7 Churches of Revelation: Laodicea 

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Revelation 3:14-22:  "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: 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 spew you out of My mouth. 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  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. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.''  

Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness. He is the Beginning, the Source of the creation of God. John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” 

God looks at our hearts and not on physical appearance Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” 

Because He looked at the heart of the people in Laodicea, the Lord saw that they were lukewarm. They had become complacent. 

“The city of Laodicea was located between the cities of Hierapolis and Colossae. Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. Hierapolis had a hot spring that was considered to be medicinal. Colossae was known for its cold, refreshing mountain springs. Laodicea, on the other hand, had a bad reputation when it came to water. It was renowned for its dirty, lukewarm water, which visitors almost immediately spat out after tasting. In light of this, we can see that both “hot” and “cold” were considered to be good, while the dirty lukewarm of Laodicea was of no benefit.” (www.eteacherbiblical.com.) 

Laodicea was a wealthy, wealthy city. It was a textile manufacturing and financial center. The city was also known for its medical centers which manufactured salves for the eyes and ears. Jesus refers to all this when He tells them to buy refined gold, the wealth of redemption and communion with the Father. He desires that they be clothed in the purity of righteousness. The people were becoming rich from the manufacture of medicine for their physical eyes, but were poor in spirit because their spiritual eyes were closed. 

In spite of all this, Jesus loves the church and wants the best for them. It is His love that brings Him to rebuke them. It is His love that brings Him to rebuke us. He is knocking at the door of our hearts. It is up to us to open the door. 

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.”