Revelation 3:18-22

This church, in its pride and self-sufficiency, was blind to their own condition. Because of their apathy towards God and love of money, they didn’t even realize the dire straits they were in. Jesus counsels us to come and find our fulfillment in Him rather than in the society around us. And the call is individual, which is an incredible privilege.

Laodicea: the Lukewarm church

I. The Location (literal local church)

• • Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains
  • Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid)
  • They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve

II. The Likeness of Christ

• • Christ addresses the individual people
  • He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things.

III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)

• • Christ knows these people and their works
  • They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither)
  • They were deluded about their own condition
  • They were marked by self-sufficiency and pride, when what they really needed was only to be found in Christ (3:18)
  • Love of money was a real problem
  • Jesus calls them to personal renewal of their zeal for Him

IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)

• • The parallel is with the modern church age in our time

V. The Lesson for us (type of church)

• • Across church history, we see a trend of churches moving away from God, but we as individuals do not have to. The church was instituted to be a beautiful and good thing in its inauguration, but as Jesus foretold would happen in the kingdom parables, it has largely become something distorted, corrupt, and hideous as we will also see in the progression of these seven.
  • While the majority of churches have moved towards the world, there is a remnant of people who have not, and the call goes out to believers to be zealous and repent. It falls to us tot let Christ into our lives and to fellowship with us and us with Him. That is the invitation of these letters.

Revelation 3:14-17

This final church is a cautionary tale to modern Christianity, because we struggle with the same apathy and lukewarmness that they are accused of by Christ. Today we start to get a glimpse of this church and the problems Jesus points out. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent.

Laodicea: the Lukewarm church

I. The Location (literal local church)

• • Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains
  • Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid)
  • They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve

II. The Likeness of Christ

• • Christ addresses the individual people
  • He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things.

III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)

• • Christ knows these people and their works
  • They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither)
  • They were deluded about their own condition

We will continue to look at this church next week.

Revelation 3:7-13

This is the loyal church, and how we should wish to be characterized this way. This church was not impressive—they had little strength, were little in number, relatively out on their own, and misunderstood by those around them—but they are directed by God, reliant upon His strength, and assured of the destruction of the wicked. Some of the encouragements we can glean from this section are (1) God opens and closes doors in our lives, (2) we are to be an outpost for the gospel in the world, (3) God will keep us from the tribulation, and (4) we must focus on being faithful.

Philadelphia: the Loyal church

I. The Location (literal local church)

• • “Brotherly love” is something Sardis lacked
  • The city was a gateway to the east from the west, an outpost of Hellenization, small but had a big impact on spreading Greek culture
  • It was a loyal frontier city with an over-sized reputation, it became known for surviving through resilience, going on for centuries even being built on a fault line that brought earthquakes and volcanos

II. The Likeness of Christ

• • He that is holy, true, and has the keys of David
  • He openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth

III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)

• • God opens and closes doors Ecclesiastes 7:13
  • They had little strength, but God supplied the rest
  • We must withstand being misunderstood (by the early Jews and later by the Catholics)
  • We will be kept from the hour of temptation 1 Thessalonians 5:9
  • God’s judgment of the wicked is an act of mercy to us, making our suffering not for nothing

IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)

• • Represents the missionary age from the 19th century until now

V. The Lesson for us (type of church)

• • Our job is to hold fast to what we have been given
  • We will stand and give account for what we did with the glorious gospel