Lessons from the Letters--Laodicea 12-3-11 Bend

Introduction – As we begin the final session of this Bible study series, it is interesting to note that we proceed from the letter to the Philadelphia congregation for whom no problems are listed, to the congregation at Laodicea, for whom no praise is given. · It is also interesting to note that the city of Philadelphia was situated between Sardis and Laodicea, both of which had serious spiritual problems.

SPS – So we will begin as we always do by reading the letter, then explain what it meant to the congregation and finally determine what we can learn from it and apply in our lives today.

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

Background information: “Laodicea was about forty-five miles southeast of Philadelphia and about one hundred miles due east of Ephesus. Along with Colosse and Hierapolis, it was one of the cities in the fertile Lyous valley. The great Roman road stretching to the inland of Asia from the coast at Ephesus ran straight through its center, making Laodicea an important center of trade and communication. In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black wool…. So wealthy was Laodicea that after the great earthquake of A.D. 17, which destroyed it, the people refused imperial help in rebuilding the city, choosing rather to do it entirely by themselves. “Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as "Phrygian powder," famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing … there was a market for trading all sorts of goods…. Zeus, the supreme god, was also worshiped in the city. “ … Laodicea is difficult to describe because no one thing stands out.

There were no excesses or notable achievements to distinguish it. It was a city with a people who had learned to compromise and accommodate themselves to the needs and wishes of others. They did not zealously stand for anything. A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the south. The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way. For all its wealth, the city had poor water. A large and influential Jewish population resided there. As for the church in Laodicea, it may have been founded by Epaphras (Col 4:12-13)” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). 14) These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God…. · “amen” = “strong affirmation of what is stated” (BDAG lexicon) · “faithful and true witness” – vs. false perceptions of congregation members re. their spiritual condition · “beginning (Gr. archē) of the creation of God” - (Gr. archē = “one with whom a process begins” (BDAG lexicon) NKJ Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning (Gr. archē), the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

NKJ Revelation 1:5 ¶ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Jesus Christ is the first to be resurrected and thus the one with whom the end product of the process of spiritual creation has begun. He is expressing concern that the congregation in Laodicea were failing in the process of spiritual re-creation. 15-16) 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. “Since the city of Hierapolis, seven miles north of Laodicea, had famous "hot springs," it may be that similar springs were located south of Laodicea and affected the temperature of the water supply. "I am about to spit [emesai, `vomit'] you out of my mouth" seems to allude to the lukewarm water. "Cold" could refer to the useful cool water located at Colosse, less than ten miles away. "Hot" would remind the Laodiceans of the beneficial "hot springs" to the north of Hierapolis.

Yet Laodicea, for all its wealth, had an insipid water supply--one that induced vomiting! Christ detests a Laodicean attitude of compromise, one that seeks easy accommodation and peace at any cost. With such a condition, he must deal harshly. To be a Christian means to be useful to Christ” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). “The one attitude which the Risen Christ unsparingly condemns is indifference. It has been said that an author can write a good biography if he loves his subject or hates him but not if he is coldly indifferent. Of all things indifference is the hardest to combat. The problem of modern evangelism is not hostility to Christianity; it would be better if it were so. The problem is that to so many Christianity and the Church have ceased to have any relevance and men regard them with complete indifference. This indifference can be broken down only by the actual demonstration that Christianity is a power to make life strong and a grace to make life beautiful” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay). 17) …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 deeper problem in the Laodicean church was not simply their indifference. It was their ignorance of their real condition: "You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'" … [T]his indictment is related to the general condition of the populace at large--rich in material possessions and self-sufficient. The spirit of the surrounding culture had crept into the congregation and had paralyzed their spiritual life. But did they actually claim to be materially rich or spiritually rich? Since it is difficult to see how a Christian community would boast of material wealth, many prefer the latter interpretation. Yet the Laodiceans may have interpreted their material wealth as a blessing from God and thus have been self-deceived as to their true spiritual state. In any case, they had misread their true condition” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

Matthew 13:22 22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:18-19 18 "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. · The “deceitfulness of riches” refers to the mistaken assumption that financial prosperity and material wealth are an indication of one’s spiritual condition. · “The tragedy of Laodicea was that it was convinced of its own wealth and blind to its own poverty. Humanly speaking, anyone would say that there was not a more prosperous town in Asia Minor. Spiritually speaking, the Risen Christ declares that there was not a more poverty-stricken community” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay). 18a) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich…

This is the opposite of what is written to the faithful congregation in Philadelphia: NKJ Revelation 3:10 "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.

NLT 1 Peter 1:7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 18b) and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; · “Laodicea prided itself on its clothing trade. The garments made there were famous over all the world, and the wool of the sheep of Laodicea was a luxury article which all men knew, But, says the Risen Christ, Laodicea is spiritually naked; if it wants really to be clothed it must come to him. The Risen Christ speaks of "the shame of the nakedness of Laodicea. “This would mean even more in the ancient world than now. In the ancient world to be stripped naked was the worst humiliation. · It was thus that Hanum treated the servants of David (2 Sam.10:4). The threat to Egypt is that Assyria will lead her people naked and barefoot (Isa.20:4).

It was Ezekiel's threat to Israel that her enemies would strip her of her clothes (Eze.16:37-39; Eze.23:26-29; compare Hos.2:3,9; Mic.1:8,11). · God's threat passed on by Nahum to the disobedient people was: "I will let nations look on your nakedness, and on your kingdoms shame" (Nah.3:5). “On the other hand, to be clothed in fine raiment was the greatest honour. · Pharaoh honoured Joseph by clothing him in vestures of fine linen (Gen.41:42). · Daniel is clothed in purple by Belshazzar (Dn.5:29). · The royal apparel is for the man whom the king honours (Esth.6:6-11). · When the prodigal son returns, it is the best robe that is put upon him (Lk.15:22)” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay). As we have seen in the message to Sardis, white garments are symbolic of righteous conduct.

NKJ Revelation 7:9, 13-14 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 13 ¶ Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:7-8 7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 18c) and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. “Laodicea prided itself on its famous eye-salve; but the facts of the case show that it was blind to its own poverty and nakedness… All eye-salves in the ancient world caused the eyes to smart at their first application, and Laodicea had no wish to see itself as it was” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay). 19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. NLT Hebrews 12:6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." They are admonished to “be zealous” (the opposite of their lethargic spiritual condition) and repent. 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.

Revelation 19:7-8 7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 ¶ Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " Despite their seriously degenerate spiritual condition, Jesus was still extending His personal invitation to participate in the marriage supper to those who would heed His admonition to zeal and repentance. 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. Promise of sharing the royal authority of Jesus Christ, assisting the King of kings and Lord of lords in ruling the world when the kingdom of God is established on earth.

Another way of expressing the promise to the church at Thyatira: NKJ Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 22) "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. So what lessons can we glean from this letter? A key point from the commentary is that “The spirit of the surrounding culture had crept into the congregation and had paralyzed their spiritual life.” As I have so often said, we are all a product of the world we live in. We live in a Laodicean world NLT 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ¶ … in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! But we cannot simply withdraw from the world. We have to live in the world without allowing it to determine how we live. Jesus prayed to the Father to help us accomplish this.

NIV John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. BBE Luke 21:34-36 ¶ But give attention to yourselves, for fear that your hearts become over-full of the pleasures of food and wine, and the cares of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly, and take you as in a net: 35 ¶ For so it will come on all those who are living on the face of all the earth. 36 But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be strong enough to come through all these things and take your place before the Son of man.

NLT Matthew 25:1-13 ¶ "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids 1 who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn't take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!' 7 "All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, 'Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.' 9 "But the others replied, 'We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, 'Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!' 12 "But he called back, 'Believe me, I don't know you!' 13 "So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. · The time will come when it will be too late to accept the invitation. · That time has not yet come. · The invitation is still open. ·

Notice the wording of verse 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. · The promise of rulership with Christ is also available to all who remain faithful and victorious to the end. · This book of Revelation begins with John’s description of Jesus Christ as, “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…. (Revelation 1:5-6). Conclusion – I usually close each Bible session in this series by repeating that famous statement, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." · Since this is the last session in this series, I will add a question for you to think about: If Jesus were to send a letter to the United Church of God in Bend, what would it say? · What would do you think He would commend us for, and what would He list as our main problems?

The point of this famous statement from each letter is that we can learn at least some of the answers from what was written to these churches. · So in that sense Jesus has written to the United Church of God in Bend. “Every letter finishes with the words: "Let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches." This saying does two things. “ (i) It individualizes the message of the letters. It says to every man: "This means you." So often we listen to a message which comes through a preacher and apply it to everyone but ourselves. In our heart of hearts we believe that the stern words cannot possibly be meant for us and that the promises are too good to be true for us. This phrase says to every one of us: "All these things are meant for you." “(ii) It generalizes the message of the letters. It means that their message was not confined to the people in the seven Churches nineteen hundred years ago, but that through them the Spirit is speaking to every man in every generation. We have set these letters carefully against the local situations to which they were addressed; but their message is not local and temporary. It is eternal and in them the Spirit still speaks to us” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay). · Let’s be sure that our ears are attentive to hear and heed this vital information so that we can overcome, remain faithful to the end and share in the inheritance of all the saints and share eternity with God, Jesus Christ and the rest of the family of God.