Revelation 3:14-23 - Church at Laodicea

© 2003-2004 Tony Garland - contact@SpiritAndTruth.org

COURSE COMMENTARY

3:14 - Laodicea - introduction

Bathhouse Arches at Laodicea Copyright © 2003-2004 www.BiblePlaces.com. Used by permission. 1) An independent and wealthy city, rebuilt after earthquake of A.D. 60 without Roman aid. 2) Garment manufacturing center, famous for sales of woolen garments (Rev. 3:18). 3) Medical school which produced an ointment for ears and eyes (Rev. 3:18). 4) Close fellowship with church in Colossae (Col. 4:17).

3:14 - Laodicea - titles

• the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness
  Amen is derived from a Hebrew word meaning "certainty" or "a realiable support." Jesus emphasizes His faithful and true witness because of His assessment of this church--without commendation! The verity of His witness is emphasized in passages concerning judgment (Rev. 19:11).
• the Beginning of the creation of God
   "the Beginning" is arche . Here it takes the active meaning of author or efficient cause. He is "the Beginner" of creation (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2).

3:15 - Laodicea - criticism

• I could wish you were cold or hot
  An allusion to the mediocre temperature of the water supply at Laodicea which was probably brought by an aquaduct from Denizli (5 miles distant). Why would Jesus prefer cold rather than lukewarm ? Inconsistency of conviction coupled with hypocrisy is more damaging and irretrievable than the wrong conviction consistently held!.
• because you are lukewarm... I will vomit you out
  Lukewarm -- the church was at peace with the culture, no longer a shining light. When hearts harden to the point where repentance and return will not be forthcoming, God turns men loose to their own destruction (Jer. 15:1-4; Zec. 11:9; Rom. 1:20-28).
• I am rich
  The independence and affluence of the city of Laodicea had infected the culture and the culture had infected the church! Independence of God is sin!
• have need of nothing
  The classic pattern of those blessed by God is to mistake His blessing for their own abilities (Deu. 8:11-15). This is the USA today!!
• do not know... wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked
  Wretched is "afflicted." Miserable is "pitiable." Their blindness made them pitiable. They did not know they were naked! This is a common situation among churches of our day.

3:18 - Laodicea - exhortation

• I counsel you to buy from Me
  They were wealthy and making purchases, but from the wrong source !
• gold... white garments... eye salve
  The remedies for the previous ills, for they were poor, naked, and blind. They were naked, exposed, and their sin required a covering. They were clothed in their own "righteousness" (Pr. 20:6; Mat. 5:20; Luke 10:29; Luke 18:9) rather than the righteousness provided by God (Rom. 10:3). See lesson discussing Revelation 3:4-5 where White Garments are promised to the church at Sardis.
• anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see
  An allusion to the opththalmology associated with the city. They needed the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the seven eyes, to see their own condition from God's perspective (Rev. 5:6).
• as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten
  The church at Laodicea could take comfort in Christ's rebuke because it indicated His love for them. God chastens those who are His legitimate children (Heb. 12:5-8).
• be zealous... repent
   "Zealous" is ze'leue , present tense: "be continually full of zeal!" The same root word for "hot" in Revelation 3:15.

3:20 - Laodicea - promises

• I stand at the door and knock
  The door could represent:
  1) Close fellowship with God (Sos. 5:1-6).
  2) Salvation of the individual (John 14:21-23).
  
  The One Whose church it is now stands outside ! He has been shut out.
• come in to him and dine with Him
  Denotes intimate fellowship, either for the lukewarm believer or the one who has not yet responded to God. Communion (the Lord's supper) is a precursor to the time when Jesus will dine with believers in the Millennial Kingdom (Mat. 8:11; 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18).

3:21 - Laodicea - overcomer

• sit with me
  They will sit with Christ as He sits with His Father. This speaks of the co-rule of the saints (Rev. 2:26-27)
• My throne... His throne
  Two different thrones! Jesus is not now ruling from His throne, but will rule from the throne of David upon His return.

3:22 - Laodicea - let him hear

• last mention of Church
  This is the last mention of "church" (ekklesi'a ) until the last chapter (Rev. 22:16). The events which follow on the earth take place when the Church is no longer present. The pretribulational rapture is not derived from this observation, but this fact supports what is taught elsewhere concerning the timing of the Rapture of the church.