Title: The Revelation of Jesus Christ - Part 9

Text: Rev. 3:14-22

Key v. 16- 16So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth[rejecting you with disgust]. AMP

In our last study of the sixth church: Philadelphia – The Faithful Church – We learnedthis was a church which lived up to its name – “Love of the brethren.” They not only had a genuine love for each other, but their love of Jesus extended to the lost world around them. This church had a vision to reach a lost world, and God set before them an open door, which they took advantage of. [BE Comm.] Philadelphia was one of two churches which Jesus did not correct in His evaluation of their spiritual status, the other being Smyrna. Both were small and poor, but giants and rich in their spiritual stature in the eyes of Jesus. James 2:5- 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? NKJV

Key point: It makes no difference how the world evaluates us, but how our Lord Jesus evaluates us. We must faithfully follow the example Jesus. John 13:15-17-15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. NKJV

John 8:29-29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." NKJV – God blesses faithfulness, not insincerity!

Laodicea – The foolish church

This was an apostate church - The name "Laodicea" means "the rule of the people" and suggests a democratic church that no longer follows spiritual leaders or the authority of the Word of God. The church is lukewarm, a condition that comes from mixing hot and cold. It is a church with truth that has been diluted with error. The tragedy is that this church is "rich" and knows not that it is poor, pitiful, blind, and naked. What a picture of the apostate church of today, with its prestige, wealth, and political power, yet all the while spiritually poor. (Wiersbe's)

  1. The counselor v.14

Jesus is the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

  1. Amen - 2 Cor 1:20-20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. NKJV – trustworthy, sure -; Isa.65:16 = God of truth – lit. God of Amen.
  2. Faithful and true witness – He is a completely trustworthy and perfectly accurate witness to the truth of God. – Jn.14:6
  3. The beginning of the creation of God. – Grk. Arche= lit. beginner, originator, initiator 0f creation. Col. 1: 15-17- 15He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.16For[d]by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were createdandexist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.17And He Himself existedandis before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]

Note: There apparently was a heresy present in Laodicea as in Colosse, that Christ was a created being. Sadly, this heresy concerning the person of Christ had produced an unregenerate church in Laodicea.

  1. The commendation – none given
  2. The chastening v.15-17
  1. The fallacies (delusions) v.17a – This church boasts of their riches and concludes they stand in need of nothing.
  2. The facts v.17b – In reality, God views them as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Key point: These believers were deceived by their riches and self- dependency. Jesus says: Matt 5:3- 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. KJV In other words Jesus was saying: 3“Blessed[spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired]are the poor in spirit[those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant],for theirs is the kingdom of heaven[both now and forever]. Warning: 1 Tim. 3: 3 -3But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].2For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed] … Cp. 1 Tim.6: 6-10 – love of money….

  1. The fury v.15,16 – Because the church is neither hot nor cold, God threatens to spit or vomit them out unless they repent. - The church is lukewarm, a condition that comes from mixing hot and cold. It is a church with truth that has been diluted with error.

Note: This is a church whose spiritual light has gone out in their sphere of influence. Biblical error has so taken over this church, they have allowed the world (cultural influence, its political correctness, man centered philosophies) to shape their character, rather than they shaping the world by living according to a biblical worldview. The tragedy is that they do not even recognize their own blindness. They are like the Pharisees who thought they too had no spiritual needs. Jesus said of them: Matt. 9: 13 - 13Go and learn what this[Scripture]means: ‘I desire compassion[for those in distress],and not[animal]sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call[to repentance]the[self-proclaimed]righteous[who see no need to change],but sinners[those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].” AMP

  1. The counsel v. 18
  1. They are to seek spiritual clothing from God to cover their nakedness v.18a.
  2. They are to seek spiritual medicine from God to heal their blindness v.18b.

Lam. 3: 22,23 - The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.23They are newevery morning;Greatis Your faithfulness." NASB

  1. The challenge v.19-22

After their severe rebuke, God reassures the Laodiceans.

  1. He rebukes them because he loves them v.19.
  2. He promises to enter into their hearts if they will allow him v.20.
  3. He will then prepare a place for them on his throne v.21,22. 2 Cor. 6: 2 – 2- ForHe says:“In the timeof favorI heardyou,andinthe dayof salvationI helpedyou.”Behold,nowis the timeof favor;nowis the dayof salvation!Isa 55:6-6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: KJV