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CHAPTER3

Jesus’EvaluationofMinistry:MessagetotheSevenChurches

TheLukewarmChurch:AMessagetoLaodicea

Revelation3:14-22

Doyoubelieveinyourself?Doyoulookoutfornumberone?Istheonlyrightwaytodosomethingyourway?Haveyoupulledyourselfupbyyourbootstrapsandaccomplishedgreatthingsbecauseofyourmanyskills?Whatwouldyoudoifafteryouwouldhaveclaimedthetopoftheladderyoufoundthatyouwentupthewrongbuilding;whatdoyoudo?WhatifallthethingsthatwearetryingtoattainundertheumbrellaofGodreallyhasnothingatalltodowithHim.Whatifasachurchwespendallofourtimeandresourcesmakingpeoplefeelgoodaboutthemselves,orbetteryet,tobelieveinthemselves.DoyoustandfirmonthewordofGodregardlessofyoursituationorcircumstance?Arewesoinwardfocusthatwehavebecomethecenterofourself-createduniverse?Hastheministrybecomeanotherplaceforustobeseenasthesuperstarthatweare?Isitallaboutus,ourneeds,ourdesires,orwants,ourambitions,ourgoals?Havewebecomesoconformedthatwecannottellourownstate?Self-delusioninthephilosophicalstanceoftheidolater,thatonewhohasmadeagodintheirownimageaccordingtheirownlikenessandworshipsthisgodandservehiminministry.ThisisthechurchofLaodicea.OneoftheworsttraindisastersinhistoryoccurredintheElToroTunnelinLeon,Spain,onJanuary3,1944.Overfivehundredpeopledied.Thetrainwasoneofthoselongpassengertrainswithanengineonbothends.Onthisparticularday,whenthetrainwentintotheElToroTunnel,theengineonthefrontstalled.Whenthefrontenginestopped,theengineeronthebackenginestarteduphisenginetobackthetrainoutofthetunnel.Atthesametime,however,thefrontengineermanagedtogetthefrontenginestartedagainandattemptedtocontinuethejourneyneitherengineerhadanywayofcommunicatingwiththeother.Bothengineersthoughttheysimplyneededmorepower.Theycontinuedtopullinbothdirectionsforseveralminutes.Hundredsofpassengersonthetraininthetunneldiedofcarbonmonoxidepoisoningbecausethetraincouldnotmakeupitsmindwhichwaytogo.Thepeopleonthattraindiedbecausethetrainhadonetoomanyengineers.Manyofusstruggleastowhichwaytogowithourlives-whethertocometoJesusortoremaininoursin.

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Thisindecisioncancauseustomissoutonthemostimportantdecisioninourlives.Sometimeswethinkwecanhaveitbothways,butwecan't.Wecan'tserveGodandalsoservethedevil.JesusHimselfwarnedusagainsttryingtoliveadoublelife:"Noonecanservetwomasters"(Matt.6:24a).1BackgroundLaodiceawasfoundedbyAntiochusII inthemiddleofthethirdcenturyB.C.andnamedafterhis wife Laodice. It was situated about fortymiles southeast of Philadelphia on the road toColossae.UnderRomanruleLaodiceahadbecomewealthyandhadaprofitablebusinessintheproductionofwoolcloth.About35yearsbeforethisletterwaswritten,Laodiceawasdestroyedbyanearthquake,butithadthewealthandabilitytorebuild.ThereisnorecordthatPaulevervisitedthiscity,buthewasconcernedaboutit(Col.2:1–2;4:16).NOTE:FiveFactorsinChristevaluationofthechurchatLaodicea

1. Christtheeternalandfaithfulwitness(v.14)

“Totheangelofthechurch inLaodiceawrite:TheAmen,thefaithfulandtrueWitness,theBeginningofthecreationofGod,saysthis:

InChristevaluationofthechurchatLaodiceaHeintroducedHimselfastheAmen,thefaithfuland true Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation. As with the letter to Philadelphia, thecharacteristicoftheLordistakenfromoutsidetheopeningvisionofChrist.Theword“Amen,”meaning“sobe it,” refers to thesovereigntyofGodwhich isbehindhumanevents (cf.2Cor.1:20).

2Corinthians1:20ForasmanyasarethepromisesofGod,inHimtheyareyes;thereforealsothroughHimisourAmentothegloryofGodthroughus.IntheOldTestamentGodisliterally,“theGodofAmen”(“theGodoftruth,”Isa.65:16),whoiscompletely trustworthy and truthful. Now this designation is applied to Christ and contrastsvividlywiththeuntrustworthyLaodiceans.

Isaiah65:16“BecausehewhoisblessedintheearthwillbeblessedbytheGodoftruth;andhewhoswearsintheearthwillswearbytheGodoftruth;becausetheformertroublesareforgotten,AndbecausetheyarehiddenfromMysight!

1 Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks, Wayne Rice, Zondervan, pp. 208-209.

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John14:6

Jesussaidtohim,“Iamtheway,andthetruth,andthelife;noonecomestotheFatherbutthroughMe.

InspeakingofHimselfas“thefaithfulandtrueWitness”ChristwasrepeatingwhatHehadsaidearlier(1:5).

Revelation1:5AndfromJesusChrist,thefaithfulwitness,thefirstbornofthedead,andtherulerofthekingsoftheearth.ToHimwholovesusandreleasedusfromoursinsbyHisbloodAs“theBeginningofGod’screation”ChristexistedbeforeGod’sCreationandissovereignoverit.Theterm“beginning”isnotreferringtoatimewhenChristwasnot,noris itspeakingofatimewhenHecametobeforHealwayswas.“Beginning”inthiscontextisspeakingofHisrankand authority over. In other words Jesus was the one initiating the creative process in thebeginningandthereforeviewedas‘thebeginning’(Jn.:1-3).TheGreekword(archē)translated“beginning”canmeaneitherfirstintime(beginning)orfirstinrank(ruler),itcouldalsomean“elementary principle,” “first,” “summary,” “origin,” “first cause,” “authority,” “domain,” and“corner.” This designation is similar to Paul’s teaching in Colossians 1:15, 18 (cf. Rev. 21:6)demonstratingChrist’authority.

Colossians1:15-1815.HeistheimageoftheinvisibleGod,thefirstbornofallcreation.16.ForbyHimallthingswere created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones ordominionsorrulersorauthorities—allthingshavebeencreatedthroughHimandforHim.17.Heisbeforeallthings,andinHimallthingsholdtogether.18.Heisalsoheadofthebody,thechurch;andHe isthebeginning,thefirstbornfromthedead,sothatHeHimselfwillcometohavefirstplaceineverything.

Revelation21:6ThenHesaidtome,“Itisdone.IamtheAlphaandtheOmega,thebeginningandtheend.Iwillgivetotheonewhothirstsfromthespringofthewateroflifewithoutcost.Aswithfourofthechurchesbefore,ChristgivesacleardescriptionofHimselfbeforehandingouta rebuke.Paulhaddirected that the letter to theColossiansbe readby theChristians inLaodicea,Colossians4:16.TherisenLordmaynowbeappealingtotheLaodiceans’knowledgeoftheEpistletotheColossians.

Colossians4:16

Whenthisletterisreadamongyou,haveitalsoreadinthechurchoftheLaodiceans;andyou,foryourpartreadmyletterthatiscomingfromLaodicea.

2. Christindictment(vv.15-16)

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CHURCH COMMENDATION CONDEMNATION

Ephesus Goodworks,endurance,discernment

Departedfromfirstlove

Smyrna Faithfulnessinpersecution None

Pergamum Somefaithfulnessinpersecution

Idolatry,falseteaching,immorality

Thyatira Somelove,faith,service,endurance

Idolatry,falseteaching,immorality

Sardis Worthyremnantkeptclean Hypocrisy,incompleteworks

Philadelphia Goodworks,endurance,faithfulness

None

Laodicea None Pride,materialism,laziness

15‘Iknowyourdeeds,thatyouareneithercoldnorhot;Iwishthatyouwerecoldorhot.16.‘Sobecauseyouarelukewarm,andneitherhotnorcold,IwillspityououtofMymouth.LaodiceareceivesnocommendationsfromChrist.HeindictsbasedonHisknowledgegivenatthe beginning of all the letters, “I know your deeds.” This like in all the letters beforedemonstrates Christ knowledge of the internal working of the church (the heart of itscongregation).BeawarethatChristisnotcondemningoneortwopeopleinthechurchbutHisindictmentisagainsttheentirechurch.Inthisletterwefindnowordofcommendationtothechurch.Christ viewed this churchasdetestable (repulsive, revolting,disgusting)because theywerelukewarm.

Theword lukewarm(chliaros)appearsonlyhereintheNewTestament.Thesense“unusable”or “barren” hits the mark being neither hot nor cold. This was also significant due to thegeographical locationofLaodiceawhichwasneartwoothercitiesHierapolis,whichhadahotmedicinalwaters;andColossaewhichhadcold,pure, refreshingwater.Bothwerewonderful.WhatwasterriblewastheuselesswaterofLaodiceawhichwasbetweenthetwo.2

In referring to the church as “lukewarm” Christ had in mind that this was its permanentsituation. In their feasts as well as in their religious sacrifices people in the ancient world

2 Easley, K. H. (Vol. 12, p. 59).

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customarilydrankwhatwaseitherhotorcold—neverlukewarm.3

Christ’swarningtospitthemoutofHismouth—literally“vomit”—meansthathewilljudgeandrejectthemfortheirself-righteousnessorself-sufficiency(ratherthanfortheirlackofspiritualfervor).Thesymptomsoftheirbarrennessarespecifiedinverse17.4

3. Christ“evaluation”Richinthisworldbutofnokingdomvalue(vv.17-18)

17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need ofnothing,” and youdonot know that you arewretched andmiserable andpoorandblindandnaked,18.IadviseyoutobuyfromMegoldrefinedbyfiresothatyoumaybecomerich,andwhitegarmentssothatyoumayclotheyourself,andthat theshameofyournakednesswillnotbe revealed;andeyesalve toanointyoureyessothatyoumaysee.

NoticehowthechurchvieweditselfversesChristviewofthem.First,thechurchsaid,Iamrich,but Christ stated that they were poor. That is, the church supposed it had such adequate(material)resourcesthat itcoulddowithouttheLord’s (spiritual)help.Thecongregationwaslikethecity,proudofitssocialstatusandaffluence,boastingthatIhaveacquiredwealthanddonotneedathing.(WhenthecityofLaodiceawasdevastatedbyanearthquakeinA.D.60,itrecoveredwithoutanyimperialdisasteraid.)ThisistheoppositeofthechurchinSmyrna,whichknewofitsmaterialpoverty.ChristcallstheLaodiceanchurchpoor.This churchhadapictureof itself thatwasnot true; they thought that theywere clothed inrighteousness,butwereratherdeadmanbones.TheimageryisdrawnfromwhatweknowofLaodicea,renownedforitsextensivetextileindustry,particularlyofblackwoolfabric.Instead,theLordunderstoodthatitwasspirituallywretched,pitifulandnaked.

Itsupposeditselftohavespiritualinsight.Insteaditwasblind.ThecityofLaodiceawasfamousforitsmedicalschoolthatexportedapowderusedforeyesalve.Suchmedicinecouldnotsalvetheirblindeyes.Evensadder thanthese threedeficiencies isChrist’sdeclaration thatyoudonot realize it. This church haddeceived itself about its spiritual condition. Because they haddepended on themselves, they were impoverished, unclothed, and sightless. Christ rejectswhateverachurchisordoesthatispromptedbyself-righteousness.5

AccordingtoWalvoord“theirbeinglukewarmspirituallywasevidencedbytheirbeingcontentwiththeirmaterialwealthandtheirbeingunawareoftheirspiritualpoverty.Christusedstrongwordstodescribethem:wretched,pitiful,poor,blind,andnaked.”6

Walvoordstatedthat:

They were urged to buy not ordinary gold, but refined gold, referring to that which

3 Walvoord, J. F. (Vol. 2, p. 940). 4 Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 59). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 5 Easley, K. H. (Vol. 12, pp. 59–60). 6 Walvoord, J. F. (Vol. 2, p. 940).

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wouldglorifyGodandmakethemtrulyrich.Through itsbanking industrythecityhadmaterial wealth. But the church lacked spiritual richness. Though they had beautifulclothes, they were urged to wearwhite clothes (cf. v. 4), symbolic of righteousnesswhichwouldcovertheirspiritualnakedness.Aswoolwasamajorproductofthearea,Laodiceawasespeciallyfamousforablackgarmentmadeoutofblackwool.Whattheyneededinsteadwaspurewhiteclothing.7

4. Christwarningtorepent(v.19)‘ThosewhomIlove,Ireproveanddiscipline;thereforebezealousandrepent.Proverbs3:12

TheLorddisciplinesthoseheloves,asafatherthesonhedelightsin.

Hebrews12:7-117.Itisfordisciplinethatyouendure;Goddealswithyouaswithsons;forwhatsonistherewhomhisfatherdoesnotdiscipline?8.Butifyouarewithoutdiscipline,ofwhichallhavebecomepartakers,thenyouareillegitimatechildrenandnotsons.9.Furthermore,wehadearthlyfatherstodisciplineus,andwerespectedthem;shallwenotmuchratherbesubjecttotheFatherofspirits,andlive?10.Fortheydisciplinedusforashorttimeasseemedbesttothem,butHedisciplinesusforourgood,sothatwemayshareHisholiness.11.Alldisciplineforthemomentseemsnottobejoyful,butsorrowful;yettothosewhohavebeentrainedbyit,afterwardsityieldsthepeacefulfruitofrighteousness.

5. Christinvitationandpromise(vv.20-22)20.‘Behold,Istandatthedoorandknock;ifanyonehearsMyvoiceandopensthedoor,Iwillcomeintohimandwilldinewithhim,andhewithMe.21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant tohimtositdownwithMeonMythrone,asIalsoovercameandsatdownwithMyFatheronHisthrone.22.‘Hewhohasanear,lethimhearwhattheSpiritsaystothechurches.’”The picture Christ now paints is one of Him being on the outside of the hearts of theLaodiceans.“Istandatthedoorandknock.”Itisclearthatifoneisstandingontheoutsideofadoortheyarenotinthehouse.SoeventhoughthischurchwasclaimingChrist,Christwasnotresidingwithinthem.“IfanyonehearsMyvoiceandopensthedoor,IwillcomeintohimandwilldinewithhimandhewithMe.”ThisoffermakesitclearthatChristwasnotyetinvitedintotheirhearts;soeventhoughtheymayhavebelievedthattheywereservingChristtheyhadnorelationshipwithHim.Hence, “if anyonehearsmy voice,” forHis voicewas foreign to them.ThatiswhyHegivestheinvitation,“IwillcomeinandwilldinewithhimandhewithMe.”OnlytothosewhoovercomethisworlddoesChristgrantpermissiontodinewithHimandbecomepartoftheFather’shouse.Onceagaintheinvitationtolistenandrespondisgiven:Hewhohasanear,lethimhearwhattheSpiritsaystothechurches.

7 Walvoord, J. F. (Vol. 2, pp. 940–942).

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Walvoordstateditbest:

Theletterstothesevenchurchesarearemarkablycompletetreatmentofproblemsthatface the church today. The recurring dangers of losing their first love (2:4), of beingafraidofsuffering(2:10),doctrinaldefection(2:14–15),moraldeparture(2:20),spiritualdeadness (3:1–2), not holding fast (v. 11), and lukewarmness (vv. 15–16) are just asprevalenttodayastheywereinfirst-centurychurches.BecausetheseletterscomefromChrist personally, they take on significance as God’s final word of exhortation to thechurchdownthroughthecenturies.Thefinalappeal istoall individualswhowillhear.Peopleinchurchestodaywoulddowelltolisten.8

8 Walvoord, J. F. (Vol. 2, p. 942).