7th Church: Laodicea

To the Angel of the Church of Laodiceans

Revelation 3:14-22 

Historical Setting: Laodicea, the final church Jesus addresses, was a city rich monetarily as well as intellectually and culturally. It lay within eyesight of two other cities, Hierapolis and Colossae, whose church had received an epistle from Paul three decades earlier. Paul apparently had also written a letter to Laodicea (see Colossians 4:16), and the early Latin Vulgate contains a letter purporting to be the one referred to in Colossians, but no Greek version remains, and the Latin version contains nothing original. It had been hurt by an earthquake in 60 A.D., but in its pride and wealth, it rejected any help from Rome (this earthquake also disqualifies an early date for the book of Revelation to be written in the 60s, as some preterists would suggest). Laodicea had a medical school which treated people with eye problems and exported eye salve. The city also exported black material cloth wool, a contrast to the white garments Christ urges them to buy.

Name Defined:  Laodicea was named for Laodice, wife of Antiochus II, and mother of Seleucus II Callinicus, both rulers in the empire following Alexander the Great, slightly less than 300 years before Christ. The name literally means either “the people rule” or “the nations judged” and again the sovereign God applies this name for a church in which historically and prophetically, the people exalt themselves, rather than God, and await God’s judgment.

Church History Parallel: “The Prosperity Church” (20^th Century-Tribulation)-What era of all of church history has there been a stronger parallel to the Laodiceans than in the 20^th Century Western Society: rich with material good, but lukewarm, poor, and blind spiritually.

     I.      Christ’s Description- (Revelation 3:14)

1. The Amen

2. The Faithful, True Witness

3. The Beginning (Gr: arche arch, architect) of the Creation Of God

   II.      Commendation-Works known, but no commendation for the works (Revelation 3:15a)

 III.      Condemnation (Revelation 3:15b, 17b)

1. Neither cold nor hot.

2. Were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

 IV.      Commands (Revelation 3:18-19)

1. Buy from Me gold refined in the fire to be rich

2. Buy white garments, that you may be clothed

3. Anoint eyes with salve so they may see.

4. Be zealous and repent

  V.      Consequences (Revelation 3:16-22)

1. Because lukewarm, Christ will vomit church out of His mouth

2. Christ will rebuke and chasten those he loves

3. He stands at the door and knocks.

4. If they hear His voice, open the door, He will come in, dine with

5. Overcomers to sit with Christ on throne

¹⁴ And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; ¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white clothes, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. ²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. ²¹ To him that overcomes 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. ²² He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.

 

Church ruled by the people: It is interesting that the only church in which Christ mentions nothing good to say for a church, that he calls it the “church of the Laodiceans” and not the “church in Laodicea.” It is as though it is a church of people and not the church of Jesus Christ in Laodicea. The name itself Laodicea means “ruled by the people,” and the church was not ruled by Christ, but by the people.

HIS IDENTIFICATION: Jesus identifies Himself as “The Amen,” a transliterated word from the Greek (see Matthew 5:18) and Hebrew (see Deuteronomy 27:15 and following) words “AMEN,” which means “so be it!” and used by Christ when He says “Verily, verily.” To a church which is very self-deceived, self-ruled, and self-sufficient, Jesus reveals Himself as “the real thing—the faithful and true witness.”

Secondly, Jesus says He is the beginning of the creation of God. The word beginning makes it clear that He is the architect of the creation. He’s the one who made all things. It is the same word used in Revelation 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13, “The beginning and the end.” Colossians 1:16 says “all things were made by Him and for Him.” He is the beginning and head of the church (Colossians 1:18). A solid reminder to the final church to be on the earth and the church which will likely be there after the rapture, unless they repent.

INDIFFERENCE: The church was lukewarm, spiritually and works wise. The city was in a valley and had built aqueducts from the mountains to bring the cold water down to them. By the time the water reached them it was lukewarm. Nearby there were hot springs, but by the time the water was taken up to Laodicea, it was no longer hot; it too was lukewarm. The church was passive in the things of the Lord. Professing to be Christians, it had an outward appearance of being a good and financially blessed people. Yet self-reliance, rather than Christ-reliance, made Him sick, spewing them out of His mouth.

POVERTY: The Laodicean church was the opposite of the Smyrna church. They thought they were rich, yet were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The gold that is tried by fire is what Peter referred to: “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7.

WHITE GARMENTS: Laodicea was known not only for its hot and cold waters, but also for its making of black glossy wool garments, made from black sheep, which sold for a rich price. But more valuable than earthly clothes of black would be heavenly clothes of white, purchased by the rewards of faithful service here on earth. A rich faith produces clean garments and covers their nakedness. (Photo shows black sheep photographed at Laodicea).

EYESALVE: Laodicea was also known for its university of medicine treating eye problems with salve. Merchants and perhaps even member of the church sold ointments and herbs with a reputation of having great healing power, yet they had no ointment to restore a long-range vision to heaven. The church was spiritually blind, Christ said.

CHRIST’S LOVE: During all this rebuke and chastening is an almost hidden statement of affirmation of Christ’s love, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Jesus had not given up on the Laodicean church. If the Laodiceans were not beyond hope, so neither is anyone who “hears what the Spirit of the Lord says to the churches.” Rebuke is sometimes translated as reprove and is often found in relation to the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16, 4:2).  Chasten is used with instruction of children, often by the loving discipline of a parent (Hebrews 12:6-7) and often leads to our redemption (1 Corinthians 11:32). To be zealous means to boil with fervor of spirit and hot passion. The call to repentance is a further evidence that Christ wants to be welcomed into the church.

THE DOOR: Look, Christ is at the door, knocking. The door earlier was one that was opened and closed by Christ, yet here it is up to the church to open. Could He not force Himself in? It is obvious Christ is not speaking of a literal door to a church building, but to the hearts of those who profess to be Christians. Christ opens the door to heaven and salvation, but sinners must also open the door to Christ. To sup or dine was to enjoy the last and final meal of the day, a time in which the people relaxed and enjoyed the company of a day’s end (see Luke 17:8 for the same word usage).

What is the call to the church? To hear the voice of Christ, be zealous with fervency of faith and to repent from self-delusion. The result will be a communion meal with Christ in our hearts, in our churches, and ultimately, a meal in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

 

6th Church: Philadelphia

To the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

Timothy C. McKeown

     I.      Christ’s Description- (Rev. 3:7)

1. He Is Holy and True (See Rev. 6:10)

2. Has The Key Of David (See Isa. 22:22)

3. Opens And No One Shuts, Shuts And No One Opens (See again Isa. 22:22)

   II.      Commendations (3:8, 10)

1. Power-they have a little strength (Gr: micron dunamin)

2. Perseverance - kept His word (See John 8:51-55; 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:20; 17:6; 1 Jn 2:5)

3. Proclamation - have not denied My name

4. Patience - kept the word of My patience

                        i.    Christ will keep the church from the hour of temptation

                       ii.    Temptation will try those who remain on the earth

 III.      Condemnation – None for the church (3:9)

1. False Jews (synagogue of Satan)

                        i.    Will worship at the church’s feet (See Isa 60:14)

                       ii.    Will know that Christ loves the church (See Rev. 1:7)

 IV.      Commands (3:11)

1. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown

  V.      Consequences (3:12)

1. Pillars - Overcomers will be pillars in the temple of God

2. Permanence - They shall go out no more

3. Protection - Written on them will be the names of

                        i.    God Himself (Exodus 23: 20-22, 1 Kings 11:36)

                       ii.    God’s City, the new Jerusalem (see Ps. 46, 2 Kings 21:4)

                     iii.    God’s Son’s new name

Historical Setting: It was a small, young but well-traveled city. Like Sardis, it was destroyed in 17 AD by an earthquake and continued to have tremors for years afterwards. The permanence of Christ (who firmly shuts and opens doors) and the promise of permanence in the heavenly city (“he shall go no more out”) would have been reassuring to this teetering town. After being rebuilt, it received a new name, “Neocaesarea” or “new Caesar” and during the reign of Vespasian, it went by the name of Flavia. By the time of John’s writing, it had returned to the name of Philadelphia.

Name Defined:  Philadelphia was named by King Eumenes II of Pergamum (197-160 BC) as a tribute to his brother and successor Attalus II (159-138 BC) whom he nicknamed "Philadelphos" (Greek=“love for brother”).

Church History Parallel: “The Preferred Church” (18^th Century-Tribulation)-The modern missionary movement is most often traced to William Carey who went to India in 1792. When he expressed his desire for reaching the world with the gospel, he was told, “Sit down, young man, if God wants to save the heathen in India he will do it without your help or mine.” There have always been missionaries throughout Christianity, most notably by the Roman Catholic Jesuits. However, extremists’ views of “predestination” and the infancy of Protestant churches led to a dead, “Sardis” church, often devoid of concern for evangelism. In the 1700s, churches as a whole began to initiate “missionary societies” and collective efforts to reach the lost strategically. The letter to the church of “brotherly love” explains that God alone opens and shuts doors to salvation, and He sets before the church “an open door” . This church does not deny Jesus’ name, sees the conversion of Jews, is loved by Christ, and is kept from the tribulation of the world. 

     

 ⁷ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

The fact that God is Holy and True is appealed to again when those who have been martyred call upon Him in Revelation 6:10 (“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”). When we are going through hard and difficult times, it is wonderful to remember that God is Holy and True. The fact that Jesus holds the key of David recalls to their minds the prophecy of Isaiah 22:22[1] which stated that Eliakim, whose name means “One whom God raises or resurrects”, will carry the key to the House of David. The story in Isaiah shows that Shebna was like an old peg that held vessels on a sure wall, and Eliakim is a new peg on the same wall. Those who put their faith in the old peg will fall, but the new peg will stay strong. The reference to Isaiah shows that Christ and the New Covenant are superior to Judaism and the Old Covenant.

This passage also is reminiscent of Matthew 16:19, which talks about the keys of the kingdom of heaven. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Things bound on earth are bound in heaven and things loosed on earth are loosed in heaven. The decision or key to heaven is made here on earth only. If we tell others about Christ here on earth, they are freed to go to heaven. God is the one who opens the door, but He commissions us to go and give the key to those here on earth.

⁸ I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

The open door set before the church is the door for evangelism. God does the saving or the “opening” of the door, but He invites us to participate with Him in sharing with others. We will see later that only those who refuse to open the door are the ones who refuse to have Christ come and sup with them (Revelation 3:20[2]).

“A little strength” is mikron  dunamin  (Gr: micron dunamin) with strength being the same word from which we get the word “dynamite.” A little strength with God’s power can be like a little bit of dynamite. Paul uses the word in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”(Both underlined word are “dunamin”.

Keeping the Words of Jesus is a recurring theme in the Gospel and epistle of John. It is the same as eternal life, knowing God (John 8:51-55[3]), loving God (14:15-24), being a servant of Christ and receiving the same type of persecution as Christ (15:20), belonging to God (17:6) and having God’s love perfected in us (1 John 2:5).

Titus 1:16 says that if a person claims to be a Christian, but in his works, he denies God, they are really not a Christian. Likewise, the Philadelphian church did not deny Christ’s name because their Christ-like works, known by Christ, acknowledged His name. To deny Christ means Christ will deny us before God (Matthew 10:33). Peter, who denied Christ three times, has the harshest of words in all of Scripture for those who deny the Lord (see 2 Peter 2), but it is not a verbal denial, but rather the denial of Christ in actions that is so reprehensible. Instead, we must deny ourselves and take up the cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23).

⁹ Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

This is another strong indication that the church of Philadelphia is not only a church of John’s day, but also a church of prophecy. Jews who reject Christ will someday look upon the Christ whom they had pierced (Revelation 1:7). The evangelizing Philadelphian church era has seen great numbers of Jewish people coming to accept Jesus as their Messiah, beginning in the 1800s and even more in the late 20^th century, according to “Jews for Jesus.” It is ironic that the prophecy of Isaiah 60:14 (“Also the sons of those who afflicted you Shall come bowing to you, And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you The City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”) is actually to be reversed with the Philadelphian church.

¹⁰ Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial (temptation, KJV) which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

This is another prophecy that the church will be raptured before the Great Tribulation, if this is what Jesus is referring to in the “hour of temptation.” Temptation is the word used almost exclusively by evil and Satan, and sounds like the Great Tribulation which will come upon the “whole world.” The reference of “I am coming quickly” also seems to indicate Jesus’ imminent and sudden return for the church. While we cannot lose our salvation, we can lose some of our “crowns” or rewards.

¹² He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. ¹³ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The name of God and the new name of God’s Son are obvious, when we consider that the power of the name means identification. But the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, takes on a new significance when we read Psalm 46, which talks about God’s protection in a city. A city and citizenship within that city meant protection and strength and permanence. Jesus holds the key and will give us a permanent place of protection.

Practical Application: If we truly love our brothers, we should witness to them in word and deed.

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[1] “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.”

[2] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

[3]  ⁵¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

⁵² Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. ⁵⁵ Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.