Laodicea
Jesus' description of Himself:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God
(Rev 3:14).
Jesus' final description of Himself is one who is the sure and faithful testimony of the
reality of God the Father and who was present at the beginning of Creation.
Background: Forty five miles southwest of Philadelphia was Laodicea. Located on the major trade route
from Ephesus, the wealthy city was a financial banking center. Significant to the background of Laodicea was
the existence of a six mile long aqueduct that brought water, which, as a consequence of transit, was always
warm - neither hot nor cold upon arrival, and the presence of a renown medical school that produced a special
ointment that cured certain eye problems.
Rebuke (praise is absent!):
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or
hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 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, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become
rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be
revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;
therefore 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:15-20)
Observation:
Ignorant of their spiritual poverty and need for the Savior, the church of Laodicea was
criticized for their compromising faith life (or lack of). The pursuit of wealth supplanted their pursuit of
holiness, which Jesus Christ encouraged the church to correct. Speaking in their terms, Jesus Christ exhorts the
church or Laodicea to repent and invest in Him ("buy from Me gold") and buy His ointment ("eye salve to anoint
your eyes") and build heir lives upon the foundation of Christ (1 Cor 3:11-15).
The church of Laodicea apparently had many members who thought were Believers but were in fact not.
Promise to Believers:
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 (Rev 3:21).