The Lukewarm Church

Once again we are continuing our study on the Book of the Revelation as written by John. This week we are looking at the seventh and final letter in the opening of the book - the letter to the church at Laodicea.

Turn in your Bible to Revelation Chapter 3:14-22

Location of Laodicea

Laodicea was on the river Lycus not far from Colosse. To the north was Philadelphia and Colosse to the south.

It was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 62 and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state.

Their wealth arose from their excellent wools which led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things.

Authorized Version Chapter 3

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;

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

Laodicea was on the river Lycus not far from Colosse. To the north was Philadelphia and Colosse to the south.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

The city was in the southwest of Phrygia, on the river Lycus, not far from Colosse, and lying between it and Philadelphia. It was destroyed by an earthquake, A.D. 62, and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state [TACITUS, Annals, 14.27]. This wealth (arising from the excellence of its wools) led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things, as Rev 3:17 describes. See on Col 4:16, on the Epistle which is thought to have been written to the Laodicean Church by Paul. The Church in latter times was apparently flourishing; for one of the councils at which the canon of Scripture was determined was held in Laodicea in A.D. 361. Hardly a Christian is now to be found on or near its site.

It was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 62 and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state.

Their wealth arose from their excellent wools which led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things.

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;

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1995). (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., Re 3:14). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Authorized Version Chapter 3

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;

He calls himself the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God

The Amen - He is the unchanging faithfulness as opposed to the wavering we see in the Laodicean church

The Faithful and True Witness - Because He has seen and testifies of it.

The beginning of the creation of God - not whom God created first but as in the beginning of all creation.

Authorized Version Chapter 1

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Revelation 3:15-16

Revelation 3:15 AV

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

Revelation 3:15–16 AV

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.

Revelation 3:16 AV

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

REV

What I find interesting in these two verses here and scholars will tell you is that in the original languages, the adjectives - the descriptors - match the noun they are describing. In this case they are in agreement with the angel, not the church. So what this means is that Jesus is speaking through John and

He is addressing the angel, the pastor or the messenger as the embodiment of the church.

In the Greek for I will is translated as “I am about to,” “I am ready to”

I am about to,” “I am ready to”

Jesus continues throughout scripture to speak in the language of the people. At feasts, just like today drinks were either served hot or cold, but never lukewarm. In addition,

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 562). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Laodicea was an area that was well known for its springs which were hot or cold.

Revelation 3:17 AV

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:

Revelation 3:18 AV

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.

Revelation 3:17–18 AV

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: 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.

Revelation 3:19 AV

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

Revelation 3:20 AV

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.

Verse 17

They were:

self sufficient, wretched

wretched

miserable, blind

blind

The Laodiceans were “self-sufficient,” and felt that they were in need of nothing whatsoever.

Revelation 3:21 AV

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.

Self-sufficiency is the danger of the lukewarm state.

Their belief is that they were materially rich, but from Christ’s point of view, they are “wretched” and “miserable” and “blind”

Verse 18

They were a very wealthy people by man’s standards, but the Lord challenges them here to do a few things.

Buy Gold of Me tried in fire.

He is the source of “unsearchable riches,” not temporary or fleeting as their city of extensive money transactions.

White Raiment

Laodicea was known for its wool, but our righteousness is as filthy rags. When we are saved, his righteousness is imputed unto us. And no garment is whiter than his.

Eye salve

Laodicea was a place known for its fine eye salves, but they were spiritually blind. Despite the natural healing properties their eye salve had, they were still unable to see What God wanted for them.

Revelation 3:19 AV

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

How many is as many? All

Revelation 3:20 AV

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.

Revelation 3:20 AV

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.

Revelation 3:21 AV

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.

The same which Christ previously threatened to spue out of his mouth, he now offers a seat with Him on His throne.

Two thrones are mentioned here. The Father’s Throne and the throne of the Son of Man.

The father’s throne at which Jesus sits and has sat since His ascension, after his victory over death, Hell and the grave. The throne of the son of man which shall be His as He rules as the glorified son of man over the whole earth at his return.

Rev 3:22

Revelation 3:22 AV

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

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The Lukewarm Church

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Revelation 3:15-16

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Verse 17

Verse 18

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Rev 3:22