The one thing that upsets Satan’s plans more than anything else is a strong, powerful church. If he can inject a little leaven of sin or complacency into the loaf, the church can’t achieve much for Christ and His Kingdom. Why would Satan waste his time on Christians who are no threat to his work? A church that harbors sin can be cleaned up, once the sin is recognized. Repentance can restore us from sinful ways.
What upsets Jesus more than open sin in His body is a congregation of smug, egotistical, and self-satisfied Christians. The spirit of religion, of which different manifestations exist, is one of the enemy’s most successful tools to stop a church dead in its tracks. People who close their ears and refuse to accept rebuke open themselves up for destruction.
The Lukewarm Church
“To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,”
Laodecia stood at the junction of three major roads across Asia Minor. The city became a major commercial and administrative center. Today, nothing remains of the old city but ruins. A major banking center with immense wealth, an earthquake destroyed the city around 60AD. The citizens were self-sufficient and able to rebuild with their own resources. They did not require the customary help from Rome.
Laodecia became renowned for manufacture of garments and carpets made from the black wool of a rare breed of sheep in the vicinity. The city also contained the seat of a medical school whose physicians prepared a powder for an eye salve used in the healing of ophthalmolia and blindness.
Jesus warned the Laodecian church of problems quite obvious to anyone on the outside. As He said, “I know your works.” The Master did not accuse them of immorality, idolatry, or open apostasy. The Christians in Laodicea did not suffer persecution. This caused them to become puffed up with pride and self-satisfied with their spiritual condition. In reality, they had no intimate fellowship with Christ. Does this sound familiar?
14 “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 …” Again, Jesus presents His credentials.
Jesus is the guarantee and testimony of God. Anyone familiar with manufacturing, industry, and marketing, understands what a guarantee is. Those in Laodicea must have. Jesus, the Amen, is the guarantor of the plans and purposes of God the Father. In a product guarantee, the manufacturer is the guarantor of the product’s quality and reliability. The Word, Jesus Christ, manufactured all things. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made …” John 1:1-3
The Greek word used here translated “Amen,” means, trustworthy, faithful, firm, of a truth. An expression of absolute trust and confidence.
“… the Faithful and True Witness …” The word “Faithful,” is the Greek word pistos, which means, trustworthy, sure. The word “true” in the Greek is alēthinos, genuine. Today, we might paraphrase this as: “You can trust me. I’m the real deal.”
Witness is the Greek word, martys, meaning testimony, a witness. The English word, martyr, comes from martys. Webster defines a martyr as, “One who by his death bears witness to the truth; one who suffers death or persecution in the defense of any cause.” Webster defines Testimony as, “A solemn declaration or affirmation made to establish or prove some fact; evidence; declaration; attestation; witness.”
This makes Jesus the guarantor of our salvation. Guarantor is “one who pledges himself as a surety; one who binds himself to ensure the stipulations of another are performed.” Jesus sacrificed Himself to ensure God’s Word comes to pass in our lives. He is the faithful and true martyr, the innocent Lamb of God who gave His life for us.
“… the Beginning of the creation of God …” The NIV translates this as “Ruler of God’s creation.” Ruler in the Greek is archōn, which means commencement, the first thing in a series, beginning, power, principality. Jesus Christ, as the Word, was the originator, or the power which brought about creation. The Greek word, Christos, translated Christ, means “the anointed; the power of God.”
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
So, what is the difference between deeds and works? Works, here, is the Greek word ergon, from which we derive the scientific term “erg,” a unit to measure work output. In Revelation 2:7, Jesus recognized the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans. The Greek for both words is the same, but put in context, deeds, means the act of doing a work, rather than the work itself.
The AMPC version translates the passage this way: “I know your [record of] works and what you are doing …”
16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Key: The key to this church can be found in verse 16, “… because you are lukewarm … I will vomit you out of my mouth.”
The Laodiceans got comfortable. The church experienced no persecution; no trials or tribulations to stir them up. Whether they were lukewarm because of the lack of persecution, or they suffered no persecution because they were lukewarm, was irrelevant. Why would Satan waste his time on Christians who don’t threaten his work? Only fired up Christians who rob his kingdom worry the devil.
We all need to be stirred up once in a while. (James 1:2-4) If we don’t stir ourselves up, God stirs us, by allowing persecution to come our way.
“… I will spue you out of my mouth …” (KJV) The Greek word translated “spue” is emeō, to vomit. Lukewarm Christians make God vomit. In fact, the smug hypocrisy of lukewarm Christians makes almost everybody vomit!
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 …” They say, “I made it by my own power, my own efforts …” Or, as the song goes, “I did it my way …”
We are all familiar with someone financially successful, who brags about himself in this way. More often than not, they’re unsaved. Worse is when a Christian brags about himself like this. No matter if we believe this about ourselves consciously or unconsciously, we all face the temptation to be smug and self-satisfied; one of the standard arrows in the enemy’s quiver.
No matter how rich we become in our own efforts, we remain wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Our works become wood, straw, and stubble. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13) Jesus said to the Laodiceans: “You think you are none of these things. I am telling you that you are, and you don’t realize it!”
You are – poor, despite your wealth,
– blind, despite your medical knowledge and skills,
– naked, despite your garment making prowess,
– wretched and miserable, despite all your comfort,
And above all the other churches, most pitiful.
No one can be totally successful on our own, without the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Bags of money may be hanging from our belts. We may own a mansion, and the finest car on the block. If physical sickness comes along, or the end time catches us unaware, we may be too late. History is littered with the rich who suffered ulcers to such an extent they couldn’t eat, and starved to death.
18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in 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.”
1Peter 1:18-19 refers to gold refined in fire as the blood of Jesus, the most precious substance in existence. Not enough money can be found on earth to purchase a single drop. To purchase enough to be saved, we must give our lives and everything we possess.
Matthew 13:46 (the pearl of great price), and Matthew 6:19-21.
“… white garments …” White garments represent holiness and righteousness. (2Corinthians 5:3) The Laodiceans specialized in garments made of black wool. The natural color of the material was black. White cloth can not be woven from black wool.
In the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned, they covered themselves with fig leaves. Why? In the garden they had no need clothes for warmth and protection. The climate was “good,” as God said. They didn’t need clothing to cover their bodies, but to hide their sin. The sin opened their eyes and made them realize their nakedness. The fig leaf tuxedos didn’t work, so they tried to hide from God. Not because of their nakedness; all God’s creatures lived naked. Adam and Eve’s nakedness convicted them of their sin, and made the result of the sin open for all to witness.
“… that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed …” Satan ensures everyone experiences this shame of sin. Even after we are saved, it is one of his favorite weapons. The white robe of righteousness God gives us covers the shame of our sin. We no longer need be ashamed!
“… and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” The word translated “see,” is the Greek word blepō, which means to behold, regard, to perceive. The eye salve of the Holy Spirit allows us to perceive the things of the Spirit. Without the Spirit’s help, we are blind to spiritual things. The unregenerated (unsaved) man cannot comprehend the things of the spirit world unless the Holy Spirit opens his eyes. 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 4:4
Our first request as we pray for unsaved family or friends should be for the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the truth.
19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.”
See also Hebrews 12:7-11. The New American Standard translates, “(All) Those who I love…” All is understood. The New English Bible says, “All whom I love …” Does all mean all, or only some? Only those involved in some heinous sin?
The word translated “zealous” is from the Greek zēloō. Strong’s defines this as: “to burn with zeal, to desire earnestly, to envy, be jealous over.” Zealous is also translated as “eager.” The AMPC translates: “So be enthusiastic and in earnest, burning with zeal, 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.”
This is a reference to Song of Solomon 5:1-5. In this passage, the Bridegroom comes to the house of the bride’s mother, calling on his bride before the wedding. The bride may let Him in, or turn Him away. This was an intimate moment. The bride-to-be admitted her soul yearned for Him. She went to the door to open to him, put her hand through the latch hole to manipulate the latch and found her hand covered with myrrh. This was an ancient Hebrew tradition of premarital intimacy; in this case, a gift left by the groom for his future bride’s wedding. (Read this passage in the Amplified version. It’s beautiful!)
Myrrh was a rare and expensive resin used as a perfume in the marriage ceremony. It was also used in embalming the dead. Remember, Jesus received myrrh as a gift at His birth, which foreshadowed His death. (Matthew 2:11)
“… If anyone …” Here, Jesus speaks to individuals, not the church as a whole. The church is composed of individuals who meet with Him one on one, with intimacy. A church may be righteous , but that doesn’t mean all the individuals within are. Luke 12:36
“… dine (sup) with him …” The Amplified Classic says, “… We will make our home with him.” Our bridegroom wants to move in with us if we’ll open the door and let Him in. He is a gentleman, and will not force Himself on anyone. And like a polite dinner guest, He does not come to supper empty-handed. He bears gifts: Food, the Word to feed your spirit; milk for health, healing, and well-being for your body; the wine of the Holy Spirit; and honey, fatness; more than enough.
Remember in Genesis 3:8, God promised His people a land which flowed with milk and honey. Milk is symbolic for the supply of our needs of food and sustenance. Honey is symbolic for not only basic needs, but richness, sweetness, the fat of the land. He also brings New Wine, the Holy Spirit, to be a comforter and companion to edify you.
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.” What is required for us to sit with Him on His throne? We must be part of His body and overcome, as He overcame. We, too, must become the faithful martyr, crucify our flesh, put on a new spiritual body, and take on His robe of righteousness. Galatians 5:24, Romans 6
Jesus overcame from the beginning of the world. The Christ existed when the world began. Only He is able to share His Father’s throne. The power, the Amen who set the universe in motion, offers us the opportunity to share His throne. What an unspeakable privilege!
A view of things to come
In chapter 4, the scene shifts to heaven for a close-up of the Kingdom, and the work in preparation for the last days. Chapter 5 is an introduction to the Lamb, the One found worthy to continue the cleansing of the earth.
Still in heaven, the scene broadens in chapter 6. The Lamb breaks the seals and begins the end times.
In chapters 7-11, the scene changes again. John is still in heaven, but he is an observer as things are prepared for return of Jesus as King of Kings. The church, the body of Christ, dressed in white robes of righteousness, worship the Lamb. We follow the times of trouble as the Antichrist takes over the earth and the onslaught of the Great Tribulation.
Hang on to your seat. Things get exciting from here on.