Letter to the Seven Churches:  Laodicea

The Praiseless Church

 

 

Introducing Laodicea

  1. Laodicea was founded in the mid third century B.C. and was a major trade center, situated at the crossroads of three primary highways (including Ephesus-Syria, Pergamum-Pisidia).
    The city was exceedingly rich, and required no financial help from Rome following the A.D. 60 earthquake that destroyed Sardis, Philadelphia, and ten other cities.
  2. The city was also famous for her glossy black fleece, Phrygian eye powder and her school of medicine.
  3. Laodicea is mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:15-16, instructing the Colossians to “swap epistles” with Laodiceans.  The cities were no more than 15 miles apart.
  4. The Colossians epistle contains an admonition to Archippus to “take heed to the ministry which thou has received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it” (Col. 4:17).  Though written at least 30 years before Revelation, Archippus’ failure may have led to the present state of Laodicea in Revelation 3.

 

 

The Lord’s Letter to Laodicea

  1. The Lord’s identification (v 14)
    1. He is the amen = truth (cf Isaiah 65:16)
    2. He is the faithful and true witness
    3. He is the beginning of God’s creation

                                                              i.      Not the first thing created as claimed by JW’s.

                                                            ii.      He is the source of creation (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2)

 

 

  1. The Laodicean’s insipidness (vv 15-16)
    1. “Thou art neither cold nor hot.”
    2. Their nauseating indifference made the Lord want to vomit.

 

 

  1. The Laodiceans’ insufferable attitude (v 17a)
    1. “I am rich and increased with goods” (cf Luke 12:15-21)
    2. “I have need of nothing”

                                                              i.      Deuteronomy 8:10-18

                                                            ii.      Proverbs 30:7-9

 

 

  1. The Lord’s indignation (v 17b)
    1. You are wretched, miserable (cf 1 Cor 15:19), and poor
    2. You are blind (cf John 9:39-41:2, Peter 1:2-10)
    3. You are naked (cf Revelation 16:15)

 

 

  1. The Lord’s instruction (vv 18-19)
    1. “Buy of me gold tried in the fire” = a call to sacrifice
    2. “(Buy of me) white raiment” = a call to holiness
    3. “Anoint thine eyes that thou mayest see” = a call to reality

 

 

  1. The Lord’s affirmation and invitation (vv 20-22)
    1. “As many as I love…” (cf Heb 12:5-11)
    2. “I stand at the door and knock.”
    3. We must hear his voice and open the door.
    4. Jesus will not impose himself upon us.
    5. Only when we allow him entrance can we have fellowship with Jesus (cf John 14:23)