Revelation Chapter 3. Vision 1 -The Seven Churches of Asia, part 2.

VISION 1: - THE SEVEN CHURCHES, part 2.

REVELATION 3:1-6:- THE LETTER TO SARDIS.

REV 3:1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

REV 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

REV 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

REV 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

REV 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

REV 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

A) THE CITY.

Today a small village called Sart.

(i) Sardis was on the junction of five roads and commanded the Hermas valley. Hence it was a centre for trade and was very wealthy. The people lived richly, and loosely, loving the arts, education and architecture. There was a very high percentage of Homosexuals in the population.

Its main products were woollen goods and dyes. It had a name for luxury and laxity.

The city was destroyed by earthquake in A.D.17, but because of its wealth it was quickly rebuilt. However it was already in a period of decline.

(ii) The glory of the city all lay in the past. In the 6th century BC it was the capital of the Lydian kingdom of Croesus, and later a centre of government for the Persian empire.

The city was impregnable, built on a causeway and couldn't be taken by direct assault. However it had twice been taken at night when the invading armies had advanced "like a thief" (Cyrus 540 BC and Antiochus 218 BC). The occupants of the city were so sure of their strength that they had not set a guard.

In later times the saying "to capture the acropolis of Sardis" was proverbial for "doing the impossible".

(iii) The chief cult of the city was the mystery cult of Cybele, or Artemis, the mother goddess, coupled with the male god, Attis. Attis had a baptism initiation ceremony, in blood.

Sardis was also zealous in promoting emperor worship.

Large numbers of Jews were exiled to this region around 500BC so there was an established synagogue.

B) THE CHURCH.

Was the same as the city. There was no strife, persecution or false teaching but it was lax and lush. The Church members were careless, only a few were not defiled. The Church was well thought of by everyone, a good example of inoffensive Christianity. They seemed to be unable to distinguish between the peace of well being and the peace of death. In fact the Church there is DEAD. Christ is said to have the seven spirits of life - they are available if anyone wants them, but the Church does not seem to be interested. The Church has a name of being alive, but is dead (2 Timothy 3:5). Like many of today's Churches, it is full of activity, but there is no life behind it.

C) THE LETTER.

Sardis Greek = "those escaping" or "things remaining".

There are a few who are hanging on to the remaining truth of God and are escaping the general apathy the Church is held by.

(i) Description of Christ (v1).

(a) "has the seven spirits of God" - Life is available, Christ has it, but the implication is that the Church has not yet availed themselves of it.

(b) "has the seven stars" - Ephesus was also told this, but there is a difference. In Ephesus the emphasis is on the ANGEL, the messenger, here it is on the fact that they shine forth, or more correctly reflect, light, i.e. truth.

I.e. Christ is the one who has the Spirit and the Word. To recover from half-heartedness we need to walk in the Word and in the Spirit.

(ii) Condemnation (v1).

The condemnation and the instruction come before the commendation in this case. This implies there is a sense of urgency. They need to change. There is no time to waste.

"You have a name of being alive but are dead."

Their reputation was greater than the reality. Outwardly everything looked fine - good attendances, good giving, lots of programs - all the trappings of a successful Church and of life, but the reality is that it was an empty shell.

(iii) Instruction (v2,3).

(a) "Wake up" - literally = "be watching" not like those who didn't when the city was taken by invading armies.

(b) "strengthen what remains and is on the point of death" - Like the embers of a dying fire they need fanning. Probably the lack of persecution was their main problem.

"not found perfect" - Greek = "complete".

They began on good Christian works, but their lack of commitment meant that they gave up at any difficulty. Nothing they attempted was ever finished.

(c) The Way to REVIVAL:

(I) "Remember" = "to bear in mind".

The Jewish idea of "remembering" is more dynamic than ours’. It is not to simply call to mind, but it is to re-enact, to cause to be real and true again by redoing.

"what you have seen and heard" = the Holy Spirit and the Word.

C/f Acts 2:33.

(II) "keep it" i.e. live it.

(III) "repent" - of the present half-heartedness and compromise.

(iv) Warning (v3).

"I will come like a thief" - a reference to the history of the city.

This is not a reference to the Second Coming. In its context it primarily means the coming of Christ in judgement on a Church that fails to be truly "Christian". In such cases Christ eventually removes its function as a lampstand. In actual fact this has happened. There is no Church in Sardis today.

"come" - Greek = "to come beside you" or "to come but pass by you".

I.e. God will come and bless individual people in the Church, but the congregation as a whole will not know God's anointing.

(v) Commendation (v4).

"a few names in Sardis"

A remnant who were loyal. There were many Christians but few "disciples".

"soiled their garments" - the spiritual apathy was due to contact with the world, it had "soiled" them. They walked in dirty places and as such imbibed the filth they associated with. "Dirty garments" is an OT way of denoting spiritual unrighteousness (see also Revelation 19:8).

In Asia Minor it was considered to be dishonouring to a god to appear before it in dirty garments. Those who did so were not permitted to worship. Jesus says that he expects the same consideration as they would have given a pagan god, but recognising the spiritual significance of the garments.

(vi) Promise (v5).

(a) "clad in white garments" - i.e. be made totally pure in heart.

(b) "I will not blot his name out of the book of life".

This must be a possibility or Christ would not have said it. But to be in the book in the first place means one is a Christian. Hence it would seem possible that one could lose salvation, but the reason for this would seem to be failing to continue in faith. This is in line with other NT texts which emphasise the necessity for continuation, or perseverance.

"the book of life" - An OT idea that God has recorder the names of all his people.

Exodus 32:32; Daniel 12:1; Isaiah 4:3; Psalms 69:28.

In Babylonian thought there was the belief that everything that happens is determined by astrology, the movement of the planets and stars. The seven heavenly bodies (the five known stars, the sun and moon) move through the sky and interpret the divine will, i.e. they are celestial scribes writing down things. Hence all is fixed, predetermined. There may be an element of this idea here, but once written God still reserves the right to erase.

There is an element of local colouring here also. When a man was branded as a criminal in an Asian town his name was removed form the civic register, he lost his citizenship. So too we can lose our citizenship in the Celestial Kingdom..

(c) "I will confess him" c/f Matthew 10:32,33. This indicates that the problem in Sardis was one of unclear witness and confession before men.

D) INTERPRETATION.

Prophetically this letter speaks of the Church of the Post Reformation era.

"Those escaping" refers to those escaping the Babylon of the Church of Rome. Hence the types of Church referred to here are those denominations which resulted from the Reformation. These are the Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Anabaptist and even Baptist Churches to a lesser degree.

The Lord suggests through this letter that the work of the Reformers was incomplete. This is not to say that it was not good, but it wasn't complete. It was all a beginning of restoration of God's purposes, word and power, but it was not the end. The challenging of the practices and the deadness of the Church was not continued. Hence large elements of Babylon remained in the Church.

The thing about the Reformers is that they made DOCTRINE the basis of the Church, e.g. Baptism, theories of Church government, etc.

One characteristic of Protestantism is that it undergoes regular revivals as the people Remember, Repent and Repeat, thus strengthening what remains. The end result of these revivals is almost always another denomination or group, but each in its turn arrives at the point of "having a name which is alive, but it is dead".

This letter implies that Protestantism has gone bad. The Reformation restored some truth to the Church. Justification, The Priesthood of All Believers, and the centrality of the Word were restored, but even these were not systematically applied. They were followed by Liberal "Scholarship" which sought to destroy the authority of the Word. The real problem these letters is addressing, the concept of a hierarchy of priests, was not addressed.

Interestingly the Church of Sardis was very much into the art and literature. So too are the main Reformation Churches.

E) LESSONS.

(a) Does our reality match up to our reputation? Or are we among those who bring reproach on the name of Christ because of our lukewarmness?

(b) Have we really faced the issues of the Scripture in matters of faith and practice and completed the works we began?

(c) Have we thoroughly cleaned out Babylon in our Church, or are we like Israel, not prepared to clean out the evil nations who inhabited the land before us?

REVELATION Chapter 3:7-12:- THE LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA.

REV 3:7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

REV 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

REV 3:9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

REV 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

REV 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

REV 3:12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

REV 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

REV 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

REV 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

REV 3:17 You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

REV 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

REV 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

REV 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

REV 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

REV 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

A) THE CITY.

(i) The newest of the cities, founded and built by Attalus 11 Philadelphus of Pergamum (159-138 BC). It was built to be a missionary centre for Greek culture and language, in the backwards highlands of Lydia.

It was founded in 140 BC at the junction of the roads to Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia. The city was called "the Gateway to the East". It was prosperous, due to its strategic position, and the rich grape growing areas nearby.

(ii) The area was prone to earthquakes, and the city along with Sardis, had been destroyed in AD17. It was rebuilt with generous help from Tiberius, who changed its name to Neoceasarea. Even then many of the citizens were apprehensive and continued to live in the country. Vespasian later changed the name to Flavia, but the old name persisted.

Volcanic activity and hot springs abounded in the area.

B) THE CHURCH.

Nothing is known of it except what is in this letter.

C) THE LETTER.

Philadelphia Greek = "Brotherly love".

The Church's problems are all external. There is no heresy or division. Only they need to be careful to guard what they have.

(i) Description of Christ (v7).

"the holy one, the true one"

These are both titles of God in the OT and are both possibly used here because the main problem the Church is facing is persecution initiated by the Jews in the city. They claimed Christ was a false Messiah.

C/f Isaiah 6:3, 40:25, 43:15; John 17:11,17,21.

"who holds the key of David"

c/f Isaiah 22:22; Job 12:14 = the power to open and close doors.

This letter is primarily concerned with the problems initiated by the Jews, so Christ is presented as the Messiah in the line of David, having David's authority.

The Jews in Philadelphia actually made the claim that they had the keys of David, the way to the Messianic kingdom. Jesus says "NO!" The keys used to belong to Israel, but were taken from them when they rejected Jesus as the Christ. They are now available to the Church.

The keys of a kingdom are given by the king to his representative to exercise full authority in the kings name (Isaiah 22:22), and this is the Churches' heritage (Matthew 16:16-18).

The doors are doors of missionary opportunity, as the city was geared to be a missionary city.

C/f 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3.

Isn't it interesting how each of these Churches has adopted the peculiarities of the cities in which they dwell?

(ii) Commendation (v8).

They had an open door of missionary opportunity and they had used it.

"you have but little power" - the emphasis is on the fact that they had little, not that they had some. They knew what it was to be weak and have little influence in society.

"kept my word...not denied my name" - there had been persecution but they had stood firm.

"patient endurance" - not the Stoic gritting of the teeth, but a joyous standing in the face of trial. It is the stuff victors are made of.

(iii) Condemnation - None.

(iv) Promise (v9,10).

Two lots of promise for this Church, before and after the warning.

(a) Their enemies will bow to them.

“synagogue of Satan" - the city's Jewish population was large so there is no doubt that literal Jews were meant here. They had initiated the persecution of the Church. Christ here picks up the idea he uses in John that they were not Abraham's children at all, but those of the Devil. Again a title of Israel is given to the Church, in this case "Jew".

"I will make them come and bow down at your feet".

This is a reversal of the Jewish messianic hope that the Gentiles would bow to them (Isaiah 43:4). Another promise to Israel is taken from them and given to the Church.

It seems likely that this means that the Jews in Philadelphia would be humiliated before the Church. It is not suggested that this is in repentance.

If we accept that this letter has a long term prophetic meaning then there may be a reference here to the eschatological salvation of the Jews as recorded in Romans 9-11.

"I have loved thee" - quotes Isaiah 43:4 again, where it is a guarantee to Israel, but now it is a promise to the Church.

(b) Protection in Trial.

This is a direct reference to the Messianic woes coming on the earth before Christ's return. In one sense they began with Christ, but at the end there will be a greater fulfilment. If we are obedient we will have some sort of Divine protection in those days.

"I will keep thee from the hour..."

The Greek here has two possible meanings:

(1) "I will keep you from it" i.e. remove you from the scene of it. This is the view of the pre-tribulation rapture school (Dispensationalism). Hence it is said to be a promise of the rapture happening before the Tribulation.

(2) Greek "from" = ek, which is often used in the sense of being present through something but untouched by it. Hence the word "keep" has to be interpreted in the sense of "protect".

Hence this could be said to be a prophecy that the Church, like Israel in Goshen, will be present but protected from the trials of the Tribulation.

This second interpretation is most likely as John 16:33 tells us that we will have tribulation on this earth. Also there does not seem to be any grounds for holding to a pre-tribulation rapture in scripture.

See also John 12:27 "save me from...", but Jesus still had to go through it, being kept in it from falling.

"those who dwell" - those who have their permanent citizenship here.

(c) "I am coming soon" - indicates that this letter, and the type of Church it applies to, will exist at the end.

(v) Instruction/Warning (v11).

"hold fast" - Greek = "to keep a good grip on".

"to what you have" - Missionary activity.

- The word.

- Confession of his name.

- Endurance.

- Brotherly love.

"so that no one may steal your crown" - and hence lose your salvation.

(vi) Promise (v12).

(d) "I will make him a pillar"

The pillar supports part of the building, i.e. such a person carries others. Pillars were also normally very ornately decorated, things of beauty.

"the temple" - Another OT symbol belonging to Israel, but now given to the Church. It is not intended to be a literal temple as people make up its pillars, and hence its walls. Rather it is the Church of the living God made up of living stones (1 Peter 2:3-8).

C/f Revelation 21:22 - there is no temple in heaven. Hence this promise to the overcomer is not to be restricted to the future life. In fact all of the promises to the overcomer have an application in this life.

(e) "he shall never go out of it"

There is a permanence of dwelling here. A security in the building of God. There will be no loss of salvation for such a person. C/f notes on “dwell” in Revelation 2:13.

(f) "the name" = the character, power, authority and personality of the person.

"of my God" - the Father - we need a Father.

The name of God was promised to Israel (Isaiah 62:2-4), but now it is given to the Church.

"of the City of my God" = Zion, but it has a character of its own revealed to us in ch 21,22.

To have the name of the city means you have citizenship in it. The Jews were asking for Christians to lose their citizenship in the city of Philadelphia. Christ says that his followers have citizenship already in another city, Zion, and no one can take that from them.

Zion is another name of Israel in the OT that is now given to the Church.

"my own new name" - The Lord Jesus Christ. We shall have Lordship on us. We shall have Salvation on us. We shall have kingship on us. We can have it now!

The idea here is that we become members of a new family, a new city and a new kingdom. We receive a new nature corresponding to the family, a new citizenship corresponding to the city, and a new power corresponding to the king.

To have it written on us mean that it is not removable. Slaves and soldiers were so marked. In the Church God's people are marked with a seal by the Spirit of God, as we find out later in REVELATION 7. Satan will mark his people with his seal of 666 as we find out later in REVELATION 13.

D) INTERPRETATION.

(a) As a prophecy this letter speaks of the period of Church history known as the "Missionary Age". This still continues, and hence in the letter we find a clear reference to the Second Coming. Part of the Church in existence in the last days will fit this letter, alongside of Churches like Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea. However this Church alone is not condemned by Christ so from it we can learn some things about what Christ wants to be. (See lessons).

The missionary Age of the Church really began with William Carey, a Baptist, who was the first modern missionary. The prevailing attitude of the times was Calvanistic, saying, "If God wants to save the Heathen He'll do it without us."

From small beginnings, individual men going out, large works have been done and large missionary organisations have been formed. This has resulted in Missionaries going into every country in the last 150 years.

(b) Amongst the leaders in this missionary movement was a small, but not insignificant group, who called themselves "The Christian Brothers", or more commonly known as "the Brethren".

Though one of the smallest of Denominations they have consistently had, per head, more missionaries on the field than any other group until very recently. This has only changed in the last ten years as certain Baptist and Pentecostal groups have overtaken them.

The importance of this group, the Brethren, in this prophecy is significant as they sum up the essence of what Philadelphia is all about.

Philadelphia means "Brotherly Love", i.e. there is an emphasis on the brotherhood of Christianity. It was a move of the Holy Spirit in the early 1800s in the area of "Brotherly Love" that brought about the Brethren movement. It was not intended to become a denomination, rather Christian Brothers (and Sisters) from all denominations simply met together for four main purposes:

(i) Encouragement and Teaching. The prevailing climate in the Churches was already quite liberal and not Bible Believing. The Brethren wanted to bring back Bible based teaching.

(ii) Worship, lead totally by the Holy Spirit recognising the Priesthood of All Believers. Hence when they met there was no planned program or speaker. Initially the Brethren met with the Irvingites, who were the Pentecostals of their day. The gifts of the Spirit were a regular occurrence in every meeting of the Christian Brothers.

(iii) Breaking of Bread. The Lord's Supper. Recognising the divisions that denominationalism had brought in the Church the Brothers simply met together, allowing Christians from all groups, to join them at the Table. It was, after all, the Lord's Table. Who are men to restrict it to a select few?

(iv) Missions and Evangelism. The desire of the Brethren was to spread the Word wherever possible, so large numbers of "Brethren" went out to unevangelised places. The growth of the movement was so rapid that within 20 years there were groups of Brothers in every country.

Unfortunately by 1850 the Enemy had got in and divided the Brethren so that the two groups would not fellowship with each other. In doing this they became Denominations in themselves. The Irvingites were also excluded from their midst and a rejection of the gifts of the Spirit began to follow. Later on the Brethren took a leading role in opposing the Pentecostal and Charismatic groups that arose out of the next restoration move of God. As a result many of their most promising people left the Brethren movement and joined the Charismatic groups or the Baptist churches – many of them became pastors and leaders in these churches. This drain off of men and women to other groups took away from the Brethren many of those who would otherwise have gone out as missionaries and so the missionary impact of the Brethren movement was severely curtailed. It seems that the more they opposed the Charismatics and Pentecostals, the more they lost to them and the les they did pioneer evangelism themselves.

However the truths restored through them are vital for the Church in the last days if we are to enter into the purposes of God.

The Brethren recognised Babylon in the existing Churches, particularly in that they continued a priestly/laity distinction. The truth of the Priesthood of all Believers has not been consistently applied to the structure of the Church in the other denominations. The Brethren did so, unfortunately with time and the split with the Irvingites, the recognition of the place of the Gifts of the Spirit was lost and there has in recent years been a losing of leadership. However the Brethren abolished the positions of the "ministry" and the whole work of the ministry became the province of the BODY, each one having their own abilities. When Brethren came to worship, however, all were allowed to contribute to the worship according to the pattern in the NT. This total abolishing of professional ministry (Pastors and Ministers) has in one sense been a strength of the Brethren but in recent years it has proven to be an Archilles Heel. Often there has been a rejection, not just of formalised ministry, but of the idea of Pastors and some other ministry gifts. The result has been that Brethren churches are often led by men who are poorly equipped for the task and the group has suffered weakness as a result. Their strength will return when they stop opposing Pentecostalism and instead embrace it, as they did in the early days of the Brethren movement. When this happens watch out – because the deep set idea of body ministry they have embraced will be empowered by a correct understanding of the gifts of the Spirit. Evangelistic and discipleship power will be released through them like we have not seen since their early days.

E) LESSONS.

(a) The Church God wants, and has no condemnation for, has certain characteristics:

(1) It has brotherly love, accepting all who call on the name of the Lord.

(2) It is missionary oriented.

(3) It is Bible based, accepting no other authority.

(4) It has fully dealt with Babylon, being a body, lead only by the Holy Spirit and the Gifts he provides.

(5) It openly confesses God's name.

(b) For a Church to "keep its crown", i.e. live in victory, we need to observe these things.

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REVELATION 3:14-22:- THE LETTER TO LAODICEA.

REV 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

REV 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

REV 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

REV 3:17 You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

REV 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

REV 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

REV 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

REV 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

REV 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

A) THE CITY.

(i) Founded by Antiochus II (261-240 BC) and named after his first wife, Laodice.

(ii) It was built on the junction of three major roads where the Lycus and Meander valleys were joined. Because it was better placed for commerce than for war it only rose to prominence under the peace of Rome.

(iii) It became a banking centre and industrial area, being famous for its textile industry which manufactured cloths and carpets from the special glossy black wool produced in the area.

(iv) It was particularly noted for its medical school and special cures, particularly its ear ointment and the Phrygian powder used in making eyesalve for eyestrain.

(v) When it was destroyed in the earthquake of AD60 it refused imperial aid in rebuilding. It was rebuilt in a square.

(vi) Water to the city came by underground aqueduct from hot springs six miles away, the water was still lukewarm when it arrived at the city.

(vii) The city was affluent, and there was a large Jewish community of over 7000 males plus families, all of whom had citizenship.

B) THE CHURCH.

Paul had not visited the city at the time of his first imprisonment (Colossians 2:1) so the Church had probably been founded by Epaphrus of Colossae (Colossians 1:7, 4:12). Paul wrote to Laodicea from Rome but the letter is lost, unless it is our "Ephesians".

John again identifies the Church with the city, affluent, complacent, self satisfied, with only a nominal faith, counting outward prosperity as the sign of God's blessing.

C) THE LETTER.

Laodicea - from laos = the people,

dike = the customs, manners, usage, rights, requirements.

I.e. the name means "the people's rights", i.e. democracy, what the majority wants is law.

The attitude of the city was similar to what we find in our society today - a tolerance - "You have your beliefs, I have mine. Your view is no better than mine."

This view is based on the assumption that there is no absolute truth in the moral and religious areas. It is significant that Laodicea was the only city not noted for having a city god. Jews and Gentiles - all were accepted there in the great melting pot of ideas. Hence persecution was not a problem - no one in the city believed anything strongly enough to get upset at any foreign teaching.

(i) Description of Christ (v14).

It is different from the other letters in that it is not drawn from ch 1.

In the face of the city's philosophy of "every man does what is right in his own eyes" Christ is presented as "the AMEN, the true and faithful witness". There is an absolute truth, and that truth is Christ. He is that fixidity of standard that the Laodiceans lacked.

AMEN - Heb root = to be strong, firm, that which is unshakable.

In REVELATION Amen is used liturgically to mean Christ is the Amen of God's purposes to men.

C/f Isaiah 65:15 "the God of Truth" literally = "the God of Amen".

Here is another title of Israel's God given to Christ.

"the beginning of God's creation".

Beginning here means "the source or origin". Hence it means "creation began because of him", not that he is created.

C/f Colossians 1:15,18; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2.

(ii) Commendation.

Christ has nothing good to say about them. As Christians they are a dismal failure.

(iii) Condemnation (v15-17).

(a) "you are neither hot nor cold"

Like the tepid water that supplied the city they were neither one nor the other. Rather they were indifferent, nominal, only fit to be spat out, like we would when we try to drink tepid water.

"hot" = fervent in Spirit (Romans 12:11).

"cold" = antagonistic to Christ.

God would rather have people who definitely oppose him than people who are indifferent. At least the opposer has something he stands for, hence has the possibility of being changed.

"spew you out".

This sounds like a complete rejection, but v18-20 shows that there is still hope, but only at the cost of true repentance. Without such repentance there is only rejection from Christ's body, a spewing out of something that is neither palatable to God, nor to the world. God has preferences of taste in food also!

"lukewarm" - implies that they are in a state of cooling off. They have moved away from the source of heat and are absorbing the fell of the surrounding environment.

(b) "You say" - in their own eyes they had it all together, and so boasted of the same.

"I am rich, I have prospered, I have need of nothing".

Their affluence had tricked them into thinking that they were blessed of God. They had forgotten that their affluence was common to the city - Christian and non- Christian alike. Thus it was in no way a sign of God's blessing. We would do well to remember the same!.

"I am rich" - Greek literally = "I have gotten riches".

It implies that this was by their own effort. Spiritual pride is clear. They are implying that their riches were because they were good Christians. Christianity is here being identified with middle class materialism.

"I lack nothing" - the poor Christians at Smyrna had nothing, but were spiritually rich. The Laodiceans had it all but were spiritually poor. They could have gained eternal riches by sharing with their Brethren in Smyrna. God had nothing bad to say about Smyrna, and nothing good to say about Laodicea!

"poor" - a reference to the city's banks.

"blind" - a reference to the medical system there.

"naked" - a reference to the textile trade. Literally, "clad in rags".

In the natural they had all of these things in abundance, but they failed to see that they were spiritually bereft. Quite clearly from this letter we can see that material prosperity, for the Christian, is no sure sign of God's blessing. It may be, but then again it may not, as in this case. The attack here is not against being wealthy or prosperous, but on letting that delude you into believing God is blessing you. Riches can be a curse.

(iv) Instruction (v 18-20).

"buy from me" - Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 13:44-45 = a metaphor. You can buy from God by being faithful.

"gold..." = holy character, but it is only obtained by undergoing fires of trial and persecution (1 Peter 1:7). Laodicea, as a city, was not a place conducive to producing Christ likeness. It was too easygoing, too lax. So too is NZ.

"white garments" - the sort of thing martyrs wear. It is in contrast to the black garments Laodicea produced. The Church here was happy to wear black, i.e. to conform to the mores of society, instead of standing out in bold contrast wearing white garments of purity, sincerity and victory. They were hypocrites.

"salve..." - The city was famous for its eyesalve, but it couldn't open the eyes of the spiritually blind.

"Those who I love I reprove and chasten". - He still loved them so his attitude was one of discipline and correction, not of judgement.

"love" - Greek = phileo = to have affection for.

"be zealous and repent" - Zealousness wasn't their strong point. Ephesus was over zealous, Laodicea was completely lacking in it. What is worse is that they had no idea they were lacking in anything.

"I stand at the door and knock" - This is not the heart's door but the door of the Church! Christ is outside wanting to get in.

So often the Church as an institution is the very thing that comes between individuals having a real relationship with God.

"I stand" - Greek imperfect tense = he has been there for some time and is still standing.

"Knock" - not a gentle tap, but the incessant pounding which is loud enough to penetrate even the deaf ears of Laodicea.

"If any man" - though they were Christians they needed to begin again. Christ had been squeezed out of their lives.

"Sup" = to have personal, intimate fellowship. In Eastern thought to eat bread, or salt, with someone meant that you were irrevocably bound to that person for life by covenant. You were friends forever.

This carries a reference to the communion and also to the coming Messianic supper.

Again there is a local colour here. The citizens of Laodicea and the surrounding towns, had at times been severely taxed by Rome. On one occasion they were forced to billet soldiers, provide meals for them and their guests while the tax was collected. It seems here that Christ is saying, "I won’t come in uninvited like the Romans. You have to ask me in."

Also Laodicea was on the junction of three roads. Many times residents were awakened at night by weary travellers looking for lodging. Christ is like a traveller, but the Laodiceans had not even been showing him normal courtesy.

(vii) Promise (v21).

"He who conquers" = to be zealous and repent.

"Sit with me on my throne" = to share in my power and victory.

There is a reference to local history here again. A family of Laodicea had been shown special favour by Rome and been granted royal status.

D) INTERPRETATION.

As a prophecy of the Church age this passage clearly speaks to the Church of the 20th Century, particularly in the Western world.

(1) The philosophy of humanism found here in Laodicea has overwhelmed our society. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. Humanism has eliminated our belief in any ABSOLUTE truths, except the "truth of science". The prevailing attitude is one of tolerance towards all religions, except notably Christianity if it is vibrant.

(2) We are wealthy, complacent, lukewarm. Our inability to stand for truth will result is the Church being absorbed into Babylon (Revelation 17) under the Antichrist. There will be a division in the Church between Smyrna and Philadelphia on the one hand and the other five Churches who become Babylon on the other.

Philadelphia is united by brotherly love and the word of God. Laodicea is united by indifference and compromise.

The WCC embraces all religions - one of its leaders was for a while a Buddhist. It says any man can reach God through his own religion and is progressively removing all emphasis on the uniqueness of Christ.

(3) Laodicea is an outgrowth of Philadelphia. If you have seen the truth of the body of Christ, the Priesthood of all believers, the Brotherhood, then there is no way that you can go back to the priesthood structure which lords it over the laity that is found in the Established Churches. Hence to backslide from Philadelphia one has to go to Laodicea.

In Laodicea Brotherhood lead by the Gifts of God's Spirit is replaced by democracy. Now the God given authority of those who He anoints to leadership is replaced by the vote of the majority. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. The congregational meeting becomes the authority, not the anointed leadership as proven by their gifts.

Hence the heresy of the Nicolaitans takes its other form. Instead of "power over the people", i.e. the tyranny of Dictatorship, we arrive at the power of the people, which is the tyranny of Lawlessness. Both are manifestations of the Spirit of Antichrist.

(4) Proud Philadelphia is Laodicea.

The Brethren became the teachers in the Church, but became proud, saying they lacked in nothing as far as the truth was concerned. However in reality they lacked spiritual power. Claiming to see they became blind and began to oppose God as he restored to the Church more truth - viz the Baptism in the Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Deliverance, etc. The result was a growth of ignorance, the anointing lifted off them. The leading men of the Brethren today are only a shadow of the men who lead the movement even 50 years ago. Christ stands at the door and knocks, he wants to come in and bless them again, but they stress objective truth and deny experience.

However there is a deposit of truth in the Brethren that God is going to raise up again. The Move of the Spirit in the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches has not absorbed the teaching of the Body of Christ in the way that the Brethren practice. Pastors are still often dictators over their own little fiefdoms. As a result Babylon still has a grip on the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. The day is coming when God will join the power of Pentecost again with the truth of the Priesthood of All Believers as found in the Brethren. When that happens - Watch out!

E) LESSONS.

(1) There is an objective standard of truth - Christ. Let's be narrow minded bigots for the truth!

(2) Don't confuse prosperity for God's blessing or approval, nor poverty for his curse. Things are not as simple as that.

(3) We need to repent of our society and its attitudes. Every one of us is to some degree in bondage to that spirit.

(4) Christ knocks - but do we experience that intimate fellowship with him as a friend? Have we got so busy that we have squeezed him out of our lives?

(5) Let's get radical with the truth of the Priesthood of all believers. The power of the Spirit is locked away because of traditional Church structures that restrict the ministry of the Church to a few "elite" professionals.