John recorded a letter to the church at Laodicea given to him directly by Jesus.
There are 404 verses that contain over 800 implied or indirect references from the Old Testament. The architecture of the entire Bible made up of 66 books and 40 authors transcends the dimension of time thus It could only be written by Our Heavenly Father and for our benefit.
The word Laodicea means ruled by the people. Who is supposed to be ruling the church? Jesus Christ!
Nobody wants to be associated with the church of Laodicea. Jesus had no concerns with the churches at Smyrna or Philadelphia. He had nothing good to say about Sardis or Laodicea as we will see.
The Beloved Disciple recorded what Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 3:
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:
Amen means true and verily. He IS the Faithful and True Witness thus there is no question of what He is saying to this church AND to us, as the case may be. There is no misunderstanding about the condition of this church and its erroneous mindset.
Paul expresses the preeminence of Jesus Christ as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Colossians chapter 1:
15 He is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. \
18 And He is the Head of the Body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
If Jesus Christ is not the focus of ministry in the church, they have moved to the “lukewarm” state and will suffer judgment.
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.
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-
These people were driven by pride and were self-absorbed. Sadly, this can easily point to the U.S., Great Britain, and other members of the G7. This church thought it was doing well only to be surprised by Jesus’ expressed concerns.
Temporary prosperity does not necessarily translate to spiritual prosperity. This Truth prompts me to emphasize the need to give tithes and offerings. The tithe is our acknowledgment of FATHER’S true ownership of all the wealth on and in the earth. By giving HIM our firstfruits, we acknowledge HIM as Our GOD. Do we need bigger churches while the poor are in need of food and clothing? Or widows in great need while those around them have excess?
Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
He tested the rich young ruler with this Truth and the young man preferred temporary riches over permanent treasures in Heaven. This is the state of many, especially in America. Question: Why can you no longer find The Holy Spirit and His Gifts operating in most churches?
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 5:
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
Both Jesus and James spoke indictments to those who are among the rich on earth.
Jesus is rejecting those in Laodicea by “spewing them out of His Mouth”. He also made this point in Matthew chapter 7:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Back to Jesus’ letter:
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.
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.
Their blindness and nakedness were not incurable. They need to be refined in HIS Gold. The Fear of THE LORD is HIS Treasure (Isa 33:6) HIS Law, testimony, and statutes are more desired than gold (Psa 19:7-11). Their blindness is curable by The Holy Spirit. Where is Jesus with respect to Laodicea? On the outside of “the door” (as is The Holy Spirit).
Repent!
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.