The Apostle John’s letter to the church at Laodicea may be outlined under six headings: Destination (3:14), The Lord (3:14), Commendation (None), Condemnation (3:15-17), Exhortation (3:18-19), Promise (3:20-21).
Destination (Revelation 3:14)
The city of Laodicea was about a hundred miles due east of Ephesus and about ten miles west of Colosse in the fertile Lycus valley. The Laodicean church represents church history from about 1910 A.D. until the rapture of the church.
The Lord (Revelation 3:14)
The risen Lord identifies Himself to this church as the Amen (the One who substantiates all that He says). He is also identified as “the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”
Commendation (None)
The church at Laodicea was not commended for anything.
Condemnation (Revelation 3:15-17)
Not being commended for anything; rather, the church made God sick because it was lukewarm. The Lord hates when a church is lukewarm. Christ would prefer a church to be either on fire sharing God’s truths or cold to God’s truths. In His eyes, mediocrity is awfully repulsive. The Laodicean church was as tepid as lukewarm water. One can use hot water for hot drinks or cold water for refreshment, but lukewarm water is not beneficial for either. The church was neither dead nor zealous – just nauseating. It made the Lord sick! Complacency is hard to battle.
The Lord built His remarks around the local water conditions of Laodicea. The town had no water source of its own. All its water was piped in from the neighboring city of Hierapolis, which was a few miles north. After the water arrived through pipes at Laodicea, it was neither hot nor cold – neither stimulating nor refreshing. This church outwardly was materially well off, but spiritually very poor.
Strong words were used to describe the church’s poor spiritual condition. It was called wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17). These words describe the poor spiritual condition of a complacent church!
Exhortation (Revelation 3:18-19)
Continuing to draw thoughts from the local situation, Christ exhorted the church to do three things.
First, they were to recognize true wealth. They thought they were wealthy, but in reality, they were poor. Christ admonished these believers to seek spiritual riches with the same enthusiasm as they sought material goods.
Second, this church boasted of having fine wool, but Jesus said that they were naked. The church was encouraged to be clothed in white raiment, a reference to righteousness (Revelation 7:14; 19:18). This will cover their spiritual nakedness!
Third, the people thought they could see clearly, but in reality, they were blind. Laodicea was noted for making an eye salve that helped cure eye diseases. Christ was admonishing that this church was in need of spiritual eyesight. In verse 19, Christ’s love is tenderly manifested as He chastens a believer to the end that the believer repents.
Promise (Revelation 3:20-21)
Fellowship with God is of prime important to Him (Revelation 3:20). To “sup” means to take the chief meal of the day with someone. Christ desires to have fellowship with us! He pictures Himself as standing at a door and knocking. Christ had been left out of fellowship at Laodicea. He was offering to come back into His church. Those who overcome the worldly attitude and seek fellowship with God are promised the right to sit with Christ on His throne. After the promise of Christ in verse 21, verse 22 says; “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
