Even as the Philadelphian church doesn’t receive even one rebuke - the church at Laodicea receives not one commendation - the contrast couldn’t be more stark - and that’s not the only contrast we’ll see as we compare these two churches.
-The church at Philadelphia was small in appearance but large in the Lord’s strength.
-The Laodicean church was large in their own eyes but nothing in the Lord’s estimation.
-In Philadelphia it was the Jews who would be reproved for not realizing Christ’s love for the church -
-In Laodicea it was the church that would be reproved for failing to recognize God’s love in Jesus Christ.
-In Philadelphia doors open all by themselves and stay open.
-In Laodicea they are behind closed doors and must open their hearts to Jesus coming in. The Philadelphians are kept from tribulation, the Laodiceans are put right into it.
The differences center around two things: the name of Jesus, and the Word of Jesus. Our response to who the person of Jesus Christ is, and His gospel will determine which church we are in.
Philadelphia - The Strong Church
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ’The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 "’I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Verse 7
This introduction is different than the others in that we don’t see this description of the Lord in chapter 1. The key of David is a reference to Isaiah 22:22. Here the palace secretary: Shebna, is removed from office and Eliakim is put into his place. The "key" referred to the fact that Eliakim could literally open or close any door he wanted because that was the highest position in the court of David. It speaks of absolute authority - which is what the Root and Offspring of David - Jesus Christ - has. Jesus will call Himself that in Chapter 22 of this book (verse 16).
Verse 8
It’s not a matter of having a great church, but a great God. No matter how small you are - the power of the Lord can accomplish His will. What matters is keeping His Word and His name. The Philadelphian church was small and insignificant. Its members were discouraged because they saw little growth. Neither significance nor growth in numbers are the hallmarks of a successful church in Jesus’ eyes. The successful church in Jesus’ eyes has 1) the evident love of Jesus flowing in it’s midst (verse 9), active in working for the Lord - not based on human standards but God led (verse 8), members who are maturing in their faith ("patient endurance"). So the first thing is to rely on the Lord’s Provision, not man’s plans.
Verse 9
In Smyrna it seemed as if the enemy won for a time - "throw you in prison." Here it is the enemy that comes to bow at their feet. And what will this defeated enemy have to acknowledge? The love of Jesus for His saints. The Jews gave the Philadelphians a really hard time. Jesus told the church of Smyrna that Jews who rejected Jesus would gather, thinking they were a synagogue of God, but really served Satan. In John 8 Jesus told the Jews who rejected Him that they were "of your father the devil."
Verse 10
The Ephesians were also patiently enduring - but they lacked love. Thyatira patiently endured but were compromised by the tolerance of sin.
The Philadelphians were to be kept from the Great Tribulation. I can’t really see how to interpret this verse any differently. "hour of trial that is coming on the whole world." The preposition "from" can also mean "out of" in the sense of not entering something.
Some suggest that "keep" means that the Lord will protect the church through the Tribulation - but if you put this together with many other verses I think the clearer interpretation is that they will be spared the Tribulation altogether. The second thing is the Lord’s Protection for the church.
Verse 11
There is some debate about the "crown" in verse 11. I like the suggestion that it refers to the victor’s crown like in 1 Corinthians 9:25. As we do things in the power of the Spirit, rather than in our own strength - the Lord stores up for us rewards, or crowns. He is encouraging them to keep at what He is doing in them so that they, not someone else, will receive the reward.
Verse 12
"The one who conquers" or "the one who is conquering." They will be pillars. You know - when you are a small church you sometimes feel sort of temporary - like what you do isn’t really lasting or important. But what God builds through His Spirit - even through one person or a small church that is obedient to His call - it has eternal consequences. These people are promised a permanence with the Lord - and that they will be lasting citizens of the New Jerusalem. Plus they will have on them the name of God, and a new name that Jesus will reveal. I think that new name will reveal the character of the work that He did through them.
So now contrast this small, powerful, provided for and protected church whose works and name will last forever - with Laodicea:
Laodicea - The Lukewarm Church
14 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.
15 "’I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 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 eat with him, and he with me. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" ESV
Whew! What a rebuke. I think that this church is devoid of Christians. To the church at Sardis Jesus acknowledged that there were at least a few Christians - but not here. Also note that there is no commendation, but also no threat. What is there to threaten? They don’t really have anything at all to begin with. Plus - all the talk is about being stained with sin, and obtaining righteousness from Jesus - as if they aren’t saved at all.
Some suggest that this church represents the church of today - apostate - having a form of godliness but denying the power - having monetary riches but being spiritually empty.
Verse 14
Jesus’ statement about Himself indicate that He is the One who makes things happen - that He is the One who truly represents God’s truth, and that He has authority over all things. This is important when you consider that the Laodecians thought they were the ones in control and needed nothing from anyone else. How wrong they were.
Verse 15 - 16
The Laodicean water supply came from the Hierapolis’ hot springs. By the time it got to Laodicea it was no longer hot - but neither was it refreshingly cold and pure - instead it was filled with minerals and tasted terrible. One time I lived on the side of a mountain and our well water was so full of iron that it painted every fixture in the house - and it tasted so awful that we had to cart 50 gallon barrels of water and siphon it out with a plastic hose in order to drink and cook.
Some suggest that cold means spiritually dead and hot means spiritually on fire - and that the Lord would want us dead or on fire. But there is another possible way to look at this - that cold means to refresh, and that hot means to purify. Spiritually, this church was neither - it didn’t stand for anything so it stood for nothing. There was no refreshment of the Spirit and of fellowship, no purifying from the Word of God changing hearts.
Verse 17
Laodicea was the richest city of the 7 mentioned in Revelation 2-3. It was so wealthy that when an earthquake destroyed it, along with Hierapolis and Colossae in A.D. 60 - Laodicea refused aid from Rome to rebuild.
The problem with material wealth is that it does two things - it blinds and binds. Riches blind you to your real need. Jesus spoke to a rich young man in Matthew 19. The man felt that he had all his ducks in a row to be righteous before God. He then asked "what do I yet lack?" and Jesus pointed to the one thing that stood before he and God - his wealth. And when Jesus asked him to give that up - he walked - his riches were more important than God after all.
Riches don’t just blind - they bind. Proverbs 23:4 says "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist." The problem is - when we get wealth we want more and more. Ephesians 2:19 calls is "a continual lust for more." That’s why gambling works - you get a taste of money and victory - and the rush of adrenaline - and that hooks you until you’ve lost everything.
The Laodiceans had a great impression of themselves - but in truth they were:
Wretched - it means "miserable." Riches are a false provider - the root words mean "to pierce a talent." Proverbs 23 goes on to say: "When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings." So what they think is such a talent - for making money - is pierced suddenly - and they have nothing.
Pitiable - no one who is well off wants to be pitied. Poor, blind, and naked. They had no spiritual riches - the kind that last, they were blind to their plight - the plight of being naked and without the covering of righteousness. The description here is of a beggar. It is the polar opposite of what they thought they were.
Verse 18
This reminds me so much of: Isaiah 55:1-2
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat ! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. ESV
Jesus Christ is our righteousness (Romans 3:22). Jesus clothes us with that righteousness (Galatians 3:27). And Jesus opens our eyes to see our true condition - and heal us to see Him in us (Ephesians 1:18 "eyes of heart enlightened to see the hope…")
Verse 19
We serve the God of the second chance. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:10 "godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation." Jesus tells them to be "zealous" - which means to "get fired up." The Laodiceans were complacent - they needed a kick start to realize they were really nothing and nowhere.
Verse 20 - 22
One of the most famous verses in the Bible: Jesus is pictured outside this church - knocking - wanting in. He also stands at the door of our hearts, wanting in to fellowship with us. To the one who responds, He will not only come in, but He’ll invite you to sit down with Him in heaven and fellowship in real authority - God’s authority - forever.
Conclusions
Do you feel insignificant?
The measure of success for Jesus is not the accomplishments of your hands, but the obedience of your heart. Billy Graham is judged on the same standards that you are - did you do the things God told you to do in His power? If that is your aim, then you are much more powerful and significant than you know - no matter how "small" you feel your task in the body of Christ is. With Jesus - no door can shut in front of you.
Verse 17: What do you think your spiritual condition is?
Do you think you have it all together? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
If you think you have everything you need and have not bowed your knee and your life to Jesus Christ you are fooling yourself.
Jesus tells the story in Luke 12 of a man who got so much wealth that all he could think of was to build bigger barns to hold it all. Then that night he died and left it all behind. At the end of the story He says: "So is the one who lays up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God."
You become rich in God through the riches given freely to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).
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