VII, To THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA (3:14-22)

A. Destination

This letter was sent to Laodicea, forty miles north of Ephesus, In this city was a famous medical school, and eye salve made here became known for its healing power. Being a centre of finance, Laodicea was extremely rich and one of the largest cities in Asia Minor. Moreover, it was a city of entertainment, where all the citizens sought continual pleasure. Since the church had compromised with the world, it became neither cold nor hot.

B. The Description of Jesus

Jesus appeared to the church in Laodicea as One who was “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (v. 14). Accepting the Word of God with “amen expresses our sincere loyalty to the Lord. Mankind was originally created that we might love God and give Him glory, Therefore when we bring glory to God by our faithful service, His original purpose for us is fulfilled. The Laodicean church, however, had lost its loyalty to Christ, its true witness and the original purpose of creation. Jesus pointed out its hypocrisy and lifeless faith and urged it to repent.

C. Commendation

Among the six churches we have seen so far, no church failed to receive a commendation. However, the Laodicean church did not receive any commendation, only rebuke. It represents the church age in which we now live.

D. Rebuke

Jesus condemned the lukewarm faith of the Laodicean church: “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth” (v. 16). Those are dreadful words. But I'm afraid many churches today have a Laodicean philosophy. Their people are either believers or unbelievers. They attend church when they want to and stay home when they don't They can accept the Bible as the Word of God or not. Sometimes the Scripture seems to have relevance to them, but sometimes not. Jesus hates the Laodicean church's lukewarm faith.

If faith is cold, Jesus can move a person toward repentance. On the other hand, people who vehemently oppose Jesus can easily be converted when their egos are crushed and they become hot with conviction. However, those people who go to church and give agreeable answers but whose hearts are not in it are the last kind to be converted. Why was the church in Laodicea lukewarm in its faith? They had a wrong understanding of themselves. They said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (v. 17). You can just imagine some of the leaders thinking, “The chapel building program is completed. Contributions continue to flow in. We're well-educated. Everything is so rich and fine. Therefore let's have fun in our faith life.”

Today many American churches also allow their meetings to degenerate into social gatherings. On Sundays they have a short worship service, and then they enjoy eating and drinking under the false name of Christian fellowship.

“The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). One time when I was in the United States conducting a crusade, I strongly rebuked some American churches for putting social activities ahead of God's work. They responded beautifully by sending money to poor Korean ministers. While the Laodicean church thought itself rich, Jesus rebuked its spiritual poverty: “Thou...knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (v. 17).

E. Exhortation

Jesus first exhorted the Laodicean church to seek true richness — spiritual richness that can be obtained only from Jesus through faith (see v. 18). Then Jesus said the church should seek from Him a white raiment (see v. 18). This is the robe Jesus clothes us with, signifying our righteousness through His precious shed blood.

Finally, Jesus exhorted the Laodicean church to buy eye salve and anoint its eyes that it might see (see v. 18). This is the eye salve of the Holy Spirit, who opens spiritual eyes. In other words, the church should look at its material and educational wealth through eyes of right self-understanding. Then it would realise that the wealth of the world in which it put so much trust is only transient.

F. Promise Jesus promised the Laodicean church, “To him that over-cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (u'. 21). There is no other place to go except the throne of God. This is a wonderful saying, for when we go to the throne of God, the world ends.

Next Part G. Interpretation of the Prophecy