. Like hot and cold water are combined to produce lukewarm water these mingled their hot and cold theologies to form an ecumenical Christianity that is so half-hearted that Jesus cannot stomach them. Jesus at some point vomits the whole group of them out of His mouth. Prophetically I believe this occurs when He comes for his Church just prior to the tribulation. If this assembly is vomited out of the body, it would no longer be identified as part of the body of Christ. Those who can be identified with this assembly have a destiny like their apostate mother Israel; they will also become a harlot. In Revelation Chapter 17, we will see this harlot in more detail as the woman who rides the Beast.

As Israel was cast out of the land into the hands of her enemies, those who can be identified with this church will be cast out to endure the tribulation where the Beast will fornicate with them and then turn on them, devour them and burn them with fire (chapter 17).

Many in this church today point their finger at the Jews and say God is done with them but God is true, just and consistent. Those who identify with Christianity and who play the harlot with the satanic things of the world will receive judgment just as harlot Israel did. However, there is still hope of salvation for both Israel and for this assembly.

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

  Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Both of the above passages are about the end times. The passage in Joel is to natural Israel while the second passage in Acts quoting Joel is written to those who identify with the Church. Those in Laodicea that lose their life for Jesus sake will find it and those who seek to save their life by denying Jesus will lose their soul. Just as those in Israel can be saved by calling on the name of the Lord, so can all those identified with Laodicea. God is consistent and offers mercy to the Jew and Gentile alike. He also will also judge the Jew and Gentle alike if they choose to reject His mercy.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

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:

This church had the wrong perception of herself.  She thought she needed nothing because she had material goods but Jesus tells them that they really were spiritually poor. Since this church thought it needed nothing, it asked for nothing and it got nothing spiritually. James 4:2 tells us, "We have not because we ask not". Obviously, this assembly has ineffective prayer because it either does not ask, asks for selfish reasons or does not understand the nature of the God it prays to.

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.

Jesus tells those that are identified with this  assembly that they need to buy gold from Him that was tried in the fire. Gold tried in the fire is the faith of the righteous. White raiment is what is given to the righteous in Christ in contrast to the black wool that those in this city wore.  Jesus tells the church in this city known for its medical center and eye salve that He is the Great Physician and that He can take their blind eyes and anoint them so that they will have spiritual eyes to see.

These have already been vomited out into the great tribulation. Therefore, this reference to nakedness seems to relate to those who go through the tribulation when Jesus comes as a thief for the tribulation saints prior to the last judgment (Revelation 16:15). I explain this more in my commentary on that chapter. 

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Jesus rebukes as well as loves. This is why Jesus said when the Son of man cometh will He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8) for Philadelphia the answer is yes; He will find faith. However, in Laodicea the answer will be no. The parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins of Matthew Chapter 25 might apply here although it may have some other application. Half of those waiting for the bridegroom in the parable went with Him at his coming for the bridesmaids for the wedding and half were not even available. They were out shopping for oil.

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.

We have a picture here of Jesus standing at the door of people's hearts knocking. The fact that they have not already let Him in is evidence that His Spirit is not in them. This assembly is not in the body of Christ. This appeal by Jesus is not to Laodicea as a corporate body. When Jesus vomiting them out, He indicated that He will no longer be identified with this assembly. The appeal then is to each individual identified with Laodicea. Those who hear His knocking and open the door to Him during the great tribulation will be saved and taken to the wedding in Heaven .

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.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The overcomers in this church are promised to rule and reign with Christ as part of His Church. Overcomers that can be identified with this church may become part of the body of Christ by being born again in a baptism of fire in the great tribulation (losing their lives for His namesake or enduring until the end). In my opinion, this verse disputes the belief that many hold that the Church is already completed at the rapture. It should be obvious that if they sit with Jesus on His throne that they are also part of His queen bride.

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