Laodicea was the chief city of Phrygia in the Lycus
valley, strategically located where three highways
converged. It was a highly commercial and wealthy city. In
addition to being a banking center, it was a manufacturing
center for woolen garments and medicinal eye salve, powders
and tabloids (Revelation 3:17-18). In 60 A.D., an earthquake
destroyed Laodicea. Being highly resourceful and
self-sufficient, the people restored their own city rather
than receive a government loan from Rome.
John is told to write to the angel of the church in
Laodicea, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the
Beginning of the creation of God, says this; I know your
needs, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish that you
were cold or hot” (Revelation 3:14-15).
As with the world today and many, many believers, Laodicea
was occupied with and trusting in the things of this fallen
creation that is now passing away and slated for
destruction. They were trusting in the temporal treasures of
this life rather than in the Creator and in heavenly
treasures. Their priorities and security lay in temporal
things rather than in the eternal and in the Creator
Himself. Like much of Christianity today, their hope and
faith was in a responsive Christ who is supposed to satisfy
His people by quickly granting them ease and comfort, a
Christianity that wants heaven or millennial conditions now
in this present fallen world under Satan’s control. That is
not the message of the Bible and certainly not the message
of Revelation.
The message of Revelation is about a continuing struggle
with evil both in the church age and in the Tribulation to
come. It is a struggle that will only get worse and worse
and will not end until brought to an end by the personal
return of the Lord.
The message to the angel of the church in Laodicea begins
with a solemn reminder of the Lord’s knowledge of the true
condition of this church, “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” (Revelation 3:15-16).
What does it mean to be lukewarm? Lukewarmness refers to
Christians who are indifferent or apathetic because they are
self-sufficient and self-satisfied. Christians who are
trusting in themselves and their wealth or what they thought
their wealth could buy them. Note their threefold claim:
First, “I am rich,” shows they were proud and trusting in
that richness as though wealth had the power to give them
security and happiness.
Second, “and have become wealthy,” they continued to add to
their wealth.
Third, “and have need of nothing,” they were so well off
they thought they needed no help from neither man nor God.
They had bought into the satanic delusion that money can buy
anything. They did not need to trust God. They could simply
go out and buy whatever they needed or desired. There was no
need to wait on the Lord, no need to put Him first. They
sought their security in their talents, abilities, human
resources, and financial wealth. They thought their wealth
protected them from all dangers, problems, and every kind of
tragedy. As a result they neglected the Lord and biblical
values. They neglected real service or ministry to others.
The saddest thing about the Laodicean church is not just the
Lord’s statement about their condition as “wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked,” but the words that
preceded this indictment, “and you do not know that you
are.” How sad to be this blind, hardened against the truth,
like a drunk in the cold, they could not feel their
condition, without spiritual insight or discernment. They
were walking in darkness, their whole body was full of
darkness (Matthew 6:23). Here was their problem, spiritual
blindness, poor spiritual insight or a lack of biblical
perspective or vision.
Satan and the world want us to think that the good life is
what we all need. People watch shows like “Lifestyles of the
Rich and Famous,” and game shows where people win large
amounts of money. They follow the lotteries and think, “Wow,
if only I could have that kind of luck.” The implication is
that money buys the good life, but not so. There is no “good
life” to be purchased for any amount of money.
Materialism is destructive. Statistics indicate the more
money you have the more likely you are to commit suicide.
Actuarial figures reveal life expectancy decreases as income
increases. Money adds to stress and that in turn takes years
off one’s life. One study shows that money also intensifies
moral decline and family disintegration. Marital infidelity
and divorce rates rise with income levels. Money cannot buy
happiness.
The Lord says, “buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you
may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe
yourself, and that your nakedness will not be revealed; and
eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see”(
Revelation 3:18).
How can you buy from Christ what is only given through
faith? No one can actually buy these things from Christ. He
only uses these words as a medium to carry their thoughts
from the material world and material wealth to the spiritual
world and the need of spiritual wealth that can only be
received by faith. Also, note the concept of the source.
They can be bought only from Christ.
Note what it is that can be bought or acquired, “Gold.” Here
is a picture of faith produced by God’s own Word by which
men bring the spiritual riches of Christ into their lives.
(cf. 1 Pet. 1:7; Rom. 10:17; 5:1).
“White raiment,” for the unbeliever, this refers to the
righteousness of Christ that is imputed to the believer at
the point of faith in Christ. For the believer it refers to
the fruit of the Spirit, acts of righteousness from living
in the Word and walking in fellowship by abiding in Christ.
“Eye salve,” this most likely refers to the person and work
of the Holy Spirit as God’s anointing who anoints our eyes
to discern His Word.
We need to remember that these letters are written to the
church, to believers in Christ. There could have been
unbelievers in their midst, but unbelievers are not a part
of the church. Christ is addressing believers here and says,
“those whom I love, I reprove and discipline” (Revelation
3:19). He loves them and promises to reprove and discipline
them to bring them out of their self-sufficiency and into
the sufficiency of His life. This could require severe
testing, pain and heartache to bring them, or any believer
in this state, to a point of personal need and dependency
upon the Lord (Hebrews 12:5-15).
In view of this, they are warned to become zealous and to
repent of their ways. In other words, repent in order to
stop the discipline before it begins.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is represented in relation to the
church locally and universally in that these letters have
application locally and universally. However, this appeal,
“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” (Revelation 3:20), has special application
to the individual for the church is made up of individuals.
Note the words “if anyone hears.” A condition can exist in
the life of a believer that necessitates inviting Christ to
come in for personal fellowship. However, this is not the
way this passage is often used and understood. This passage
is often used in presenting the gospel and in offering
salvation to a lost sinner.
“I stand” indicates the loving patience of the Lord and His
desire for our fellowship.
“Knock” indicates an invitation for men to open up the doors
of their hearts and to invite Christ in for fellowship.
“I will dine with him and he with Me.” Dine is a Greek word
that referred to the main meal of the day. It was used not
only of the main meal of the day, but of the meal which was
the occasion for hospitality and fellowship. At this meal,
however, He is the host, He sets the table and we are His
guests dining on that which He has provided.
We can apply this invitation for the lost, for those without
Christ, but we must be ever so careful in how we do this.
Unbelievers are not saved by asking Jesus to come into their
lives. Unbelievers can only invite Christ into their lives
as personal Savior by faith in the person and work of Christ
(John 1:12; 3:16, 36). Christ comes in through the ministry
of the Spirit of God by believing in Jesus Christ as to both
His person and work as the only means of salvation, not by
simply asking Christ to come in. This means believing in
Christ as the Son of God, the God-man who died on the cross
as God’s substitute and payment for one’s own sin, and
believing that God raised Him from the dead, the proof of
His person and work (Rom. 10:9).
However, this invitation is addressed to the church, to
believers. This is a call to fellowship with the Savior. As
an invitation to Christians, it is a call to repent, as
commanded in verse 19. It is a call for confession of one’s
sins with a renewal of mind and heart to continue to draw
upon the glorious life of Christ daily through walking by
the Spirit and living in the Word. It means abiding in
Christ, the vine (John 15:1-7).
Our Lord Jesus Christ not only promises to come into the
life of the one who invites Him (v 21), but again special
blessing is promised to the believer who overcomes. He is
promised the privilege of sitting with Christ on His throne.
This means the privilege and right to share in Christ’s
authority and rule in the millennium and eternal future on
the basis, “as I also overcame and sat down.” Christ
accomplished the real victory over death, sin and Satan in
His life, death and resurrection. Because of His sinless
life and perfect obedience to the Father’s plan, even the
death of the cross, He overcame sin, Satan and death and was
granted the right and authority as the God-man to sit with
the Father until He makes His enemies the footstool for His
feet (Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:3, 13). By our union and
identification with Him in His person and work, and through
our faithfulness in the conflict as we draw upon His life as
the source of ours, we get to share in His reign as a reward
for faithful service because whenever we overcome in the
battles of life, it is always through Him.
The message to the church in Laodicea concerns a church that
is religious, but useless, a church that excluded Christ
from their fellowship in selfish, materialistic, and self
dependence. It is a church where Christ stands on the
outside, excluded by the church’s apathy to His Word, a Word
which convicts, enlightens, warms and softens hearts, and
makes people productive. Thus, the call is to hear, to open
our ears.
Like Laodicea, the church today is lukewarm. We have seen
what it means to be lukewarm and how we are to deal with
lukewarmness. We have also seen its causes and cure. Do we
have ears to hear this message as the Lord challenges us in
this passage? Are we blind to the effects of our own forms
of greed?
Think for a moment about all the advertising techniques that
are designed for the financial gain of the advertisers, not
that of the buyer. Regardless of their claims or whatever
the alleged benefit of the product, it is really without
much concern for the welfare of people other than they want
to keep our business. It is exploitative, manipulative, and
designed by greed to play on the weaknesses of the public.
The goal is to get us to buy what we cannot afford, what we
do not need, with money we often do not have. In addition,
many times it is either harmful or wrong according to
biblical standards. Advertisers often seek to reach the most
vulnerable in society and intentionally market products that
are both addictive and destructive.
However, sad to say, this greed-driven behavior is not
exclusive to the world. We find it in the church among God’s
people too, but often we are too blind to see that greed,
laying up treasures on the earth, and desires for the good
life negatively affect the body of Christ, compromises the
testimony of Christ, and the integrity of the Word of God.
We are often blind to the fact that greed, laying up
treasures on earth and the desire to live the good life
leave little strength or time for caring for the spiritual
well being of the family.
We are often blind to the effect that greed, laying up
treasures on earth and the desire to live the good life have
on the church and ministry. Because professing believers are
so engulfed in the pursuit of position, power, praise,
prestige, and pleasure that there is neither time nor energy
to devote themselves to the Word, to ministry, or to liberal
giving.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s messages to the seven churches in
Asia is a message to the twenty-first century church unable
to see the effect our modern period of materialism,
consumerism, self-sufficiency, do-your-own-thing kind of
independence and individualism, religiosity, and apostasy
upon the church and ministry.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches” (Revelation 3:22).
