Revelation 3:14-22 | The Independent Church

Revelation 3:14-22
The Independent Church

I. v. 14 Introduction

¹⁴ And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:”^[1]

1. History and geographical location.
   1. Founded by Antiochus II, a Seleucid king, around 261-246 BC.^[2]
   2. It was located on a well-traveled trade route.
      1. 6 miles from Hierapolis
      2. 10 miles from Colossae
      3. 100 miles from Ephesus
2. The church in Laodicea was mentioned several times in the book of Colossians.
3. This was one of the wealthiest cities in Asia Minor.
   1. The earthquake of AD 60 leveled the city, but the Laodiceans refused aid from the empire and paid for the repairs themselves.
4. They had three impressive income streams.^[3]
   1. Their soft, shiny black wool was used in clothing and was a fashion statement if you were lucky enough to have one.
   2. They had the world-famous Tephra Phrygia eye salve, known for treating many eye ailments.
   3. They had a robust banking system.
5. However, they had a serious water problem.
   1. They did not have a sufficient supply of water, so they built an elaborate six-mile aqueduct that brought water into their city.
   2. When it arrived, it was lukewarm and had a high mineral content known to make visitors sick.
   3. It was not hot like the hot springs of a neighboring city, nor was it cold and refreshing.
      1. Their neighbors to the north had hot springs.
      2. Their neighbors to the south had fresh, cool water.
      3. The water supply they piped in was lukewarm and nauseating.
         
         “Six miles away in Hierapolis, hot water springs bubbled up and cascaded over the cliffs, leaving behind snowy white deposits of calcium carbonate. These white cliffs were easily visible from Laodicea. The hot springs in Hierapolis (and elsewhere in the Lycus Valley) were valued for their medicinal benefits. At Colossae, on the other hand, was a stream that perennially furnished clear, cold water that was excellent for human consumption. At Laodicea, however, the water supply was not good. The water that was available was barely drinkable, lukewarm, and apparently had an emetic quality. Like the water at Laodicea, the church is useless.”^[4]
         
   4. There is some scholarly debate as to where exactly they sourced their water.
      1. Ancient aqueduct.
         
         
         
         
      2. Calcified water pipes revealing the heavy mineral content of the water that makes it undesirable.
         
         
         
6. The Lord, as a master sermonizer, will weave both their natural benefits and limitations into a message that rebukes the church for their spiritual condition.

II. v. 14 How Jesus reveals Himself.

¹⁴ And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:”

1. He is the Amen.
   1. This is a word that refers to the certainty and truth of a matter.
   2. It is a word declaring that a thing should be.
      
      2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us
      
      
   3. What Jesus has to say and what Jesus promises should be believed upon as certain truth.
   4. This hard message of rebuke should not be disregarded.
   5. “Since the principal indictment against the Laodicean church is lukewarmness, Christ’s attributes of sincerity and truth come to the forefront as He deals with those whose alleged devotion to Him is only superficial and not substantial.”^[5]
2. He is the faithful and true witness.
   1. Jesus only did what the Father wanted Him to do, but He is the one who brings understanding of who the Father is.
   2. Jesus was what the Laodiceans were not.
3. He is the Creator.
   1. Not the first of creation, but the one in whom all has been created.
      
      “arche {ar-khay’} 3) that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause.”
      
      
   2. So, this is not a statement of being the first created being, but rather the source or origin of creation.
      
      John 1:1-3 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
      
      
   3. Remember that the epistle written by Paul to the Colossians was also delivered to the church of Laodicea.
      
      Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are upon earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him

III. vv. 15-17 The Lord’s rebuke.

¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

1. vv. 15-16 You are lukewarm.
   1. Some have sought to identify cold or hot with two extremes of spiritual health.
      1. Cold would refer to the unbeliever, and hot to a believer who is on fire for the Lord.
      2. This seems unlikely to me.
   2. The other interpretation is that the two temperatures reference a desired spiritual state.
      1. Hot water is desirable, like the hot springs of their neighbors in Hierapolis.
      2. Cold water is also desirable, like the fresh springs from Colossae.
      3. Jesus desires us to be serious and useful in our walk with Him.
2. What does it mean to be lukewarm?
   1. The clear point Jesus is making is that being indifferent or apathetic is undesirable.
   2. A lukewarm person may have respect from others and knowledge of the things of God, yet there isn’t any real zeal in their understanding.
   3. They don’t hate Jesus, but neither are they passionate for Him or His Kingdom.
3. The Lord’s response to the lukewarm church is to vomit them out of His mouth.
   1. Jesus will not tolerate complacency in His Church.
4. v. 17 You are self-sufficient.
   
   Revelation 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
   
   1. What a personal and scathing rebuke from the Lord.
      
      “This city of wealthy bankers would feel chagrined at being labeled poor. This city of medical schools that pioneered pharmaceuticals for the betterment of sight would not appreciate an insult that labeled their entire municipality blind. This city full of merchants who outfitted the Greco-Roman world in the finest textiles, particularly their famous black wool, would not be amused to hear someone call them naked.”^[6]
      
      
   2. They were spiritually unaware of their need.
   3. Their opinion of themselves was quite favorable; however, it differed greatly from the Lord’s opinion.
   4. Material possessions have the power to render us numb to the spiritual realm.
      
      “The church at Laodicea suffers from the same spirit of self-sufficiency that caused the city earlier to spurn offers of imperial assistance to rebuild after the earthquake of ad 60. They are rich and need nothing—not even Christ!”^[7]
      
      
   5. The church at Smyrna lacked material wealth yet was rich spiritually.

IV. vv. 18-19 The Lord’s counsel.

Revelation 3:18-19 ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

1. v. 18 Discover true riches.
   1. Gold refined in the fire.
      1. They were wealthy bankers, but impoverished Christians.
   2. White garments.
      1. The Laodiceans were known for their fashionable garments, yet they lacked the robes of righteousness.
   3. Eye salve.
      1. They were known for the eye remedies, yet they were blind to their true spiritual state.
      2. They were so blind they didn’t even realize that Jesus was standing outside of the church.
      3. They needed to have their eyes opened to see the spiritual life God desires for us.
2. Isaiah tells us that no money is needed for the things Jesus is offering.
   
   Isaiah 55:1 Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
   
   Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
   
   
3. v. 19 Be zealous to repent.
   1. Be quick and enthusiastic about casting off things that displease the Lord.
   2. Come to that place of relying upon the Lord.
4. As I consider a broader application to the Church in America, I think this message has relevance to many churches.
   1. Many do not believe Jesus is the only way to be saved.
      1. Many believe their spiritual state can be solved by other belief systems.
      2. Jesus is outside His Church.
   2. A recent survey (https://thestateoftheology.com) asked evangelicals the T or F question, “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
      1. 47% agreed with that statement, and 45% disagreed.
      2. Jesus is the only way! The answer should have been 100% disagreement.
      3. This tells me that the need for Jesus, like at Laodicea, is becoming less and less.
      4. More and more we see people putting Jesus outside the church as the one true Lord and are quite lukewarm in their belief that Jesus is the only way.

V. vv. 20-22 The Lord’s promises.

1. v. 20 Fellowship with Jesus.
   
   Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
   
   1. Jesus is standing and knocking at the door of the church, asking to have fellowship with her.
      1. This church was lukewarm because they were satisfied with their place in the world.
      2. They did not need anything; they didn’t even need the Lord of the Church, and they kicked Him out.
   2. How amazing that the Lord is on the outside of the life of this church.
   3. There is no greater invitation to fellowship than the invitation of Jesus to fellowship with Him.
      1. The very fact that Jesus stands outside and knocks.
   4. How does one get to the point where Jesus is placed on the outside?
      1. Laodicea had the world’s goods and couldn’t see the need to rely upon the Lord and fellowship with the Lord.
      2. Who needs the spiritual treasures when you have the world’s treasures?
2. v. 21 You will sit on a throne with Jesus.
   
   Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
   
   1. References to such a glorious inheritance.
      
      2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
      
      Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.
      
3. v. 22 Closing
   
   Revelation 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

VI. Conclusion

1. Decide today to fully recognize the place Jesus should have in your life.
2. Don’t rest in the uncertain accomplishments of this life. 
3. How does one open the door?
   1. The door opens when you, as a matter of your heart and will, say “Yes Lord, let’s take some time and fellowship together.”
   2. “Yes, Lord, I will walk in your ways in this area of my life.”
   3. “Yes, Lord, I will invite you to come and take center stage at the banqueting table of this church.”

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^[1] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

^[2] Brian Blount, Revelation: A Commentary, ed. C. Clifton Black, M. Eugene Boring, and John T. Carroll, 1st Ed., The New Testament Library (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 80.

^[3] Ibid., 80.

^[4] Mitchell Reddish, Revelation, ed. R. Alan Culpepper, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated, 2001), 81–82.

^[5] Robert Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1992), 300.

^[6] Brian Blount, Revelation: A Commentary, ed. C. Clifton Black, M. Eugene Boring, and John T. Carroll, 1st Ed., The New Testament Library (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 82.

^[7] Mitchell Reddish, Revelation, 82.