It is showing that all things were created through Him. Additionally, it was the home of a medical school known for the treatment of eye problems, where it produced a famous eye salve. The only way to be in a right relationship with God is through forgiveness. There are multiple lessons that we can learn from Christs message to Laodicea. Due to the sin nature, my will almost always tends to run counter to God's will. 3. We cannot deny our sin or find excuses to justify it. There are several thoughts on who they are: (1) actual angels, (2) a human representative of them, i.e., the bishop of the church, (3) they are a personification of the church. Time. To look at being cold in context, we need to look at it from the Laodicean perspective. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. With so much wealth pouring into Laodicea, one of the most noted banks in the Greek and Roman world was located there. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? Verse 20 is not a salvation message for non-Christians; it is a warning to Christians. We must be determined to pursue purity and to do what pleases God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). The promise in this verse is that the church will reign with Christ if they overcome. To purchase something requires an exchange. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Cling to the Vine "I am the vine; you are the branches. Verse three follows with, Incline your ear and come unto Me. The mineral water was used to clean the wool and set, or lock, the color of the dyes (this ensures the wool holds its color when washed). It is the motive behind the action, or works, that is important. The town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological fault from which noxious vapors and hot mineral water escaped. What are we supposed to overcome? Are so busy doing "things" for Christ that they're too busy to open the door? Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. Jesus wants you to be hot. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. Moses was rebuking the rebellious Israelites by saying, But to this day, the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. He was not referring to physical hearing, but to those who may hear the commands of the Lord but who lacked comprehension and desire to act upon those words (Jeremiah 5:21; Ezekiel 12:2). Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? Gods problem with this church was not that it was an inactive body of believers. Jesus just informed the wealthy Laodiceans that they were quite poor, and now hes telling them to purchase gold from him. If you would like to learn more about the Church that Jesus founded, we highly recommend the section on this website titled The Church: What Is It?. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. -- Revelation 3: 14 (ESV) . He was very careful about whom he called friend. Jesus never referred to anyone who was not his disciple as a friend. The church at Laodicea was not victorious, but Christ had not yet given up on them. Hot water is only effective while it is hot. Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/revelation/seven-churches-of-revelation/laodicea/, Although there was much gold in the city, the riches that really matter are spiritual in natureknowing and practicing Gods truth (, Although Laodicea had a reputation for producing excellent-quality garments from the wool produced in the area, the Bride of Christ will be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright representing the righteous acts of the saints (, Although Laodicea produced medicine for healing various eye ailments, the most important things we need to see are spiritual. Removing those impurities, such as trace metals and ores, requires the gold to go through a process called smelting. Christ calls out to us, letting us know that because He overcame, we can also overcome. Jesus used scripture as a weapon. First of all, it begins with recognizing with a heart-rending awareness that we have defied God when we sin. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. It applied to the water of the city, and it was part of the message from Jesus Christ to the Church of God that was located there (Revelation 3:16). Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. 16 So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Justification by its very nature does not have a progressive character. laodicea means human rightsNitro Acoustic. The word rebuke is the Greek word (elegch) and means to convict, to prove one in the wrong.21 Jesus is doing more than just telling the Laodiceans their faults; he is convicting them of their sin. Throughout the ages Satan has blinded the minds of most people (. Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying from God without money things that dont have a price. The keys, according to this passage, are becoming skilled in the Word of God (by which we define righteousness) and practice (through which we gain experience). Six miles to the north, the town of Hierapolis sat on the top of the cliffs overlooking the valley. (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) It is the absolute truth and a powerful weapon against temptation and sin. Once again, Jesus Christ begins this message by identifying Himself as the One giving the message. (21) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Ruins from ancient Laodicea (photo by David Treybig). The black wool of Laodicea produced some stunning dark-colored garments. While the original name of the city came from Antiochus IIs wife, the name also has an interesting meaning in Greek. 1. Ho! That the Christians will co-reign with Christ (sitting with Him on His throne) is stated in the New Testament on numerous occasions (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:12). If were doing something for recognition, then were not doing it for God. Both churches needed a severe rebuke. 15byou are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. God the Father sanctifies (1 Corinthians 1:30) by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2) and in the name of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). Keep in mind as you read about the Laodiceans that they are a church filled with Christians. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, credited to a person enabling him/her to be justified in the eyes of God. Amen is not an actual Greek word. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Ho! You must know the truth so well that, when the lies of the enemy appear, you can recognize them. Laodicea SHARE History The leading city in the valley during the first century, Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. The whole point of this verse is that lukewarm has no use. Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.19 Imparted righteousness is applied imputed righteousness, or to put in simpler terms; sanctification is applied justification. Jesus is reminding us that he is God, and as such, cannot lie. The Holy Spirit will come and show us the way out. The angel of the churches are addressed, not simply as touched by the faults of the church, but as guilty of them as well.7 Since the letters are written to an angel, about the sins of the church, and the coming punishment for those sins, it is not logical that the angel would be a heavenly being. It is the foundation of wisdom. While Colossae was neither as prominent or wealthy as Hierapolis or Laodicea, its location at the end of the valley made it easy to defend from enemies. What did we read in Isaiah 55:1-3? 19btherefore be zealous and repent. That the citys banking assets were noteworthy is evidenced by the fact that Cicero cashed huge bank drafts in Laodicea. What was it the Laodiceans were supposed to be victorious over? Associated with the temple was a medical school. In our world filled with technology, material prosperity and modern conveniences, many mistakenly assume that they do not need God. It is an often-used phrase that Jesus utilized when speaking in parables. Giving time to Christ is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. The truth is that sometimes the wicked prosper (Jeremiah 12:1). These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. In terms of textiles, a hot Christian is clean, lives a pure life abstaining from sin, and the colorfastness of the Holy Spirit ensures the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) doesnt fade. If you think back to the Garden of Eden, clothing was the first thing which Adam felt the need of, after he had sinned. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be . He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:14-22). He wants to be the friend that we invite over to dinner. Whatever were doing, or however were serving, we need to examine our hearts and our motives and see if were doing it for the right reason. But hot water also had another use. That, I believe, is the point. 1 Peter 1:7 states that spiritual gold is your faith in Christ, and every true believers faith in Jesus will go through a fiery trial during which all that is dross is to be done away with (burned away) to bring forth a finished product of pure, refined gold. People went to Hieropolis from all over the empire to sit the large public baths, filled with hot mineral water. The image is of a Savior who expects that His church will be looking for Him, awaiting His arrival. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. They were doing a lot of things (works and deeds). To be a cold Christian is to take care of needs, provide moral support, and genuinely care about people. What exactly is forgiveness? There is also a problem with assigning the pastor or bishop to the role of the messenger because they are not referred to as messengers anywhere in the New Testament. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. Laodicea was also known as a center for the wool and dye trade. Although Laodicea produced the best eye-salve in the ancient world, the Laodicean Christians were blind when looking at their spiritual state. 20band will dine with him, and he with Me. Nine miles to the east of Laodicea lay the town of Colossae. To be a hot Christian could have several different meanings (or a combination of them) to the Laodiceans. In Gods eyes, anything not done for Him, has no value, no use, no purpose. A cold Christian visits the shut-ins, the hospitalized, and in prison. It covers a myriad of areas, including pride, impatience, selfishness, unrighteousness, irritation, laziness, vanity, complaining, sexual impurity, unbelief, discouragement, envy, greed, ingratitude, etc. Temples had a joint purpose of worship and medical studies. In ancient Greek culture, the evening meal was a social event. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 NASB). They are not visiting the shut-ins, the hospitalized prisoners, or serving as Jesus served. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing, Men Karou (who later became identified with Asclepius), there was a market for trading all sorts of goods (Ramsay, Seven Churches, p. 417). In the times of late antiquity, it had a large Jewish community and a significant congregation of Christians. What is the time of need? The mineral water from Hieroplis helped to lock in the color dyes so that the color did not fade after being washed multiple times. It can only come by the revelation of Jesus Christ to the believer, and then must be developed by way of training in righteousness (Hebrews 5:14) and prayer (Ephesians 6:18). Other sources suggest that the water came from a hot spring with mineralized water containing sulfur, giving it an unpleasant taste and smell. Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. Jesus desires to come in, sit down at the table, and enjoy the food and company. Incline your ear and come to Me. While many impurities are burned off in the furnace, other metals remain. Hebrew writing has no vowels, so the Greek leter for "e" was added by the translaters to make the word easier to read and speak. If you have, you can probably imagine what Jesus is experiencing. Please understand that this verse does NOT say that hot is good and cold is bad; they are both good. The word for love used in this verse is not agape but phileo. The first question well delve into is why they needed to purchase white garments. 18cand eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. The time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. As we will see, this was clearly a characteristic of the self-reliant people of this city. According to Expositors Bible Commentary, A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the south. The same logic applies to hot or cold. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB. It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. When they heard this letter for the first time, what did they hear? Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? The ruins, now called Eski Hissar, or old castle, lie near the modern Gonjelli on the railroad, and they have long served as a quarry to the builders of the neighboring town of Denizli. It was the suffering of the cross He used daily, when He said No to His own will, the sin in His flesh, even when it bombarded Him incessantly with its demands and deceitful attraction. Gold, clothing, and eye salve represent the three major industries of Laodicea: banking, textiles, and medicines. A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? 3 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Lukewarm Church. Laodicea lies 40 miles southeast from Philadelphia in the Lycus Valley. Its like lukewarm coffee. It was uncontaminated water straight from the mountains. In the first theory, if the angel is an actual angel, then we can infer that each church has its own guardian angel. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. One of these is what the Bible calls the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). The Greek word amen () was transliterated from the Hebrew word for amen (). (Luke 9:23, Luke 14:26) It costs us something. Jesus is standing at the door, expecting his servants to open it. It costs our will. The problem seems to be in their motives. "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as "Phrygian powder," famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Water is an important necessity for any metropolis, and the ancient city of Laodicea accommodated this need. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. This process causes the gold to coagulate and form nuggets and clumps of gold. Dinner was a time for everyone to catch up on the daily activities of the rest of the family, and whatever friends were in attendance. What will happen to me? Contrition, on the other hand, is regret for the sin committed against Gods love and regret for having grieved the Holy Spirit. Greek 2854. kollourion -- eye salve. Another salve supposedly healed ear problems. There was still hope for the church at Laodicea. From sexual promiscuity to getting drunk while meeting together to quarreling amongst themselves, these people were far from the ideal loving and thriving church body. Faith is the means (produces the results) of sanctifying grace, Now to the business of how to purchase white garments from Christ. Wrapping up His message, Jesus then explains that He is standing at the door and knocking, meaning that He wants to come in and dine with them (Revelation 3:20). On the cross daily, they suffer and die. White is the most frequently mentioned color in the Bible. In a letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. One of the most common errors associated with this verse is the notion that the door is the door to a sinners heart. He wants to be a friend with whom we enjoy spending time. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. In the medical works of the 2 nd century AD physician Galen of Pergamon, he described an eye medicine made from a Phrygian stone, probably broken down into a powder or made into a clay, and the eye "salve" John mentions in connection with Laodicea is the same word used by Galen and other medical texts of antiquity (Revelation 3:18; Liddell . 18a I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich. Similar to how some people likely spewed the citys unpleasant drinking water out of their mouths, Jesus said He would do the same, yet more violently. Church of the Lukewarm: Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) November 7, 2021. After he sinned, he felt his nakedness and shame. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. They heard this letter for the church at Laodicea was not his disciple as center... Had not yet given up on them its supply of water from helped. 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