Letter # 7 – Letter to the Church at Laodicea
Revelation 3:14 - “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:’”
The Lord Jesus begins by introducing Himself to the church at Laodicea as ‘The Amen,’ and ‘The Faithful and True Witness.’
The Amen
The word, ‘Amen, means, ‘So be it.’ Jesus seems to be saying that when He says something, there’s no doubt about it happening – it will.
The Faithful and True Witness
He then says that He is the Faithful and True Witness. When Jesus walked the earth, witnessed concerning all that He knew about His Father in heaven, about the kingdom of heaven and about God’s plan for salvation. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is witnessing about the church, the rewards and the punishments on those who obey and rebel against God respectively. Since He is the Truth, He is also the True Witness, and there is nothing false about what He says.
The Beginning of the creation of God
Jesus refers to Himself as the Beginning of the creation of God, meaning that not only was He present at Creation but He was also instrumental in God’s creation. The Apostle John said in Jn.1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
Revelation 3:15,16 – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Neither cold nor hot
Jesus begins by telling this church that He is aware of their works, and that they were neither cold nor hot. This church was neither rebellious against Him and living in denial of His existence, nor were they passionate about the Lord and in their service to Him. They seemed be indifferent towards God. It’s almost like it would not have made a difference to them whether God existed or not, or if they were followers of Christ or not.
The Tax-collectors and ‘sinners’ were cold towards God – they had no interest in God until Jesus came into this world, and when they saw and heard what he did and spoke they followed Him, but the Pharisees were pretentious and hypocritical in their relationship with God – they were lukewarm. The Apostles like Peter, James and John, and most others were on fire for God, especially after they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and began serving the Lord.
Jesus preferred that the Church at Laodicea was either cold or hot, because the Lord can always work on people who are cold and distant towards Him, just as He did with the Tax collectors and ‘sinners.’ Jesus can work with people who are passionate about Him, like the disciples, but He cannot work on people who are insincere and hypocritical in their faith in and walk with the Lord – like the Pharisees, Sadducees and other religious leaders of His day.
I will vomit you out of my mouth
Jesus then says that because they were lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, He would vomit them out of His mouth. He seemed to be comparing them to a drink that is best drunk cold or hot. This church was not serving any purpose as such, but merely functioning for the sake of functioning as a church. They did not love the Lord or serve Him, nor did they love and serve one another or the community around. Jesus was dissatisfied with them and was about to chastise them for their careless attitude to their faith and relationship with Him.
Jesus seemed to have been making reference to their lives as a sacrifice being offered to Him (just as the Apostle Paul referred to in Rom.12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” It’s clear that the sacrifice of the people at the Church at Laodicea was anything but acceptable to the Lord, and so He was about to spew them out of His mouth.
What about us?
• Are we cold and distant in our relationship with the Lord, are we passionate about Him or are we so indifferent that it doesn’t matter anymore whether or not we believe in Him?
• May our lives be lived as a living sacrifice to the Lord
Revelation 3:17 – “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Just like the Church at Sardis had a false impression that they were alive, when they were in fact dead, this church too seemed to have a false impression of themselves. They thought that since they were rich and had become wealthy, that they needed nothing, when in fact, in God’s eyes they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. What a terrible revelation about themselves by their Master.
What about us?
How do we perceive ourselves, both individually, as a local church, as a city church or even as a national church, or as a church globally? If the impression we have of ourselves, and that of the Lord don’t match, then we’re in trouble, and in danger of being pulled up by the Lord.
Revelation 3:18 – “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.”
Real Gold
The Lord is so gracious to His people that He doesn’t reject them for the lackadaisical attitude to their faith in Him; but instead, He gives them a few words of advice. He offers to ‘sell’ them gold refined in the fire so that they may be truly rich. They were focusing on earthly riches perhaps and so thought they were rich, but here Jesus offers them true riches, referring to their faith in Him, which James refers to in 1 Pet.1:6,7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
Jesus is telling them that their faith in Him, which they seem to have put on the back burner is far more precious than all the gold in the world. This faith will be tested, just like earthly gold is refined in the fire, but in the end of this testing, those who are tested will come forth refined, strong and better than when they entered the phase of testing.
What about us?
• Have we confused real gold (our faith) and false gold?
• Do we consider the riches of this world true and the riches Jesus offers us cheap or irrelevant?
• Is living out our faith, and sharing our faith as important as it was when we first came to Christ, or have we become careless about these things?
• Have we shied away from suffering for Christ to avoid the pain and discomfort it brings or are we willing to endure it, knowing that it’s only through suffering that our faith is tested and refined?
White Garments
Jesus then goes on to offer them white garments in exchange for their filthy, soiled garments – soiled with sin and selfishness. Perhaps this city church had forgotten that they had been cleansed from their sinful ways, and were dabbling in sin all over again. The Apostle Peter talked about such people who had forgotten that faith in Christ was just the first step and that they had to grow in their faith thereafter. Read what he says in 2 Peter. 1: 5-9 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is short sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” This church had stopped walking in holiness, and had soiled their ‘garments’ all over again. They had got entangled once again in the sins of the past, making a mockery of the salvation they received, and the faith they so professed. They had forgotten that faith was the first step in this journey of becoming transformed into the likeness or image of Christ.
What about us?
• Have we got entangled in sin and the ways of this world all over again, thereby soiling our garments of salvation and righteousness?
• Have we become short-sighted, forgetting the bigger picture of why we were saved?
• Have we become content in merely believing in Jesus, and not realising that this was only the first step in this amazing journey of being transformed into His likeness?
That you may be clothed
This church needed a change of clothing – their so-called good clothes were soiled and unacceptable to Jesus. Jesus was now offering them a change of clothing so they could be clothed and not expose their nakedness. The lack of Christian living in this church was so evident to the Lord, that it was as shameful as them being naked. They were spiritually naked.
Eye Salve
The Lord goes on to encourage them to anoint their eyes with eye salve that they might be able to see. This church had become so blind to themselves that they didn’t realise how far they were from meeting the Lord’s expectations of them. The Lord wasn’t talking about physical vision, but rather a spiritual vision. This church had become spiritually blind – they needed vision all over again, and eye salve was an ointment that existed back in the day – one that would enhance physical vision. He was using this physical analogy to drive home a very important spiritual truth, quite similar to the passage we looked at earlier, where Peter says that the people he was referring to were short-sighted and very near to total blindness.
What about us?
• How is our spiritual vision? Do we have a very short-sighted approach to our walk with the Lord, or do we have a broader and long-term vision of living life reflecting the character of Christ, and then living with Him forever?
• Have we become so blind to ourselves that we no longer know who we are, or perhaps worse, have a deluded impression of ourselves, believing we are somewhere in our walk with the Lord, when He thinks otherwise of us?
Revelation 3:19 – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten
Jesus is not willing that anyone perish, and so will do anything it takes to revive a lukewarm person – even if it means rebuking and chastening them, and He reminds the church that the rebuking and chastening stems from His love for them, lest they think otherwise.
While on earth, Jesus often rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith or their misplaced priorities. Here are a few times He rebuked His disciples.
1. Jesus rebukes Peter for being an instrument of Satan
Mark 8:31-33 – “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
2. Jesus rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith
Mt.8:23-26 – “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
3. Jesus rebukes His disciples for rebuking parents who brought their children to Jesus to be blessed by Him.
Mk.10:13-16 – “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”
Be zealous and repent
The Lord then tells this church to be zealous, and not remain careless concerning their walk with the Lord. There’s no room for half-heartedness in the Kingdom of God. He tells them to repent of their spiritual lethargy. They could not go on with this attitude and think they would enter heaven.
Revelation 3:20 – “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.”
Behold I stand at the door and knock
The Lord Jesus then goes on to say the words that have become famous over the years, but sadly for the wrong reason. These words are often used in the context of inviting an unbeliever, (who’s never known Jesus) to enter into a relationship with Him, but that was not the context in which Jesus said these words. These words were spoken by Jesus to a city church that had become careless about their relationship with Him. They had basically closed the doors of their lives to Jesus. The Lord was calling such a backslidden church to get back into a relationship with Him.
What about us
• How are we in our relationship with the Lord?
• Have we walked away from the Lord and turned our backs on Him?
• Have we become so indifferent to Jesus that it no longer matters whether or not we believe in Him?
What a beautiful picture of Jesus standing at the door of a person who’s become lukewarm in their relationship with Him, and still making an offer – an offer to restore the relationship. I don’t know how many of us would find that easy to do. If a person whom we’ve done so much for takes us for granted, neglects us and uses us and abuses us, most of us would find it very hard to even want to have a relationship with such a person, let alone stand at their door and wait for them to open and invite them into a deeper relationship with them.
Jesus uses the analogy of dining with such a lukewarm church, and invites them into a renewed relationship with Him, so they could once again enjoy the joys they enjoyed earlier. But remember that the ball is in the court of the lukewarm church – they decide whether or not to respond to this invitation by Jesus into a renewed relationship. If they choose to keep that door closed, then it’s they who are choosing the consequences of an eternity without Christ – not God.
Revelation 3:21 – “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.”
Jesus then promises those who overcome the temptation to be lukewarm in their relationship with Him two amazing rewards – the first being to share His throne, meaning that they will also rule with Jesus. Jesus often made reference to those who believe in Him, ruling along with Him.
There are several references to the believers in Jesus, reigning with Him in the Kingdom of heaven. Here are a few:
• 2 Timothy 2:11-13 - This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
• Rev.20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them…”
• 1 Cor.6:1-3 – “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”
• Daniel 7:27 – “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
The condition for that church (and us) reigning with Jesus was that we overcome all the trials, temptations to be careless of indifferent about our relationship with Jesus. If, on the other hand we decide to remain lukewarm then we’ll be the ones being judged by Jesus and the other believers in Jesus - when the Lord returns.
Jesus also reminds them that the requisite for Him sitting with His Father on His throne (reigning) was that He had to overcome all the temptation, trials and sufferings while here on earth. Likewise, we too must learn to become overcomers, and not yield to these temptations and difficulties, if we are to sit with Jesus on His throne (reign with Him).
What about us?
• Are we living as overcomers on a daily basis, or are we being overcome by every trial, temptation and difficult circumstance that we encounter?
• Let’s bear this truth in mind that the call is to be overcomers, and not just lackadaisical believers in Jesus.
Rev.3:22 - “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This letter ends just like all the other letters did, cautioning everyone who has ears to listen, to pay heed to the words of the Holy Spirit to the churches. We, the church need to bear in mind that we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of every one of us. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is our Leader and we need to follow His leading if we are to live according to God’s expectations of us, and be transformed into the image of Jesus.
To take the words of the Holy Spirit lightly is to ignore the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and to face the consequences of our rebellion against Him.
The early church saw the tremendous growth they did only because they were obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles did not trust in their own wisdom, experience of knowledge, but waited on the leading of the Holy Spirit to go where they went and say and do what they did. If only we can get back to this way of both living and serving, we will certainly see the revival and growth like the early church did.
Let’s make it our decision to pay heed to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so we can both live victorious lives as well as serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit, and not have to struggle in our own strength.
