122. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 17: Church #7 - Laodicea

Revelation 3:18-22

 

This church, in its pride and self-sufficiency, was blind to their own condition. Because of their apathy towards God and love of money, they didn’t even realize the dire straits they were in. Jesus counsels us to come and find our fulfillment in Him rather than in the society around us. And the call is individual, which is an incredible privilege.

 

Laodicea: the Lukewarm church

  I. The Location (literal local church)

• • Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains
  • Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid)
  • They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve

 II. The Likeness of Christ

• • Christ addresses the individual people
  • He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things.

III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)

• • Christ knows these people and their works
  • They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither)
  • They were deluded about their own condition
  • They were marked by self-sufficiency and pride, when what they really needed was only to be found in Christ (3:18)
  • Love of money was a real problem
  • Jesus calls them to personal renewal of their zeal for Him

IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)

• • The parallel is with the modern church age in our time

 V. The Lesson for us (type of church)

• • Across church history, we see a trend of churches moving away from God, but we as individuals do not have to. The church was instituted to be a beautiful and good thing in its inauguration, but as Jesus foretold would happen in the kingdom parables, it has largely become something distorted, corrupt, and hideous as we will also see in the progression of these seven.
  • While the majority of churches have moved towards the world, there is a remnant of people who have not, and the call goes out to believers to be zealous and repent. It falls to us tot let Christ into our lives and to fellowship with us and us with Him. That is the invitation of these letters.