In this article, we’ll be looking at the 7th church, the church at Laodicea – “The Lukewarm Church”
Background is important in understanding what Jesus says to them. Laodicea was a city in the fertile Lycus valley. It was about 40 miles east of Ephesus and about 10 miles west of Colossae.
Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II, and named it for his wife, Laodice. The city was nearly unconquerable because of the surrounding mountains.
There was one vulnerable area, however. It was almost completely dependent on others for its water. The aqueducts that brought water into the city were underground, but an attacking enemy could easily discover that and conquer them by denying the city the water they needed to live.
After Rome took control of the area and brought peace to the land, it became an important manufacturing center. Laodicea was known for its black wool industry. It manufactured garments from the raven black wool produced by the sheep of the surrounding area.
There was a famous school of medicine that was also located in Laodicea. A well-known medicine, developed by the physicians of this school, was applied to the eyes to cure eye diseases.
Commerce, manufacturing, and medicine all combined to make Laodicea a very wealthy city.
In 62 B.C., Flaccus had seized the annual contribution of the Jews of Laodicea for Jerusalem, amounting to 20 pounds of gold.
Even more impressive was when the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 62 B.C. (along with Colossae and Hierpolis), Laodicea refused financial aid from Rome for rebuilding the city.
Jesus’ words to Laodicea contain references to the economic prosperity and social prominence of the city.
With that brief introduction, let’s take a look at Revelation 3:14-22.
v.14, “And 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”:
· Christ describes Himself in three ways:
o First as, “the Amen”:
Ø Only here is “Amen” used as a personal name for Christ.
Ø It describes Him as one in whom truth is personified.
Ø The idea is “credibility”: there’s absolute certainty that everything Jesus says will happen.
· Next, He describes Himself as "the faithful and true Witness":
o Christ is the faithful and true Witness, therefore:
Ø His counsel and rebukes are to be taken seriously and His promises are to be believed.
Ø Christ's trustworthiness stands in direct contrast to the unfaithfulness of the Laodicean church.
Ø As “the faithful true Witness, He can be trusted never to misrepresent His message.
Ø His truthfulness includes not only His character, but also His message.
Ø Christ is the very essence of truth, trustworthiness and faithfulness. Therefore, His testimony never fails.
· His third title is "the Beginning of the creation of God":
o Sometimes those who profess to be Christians, or those who are not believers at all, try to downgrade, or rationalize, the person of Christ.
o They say, “He’s not so exceptional. He’s not much different than me.”
o Question: How could a created being command the degree of faithfulness found in the message to Laodicea? And how could He make such far-reaching promises to those who repent and overcome, if He were merely like any other man?
o Being the Alpha and the Omega means that He is the source of creation, not the result of it.
o He has supreme authority and power to carry out His word, including the warnings and promises found in the messages to the seven churches.
v.15, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot.”
· Jesus knows this church all to well:
o The Greek word translated “know,” is a word that means intimate knowledge that is complete.
o When talking about Divine knowledge, this word means a comprehension that’s absolute, because that knowledge is based on His omniscience.
· Christ knows their works just as He did with the six previous churches:
o In each of the churches, their works are more than just what they’ve done:
Ø Their works are a reflection of their life and conduct in general.
o Our works are evidence of the inward, spiritual condition that the Lord sees and knows.
o It’s by means of these works that people prove what they actually are.
· Because there is no praise for this church, the message immediately gets into the most serious rebuke of any of the churches:
o In looking at them spiritually, He says, "you are neither cold nor hot."
· There are various explanations for Jesus’ use of the terms “hot” and “cold”:
o "hot" describes a person characterized by a fervent spiritual life:
Ø Someone who has been heated to the boiling point by some outside source and has maintained that fire.
· There are some who believe that there's really no meaning to “hot” or “cold,” either positive or negative:
o The reason they say that is to avoid the idea that Christ would wish anyone to be spiritually poor.
· Another opinion is that the water supply at Laodicea serves as background for these words:
o The hot waters of Hierpolis had medicinal value (hot springs), and the cool, pure water from Colossae provided refreshment.
o In contrast, the waters of Laodicea were halfway between in temperature and served no useful purpose:
Ø This opinion argues that Jesus rebukes the church for its lack of works, not its spiritual temperature.
· But there are serious problems with this explanation:
o It’s a little complicated, but stay with me.
· The cold-hot phrase can’t be intended as another way of saying “lukewarm,” because in the very next breath Jesus expresses His desire that the readers be one or the other, either cold or hot:
o Poor service is a strange way for Christ to evaluate this church because the messages to the other churches defined works in terms of their inner qualities.
o So, would Christ condemn Laodicea on the basis of their external accomplishments? Probably not. God looks at the heart, remember?
o Another suggestion is that spiritual “coldness,” even to the point of open hostility, is preferred over lukewarmness because that, at least, suggests that religion is something to be thought about. In other words, an honest denial of Christ is more promising than a half-hearted acknowledgement. There’s more hope for the openly antagonistic than for the lazily indifferent.
o For Christ to prefer outright rejection over a half-hearted response is pretty startling. But to profess Christianity while remaining untouched by its truths is a disaster.
o “Coldness” is more favorable to a person's coming to Christ than “lukewarmness.” We see that in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.
o So shameful did Christ find “lukewarmness” that He preferred to deal with a “cold,” stubborn opponent of the gospel, recognizing the greater possibility of finding fertile soil with them, than with the “lukewarm,” professing Christians.
o Basically, anything is better than lukewarmness!
· He continues by saying "I wish that you were a cold or hot":
o Here, we see His frustration. He longs that the readers be anything but lukewarm.
o Jesus would prefer either “cold” or “hot” to what He finds to be their actual state of lukewarm.
v.16, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”
· Jesus is truly disgusted at the lukewarm attitude of the Laodicean church.
· The problem was not spiritual immaturity:
o It’s doubtful that Jesus would express such unhappiness with a young Christian or a babe in Christ.
· “lukewarm” is a description of church people who have professed Christ, but do not have in their hearts the reality of what they pretend to be on the outside, by their actions.
· This type of hypocrisy would be the only possible reason that Christ would prefer “coldness” to “lukewarmness.”
· A person who professes to be a Christian, but hasn’t believed in Christ, thinks that his profession is enough to get him by.
· Nothing can be done with an “in name only” Christian, a “cultural Christian,” who cannot recognize that he/she needs to repent, to change his/her mind, and that Jesus is really outside his/her life.
· Christ’s response is, "I'm about to spit you out of my mouth":
o This warning to Laodicea continues by using the water supply to make His point.
o If they continue trying to pass off this spiritual charade upon Him, He has no choice but to respond by spiting them out of His mouth, as any person who has foul tasting water in their mouth.
· Notice He says. "I am about to"— He hasn’t done it yet:
o There’s still an opportunity for the Laodiceans to repent, and avoid the coming wrath of God.
o The patience of God is still at work and the judgment of God is still being withheld.
o Jesus is trying to awaken the readers to the future danger.
· His disgust with halfhearted Christianity is seen in His words "I will spit you out of my mouth."
· This is a very condescending expression; one He does not use anywhere else.
v.17, “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,”
· Their opinion of themselves is quite different from their true condition.
· They were so blinded by their wealth, that they didn't recognize that they were "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."
· Here was a church rich in pride, yet ignorant of their spiritual poverty.
· This word "wretched" is the same word that Paul used when he cried out "Oh wretched man that I am, who will save me from the body of this death?"
· The word "miserable" describes a person who would be the most miserable among men.
· The word "poor" describes the action of one who crouches and cowers as a beggar.
· He also describes them as "blind." This word means unable to see; blinded by self; they can’t even see how messed up they are.
· The irony is that this letter is written to a city famous for producing eye medications:
o He’s speaking of their inability to see spiritual values and truths.
· The last word Jesus uses to describe them is the word "naked" which was especially shameful in the city famous for its wool garments.
· Salvation is sometimes described as a garment in the New Testament:
o The people of this church were naked before Christ because of their spiritual coldness.
· This verse ends Christ’s description of their actual condition.
v.18, “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.”
· Here, Jesus gives them counsel to buy from Him, “gold refined by fire that they may become rich.”
· Let’s look at what Jesus is saying:
o Here's a church that believes it needs nothing, yet He needs to counsel them on self-preservation.
o The advice to buy something that cannot be purchased with money continues to show the sharp tone of the Jesus’ words.
· He’s saying, "Your feelings of self-sufficiency are groundless. You are completely dependent upon me."
· The Lord asks those who live in a city noted for its riches to buy what they cannot afford, because it’s not for sale, it’s free!
· Let’s look at the three items: “gold refined by fire”:
o This is pure gold. All of the impurities have been removed through the refining process.
· The best way to interpret this gold is as a picture of high quality faith:
o A real faith; one capable of withstanding severe trials.
· Along with this purified faith that the Lord offers is a new heart:
o We’ll see the new heart in two symbols yet to come.
· Each purchase has its own purpose:
o The purpose of fine gold is that they may become rich in spiritual things.
· Secondly, Jesus advises them to purchase “white garments”:
o The probable meaning of putting on these “white garments” is the awareness of moving toward righteous deeds.
o This goes together with receiving a new heart.
o It takes a new heart to even desire to be right with God.
· The purpose of these white garments is to avoid the shame of nakedness:
o The putting on of the white garments that Christ supplies comes at the moment of personal faith in Him.
o The avoidance of shame will come at the time of His second coming.
o This is the shame of one who has professed Christ, but has not truly believed in Him.
· The third thing Jesus advises them to buy is an “eye salve to anoint their eyes so that they may see”:
o The purpose of the final purchase was to cure their spiritual blindness.
· Spiritually speaking, the church was seriously lacking in three areas:
o Genuine faith (i.e., gold),
o A disposition toward righteousness (i.e., white garments),
o And a discernment of spiritual matters (i.e., eye salve).
v.19, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.”
· What's important to note is that the comments made by Jesus in verses 15-18 do not mean that He's hostile toward them:
o Actually, there’s evidence of affection and care.
o “lukewarmness” is not necessarily terminal.
o All whom Christ loves receive rebuke and discipline, no matter where they live.
· "those whom I love" translates the Greek word phileo, and indicates a human and emotional love, a “brotherly” love.
· In spite of the church's poor attitude toward Christ, He still has tender and affectionate feelings toward them.
· This phrase comes as a touching and unexpected showing of His love towards those who deserve it least among the seven churches.
· At this point in His message, Christ extends special treatment to a church in spite of its “lukewarm” condition.
· It is His unconditional love that motivates Him to reprove and discipline them:
o We might call this "tough love."
o Hopefully, the goal can be achieved by a verbal rebuke but if this fails, then judgment will follow.
· What must the members of the church do?
o First, they must be “zealous,” that is, they must put on a new habit that will be continually be working against their indifference, their “lukewarmness.”
o Secondly, they must "repent." They must have a significant change of mind and a change of purpose, with actions that will fall in line with the Lord's commands.
· The sense of this verse is, "Let my strong criticisms of you open your eyes, at once, to your need of repentance and also to the fact that it’s really love, on My part, that prompts Me to reprove and chastise you. A realization of My loving concern, as well as your own desperate condition, should bring a determined change of purpose and create within you a dedication that will remove the lukewarmness."
v.20, “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.”
· Jesus finishes His messages to the seven churches by ending with the message to the church at Laodicea.
· Now the invitation becomes a personal one to all who will hear and heed His words of warning:
o To all who will hear, Christ gives the invitation found in verse 20.
· Christ is shown, here, in relation to the church, as well as to the individual, as standing outside the door of the church, awaiting an invitation to come in:
o This is true of any local professing church.
· Christ must be invited to come in and become the center of worship, adoration, and love, in every local church. But it’s also true of the individual.
· The gracious invitation is extended, however, that if one opens the door (the door of faith, the door of worship, the door of love), Christ will come in and, having come in, will dine with the one who permits Him to enter, which is fellowship with the Lord of glory.
· There are some who consider this a picture at the end times. To them, the opening of the door represents the joyful response of the church to Christ's last call, that is, His second coming.
· But it's hardly true that at His second coming Christ will knock at the door and invite men to let Him in:
o His second coming is to establish His kingdom, to sit on David’s throne.
· The picture, here, seems more applicable to the present, when Christ remains on the outside unless He is welcomed in.
· Notice the blessing revealed here in the attitude of God:
o The infinite Creator and Sovereign, awaits the decision of His creatures who are so unworthy of the least of His blessings.
· Throughout this present age, the attitude of Christ is one of knocking at the door, waiting for people, and churches, to decide to ask – invite – Him to come into their churches and lives.
· The day will come when this attitude will be changed. He will come into power and glory, leading the armies of heaven, no longer awaiting the decision of man. But then, by His own power and majesty, He will take control, judging those who did not invite Him and rewarding those who did open the door and receive Him.
· The promised entrance of Christ and His resulting fellowship with the faithful believer are realized in two phases:
o The first phase happens simultaneously with initial saving faith, when we’re born again, regenerated
o The ultimate phase will be at the time of His second coming and the setting up His Millennial Kingdom.
· The true Christian has already begun fellowship with Christ, but his ultimate fellowship with Him has not yet begun.
· Because of His patience, He keeps knocking, but at some point, unknown to mankind, that knocking will come to an end and He will enter the scene once again, both to deliver His faithful followers and to punish the rebellious.
· "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door," refers to the custom at that time, which was to speak and identify oneself when knocking at someone’s door:
o So, the opening of the door was in response to both His knock and His voice.
v.21, “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.”
· In keeping with the promises given to the overcomers in the other churches, the promise is made to the Laodicean church to "sit with Me on my throne."
· This promise, like the others, is not granted to those who are especially spiritual within the church, but rather to all who are genuine Christians who overcome by faith, and are victorious over the world.
· To the overcomers the promise is granted that they will sit with Christ on His throne. What an amazing promise!
· To those who previously came under the condemnation of being lukewarm to such an extent that they were in danger of being vomited out of the mouth of Christ, the promise is now given that they will share in His glory.
· This promise hinges upon their separation from the lukewarm state to a true devotion to Christ.
Summary
Taken as a whole, the messages to the seven churches of Asia constitute a comprehensive warning from Christ to each of the churches. There is a warning to the churches of today to "hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."
The church at Ephesus represents the danger of losing our first love, that fresh devotion to Christ, which characterized the early church.
The church at Smyrna representing the danger of fear of suffering was exhorted, "fear none of those things which you shall suffer." In a modern day when persecution of the saints has been revived, the Church may well heed the exhortation, "fear not."
The church at Pergamum illustrates the constant danger of doctrinal compromise, which is often the first step toward complete defection. Oh, that the modern church, which has forsaken so many fundamentals of biblical truths would heed this warning!
The church at Thyatira is a monument to the danger of moral compromise. The Church today needs to pay close attention to the departure from moral standards, which has begun to permeate the Church today.
The church at Sardis is a warning against the danger of spiritual deadness, of orthodoxy without life, of mere outward appearances, of being, like the Pharisees, white sepulchers.
The church at Philadelphia who is commended by our Lord, is nevertheless warned against the danger of not holding fast, and exhorted to keep "the word of my patience," to maintain the "little strength" that they did have and to wait for their coming Lord.
The final message to the church at Laodicea is the ultimate indictment, a warning against the danger of lukewarmness, of self-sufficiency, of being unconscious of desperate spiritual need.
To contemporary churches, each of these messages is amazingly relevant and pointed.
In looking at the churches of today, here’s what our Lord sees as He stands in the midst of the lampstands.
The present age is an age of grace, an age in which God is testifying concerning Christ and His work. An age in which those who wish to hear may receive Christ and be saved.
The invitation given long ago to the seven churches of Asia to “hear with the Spirit says,” is extended to us today.
A loving God would have men and women believe, turn from their idols, and from themselves, and look in faith, to the Son of God, who loved them and gave Himself for them.
May the Lord of glory bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you as you are persevering in your faith and trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead.
By His Grace,
Gary T. Dromi, Ph.D., D.Min.
