3:14-22 What do we learn here from the church at Laodicea?

We learn here that there are no such things in God's economy as nominal Christians (cp Mt 7:21-27; 12:30; Lk 13:23-27; Ro 2:13; Jas 1:22-25). The Laodicean church is representative of nominal Christians whose lives revolve around luxury living and accumulating material wealth and possessions, while around them souls are dying, in need of the gospel. Laodicean Christians are indifferent to spiritual things.

They love everything the world loves: sports, television, movies - all forms of self-gratifying pleasures. Their church programmes are packaged to accommodate the culture of the world more than for worshipping Jesus. In fact, Jesus is so shut out of Laodicean Christians' lives that He has had to issue an invitation for them to fellowship with Him, "... behold I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Rev 3:2)

The irony of this scripture is that Christians use it to lead sinners to get saved, when in fact it is addressed to Christians who need saving, themselves (cp Lk 12:35-40; Jn 14:23; 2Cor 6:14-18). Laodicean Christians see themselves as rich, increased with goods, and needing nothing, but Jesus sees them as poor, blind, wretched, miserable and naked. He counsels them not to lay up treasures for themselves on earth, but to store it up for themselves in heaven (cp Job 31:13-28).

What Job says here should be the testimony of every born again believer, because one day, like Job, we will all have to give an account to God for everything we lavish on ourselves, and withhold from others. This completes John's revelation of the things which are that concerns the church.

After this, the church is raptured to heaven. From Rev 4:1 onwards it is never again mentioned in scripture as being on earth, but is represented by the "four and twenty elders" in heaven (cp Rev 4:1-4; 5:8-10; 19:1-4).

4:1-4 See comments on

Rev 1:19 and 3:7-13.

Revelation:-