The church in Laodicea, along with Sardis, received the harshest condemnation from Jesus. However, Jesus still invited this indifferent church back into relationship with Him, while providing a very difficult warning. We’re looking at how the Revelation Letter to the church in Laodicea speaks to us today.
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
Revelation 3:14
Laodocia: 7th City of the Revelation Letters
Laodicea was an ancient city in what’s now modern day Turkey and was situated in a magnificent river valley with unique features. To the south were enormous 8,000-foot (2,438-meters) mountains. A smaller mountain range was found to the north and from a distance you would think you were looking at a great accumulation of snow.
These were the formations and deposits of minerals on the rocks surrounding another ancient city, Hierapolis, just 5 miles away from Laodicea. The modern Turkish city is called Pamukkale and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the vibrant days of Laodicea, Hierapolis along with her thermal pools played an important illustrative role in Christ’s letter to this church. Colossae, the second nearby city, famous for cold spring water, did as well. You’ll find out how in just a moment.
Interestingly, the churches at both Laodicea and Hierapolis were established by Epaphras:
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:12-13
Laodicea was an extremely wealthy city. They were a financial center with banking, the wealth deposits likely kept in the few but massive temples. The successful garment industry specialized in rare black wool from the locally raised goats. Finally, Laodiceans were famous for a special eye ointment, possibly made from the minerals from nearby Hierapolis.
Laodicea was so wealthy that when an earthquake destroyed the city in AD 60, the citizens refused imperial Roman aid and rebuilt it with their own finances.
Wealth and pride permeated everything in the city, including the church community. That led to some very serious condemnation from Jesus in His Revelation letter to the church in Laodicea.
The Age of Laodicea?
There are some who teach that each letter in Revelation represents an age of the church throughout history. These teachers would tell you that you’re living in the age of the letter to Laodicea.
Personally, I believe this is erroneous interpretation of the text and therefore incorrect teaching. As far as I can conclude, each letter was written to a specific church in a specific time and place. However, each of the 7 letters reaches across the span of the ages and all have something to teach the church today.
Nevertheless, it’s true that much of the Laodicean church is an image of most normal and even admired modern evangelical churches. So brace yourself because Jesus did not have one positive thing to say about this church.
The Revelation Letter to the Church in Laodicea
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
Revelation 3:14
There is good reason why this is the only verse in Revelation that you’ll find Jesus called the Amen; and because He follows that up with identifying Himself as the faithful and true witness is no mistake.
He is addressing an extremely unfaithful and dishonest church who has misplaced their trust and their identity. Taking their cue from the culture surrounding them, the Laodicean church operated in their own strength while trusting in their comfort and in their wealth.
They alienated themselves from Christ in a false sense of identity. They made the mistake of thinking too favorably of their high level of comfort which led to their apathetic relationship with Jesus.
In response to that, Jesus concludes His introduction calling Himself the beginning of God’s creation. Elsewhere in Revelation, He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 21:6; 22:13).
To the church in Laodicea, He goes even further as He is the architect of creation itself. This is a very serious and severe way to begin a letter!
Indifferent, Lukewarm Christianity
‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.’
Revelation 3:15-16
Jesus opened His letter to the church in Laodicea with stern authority, and then He wastes no time getting to the point.
You should take note that in the original text, the word for spit out is actually vomit.
Indifferent, lukewarm Christianity makes Jesus sick! And His illustration is not lost on the Laodiceans because the city had no fresh water supply.
Making a stand in contrast to society
Remember when I said the nearby cities played an important role in this letter? Here it is.
Because Laodicea had no water supply of their own, service water was piped in through aqueducts from Hierapolis, where the mineral deposits and thermal pools were found. This water would leave hot and arrive in Laodicea lukewarm. If you drank it, you would vomit. In fact, one of it’s medicinal uses was to induce vomiting.
As for drinking and consumption, water had to be brought up from the valley where neighboring Colossae was well known for it’s cold, mountain-fed natural spring water.
At first glance, you could say that Jesus wishing indifferent Christians were either cold or hot could mean either you love or hate Him. That’s quite possible, but I’m not so sure that’s all there is to it.
The hot, thermal, mineral infused water from Hierapolis had healing abilities, and the fresh, cold Colossae spring water was refreshing and life giving. What if Jesus is saying to you to live as a healing, life-restoring presence to society?
Both explanations are possible. However, the conclusion you must draw from this illustration is to make a stand that’s in contrast to culture and society, and don’t be shaped by what pleases the world.
Accommodating culture is intolerant to Christ
There is no doubt that Jesus wants His followers to be accessible to society, but He does not want you to be tolerant of sin. One big reason why a believer, a church, or even an entire denomination would be tolerant of sin is to be accepted by their culture.
The problem with that is that it leads to indifferent Christianity. Jesus demands all of your heart, mind, and soul. If you are not loving and following Him with a burning intensity, then change that today. Do not risk being spit out of His presence in exchange for being accepted by the world.
According to this text, if society is completely accepting of you, it’s likely Jesus will spit you out.
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:14
Rich yet Poor, Blind, and Naked
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Revelation 3:17
The prosperity and comfort of Laodicea reached deeply into the church, illustrating that you could do well but still be empty and lost without Christ.
Plus, the arrogance of the Laodicean church is astonishing.
The perception that this church apparently had of themselves is that they “needed nothing.” The reason they offered for that notion is the trust they placed in their prosperity.
I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.
The church in Laodicea, Revelation 3:17
However, Christ’s response to their high opinion of themselves is judgement. Jesus answers not to their physical, worldly comfort, but to their spiritual bankruptcy.
He informs them that while they think they have it all, they are in spiritual poverty, blind to His truth, and exposed before God.
The Counsel of Christ
Jesus, in His mercy, offers advice to the true spiritual problems in this church. Though he expresses His judgement, He offers merciful counsel for correcting the problem.
He begins to touch on the points that they have put their faith in, exposing the idolatry of their misplaced trust.
Jesus calls this complacent, indifferent fellowship a wretched and pitiful church; and that should strike every one of us to the core.
You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Jesus, Revelation 3:17
Remember that Jesus is never left scratching His head, wondering where you’ve stepped in error. However, He is undeniably the only certain and secure One in whom you can relinquish every single detail of your life, both hidden and visible.
Where the church in Laodicea says, “I have no need of anything,” Jesus answers with imagery that cuts to the core of the Laodicean pride.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Revelation 3:18
So that you may be rich
His first advice to them is to buy from Himself fire refined gold.
Gold is refined by white hot fire which liquefies any impurities. These will rise to the top and are then scraped off and the result is more pure gold. Jesus says that His gold will make you genuinely rich and it only requires faith. Believing faith is the direct opposite of pride and self-sufficiency.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
So that your shame may be covered
Next, Jesus tells the Laodicean church to forget about their fancy black wool and clothe themselves in His white garments.
What a contrast! The garments Jesus advises represent righteousness that can only come from a genuine relationship with Him. The church in Laodicea is accustomed to a form of Christianity that is without Christ.
The image Jesus gives the church is that while they’re clothed in garments that are sought after from all over the world, they are naked before God. In other words, they don’t have anything to cover their shame in His presence.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
So that you may see
His final advice to the arrogant church is to secure His eye salve. Of course, Jesus speaks illustratively and here’s why.
Laodicea was a center of medicinal practice in the Greco-Roman world and they were advanced beyond anyone else. What’s more, they were well developed in treating various eye diseases.
Jesus telling the prideful and arrogant that they are blind is judgement. Advising them to remove their misguided trust in themselves and place their faith in Him is merciful.
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Psalm 19:8
An Open Invitation from the Letter to the Church
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:19-20
Even when addressing a church that repulses Him, Jesus stood with an open invitation: repent.
Jesus does not leave the church in Laodicea in conviction without reminding them of His offer of nurturing mercy. And He is doing the same today!
Notice in verse 20 where Jesus moves from addressing the church as a group to individuals. He moves from plural to singular going from “those whom” to “if anyone.”
That invitation stands today. If you would hear His words and respond to His invitation, then your reward is also eternal life in His presence.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 3:21
On the other hand, if you refuse to let Jesus in (Revelation 3:20), then you will bear the consequences. While Jesus pursues you “at the door,” no response is your answer.
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3
The letter to the church in Laodicea is striking in light of today’s modern casual Christianity. If this hits close to home, I want to urge you to move past a lukewarm relationship with Jesus that makes Him sick and into a blazing hot commitment to Him.
However, if you’re already there, do what you can to not leave others in a putrid cesspool of socially accommodating, indifferent Christianity that will bring judgement.
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude 22-23
What a great revelation! Thanks for this
You’re very welcome Joshua, glad you enjoyed it!