2. Even though Jesus spent time with sinners, he never called them friends. Revelation 3:14-22 (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.. They stood on an important junction of trades routes running more or less north to south and west to west. You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. It was part of a long trade route that included the four previous cities to the north. The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. Hot water is only effective while it is hot. Jesus desires to come in, sit down at the table, and enjoy the food and company. It is important to understand that Jesus does not call just anyone his friend. Therefore be zealous and repent. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothingand do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and nakedI 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. He is the one who addressed the church at Laodicea. 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. The word zealous is the Greek word (zeleue) and means to be eager, earnest.23 The church is commanded to be earnest or zealous, which means a passionate eagerness to do God's will. What did Christ mean? The writer speaks to those who had become dull of hearing, meaning they had little to no spiritual discernment. It is the foundation of wisdom. After identifying Himself, Jesus immediately tells the church at Laodicea that He knows their worksthat they are neither cold nor hotand because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). The Laodicean Church became predominant towards the end of the twentieth century. Phileo is the Greek word for friend or friendship. 2. Laodicea was known for three things: It was a wealthy city and a financial center. He would vomit them out of His mouth because their works were so distasteful to Him. For all its wealth, the city had poor water (comments on Revelation 3:14-22). We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. Natural fire burns away natural impurities. The word amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament. They were a prominent banking center for the entire region. In the New Testament, a believer dies with Christ to live a new holy life in the power of Christ's resurrection and identification with Christ's suffering (Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8-10). In the situations of daily life, when tempted by impatience, irritation, envy, discouragement, etc. Some have wondered if the last name mentionedthe Beginning of the creation of Godindicates that Jesus was a created Being. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. 1. In our world filled with technology, material prosperity and modern conveniences, many mistakenly assume that they do not need God. Ho! To heal their weak spiritual condition, Jesus said, 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 (verse 18). They think they have need of nothing because they are saved and on their way to heaven. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. Baldwin Park Eye Care | We are located at 4829 New Broad St, Orlando, FL, 32814. The residents of Laodicea would have also traveled up to Hierapolis to sit in the hot mineral baths. And it works better than modern antibiotics in both lab and mouse models. In the context of Revelation 3, then, Christ was standing at the door of the Laodicean church, eager to re-enter the congregation through the genuine repentance of its members. For a faster response, please call us directly at 888-666-8135. What I said was important! Those who have ears to hear allow the Word to bear fruit to the glory of God. We cannot deny our sin or find excuses to justify it. Verse 14 leaves no doubt the Jesus Christ is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. To be a hot Christian could have several different meanings (or a combination of them) to the Laodiceans. The fruit of godly repentance is unmistakable: earnestness (zeal) to do what is right in the eyes of God. The first thing we need to look at is what it means to be cold. Another salve supposedly healed ear problems. eye salve. The first part of this process is accomplished by pulverizing or crushing the gold ore and then placing it in a furnace. This act concealed the shame of his nakedness. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing . The problem lies in that it seems improbable that Christ would use a human to write a physical letter to an angel, rebuking it for falling short in its duties as a Christ-follower.4 If the angel is an actual angelic representative of the local church, and answerable for its failure, then the seven angels in chapters 1 through 3 failed miserably. Why does the church not hear his voice? What was it the Laodiceans were supposed to be victorious over? Jesus lived a life of humility. Setting wine flasks in hot water allowed the wine to heat to the desired temperature. If you are living a self-reliant, self-sufficient life; relying on your strength rather than Christs, then you are lukewarm. The second theory is that the Greek word is a human messenger, instead of an angel. The Bible exposes Satan's lies and deceit and is the tool to overcome all the sinful tendencies in our flesh. Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. It is showing that all things were created through Him. Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown (Philippians 2:5-11). First of all, it begins with recognizing with a heart-rending awareness that we have defied God when we sin. Among them nothing from before the Roman period has appeared. Suffer in the flesh, cease from sin. The verse is not talking about salvation; it is talking about usefulness or purpose. In the first theory, if the angel is an actual angel, then we can infer that each church has its own guardian angel. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis (Colossians 4:12-13, also see Colossians 1:7). Gods Word is a sword. Many portions of the city remained unusable afterward. He wants to be a friend with whom we enjoy spending time. The term lukewarm is a key word used to describe Laodicea. He's locked out of his own house. Repentance is more than a feeling. Just in case you're beginning to get the point that the person referred to here is truthful, honest, believable, and worthy of credit (trustworthy); that is exactly the idea that John is pointing out. Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. People came from all over the empire to purchase this medicine. 4. It can only come by the revelation of Jesus Christ to the believer, and then must be developed by way of training in righteousness (Hebrews 5:14) and prayer (Ephesians 6:18). Greek 2854. kollourion -- eye salve. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. Call (626) 587-0033! The discipline of Christ stated in Hebrews 12:5-11, explains that God's discipline proceeds from his love and seeks to develop righteousness in his people. To purchase from God gold tried in the fire is not only inclining your ear to the Lord, hearing him, going to him and making an everlasting covenant with him, but also loving, believing, and rejoicing as per 1 Peter 1:5-9, (quoted earlier). The mineral water from Hieroplis helped to lock in the color dyes so that the color did not fade after being washed multiple times. 1. It is the ordinary daily trust of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) by which we live and minister to others. Good deeds (Ephesians 2:10), godliness (1 Peter 1:15), Christ-likeness (1 Peter 2:21), and fulfilling the demands of the Law (Rom 8:4) are all part of the cost in purchasing white garments from Christ.). Laodicea also produced a special eye salve that was made by powdering a special Phrygian stone. The black wool of Laodicea produced some stunning dark-colored garments. The city was also known as a health resort, one of the best in the Graeco-Roman world owing mostly to its lukewarm . Church of the Lukewarm: Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) November 7, 2021. Laodicea Located in the Lycus Valley in SW Phygia Two important trade routes met here Hierapolis was 6 miles to the north across the Lycus River (mentioned in Col. 4:13) Colossae was ten miles away Laodicea was the wealthiest city in Phrygia. His entire life was a fulfillment of God's Word, and thereby, Gods will. Copyright 2004 -, Transliteration of Amen From Hebrew to Greek to English. While this is not impossible, as John could have summoned a messenger from each of the churches to receive the appropriate correspondence, it is not probable. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. The church at Laodicea was very active. All rights reserved. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? The ancient Greeks liked their wine hot or cold. The time of need is when temptation comes when we see and feel the sin in our flesh when we struggle to keep ourselves from sinning. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. Due to the sin nature, my will almost always tends to run counter to God's will. Faith is the means (produces the results) of sanctifying grace, Now to the business of how to purchase white garments from Christ. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door. He and his wife, Teddi, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. Colossae quickly decreased in importance. In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black woolwhether dyed or natural in color is not known. Making an everlasting covenant with God (salvation is only the starting point). The word beginning (arch) could be translated as that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause.12 The New Testament scriptures are very clear about Christ's role in creation. How is your hearing? 1 Peter 1:7 states that spiritual gold is your faith in Christ, and every true believers faith in Jesus will go through a fiery trial during which all that is dross is to be done away with (burned away) to bring forth a finished product of pure, refined gold. 3. We cant relax and mistakenly assume we have it made. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. Justification by its very nature does not have a progressive character. There are multiple lessons that we can learn from Christs message to Laodicea. When Jesus speaks, the church needs to listen. If anyone in the church hears Christ's voice and opens the door, he will come and dine with them. The lack of white clothing does not mean they removed their salvation; it simply means the clothing that symbolized their purity and righteousness was gone. The sin in His nature had received its death sentence when He said, Your will be done, God. As disciples who follow Jesus, we must learn to hate the sin in our own life, deny ourselves, and take up our cross. By knowing and obeying the Word of God, you will be trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. The word cold is the Greek word (psuchros) and means cool, fresh, or cold.14 It should be obvious that being cold must be a good thing, or Christ would not have recommended it. The Corinthian believers were engaged in some seriously messed up things. People commonly but mistakenly believe that wealth means that God is pleased with them. Although Laodicea produced the best eye-salve in the ancient world, the Laodicean Christians were blind when looking at their spiritual state. The fertile valley contained pastures with large flocks of sheep. We need to look at this verse in context with the entire passage. The Greek word arche, which is translated Beginning, has a range of meanings from beginning, origin to the person or thing that commences to that by which anything begins to be to the first place, principality, rule, magistracy (Thayers Greek Lexicon). From sexual promiscuity to getting drunk while meeting together to quarreling amongst themselves, these people were far from the ideal loving and thriving church body. A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. But hot water also had another use. About Laodicea (See Colossians 2:1; 4:13-16) . Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy___from Him so they could see. Laodicea SHARE History The leading city in the valley during the first century, Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. 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