Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
(NKJV: Revelation 3: 14 – 23) 14. ” 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 into 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.” ‘ “
Are We Living in the Last Days? Are we the last church before Christ coming?
As I sit here and read commentaries about this church, I am personally convicted and very concerned about the church I belong to. I do not mean what church I go to but the Church of Jesus Christ in America as a whole.
In the book of Revelation, there is a list of seven churches and I, like most theologians, believe these represent the seven church ages through-out church history. The Laodicean Church is the last one before the great tribulation. Laodicea is located in modern day Turkey, biblically it is located near Colossae. This is where we get Paul’s letter to the Colossians in the Bible. This is the only church out of the seven Jesus says nothing good about. It is a hard indictment against His own children.
Let us begin this verse by verse study:
14. ” And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:
This is to the church – the people of Laodicea. They were a church with the very name which means “rule of the people” or the “DEMOCRATIC CHURCH.” (Joseph Seiss) I find this interesting that the name has an idea of “democratic rule”. Furthermore, this whole section is where Jesus points out their flaws, and that is through the very things they believed about themselves. I also believe this lends a hint to what this church is at the end times, it is a church in a democratic society.
The problem with living in a democratic society as we do in America is the fact that we have a vote and also have opinions on everything. This is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing in that we are free to voice these opinions and be able to vote our beliefs. However, on the other side of this is the fact that most things in our country are swayed by popular opinions and in the polls. Politicians do not make a move without weighing in on public opinions.
This is the very problem this church has from the start: it has a democratic mindset, this, however, is at odds with the truth. The truth is that we do not live in a democratic kingdom in the church. The church is built and based on a sovereign kingdom, run and ruled by a KING, hence the word king-dom.
God does not ask for our opinions, and although He cares what our thoughts are concerning his commandments and decrees, (because He loves and cares for us) He does not alter His plans because of our thoughts. He is a King and the only options for living in a kingdom is obedience or disobedience. There is no middle ground when you deal with a Sovereign King.
Their name is their first flaw and it is our problem in the church of United States. Why do you think we have so many different denominations in our country? Why have we seen the birth of the seeker-friendly churches? Why is there a different church on every corner and none of them agree with the same Bible? The reason we do see so many different churches is because of people’s opinions, they go where they preach what they want to hear. So many only read what they believe, they do not believe what they read in the scriptures.
v 14b: These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
This is Jesus speaking, He is the Amen, the Faithful One, the True Witness. This is the very opposite of the Laodicean Church. The Laodicean church is not faithful nor true to their word. We live in an “age of grace” and although I believe in grace wholeheartedly, because of Grace teaching however, we tend to look at Jesus as a pushover. Bad mistake! Jesus is far from being a pushover! He does make judgments and he does, in fact, discipline his children.
Hebrew 12:5-6: “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
Are You Hot, Cold or Lukewarm?
V15. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
Everything Jesus says to this Church is a type and shadow to what they are and are experiencing in their life. The city and the people of Laodicea were the best of the best. They had it all but one thing, and that one thing was a major problem for them. They had no water. They had to import water from nearby hot springs. By the time this water got to the city, it was neither hot nor cold, it was nauseating lukewarm water. They had to drink it all the time. They understood all too well what Jesus was saying to them. They had no “living water” and the water they did have, was second-hand water so to speak. This has a strong implication to this church, and at the same time is a strong indictment against them.
The Laodicean Church had no fresh water of their own, it was all second-hand lukewarm water. So how does this apply to our Church here in America today? I have noticed that we have more ways to get the Word of God than ever before in the history of the Church. You have blogs, podcasts, Christian TV and many Christian radio stations. We are inundated and pumped full of God’s Word. You may say Hallelujah. The problem is that we listen to so many people we do not know if they are really teaching the word of God. For so many, they accept whatever their denomination is teaching or their favorite Bible teacher. I will give you an example, I hear so many denominations teaching the law, they are teaching we should be keeping the law and sabbath days. When you read the book of Acts, Romans, and Galatians, e.g., it is clear we the Gentile church are not under the law nor were we ever, the law was for the people of Isreal under the Old Testament. There is a strict warning from Paul in Galatians that those who adhere to the law after we have received grace, has fallen from grace. (Gal. 5:4) But how many denominations are teaching the very opposite that is written clearly in the Bible?
I have found that the typical layperson has very little actual knowledge of God’s Word. I find so many times people quote this pastor or this teacher whom they have heard. They go to church and are taught what to believe. Why do you think so many Christians run for the hills when they have to face a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness? They cannot even defend the doctrine of the deity of Christ on their own. I know this to be true for at one time I was guilty of the same lack of knowledge, that is until the Lord dealt with me on this issue. Many know what their favorite Bible teacher teaches, but could not explain doctrine or their own personal beliefs directly from God’s Word. This is a second-hand Word, which is really the type and shadow of second-hand water. Jesus spoke of this when He spoke to the women at the well.
John 3:13-14: Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (This is fresh water)
So as we close this week’s blog I want to encourage you. If you do not know the Word of God and you would love to be more acquainted with it, then open your Bible and read it like it was your first time. If you are not sure about a topic or what to believe, open your heart to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide you, or begin doing a study on healing. If you’re not sure what to believe about the Holy Spirit, study and see what the Bible says, not your religion or denomination. We will continue this study on the Laodicean Church in the next blog. Please join us.
