The Church of Laodicea
In the Book of Revelation the Apostle John writes to seven churches is Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey). The seventh church is in the city of Laodicea. The city of Laodicea gets its name from the Seleucid King Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.). It was located in the Lycus Valley in Phrygia.[1]
He named the city after his sister and wife Laodice. The city was 90 miles east of Ephesus which was on the coast in that area – Laodicea was an inland city. Laodicea was a famous commercial and wealthy center due to its production and selling of their world famous black wool. The city was so rich that when it was destroyed by an earthquake in 60 A.D., it refused government aid. The citizens rebuilt the city with their own resources.[2]
Laodicea was also well known for its banking industry and medical skills especially for a Phrygian powder – a medicine for the eyes; an eye salve.[3]
The city water supply came from an underground aqueduct miles away. The water flowed through pipes made out of cubical blocks of stone cemented together three feet wide. By the time the water reached the city, it was not hot enough to take baths, nor was it cold enough to drink. Their water was tepid, or lukewarm. Whoever drank it, it would make them ill so they would vomit it out.[4]
When John addresses the church in Revelation 3:14-19, he tells them this, “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 since you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy gold from me 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.’ “
The church at Laodicea had already been founded during the time of the Apostle Paul; for he mentions it in his epistle to the Colossians (Colossians 2:1; 4:13-16).
By the time John writes to them, the church had become apostate. They trusted in their material wealth and possessions instead of the Lord. As a result of their wrong attitude, Jesus rebukes them, and says, “Since you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16)!
No doubt the Laodiceans understood Jesus’ rebuke regarding them being lukewarm just like the tepid water that flowed through their city. Their works in Jesus’ eyes was just as unsavory as the water they received.
In the end Jesus demanded they put on spiritual eye salve so they can see what was important, and purchase gold from him so that they could truly be rich along with putting on Jesus which in the book of Revelation is represented by clean white raiment – righteousness.
The purchasing of true gold, eye salve for sight, and putting on white garments is indicative of Jesus commanding them to repent and perform righteous works since they were neither cold nor hot – they were emetic, disgusting to the Lord.
These attitudes often are indicative of Christians today. Just as Jesus warned the original Laodiceans of that day, He is warning the modern Laodiceans. Are you trusting in your money, your success, your position in society, your education and not the Lord? Then you actually have nothing although you say you have everything. What Jesus through John commanded the Church back then he is commanding us now to do the same – be zealous and repent so that He does not vomit you out his mouth.
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