Revelation 3, Part Two

The church at Laodicea (vs. 14-22)—Laodicea was a city not far from Colossae, and the apostle Paul had written them a letter at the same time he wrote one to the latter city (Col. 4:16). We do not have the letter to the Laodiceans, but whatever Paul told them didn’t do much good, Revelation 3:14-22 being witness to that. Perhaps the problem was that Laodicea was a very wealthy city, and that wealth had affected the church. The trade of the city was considerable, for it lay on a great trade route. The Muslims will eventually completely destroy the city and there is nothing there now but ruins.

The author (v. 14)—"The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” “Amen” means “let it be so,” thus the idea is that whatever Jesus says will come to pass. His word is absolute and true. As the “Beginning of the creation of God,” He is the head and governor of all that is created. This does not mean, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, that He is a created being. The Greek word for “beginning” (arche) can also mean “first cause,” or “ruler” or “power.”

The good—There is nothing good said about the church in Laodicea. How very sad that Jesus could find nothing worthy of praise here.

The bad (vs. 15-17)—This was a “lukewarm” church, “neither cold or hot” (v. 16). They weren’t on fire for the Lord, as they should have been, but then, they hadn’t totally left Him, either. “Get in or get out” is what Jesus wants. Those who only play at religion are among the most harmful of all. And they make the Lord sick:  “I will vomit you out of My mouth” (v. 16). Can you imagine getting a letter from the One Who is going to judge you eternally, and He tells you that you make Him sick? The problem in Laodicea, as noted in the introduction to this section, was wealth: “Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'” (v. 17). Without the Lord, we are nothing. To think we can live and exist without Him is foolishness to the highest degree. Even atheists are blessed by rain and sunshine from God (Matt. 5:45), though they will never admit it, of course. People like that “do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” in the eyes of God (v. 17). Jesus is trying to wake this dormant congregation up with very strong language; they needed it. His advice to them was “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (v. 18). Obtain from the Lord true wealth, clothing of righteousness, and spiritual eye salve so that they can see their condition before God. Verse 19 is significant: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Jesus didn’t write what He wrote to Laodicea because He was harsh, unloving, and unkind. He loved them and wanted them to be saved, and they needed strong medicine. When the doctor cuts a cancer out of our body, it hurts; but we don’t complain that he brought us pain, we thank him for saving our lives. We should always be thankful for faithful gospel preachers who tell us the truth, regardless of its convicting nature. He’s just trying to save our wicked souls. The Lord wants us to be with Him: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (v. 20). But we have to open the door.

The blessing (v. 21)— “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Reigning eternally with Jesus.

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