Revelation 3:14-22

7. Laodicea.

Vs. 14-22. Laodicea receives no commendation. She is not hopeless, but indifferent. However indifference is next to hopelessness.

The city of Laodicea, named for Laodice wife of the Seleucid king Antiochus II, was noted for the wealth of its citizens; who were able to rebuild the city without government help when destroyed by an earthquake. Accordingly the deceitfulness of riches choked the word that it became unfruitful. The church of Laodicea stood in contrast to that of Philadelphia in point of wealth, and also in point of devotion, piety, and service. Their worldly wealth led them to think that they were "rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing." Spiritually they were "Wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."

The hot and cold springs of the locality doubtless gave rise to the simile of the water. Christ's judgment upon them was: "Because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth." No more scathing denunciation has ever been launched upon any church than this upon the church of Laodicea. Their self-satisfied content was most distasteful to their Lord. They thought themselves the opposite of what they were. To be sick is bad enough; but to be sick and deluded is well nigh fatal. Would this denunciation disillusion them? Would they accept reproof from their Lord? Would they heed the injunction: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich?"

We are not ready to concede that Laodicea is a prophetic f oreview of some particular age; but the lesson of Laodicea is a lesson to any church in any age that sinks to Laodicea's unspirituality. The church that is half on and half off is an abomination in the sight of God in that, or this, or any age. "Be zealous therefore and repent" is a pertinent exhortation to most churches in all the centuries of Christian history. "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Dr. Scofield heads this: " The place and attitude of Christ at the end of the church age. " It is the attitude of Christ in any age!!

These were the messages. Were words ever spoken more encouraging to those who heed and more terrible in denunciation upon the faithless and lukewarm?

Two peculiar things about these messages deserve attention. Each one begins with some phrase applied to Christ in the first chapter. For example: "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars", "he that hath the sharp sword", "he that hath eyes like a flame of fire" etc.

Again each message closes with a promise "to him that overcometh." Namely, "I will give to eat of the tree of life;" "I will give to eat of the hidden manna," "I will give him the morning star;" "I will give power over the nations;" "make a pillar in the house of God;" "grant to sit with me in my throne," etc.

We may recognize in closing that these messages not only dealt with conditions in the churches, but in doing so were preparing them for scenes through which they were soon to pass in the cataclysmic events connected with the destruction of the Jewish state. Thus they are fraught with watchful and wise solicitude for the endurance and triumph of the churches of Asia in the tribulation of their day.