REVELATION---3
(continued) JESUS' Letters to the 7 churches.
5th LETTER WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH OF SARDIS:
BACKGROUND into the character of the city of Sardis.
At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet it was a wealthy city, being situated at the junction of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money - easy money - was well known in the ancient world.
It is of interest to note that the first coinage ever to be minted in Asia Minor was minted in Sardis in the days of Croesus. These roughly formed electrum staters were the beginning of money in the modern sense of the term. Sardis was the place where modern money was born. Remember what Jesus say about money? The LOVE OF MONEY…is the ROOT of ALL evil.
Sardis was also a city well known for its softness and luxury. It had a well-deserved reputation for apathy and immorality. In Sardis there was a large, stately temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. This mother goddess was honored - “worshipped” - will all kinds of sexual immorality and impurity.
The combination of easy money and a loose moral environment made the people of Sardis notoriously soft and pleasure loving. Its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of DECADENCE/SLOTH.
Verse 1...Jesus describes Himself to the church at Sardis.
“These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
As Jesus describes Himself, He uses terms that emphasize His character as the Master of EVERY spiritual power and authority. The repetition of the number seven helps indicate this, because seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. Therefore, Jesus holds the fullness of the Spirit of God, and the fullness of the church.
“He who has the seven Spirits of God:” Jesus has the fullness of Holy Spirit in Himself, and He also has the Holy Spirit in fullness to give to the Church.
“And the seven stars:” Jesus also has the fullness of the church in His hand. We know the seven stars represent the churches because of what Jesus said in Revelation 1:20: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and through these letters, when Jesus speaks to the angels of the seven churches, He speaks NOT to ONE individual, but to the ENTIRE church through that individual.
Verse 1b tells us what Jesus knows about the Christians of Sardis.
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive,”
“I know your works:” As Jesus says to each church, He also says to Sardis. What a church is and what a church does is NEVER hidden from Jesus.
“That you have a name that you are alive:” Jesus knew the church at Sardis had a name - that is, a reputation - of life and vitality. If you looked at the church of Sardis, you would see signs of life and vitality. In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good and prosperous.
We are not to get the impression that Sardis was a defunct affair with the building a wreck, the members scattered, the pastor ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, wheels within wheels, promotion and publicity, something going on all the time. It had a reputation of being a live, wide-awake, going concern.”
Verse 1b…What Jesus has against the church at Sardis.
“But you are dead.”
“DEAD” Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. But you are dead shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character. Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were.
Dead indicates NO struggle, NO fight, NO persecution. It wasn’t that the church at Sardis was losing the battle. A dead body has lost the battle, and the fight seems over. In this letter, Jesus doesn’t encourage the Christians in Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine, probably because there simply wasn’t a significant danger of these things in Sardis.
Being dead, the church in Sardis presented NO THREAT TO SATAN’S DOMAIN, so it wasn’t worth attacking.
Satan WAS pleased with this church.
The church in Sardis was a perfect model of inoffensive Christianity.
Verses 2-4 tells us what Jesus wants the church at Sardis to do.
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
“BE WATCHFUL” This first instruction from Jesus tells them they need to examine and protect, strengthening what they have. The things which remain tells us that though the spiritual condition of the church of Sardis was bad, it WASN’T hopeless. Spiritually, there were things which remain that could be strengthened. Jesus had NOT given up on them, and it was late (that are ready to die) - but not too late.
“I have not found your works perfect before God:” This shows that their works, though present, haven’t measured up to God’s standard. The presence of works isn’t enough, because God requires a particular intent and purpose in ALL of our works. They should be done with a heart and in a manner that show them to be perfect before God.
“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent:” What they must do is remember how they first received and heard the word of God. They must hold fast to those things, and to repent by turning and restoring the gospel and apostolic doctrine to authority over their lives.
Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 the kind of reception of the word they needed to remember: “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
“Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief:” Jesus warns them, of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignore His command to be watchful, then Jesus will come upon them as a thief, at a time completely unexpected by them.
“I will come upon you:” How will Jesus come upon them? He could come upon them in the sense bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come upon them in these sense of His coming for the church at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Used in either sense, it shows that His coming can be sudden and unannounced, so they need to be watchful.
AND THOSE WHO DO NOT REPENT, DO NOT HOLD FAST, BUT CONTINUE…WILL BE LEFT BEHIND AT THE RAPTURE. THEY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND…TO FACE THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments:” Even among the dead Christians in Sardis, there is a faithful remnant. But there were only a few names. In Pergamos (Revelation 2:14) and in Thyatira (Revelation 2:20) there were a few bad among the good. But in Sardis there are a FEW good among the BAD.
“Even in Sardis:” Even shows that in some ways it was remarkable that there WERE A FEW names still faithful to the Lord. It may have been remarkable because of city’s notoriously immoral reputation. Even in a city that wicked, some among the Christians had not defiled themselves by joining in sin.
“Who have not defiled their garments:” Why does Jesus refer to defiled garments? In the heathen worship of the day, the pagan gods could not be approached with dirty clothes. The analogy can work for the worship of Jesus, because He gives His pure ones white garments.
“And they shall walk with Me in white:” Jesus also promises that these pure ones will walk with Me. This picture of close fellowship and friendship is seen in Enoch, who walked with God; and he was not KILLED NOR DIED, for God took him (Genesis 5:24).
“Walk with Me” is the greatest reward Jesus CAN give His followers. This reward is ultimately a better motivator than the fear of punishment or ruin from our sin. God promises to reward that interest: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Verse 5 tells us a promise of a reward.
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments:” Jesus identifies the overcomers with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These overcomers will wear white garments, received from Jesus.
Jesus explained the ABSOLUTE necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14). Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve TRIED to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:21) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:7).
“And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life:” By this, the overcomers are assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could BLOT OUT the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.
“Blot out his name from the Book of Life:” Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day - their name is in the Book of Life - and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life?
We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is ASSURANCE, so we should NOT think that names are being constantly erased and then re-written, as if Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.
There IS a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgment. This means that the Book of Life IS real, and will be read.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12)
There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important. “And anyone NOT found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
There is a Book of Life, and knowing through our salvation gift FROM/THROUGH Jesus our names ARE written there should bring us great joy.
“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)
There is a Book of Life, and there are FIVE different references to people being blotted out of the Book of Life. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Jesus STILL wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who WILL live Christian-like lives, but did NOT accept Jesus’ gift of salvation.
THEY CALLED THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS…THEY WERE MEMBERS OF A CHURCH, ON THE CHURCH ROLES, DID GREAT THINGS, BUT THEY DID NOT INVITE Jesus into their hearts and lives, but CHOSE to live and be judged by THEIR OWN WORKS/LIVES, rather than live under Jesus’ Grace, those people will be SHOCKED to NOT find their names in The Book Of Life.
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)
“And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:19)
A good example of how we should take this warning seriously is the life of a man named Charles Templeton. A generation ago he was deeply involved in the foundations of Youth for Christ and impacted the nation for Jesus. Many people received Jesus at his meetings, and he was an associate with Billy Graham in the early years. But recently he wrote a book in which he CHOOSES to totally DENOUNCE his belief in Jesus Christ, DENOUNCES even his belief even in God, and says he is an atheist.
In the genealogies of the Bible there are TWO books mentioned.
The book of the generation of Adam (Genesis 5:1)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1)
Being born of Adam doesn’t guarantee that our name is written in the Book of Life. But being born again - born of Jesus Christ - DOES give us that assurance.
“But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels:” This is an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus. But it is amazing that Jesus would NOT be ashamed to confess us!
“Let him hear:” We must all hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church at Sardis. But there is ALWAYS hope for the DEAD church, because Jesus IS an expert at raising the dead, AMEN?
“What the Spirit says to the churches:” Sardis teaches us that we must beware of our success. The city was wealthy and knew easy living, but it made them soft and spoiled. Sardis also teaches us to STILL be watchful at our strongest points. Sardis thought it was unconquerable, and so it was conquered. Where we say “I would never do that” is the exact place we must guard against.
The 6th LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA:
The BACKGROUND on the city of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia (the name means brotherly love) was the youngest of the seven cities, and was originally founded as a missionary outpost for Hellenism, the culture of ancient Greece. The original purpose behind this key city was to make it a center for spreading Greek language, culture and manners throughout the wilds of Phrygia and the barbarous tribes. In other words…civilize the heathens of Asia.
Philadelphia was a prosperous city & had one of the greatest highways in the world, the highway which led from Europe to the East. Philadelphia was the gateway from one continent to another.
Philadelphia had so many gods and so many temples that sometimes men called it “Little Athens.” To walk through its temple-scattered streets was to be reminded of Athens, the center of worship of the Olympian gods.
Verse 7 says…Jesus describes Himself to the church at Philadelphia.
“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”:
“These things says He who is holy, He who is true:” Jesus reminds the church in Philadelphia that He IS holy and true. These do not describe “tendencies” within Jesus, but His VERY being. They also show that Jesus is Yahweh, because He alone is holy in an absolute sense.
“He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:” Jesus shows He is also the keeper of the keys and doors. In this quotation from Isaiah 22:20-23, Jesus expresses His power and authority, especially to admit and exclude.
Verse 8 tells us what Jesus knows about the church of Philadelphia.
“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.”
“I know your works:” Jesus says this to each of the seven churches. The church at Philadelphia had served God well in difficult circumstances, and Jesus KNEW it.
“I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it:” The church in Philadelphia has an open door set before them. Often, an open door speaks of evangelistic opportunity (1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12, and Colossians 4:3). Jesus tells them that He has opened the door of evangelistic opportunity to them, and they must go through that door in faith.
Jesus tells them to see that they have this open door. Sometimes God sets an open door of evangelistic opportunity in front of us, but we don’t see it. A man who had been touched for Jesus came to Charles Spurgeon and asked how he could win others to Jesus. Spurgeon asked him, “What are you? What do you do?”
The man said, “I’m an engine driver on a train.”
“Then,” said Spurgeon, “Is the man who shovels coal on your train a Christian?”
“I don’t know,” said the man.
“Go back,” said Spurgeon, “and find out and start on him.”
“And no one can shut it:” There is nothing that can keep them from their access to this door. Since Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Revelation 3:7), He has the authority to keep this door open for the Christians in Philadelphia.
“For you have a little strength:” The term a little strength does not imply weakness, but real strength. They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. We can be “too strong” or “too big” or too sure of ourselves for God to really use us. The church in Philadelphia had the poverty of spirit to know they really NEEDED God’s strength.
“Have kept My word, and have not denied My name:” The church in Philadelphia also was faithful to Jesus and His word. The idea behind have not denied My name is not only that they expressed their allegiance to Jesus, but that they lived in a way that was faithful to the name and character of Jesus.
Look at the features of the church in Philadelphia:
Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)
In some ways, these features seem “unspectacular.” They should be commonplace among churches. Yet Jesus was COMPLETELY pleased with this church. He has NOTHING negative to say to the church at Philadelphia.
Verses 9-10 tells us what Jesus will do for the Christians of Philadelphia.
“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. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
“I will make those of the synagogue of Satan:” The Christians in Philadelphia were persecuted by Jewish people (the synagogue). However, these persecuting Jews were Jews in name only (who say they are Jews and are not, but lie). What Jesus means is that those Jews have NO spiritual connection to Abraham or to the people of Jesus Christ.
Jesus does NOT speak against ALL Jewish people. It would be entirely wrong to speak of the Jewish people as a whole as the synagogue of Satan or those who say they are Jews and are not. Jesus spoke ONLY of this SPECIFIC group of Jewish people in Philadelphia who persecuted the Christians during that period.
“I will make them come and worship before your feet:” In this, Jesus promises that He will vindicate His people and make sure that their persecutors recognize they are wrong, and that Jesus and His followers are right. Jesus promises that the church in Philadelphia WILL be vindicated before their persecutors.
“And to know that I have loved you:” As those who were once their enemies worship along side them, they are destroyed as enemies. They now know that Jesus has loved these people they once persecuted. The best way to DESTROY the enemies of the gospel is to pray that God would CHANGE them into FRIENDS.
“I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world:” Jesus also promises them protection from the hour of trial coming on the WHOLE world. Most Bible scholars see this hour of trial as a prophetic reference to the Messianic woes, the Great Tribulation, which precede Jesus’ earthly kingdom. Jesus promises to keep these Christians from that hour of trial. HOW? Jesus WILL Rapture HIS Children/Christians/Bride BEFORE The Great Tribulation.
“To test those who dwell on the earth:” The test is directed against those who dwell on the earth. This phrase is used NINE times in the Book of Revelation, and it speaks of those who are NOT saved in Jesus. Revelation 17:8 makes the term synonymous with the lost: “And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. This test is for unbelievers, NOT JESUS LOVING PEOPLE.”
Those who dwell on the earth “refers not to believers but to unbelievers who are objects of God’s wrath” throughout Revelation. Christians ARE different. Though we walk on this earth, our dwelling place IS in heaven. “We have been seated in heavenly places in Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6). “We do not dwell on the earth, our life is hidden in Jesus” (Colossians 3:3).
Does this promise to keep you from the hour of trial imply an escape before the Great Tribulation? Or does it promise protection in it?
Jesus SAYS HE WILL come for His church before this time of Great Tribulation & persevere IS in the past tense, showing it is something that the Christians had already done BEFORE the hour of trial, which has not yet come upon the world. The promise is a reward for past perseverance, not the equipping to persevere in the future.
In addition, the ones TESTED by this hour of trial are not primarily believers, but those who dwell on the earth - whose home is this earth, who are not citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Verse 11 tells us what Jesus wants the church of Philadelphia to do.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
“Behold, I am coming quickly:” First, the church at Philadelphia must remember that Jesus is coming quickly, and they must prepare for His coming. The expression ‘quickly’ is to be understood as something which is sudden and unexpected, not necessarily immediate.
“Hold fast what you have:” The church at Philadelphia must not depart from its solid foundation, as described in Revelation 3:8:
“That no one may take your crown:” If they fail to hold fast, their crown might be given to another. The idea is not that it might be stolen by another, but given. This is not a crown of royalty, given because of royal birth. This is a crown of victory. Jesus encourages His saints to finish their course with victory.
Verse 12 tells us a promise of reward.
“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.”
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar:” Overcomers are told that they will be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty that REMAINS standing in Jesus when everything around us crumbles.
“He shall go out no more:” The overcomer will have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in their world filled with constant, devastating earthquakes.
“I will write on him the name of My God . . . I will write on him My new name:” The overcomer also receives many names - of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show WHO we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because it shows we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not.
Verse 13 tells us a general exhortation to all who will hear.
“He who has an ear, let him hear:” We all want to hear the praise and encouragement Jesus gives to the church at Philadelphia. If we would be like this church, we must stay on their foundation, which was Jesus’ name and Jesus’ word. We must also depend on their source of strength which was Jesus, not themselves.
THE 7th LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA:
The BACKGROUND/CHARACTER of the city of Laodicea.
Laodicea was an important, wealthy city, with a significant Jewish population. Like other cities in the region, it was a center for Caesar worship and the worship of the healing god Asklepios. There was a famous temple of Asklepios in Laodicea, with a more famous medical school connected with the temple.
After an earthquake devastated the region in 60 a.d. Laodicea refused Imperial help in rebuilding the city, successfully relying on their own resources. They didn’t NEED outside help, they didn’t ASK for it, and they didn’t WANT it. Laodicea was TOO rich, TOO arrogant, & TOO prideful to accept help from ANYONE. Remember what Jesus said about PRIDE…in Proverbs….Pride goeth BEFORE destruction & a haughty spirit BEFORE a fall.
Laodicea was also a noted commercial center, and some of its goods were exported all over the world. “It is frequently noted that Laodicea prided itself on three things: financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world.
One of their problems was a poor water supply that made Laodicea vulnerable to attack through siege. If an enemy army surrounded the city, they had insufficient water supplies in the city, and the supplies coming into the city could be easily cut off. Therefore, the leaders of Laodicea were ALWAYS accommodating to any potential enemy, and always wanted to negotiate and compromise instead of FIGHT, STAND, & DEFEND.
The church at Laodicea is mentioned by Paul - in an unfavorable light - in Colossians 2:1 and 4:16.
Verse 14 tells Jesus describes Himself to the church at Laodicea.
“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:”
“These things says the Amen:” Jesus is the Amen, the “so be it,” the “it is done.” As 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes,” and in Him “Amen.”
Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness, and this is a contrast to the Laodiceans, who will be shown to be NEITHER faithful nor true.
Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God. This verse does NOT teach that Jesus was the first being created, but that He IS the ruler, source, and origin of ALL creation.
Verses 15-16 tells us what Jesus knows about the church of Laodicea.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
“You are neither cold nor hot:” This picture of lukewarmness would immediately strike the Christians of Laodicea because the water they drank every day was lukewarm b/c it came from a hot spring.
Jesus says “Just as the water you drink is disgustingly lukewarm, you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot.” In this spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of INDIFFERENCE & COMPROMISE. It tries to play the middle, but in trying to be BOTH things, it ends up being NOTHING - except to hear the words, “I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Does Jesus mean to say that these Christians are intrinsically cold, but warmed up by their religious trappings? Or, that they are essentially hot, but cooled down by their apathy and self-reliance? Both are possible, but since He is talking to His church, there is an emphasis on the later.
Has there been a greater curse upon the earth than EMPTY religion? Is there any soul HARDER to reach than the one who has just enough of Jesus to think they have enough or all they NEED to have to GET BY? The church of Laodicea exemplifies empty religion. The tax collectors and harlots were more open to Jesus than the scribes and Pharisees.
“I could wish that you were cold or hot:” What Jesus wants to change in us as much as anything is the deceptive playing of the middle, trying to please BOTH the world and Jesus. We MUST choose. We can NOT please the world AND Jesus. They ARE polar opposites.
I could wish that you were cold or hot also points to another aspect of lukewarmness, as a picture of uselessness. Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is USELESS for either purpose. It’s as if Jesus says, “If you were hot or cold I could do something with you. But because you are neither, I will do nothing.”
The lukewarm Christian has enough of Jesus to satisfy a craving or a roster for social correctness… A member of a church….check! It IS lauded, applauded, and just PERFECT for the world, but Jesus says it is NOT enough for eternal life. He wants mankind to love Him or hate Him…but NOT to simply like him.
The thief on the cross was cold towards Jesus and clearly saw his need. The Apostle John was hot towards Jesus and enjoyed an intimate relationship of love. But Judas WAS lukewarm, following Jesus enough to be considered a disciple, but NOT enough to give his heart over to Jesus in fullness.
Deep down, there is no one MORE miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have TOO much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but TOO much of Jesus to be happy in the world.
But how could Jesus say, I could wish that you were cold? We know His deepest desire is that they be hot, with an on-fire love for Him (Revelation 3:19, where the word zealous is associated with this same word hot). Yet if they would not be hot, Jesus prefers cold rather than lukewarm. “So the Lord is saying, ‘If instead of being lukewarm, you were SO cold that you SHOULD feel that coldness, then the very feeling of your need might drive you to the true warmth, but now in your lukewarmness, you have just enough to protect yourselves against a feeling of need.
Lukewarm ROTE prayers MOCK God.
Lukewarm LIVES turn people AWAY from Jesus.
The name Laodicea means “rule of the people.” This church well represents a church run by majority rule INSTEAD of God‘s Word.
This is reflected in Jesus’ address to the church: the church of the Laodiceans (Revelation 3:14). For the other churches, it was the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1) or the church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8) or the church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1). But here, it is the church of the Laodiceans.
In his sermon, “An Earnest Warning against Lukewarmness,” Charles Spurgeon described the lukewarm church this way:
They have prayer-meetings, but there are few present, for they like quiet evenings home.
When more attend the meetings they are still very dull, for they do their praying very deliberately and are afraid of being too excited.
They are content to have all things done decently and in order, but vigor and zeal are considered to be vulgar.
They may have schools, Bible-classes, preaching rooms, and all sorts of agencies; but they might as well be without them, for no energy is displayed and no good comes of them.
They have deacons and elders who are excellent pillars of the church/community, if the chief quality of pillars be to stand still, and exhibit no motion or emotion.
The pastor does not fly very far in preaching the everlasting gospel, and he certainly has no flame of fire in his preaching.
The pastor may be a shining light of eloquence, but he certainly is not a burning light of grace, setting men’s hearts on fire.
Everything is done in a half-hearted, listless, dead-and-alive way, as if it did not matter much whether it was done or not.
Things are respectably done, the rich families are not offended, the skeptical party is conciliated, and the good people are not quite alienated: things are made pleasant all around.
The right things are done, but as to doing them with all your might, and soul, and strength, a Laodicean church has no notion of what that means.
They are not so cold as to abandon their work, or to give up their meetings for prayer, or to reject the gospel.
“I will vomit you out of My mouth:” How are churches in the mouth of Jesus?
They are in His mouth because they spread His Word
They are in His mouth because He prays for them constantly.
What a terrible thing - in either of these ways - to be expelled from the mouth of Jesus!
Verse 17 tells us what Jesus has against the church of Laodicea.
“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;”
The church at Laodicea lacked a sense of spiritual poverty. They looked at their spiritual condition and said “rich.” They looked again and said “wealthy.” They looked a third time and said, “We have need of nothing.” They are the opposite of blessed are the poor in spirit Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:3.
The Laodiceans put their TRUST in material prosperity, in outward luxury, and in physical health. They felt like they didn’t need anything.
“The cause of Christ has been HURT more by Sunday-morning bench-warmers who pretend to love Christ, who call Him Lord but do not His commands six days of the week.
“And do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked:” It wasn’t that the church at Laodicea wasn’t spiritually poor - they were, they were simply BLIND to it. Jesus looked at their spiritual condition and said, “wretched.” He looked again and said “miserable.” A third time Jesus looked and said “poor.” He looked again and said “blind.” A final time Jesus looked, and He saw that they were spiritually “naked.”
“YOU ARE:” This isn’t just the opinion of Jesus. Spiritually speaking, they REALLY ARE wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. What Jesus sees in them is more important than how they see themselves. The church in Smyrna thought they were poor when they were really rich (Revelation 2:9), but the church of the Laodiceans believe they are rich when they are REALLY poor.
Verses 18-20 tells us what Jesus wants the church of Laodicea to do.
“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. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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.”
“I counsel you to buy from Me:” The change in the Laodiceans had to begin with understanding their spiritual poverty. As long as we believe we can meet the need for wealth, clothing, or sight ourselves, we can NEVER receive them from Jesus. We must seek these things FROM Jesus instead of relying on them from the world or ourselves.
“Buy from Me gold refined in the fire:” If they will receive from Jesus His riches, His gold - beautifully refined in the fire - then they may be rich.
“White garments, that you may be clothed:” If they will receive from Jesus the pure, righteous covering He GIVES, then they will be clothed, and no longer will the shame of your nakedness . . . be revealed. The merchants of Laodicea were famous for a glossy black wool they used to make beautiful garments. Jesus says, “I know the beautiful black that the world can clothe you in. But I have white garments, that you may be clothed.”
“Anoint your eyes with eye salve:” If they will receive from Jesus the healing of their spiritual sight, they will then be able to see.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:” With such a sharp rebuke, has Jesus lost His love for this errant church? Not at all. Jesus’ great love is expressed in His rebuke.
The word for love in as many as I love is not agape, but phileo. Jesus’ heart to this church is, “Even though I rebuke you and chasten you, I am still your friend. I love you deeply as My friend.”
“Therefore be zealous and repent:” He commands them to make a decision to repent, and to continue in zeal. Jesus is saying, DON’T look to your own riches and resources, because they are really bankrupt. Turn around and look to ME.”
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock:” Jesus gives to this lukewarm church The Great Invitation. He knocks at the door, asking entry to come and dine with us, in the sense of sharing warm, intimate time. It only happens as we respond to His knock, but the promise is made to all: If anyone HEARS My voice.
The idea of Jesus at the door applies to the sinner and to the saint just the same. Jesus wants to come in to us, and dine with us, in the sense of having a deep, intimate one-on-one DAILY relationship.
“I stand at the door:” Sadly, Jesus stands on the outside, knocking to get in. If the church at Philadelphia was “The Church of the Open Door,” then the church at Laodicea is “The Church of the Shut Out Jesus.”
“I will come into him:” What a glorious promise! If we open the door, He WILL come in. He won’t ring the bell and run away. He promises to come in, and when Jesus says DINE WITH HIM, He speaks of a specific meal known as the deipnon. The deipnon was the MAIN meal of the day and was the meal at which a man sat and talked for a long time, for work was ended . . . it is not a mere courtesy visit, paid in the passing, which Jesus Christ offers to us. He desires to come in and to sit long with us.
Everything He said to the Laodicean church up to this point must be seen in light of this loving desire for fellowship. “Rebuke and chastisement are NOT signs of rejection from Christ, but of His abiding and pleading love, even to the lukewarm and careless.
“If anyone:” Notice that Jesus gives the call to INDIVIDUALS. He didn’t say, “If any church,” but if anyone. It must be done by individuals: the church will only get right IF EACH man gets right.
Verse 21 tells us a promise of reward.
“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.”
“To him who overcomes:” Jesus’ promise to the overcomer, even at Laodicea, shows that we don’t have to be Christians who are compromising and lukewarm. If we are, we CAN CHANGE and become one of Jesus’ overcomers.
“I will grant to sit with Me on My throne:” Those who overcome the battle against indifference, compromise, and self-reliance, receive a special reward. They enjoy a place with the enthroned Jesus (as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne).
LAODICEA is the WORST of the seven Churches, and yet the most eminent of all the promises are made to it, showing that the worst may repent, finally conquer, and attain even to the highest state of glory.
Verse 22 tells us a general exhortation to all who will hear.
Few want to identify themselves with the church of Laodicea. We would much rather identify ourselves with the church at Philadelphia.
We must hear what the Holy Spirit says here, because He speaks to the churches - including us. May God deliver us from the self-reliant, compromising lukewarmness that marked the church of the Laodiceans!
Putting the Seven Churches of Revelation into Historical Perspective
Many have attempted to make sense of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 (the letters to the seven churches of Asia) by taking them as a unified whole. It is significant that Jesus CHOSE THESE particular SEVEN congregations to address. Additionally, some have pointed to the ORDER OF THE LETTERS as evidence of their significance as HIS church history in the period between the Ascension and Jesus to His return for HIS CHURCH.
It is also interesting to note that Paul addressed SEVEN churches: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Phillipi, and Thessalonica.
Jesus ALSO gives SEVEN “Kingdom Parables”.
Bible scholars say The Book of Revelation emphasizes that as SEVEN is a number of COMPLETION & FULFILLMENT, so Jesus and Paul wrote to SEVEN churches as a indication that they were in fact speaking to THE COMPLETE CHURCH, not just these seven congregations.
Speaking to seven churches means speaking to the church in perfection, in completion and totality. As one commentator puts it, “The churches of all time are comprehended in seven.”
Chuck Smith, What the World is Coming To (1977).
Ephesian: The early church, up until the death of John.
Smyrna: 2nd to 4th centuries, Roman persecutions.
Pergamite: Beginning in 316, “development of church-state system under Constantine.”
Thyatiran: The unrepentant, unfaithful church destined to go through the Great Tribulation.
Sardian: Dead Protestantism.
Philadelphian: The faithful church of the last days.
Laodicean: The apostate church of the last days.
It seems that the last four churches WILL persist until the coming of Jesus (see Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 3:11; and Revelation 3:20). If one accepts these seven letters as descriptive of the flow of church history, it does not require that we see them as exclusive, rigidly sequential ages.
As well, we must remember that every age has had SOME characteristics of ALL seven churches. Though certain historical periods are marked by the conditions spoken of in these letters, we could never say that “only one letter” applies to us or JUST our age.
So WHAT does Jesus WANT us to SEE, to KNOW, & to UNDERSTAND about HIM & HIS CHURCHES in Revelation 2 & 3?
1. YOU ARE MINE.
2. I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU….GOOD AND BAD.
3. I SEE YOU…..GOOD AND BAD.
4. I LOVE YOU…..ANYWAY.
5. CHANGE, REPENT, &/OR STAY STRONG.
6. RETURN TO ME.
7. I AM COMING BACK FOR YOU….BE READY!