The Church of Laodicea

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Several weeks ago we started on a journey through Revelation that began with the letters Jesus addressed to

seven churches in Asia Minor, located in modern Turkey. If you have been following along with the pdf chart, you’ll find them both completed in the notes on the Sundry app.

Let’s read today’s passage and see how Laodicea’s situation connects with the issues we face today.

Revelation 2:14-22 To the Church in Laodicea 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I

know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my

mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me

gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love

I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they

with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.” (NIV)

Amen V 14

Jesus begins HIs letter by introducing Himself as The Amen, meaning, T He’s the Truth, the real Truth, and nothing but the Truth. He’s the end of it all - the last word on the matter. Ruler is the

beginning - the start, the one who began it. So this is calling Jesus the beginning and the end, but in a way that demonstrates his authority to call out truth from fiction.

Apatheistic Works V 15-16 1

Christ has seen their works - and it’s like a parent leaving a list of chores finding nothing done - or a worse mess - or a kid just sweeping stuff around or all over. I’ve heard it said that Atheism

isn’t the real issue - it’s Apatheism. People just don’t care anymore.

Laodicea had access to cold springs, hot springs, and river. Their water was well known as being sweet. Why would Jesus want to spit it out? The image Jesus projects is one of

rejection. Instead of showing Him hospitality by serving Him sweet water chilled by a reserve of snow or warmed into a hot and healthy drink, they have given Him tepid water. This

demonstrates a lack of respect and that He is not a welcome guest at their table. Their deeds are offensive - and purposely so. They don’t care for Him or welcome Him.

Their wealth had caused them to compromise their Christian faith by embracing political worship. They are no longer doing the work of making disciples, but they are just going through.

Revelation: The end as we know it. Through the Word. (n.d.). https://app.throughtheword.org/ 1revelation-the-end-as-we-know-it

Leithart, P. (n.d.). Laodicean Water. Theopolis Institute. https://theopolisinstitute.com/ 2leithart_post/laodicean-water/

the motions of a false Christianity - one that helps them stay in good standing with the government and thus maintain their place in the city’s economy.

Rich V 17

This church was very wealthy. The city of Laodicea was a hub for banking, textiles, and medicine. It had a medical school and was very well known for its eye salve, marble and wool.

Jesus calling them, poor, blind, and naked would have been a stark contrast to their self-identity. The Laodicean church was spiritually complacent, content with their comfortable lives,

and lacking a fervent passion for God.

Trade V 18

Jesus is really driving the point that what they have is not real. He is the TRUTH. The Amen. What they have is false, and it leaves them wretched. How can a city filled with wealth, fine

clothes, sweet water, learning, and medicinal cures be called wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked?

(Summary of the Story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”)3

The lukewarm church was blind to its own spiritual poverty, thinking they were self-sufficient and in need of nothing. This spiritual blindness prevented them from seeking God earnestly and

made them easily influenced by lies.

Today, our youth, like the child in the story of the emperor’s clothes, are calling out the previous generation for exposing themselves. The youth say that our faith is naked and blind and needs

to be deconstructed.

Rebuke V 19-22

This is Christ’s church, yet He is outside asking to be led in. The church of Laodicea has been swindled out of their true inheritance. They have traded the rich beauty of their faith for a lie

that has left them miserable and wretched, and blind to their fate. They’ve kicked Jesus out of their church and sided with the economy and politicians. Jesus is calling out the truth that they

have nothing on. They now have a choice - repent, let Him in, and accept His gifts, or keep pretending.

The image I see is a child who is mad at Mom because there are chores to be done, rules to be obeyed, and vegetables to be eaten. This child is hidden away in her room, behind her door,

enjoying a quiet party with her toys, hoping Mom or Dad won’t notice because they aren’t invited. She has her empty cups, fake food, fake jewels, fake money, and fake friends.

Everything she needs - right? Mom shows up, knocks on the door, and says, “Honey, why don’t you let me in? I’ve got cookies, and we can clean up your room together before dinner.”

The modern church has it all - a variety of churches in almost every neighborhood, Christian radio, coffee shops, and clothing lines. The Chosen. Podcasts, Bible Studies, church on

livestream. We have Christian therapists, movie production companies, and sports heroes. Why would we be considered wretched and miserable? Is it possible that these riches aren’t

real? Have we traded Jesus for something less than Him?

Andersen, H. C. (n.d.). The emperor’s new clothes. Short Stories & Classic Literature for Readers & Teachers. https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-

story/the-emperors-new-clothes

The city of Laodicea was eventually abandoned in 610 AD. Over time, it was buried until a professor of archeology wanted to take it on as a project and began to excavate the site.

Today, 23 years after the project began, Laodicea has become one of the most exciting archeological excavations in the Mediterranean region. This happened because the professor

got together with a local politician and they rallied local support to excavate and reconstruct ancient Laodicea. They did walkathons to raise money, wrote newspaper articles to spread

awareness, and ultimately, they talked to the Turkish government into making this a homegrown project. Laodicea was almost buried, but has now become one of the largest and most active

world archaeological sites related to the New Testament.4

About 20 churches and chapels have been found in Laodicea. Some of these structures used to be private houses. Dated to the beginning of the fourth century C.E., the Church of Laodicea

spanned a whole city block. It measured 45 by 42 yards, which made it the largest church in Laodicea. The baptistery of the Church of Laodicea features a cross-shaped font. Measuring

about 12 by 10.5 feet, the font has steps on its east and west sides that led down to a 5-foot-wide pool.5

An archeologist saw the value of excavating and restoring Laodicea. He didn’t leave it hidden and buried. Some of us deconstructed our faith long ago without even realizing it, and we

locked Jesus out. We’re living in Laodicea, thinking we’ve got the real deal, but Jesus is actually outside, asking to be let back in. But how do we know it’s really Him? What’s Truth?

The actual AMEN? This is what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.” (6:16 NIV)

Again, our youth are begging the previous generation to reconsider their focus. They deconstruct their faith because they care and they don’t know what else to do. Instead of

criticizing their deconstruction, why don’t we, together, excavate, explore, and discover? Do we value our faith enough to invest in it? We need to be like archeologists and carefully dig

deep to find the ancient ruins and rebuild a true faith. I’d like to close with an old song made new - just like what we are being called to do. We need

to dig up what’s been buried, dust off the truth, and get back the work God called us to in the first place - worship and discipleship. Perhaps you used to have interest, passion, fire, but it’s

buried. Something happened to overwhelm your faith, and you need help digging out. Or you’ve compromised your commitment. You’ve stepped back from your faith to accommodate

other things. Or you got hurt. Or you haven’t yet even thought about faith.

Jesus is here, knocking on the door, ready to do life with you. It’s time for all of us open the door, to turn our eyes back to Jesus, and let Him help us dig out and clean up.

Acts to revelation. Drive Thru History®. (2019, February 19). https://drivethruhistory.com/ actstorevelation/

Laodicea’s “lukewarm” Legacy: Conflicts of prosperity in an ancient Christian City. The BAS Library. (n.d.). https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/laodiceas-lukewarm-legacy-conflicts-of-prosperity-in-an-ancient-christian-city/