Freedom River Church Sunday Message 7/1/18
Channel: Freedom River Church
Date: 2018-07-01

Laodicea

Lukewarm and Lost
Revelation 3:14-22

Who is the letter from?

In each of the letters to the Seven Churches, John uses a direct quote or an inferred characterization from his description of Jesus in Chapter one. There is an interesting touch in the way the Lord addresses His introductory remarks, “And unto the angel of
the church of the Laodiceans,” as if to say that the church at Laodicea was none of His, it was theirs; it was the church of the Laodiceans.

(14a) – “…these things says the Amen …” – Amen means so be it. Jesus is God’s fullest Amen to all man’s needs. To this Laodicean Church that is characterized by a total departure from God’s Word, Jesus comes along and says, “It’s True! So be it!”

(14b) – “…the Faithful and True Witness…” – In Chapter 1:13, we saw Jesus standing in the midst of the churches that are pictured as lampstands. The obvious inference here is that without Christ no church can give true light to this world. A faithful witness does
not dilute the truth. A true witness does not distort the truth. Jesus sees a lukewarm church that has no light and exposes it in a way they’ll never forget.

(14c) – “…the Beginning of the creation of God…” – The word, Beginning, is deeper than the concept of origin; it literally translates (Greek - Arche) the original cause. Jesus Christ is the original cause of the creation of God. He, as the origin of the creation of God, now stands before this lost, lukewarm church with His blistering message. 

Who is this church to whom the letter is written?

 The word Laodice, from which comes the name Laodicea, means people rule. – This is a fitting concept for the last of the seven churches. This wealthy church had no need for the Lordship of Jesus. They felt they were doing just fine on their own. After all, they had great preaching, singing, and fellowship. As the banking center of Asia, it was the most prosperous of the seven cities.
Laodicea also had a flourishing clothing industry. A particular breed of black sheep was raised around this area, and the glossy, black wool was woven into special clothes that were sold here.

 The city was also noted for its medical practice, especially for its eye and ear salve. - The medical cult of Aesculapius was located here. Incidentally, doctors in the military services of the United States still wear the symbol of a staff with entwined serpents around it, the symbol of Aesculapius. Laodicea was thus a kind of Bank of America, Macy&#39;s Department Store, and Mayo Clinic all rolled into one.


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