Having gotten their attention, Jesus then explains why He described their spiritual condition as lukewarm. The term lukewarm is a key word used to describe Laodicea. After identifying Himself, Jesus immediately tells the church at Laodicea that He knows their worksthat they are neither cold nor hotand because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). Both Laodicea and Philadelphia served as gateways to the eastern region of Phrygia and as ambassadors for Greek culture. The great Roman road stretching to the inland of Asia from the coast at Ephesus ran straight through its center, making Laodicea an important center of trade and communication. At the foot of Mount Cadmus, it benefited from an endless supply of cold, freshwater coming down from the snow caps. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. It can only come by the revelation of Jesus Christ to the believer, and then must be developed by way of training in righteousness (Hebrews 5:14) and prayer (Ephesians 6:18). "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as 'Phrygian powder,' famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. He is the one who addressed the church at Laodicea. Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. What is the time of need? Thank you! Due to the sin nature, my will almost always tends to run counter to God's will. The mineral water was used to clean the wool and set, or lock, the color of the dyes (this ensures the wool holds its color when washed). Although the Bible does not reveal how the Church of God began in Laodicea, a faithful minister named Epaphras served this congregation as well as members in Colosse and Hierapolis sometime during the first few decades after Christs death. It covers a myriad of areas, including pride, impatience, selfishness, unrighteousness, irritation, laziness, vanity, complaining, sexual impurity, unbelief, discouragement, envy, greed, ingratitude, etc. Incline your ear and come to Me. -- Revelation 3: 14 (ESV) . 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Its another way of saying, Listen up! The fertile valley contained pastures with large flocks of sheep. Jesus himself used the word amen in this context many times. A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. If we pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain victory, then we will get help. After letting him ineffectively try to cover himself, God provided clothing for him. When we see mega churches today respond to criticisms they . John did not use the appropriate word if he was addressing an elder, deacon, or pastor. Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. The Greek word arche, which is translated Beginning, has a range of meanings from beginning, origin to the person or thing that commences to that by which anything begins to be to the first place, principality, rule, magistracy (Thayers Greek Lexicon). These rivers provided the water the crops and flocks needed in the Lycos valley. "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as "Phrygian powder," famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Click the button below for more information about the copyright.Copyright. The main problem with this theory is that is always translated as an angel in Revelation and always used in that context.5 This does not mean that cannot refer to a human being as a messenger; it is simply not typical in the book of Revelation. What does it mean to be cold? On the cross daily, they suffer and die. He was diligent and committed to the will of God the Father (John 4:34). Jesus also told the Laodiceans to "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). Giving time to Christ is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. It looks like Laodicea had put their faith in the gold that perishes. Time. Jesus leaves no doubt that what is about to follow is true and should be taken very seriously because they are his words. Your time in the Word should be at a minimum, four times a week. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis (Colossians 4:12-13, also see Colossians 1:7). Remains of a water pipe in Laodicea (photo by David Treybig). Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man here my voice, and open the . Listen that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Buying gold tried in the fire from God requires several things from us: What, or rather, who, are these angels? It is the foundation of wisdom. It doesnt matter which one you are, as long as you are one or the other. People commonly but mistakenly believe that wealth means that God is pleased with them. 19a Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 NASB). For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (Luke 21:34-35). In a letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. To heal their weak spiritual condition, Jesus said, 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 (verse 18). We know from this introduction that what follows is being said by Jesus. Our eternal perspective affects our earthly priorities. It is possible that faith was the refined gold that Christians were told to purchase from Jesus. Fertile ground of the valley was good grazing for sheep. Blaiklock speculated that this probably came from dried mud from one of the numerous hot springs in the area. Jesus is telling the church that He doesnt simply know their deeds; He knows the motives in their hearts. Repentance is more than a feeling. Laodicea also produced a special eye salve that was made by powdering a special Phrygian stone. This process causes the gold to coagulate and form nuggets and clumps of gold. He currently pastors the Austin, Texas, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. The whole point of this verse is that lukewarm has no use. The act of hearing implied obedience. You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way. What they were doing wasnt being done for the glory of God. This suffering was not the physical suffering on the cross of Calvary. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. You must know the truth so well that, when the lies of the enemy appear, you can recognize it. One of these is what the Bible calls the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). They produced a world-famous salve, reputed to cure certain kinds of eye diseases. 4. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe. As we will see, this was clearly a characteristic of the self-reliant people of this city. Industry It is showing that all things were created through Him. 3. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. Setting wine flasks in hot water allowed the wine to heat to the desired temperature. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. Colossians 1:16 (HSCB) says, For everything was created by Him, in heaven, and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. Hebrews 1:2 (HSCB) says, In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Christs threefold prescription to cure their condition paralleled the physical circumstances that had apparently deceived them. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. A change of heart will follow honest confession. This letter was not written by a weary shepherd, hoping to be let in for some comfort and a bite to eat. While God sanctifies by grace, Christians are responsible to appropriate God's grace by faith. Those terms are imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness. The Greek word for "witness" ( - martus) means "one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or knows. We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. It was the perfect water for drinking, cooking, or even bathing. Therefore, the Lord Jesus tells them to buy eye salve from Him to see their spiritual state. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. The same logic applies to hot or cold. The word discipline is the Greek word (paideu) and means to correct, to chastise.22 The basic idea behind this word is correction or guidance. Jesus knew how to use God's grace. He and his wife, Teddi, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. How do you buy gold when youre poor? The fact that he does call them friends shows that he expects them to get the spiritual priorities straightened out, and back on the right path. These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. When Jesus speaks, the church needs to listen. When the messages to the churches of Revelation 2-3 are viewed as a chronological development of the Church, this passage also indicates that the return of Christ is near. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. He often started a statement with Amen, amen, I say to you. (Many verses in the Gospels such as John 5:24 translate amen as truly, or verily.) The time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. The city's reputation was for its money transactions and the good quality of raven-black wool grown in the area.1 The black wool, spun into dark yarn, was added to yarn dyed in other colors and made some very intricately patterned colored clothing, which sold for a high price in Rome. Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as Phrygian powder, famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. Although Laodicea produced the best eye-salve in the ancient world, the Laodicean Christians were blind when looking at their spiritual state. 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