Revelation 3:14-22

Commission: to the angel of the church in Laodicea.  The city name meant the rights of the people.  A banking and financial center, Laodicea sat at the junction of several major Roman roads connecting Ephesus and the coast with industry such as the manufacture of many popular woolen garments.  The city had a medical school famous for an eye remedy known as Phrygian powder.  The many hot springs in the area affected the water supply for the city.  A sizeable Jewish population was part of this very mixed city, with various nationalities brought in by different kings over the ages to weaken their national spirit.

Character of Christ: Christ presents Himself as irreprovable and authoritative.  He is the “Amen,” the one who secures all the promises of God (2 Cor. 1:20).  He has fulfilled His calling well as the faithful and true Witness.  And He is the ruler of creation (beginning is Greek arche, a term used of a ruler, the first over his kingdom or the beginning in the sense of being the originator).  Jesus has a strong word for this self-satisfied church.

Commendation: His words include no commendation.

Condemnation: Jesus’ condemnation is that this church is lukewarm.  Neither refreshing as cold water, nor cleansing or warming as hot water, this church was marked by apathy, indifference and complacency.  They were at ease with a false sense of security.  They were content but without true righteousness!  What Jesus saw made Him sick.  They considered themselves to be a strong church (unlike the Philadelphia church) since the church treasury was full.  But in fact they had nothing!  They were wretched (the result of sin), miserable (in need of mercy), poor (spiritual beggars), blind (unable to discern spiritual truth) and naked (transparent before God).  Self-satisfied Christians see themselves wrongly because they measure themselves by the world’s standards (wealth, physical feelings or positions of importance). They think they are okay when they are on the verge of destruction!  (For an illustration of this in Israel see Isaiah 32:9-17).

Correction: Christ loves them so much that He rebukes them and calls them to repentance.  This repentance is to come to Christ in truth.  This is amazing.  He speaks to individuals to come to Him for true riches, health and significance.  And then in words we often use as a call to salvation (v20), He tells them He is outside the door of their church, not inside, and desires to be invited in!  Either way, the individual or the church that is self-satisfied, that has no hunger or thirst for righteousness, has no room for Christ.

Challenge: In an amazing picture, Jesus promises the overcomer a place to sit with Me on My throne as He also overcame and sat on His Father’s throne.  The one who comes to follow Christ must be as Christ: denying himself and bearing his cross to the place of crucifixion (Matt. 16:24-27).

Call: He who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.