Revelation 3 – The Church at Laodicea

(Rev 1:19 NKJV) "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

(That is: Chapter 1 which we have studied)

(At the time John was writing; that is, the seven churches)

(Rev 4:1 NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

As we study the seven churches, we are in the part described as “the things which are.”

That simply means that all these different conditions existed in the churches at that time.

It also suggests that all these conditions can exist in various churches throughout time.

Some have added another point and that point is that each of these churches represent different periods of time as being the predominate church of that particular period in time.

We come now to the last of the seven churches: The church at Laodicea: The lukewarm church some have said, “The church which represents the end of the age.” Again, we aren’t saying all churches, but that the predominate church is like this.

(Rev 3:14-22 NKJV) "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:

ἀμήν amēn Thayer Definition: 1) firm 1a) metaphorically faithful 2) verily, amen 2a) at the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth

(2) “the Faithful and True Witness,” (Rev 1:5 NKJV) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, -- True has been added.

the Beginning of the creation of God: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev 1:8 NKJV)

So as we come to the last church, the way God describes Himself is not all lifted from Revelation One. So how do they relate to the church at Laodicea?

(3) “Amen:” It’s the “Truly, truly” of Jesus statements. They were not “Truly, truly”

Rev 3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. {16} "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Compare: (2 Pet 2:21-22 NKJV) For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. {22} But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

The Bible paints a disgusting picture of one who has the opportunity to know God and do His will and to do it only haphazardly.

Elisha the prophet Elisha was upset with the king of Israel because he was not excited enough about striking arrows on the ground.

(2 Ki 13:17-19 NKJV) And he said, "Open the east window"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them." {18} Then he said, "Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground"; so he struck three times, and stopped. {19} And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times."

Their problem was that were focused on the wrong things. They concentrated on physical things rather than spiritual things.

{17} "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;

Rev 3:18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. {19} "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Rev 3:20 "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.

· They were in error, but that does not take away from the fact that they had been baptized into Christ.

· This is not to be used as a “sinner’s prayer,” for “asking Jesus to come into your heart.”

Once again, God looks upon us individually. We will not be saved just because we are in the right church, nor will we be condemned, even when the majority seems to be in the wrong, if we are doing what God wants us to do.

Rev 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Rev 3:22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' "

(Mat 11:15-17 NKJV) "He who has ears to hear, let him hear! {16} "But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, {17} "and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.'

What Can We Say About the Prophetic Value of these Churches? Here is one suggestion:

(Rev 2:2-3 NKJV) "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; {3} "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

(Rev 2:9 NKJV) "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

(Rev 2:14-15 NKJV) "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. {15} "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

(Rev 2:20-21 NKJV) "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. {21} "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

(Rev 3:1 NKJV) . . ."I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

(Rev 3:8 NKJV) "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.

Rev 3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. {16} "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

(Rev 1:3 NKJV) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

May God bless us in the reading and study of His Word, especially as we study a book that has been surrounded by much controversy and confusion.