REVELATION 3:14-22

Greater than 7,000 adult male Jews lived there. A common historical interpretation of the seven letters states that Laodicea represents the church of today. I feel we have characteristics of all the churches, both good and bad. Therefore we should listen carefully to all the letters, as the conclusion to the seven letters states in Revelation 3:22.

Unlike most of the other letters, there was nothing good to say about this church.

3:14

14. Christ the “true and faithful witness” is a contrast to the Laodiceans.

14b. “Beginning of creation” would remind the Laodiceans of Colossians 1:15ff. This is the first of several parallels with that letter, which is not surprising since the two churches exchanged letters (read Colossians 4:16; the letter to Laodicea may be the Letter to the Ephesians).

3:15-16

Sister towns

A. Hieropolis – Hot springs noted for their healing power.

B. Colossea – Snow covered mountains provided cold streams when they thawed.

C. Laodicea – Lukewarm and filled with minerals since the water had to be pumped down a long distance from the hot springs.

Hot water restores and heals.

Cold water uplifts and refreshes (Blessing on anyone who gives a cup of cold water to the least of them – Matthew 10:42).

Lukewarm water does neither.

How many have heard this interpretation before?

See 2 Peter 2:21 for possible confirmation of the less likely, but traditional, interpretation for hot-cold (i.e., God prefers one who out-and-out opposes him to a a lukewarm believer).

3:17

“I am rich. I have prospered.” Contrast Colossians 1:27.

“Have need of nothing” Tacitus: “Laodicea arose from the ruins (of a 60AD earthquake) by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us.” They were proud of their spiritual achievements and felt that they could coast: I attended one church where the elderly class named themselves Partners with God. That is almost as bad as saying “God is my co-pilot.”

The boast is an economic-spiritual boast, as if financial blessings equate to God's approval.

They probably cooperated with the trade guilds. That was no different from criticisms in recent years of worldly evangelicals.

Thomas Aquinas was visiting Pope Innocent II while he was counting a large sum of money.

“You see, Thomas, the church can no longer say, 'Silver and gold have I none.'”

“True, holy father, and neither can it say to the lame any more, 'Arise and walk.'”

The Laodiceans were utterly oblivious to their spiritual poverty. It actually takes spiritual discernment to realize how unspiritual you are.

3:18

White garments are a possible contrast to the black wool the area was noted for.

This is like the story of the emperor's new clothes.

eye salve = “Phrygian powder” for the eyes which was produced in the region.

3:19-22

Some feel that vv. 19-22 are an epilogue addressed to all the seven churches. While this is unlikely, it may in fact be true of v. 22.

v. 19. God loves even the Laodiceans. Love is philein, not agapan.

v. 20. This verse was a major inspiration for Bill Bright's Campus Crusade. However, the verse probably doesn't refer to Christ reaching out to non-believers. “I stand at the door” is an amazing picture of Christ having to ask admittance to his own church because he has been shut out by them. “If any man” actually refers to the church members themselves.

v. 21. There is another parallel here with the Letter to the Colossians. Read 3:1 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

“Overcomes, or conquers” This is repeated several times in the letters to the seven churches. William Hendricksen's commentary on Revelation is titled More Than Conquerors. What do we have to overcome or conquer?

Earthquakes in that area in 60 AD caused people to question their faith in the pagan gods. It actually

gave Christians an opportunity for evangelism. Consider the effects that national or individual tragedies

today have for better or worse.