REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 3.14a
Gleanings from the Book of
Revelation:
A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION TO JOHN
(The Apocalypse)
LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
CHAPTER 3
The Letter to the Church at Laodicea
OUTLINE
1. The Addressee – To whom the letter is addressed (3:14)
2. The Address – To where the letter is addressed (3:14)
3. The Addresser – From whom the letter is addressed (3:14)
4. The Approval – The acclamation of good qualities (None)
5. The Accusation –
The presentation of bad qualities (3:15-17)
6. The Appeal – The application to change (3:18-19)
7. The Advice – The recommendation to change (3:20-22)
Introduction
The study of the Laodicean Church closes the
second major division of the Book of Revelation known as “The Things Which
Are.” Out of hundreds of churches that existed during John’s writing, Our Lord chose
seven churches in Asia Minor that are the personification of every church of
any age.
Laodicea is the last church to whom Jesus
addresses His seven letters. As
Ephesus is acknowledged as the first period of church history, prophetically, Laodicea
is representative of the final days or end times (its demise will be
deliberated in Chapter 17). As such, it is labeled the most wretched, sinful, hypocritical,
and apostate church. They have nothing noteworthy for the Lord to commend. Therefore,
Laodicea is typical of a church that is not a genuine church but a ruse or
deception.
There is an inscription in stone on the walls of a
cathedral in Lubeck, Germany by an unknown author that dramatically accentuates
the thought of what Christ is trying to convey to this church:
You
call Me "Master" and obey Me not.
You
call Me "Light" and seek Me not.
You
call Me "Way" and walk Me not.
You
call Me "Life" and desire Me not.
You
call Me "wise" and follow Me not.
You
call Me "fair" and love Me not.
You
call Me "rich" and ask Me not.
You
call Me "eternal" and seek Me not.
You
call Me "gracious" and trust Me not.
You
call Me "noble" and serve Me not.
You
call Me "mighty" and honor Me not.
You
call Me "just" and fear Me not.
If I
condemn you, blame Me not.
1. The Addressee – To whom the letter is addressed
(Verse 14)
And unto the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of
God.
Unlike the other letters, Jesus addresses or names
this church the Church of the Laodiceans instead of writing to the church in Laodicea. In a
dramatic artistic literary fashion, He sets this assembly apart simply by changing
three words.
LAODICEA
THE CHURCH
Little is known regarding the genesis of this
church. Again, it most likely was an outgrowth of Paul’s ministry in the school of Tyrannus during his two-year stay at
Ephesus.
Acts 19:10
– [His teaching] continued by the
space of two
years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews, and Greeks.
Even though Paul contended for them, the epistle
to the Colossians presents evidence he never visited the church of the
Laodiceans.
Colossians
2:1-2 - For I
would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full
assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of
the mystery of God, and of the Father, and Christ.
According to Colossians and the letter to
Philemon, three individuals who are servants of Paul are named in involvement with
Laodicea:
1. Epaphras – his friend and associate, possibly its
founder (cf. Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13; Philemon 1:23)
2. Nymphas (in some translations, Nympha) – a wealthy
person with a large house where the faithful assembled on the Lord’s Day (cf. Colossians
4:15)
3. Archippus – “a fellow soldier” of Paul most likely
became the bishop of the church (cf. Colossians 4:17; Philemon 1:2)
Evidently from the time of its inception to the
writing of John’s letter (about A.D. 96), spanning thirty years, the people had
gone awry, thus making it an established corrupted church. The church is a
classic parabolic example of tares overgrowing the wheat.
Also interesting to note is the progression of
Jesus’ statements to each church toward His Second Coming:
1. To Ephesus – “Or else I will come unto thee
quickly.” (2:5)
2. To Smyrna – A promise they “shall not be hurt of
the second death.” (2:11)
3. To Pergamos – “Or else I will come unto thee
quickly.” (2:16)
4. To Thyatira – “Hold fast until I come.” (2:25)
5. To Sardis – “I will come on thee as a thief.”
(3:3)
6. To Philadelphia – “Behold, I come quickly.” (3:11)
7. To the Laodiceans – “Behold, I stand at the door
and knock.” (3:20)
Also, in the meaning of their names:
1. Ephesus – Desirable as in bride-to-be
2. Smyrna – Myrrh crushed for the sweet aroma
3. Pergamos – Elevated tower
4. Thyatira – Continual sacrifice
5. Sardis – A remnant
6. Philadelphia – An open door of brotherly love
7. Laodicea – Judgment of the people
2. The Address – To where the letter is
addressed
(Verse 14)
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans.
THE CITY
Laodicea is the name of the last city in the sequential
oval of literal churches that once existed in Asia Minor.
Definition
Laodicea is a combination of two Greek words: Laos, meaning “the laity” or “of the
people,” (vox populi, vox Dei [the voice
of the people is the voice of God]), and Dike,
connoting judgment - the condemnation of the people. In His letter, this
congregation is given one last chance to repent and be overcomers before they
enter into the Great Tribulation Period.
Geography
In the southern ancient region of Phrygia was a
cluster of three cities: (1) Hierapolis, (2) Colossae, and (3) Laodicea. Three
main trade routes converged at Laodicea which was located about 110 miles north
of Ephesus thus making it another major commercial center of the Eastern Roman
Empire.
Eskihisar in the Denizli Providence of Turkey and
Alasehir (now called Philadelphia) are towns nearby the archeological ruins
that once were part of the ancient city.
Commerce
Laodicea enjoyed a life of luxury. As a result of
caravans passing through from the east and south toward Rome, it became a great
commercial center of world trade. The city became wealthy and well-known for
several things:
1. Wool - From a certified breed of sheep, high-quality
soft black glossy wool was an important textile commodity and was uniquely mass-produced
for clothing and carpets. Besides trending the world with fashion, a Trimatteria, a warm inner garment, was provided
and used by soldiers under their tunic and was in demand.
2. Agriculture - Apart from various exotic and
tropical fruits and vegetables, agriculture in the region was bountiful.
3. A University – Known for science and literature. This
was associated with a temple to the healing god Aesculapius or Asclepius.
4. Eye Salve – From the nearby Phrygian hills of Hierapolis
clay was extracted and mixed with spikenard to formulate an expensive eye salve.
The ointment was then shaped into a little bread roll called kollyrian which was distributed
throughout the Empire. In recent times, however, scientists chemically tested
the clay and revealed nothing to be medicinal.
5. Lukewarm water – While Colossae was known for
their pure drinkable ice-cold mountain springs, Hierapolis was famous
throughout the Empire for their mineral hot springs and supposedly healing spas.
The Romans built two aqueducts to transport the hot and cold water from
each town. By the time it reached Laodicea, respectively the cold water warmed,
and the hot water became tepid.
6. Banking - Their lucrative banking industry had the
wherewithal to mint the demand for their bronze, silver, and gold coins. When
an earthquake destroyed Laodicea in A.D. 60, the Laodiceans refused funds from
the Nero administration and independently rebuilt the city using their
resources. It is said the great Roman orator, lawyer, and writer Cicero cashed
his banknotes here.
History
Historically, the territory was conquered by
Alexander the Great. After his death, his kingdom became divided, a fulfillment
of Daniel’s prophecy.
Daniel 8:8
- Therefore the he
goat (Alexander) waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn (Alexander’s
Empire) was broken; and for it came up four notable ones (his
four generals) toward the four winds of heaven
(four corners of the Roman Empire).
Alexander’s four generals:
1. Cassander – Macedonia, and Greece
2. Ptolemy - Egypt, Cilicia, Palestine, Cyprus, and
Petra
3. Lysimachus – Thrace and most of Asia Minor
4. Seleucus – Persia, Babylon, Syria, and the rest of
Asia and India
Laodicea was originally
called Diospolis, (City of Zeus). At the end of Alexander’s reign, Seleucus appropriated
some territory from Lysimachus including Laodicea.
Earthquakes shattered the
area several times: A.D. 17, 23, and a major one in A.D. 60 leaving it devastated.
It was rebuilt again by a
Seleucid king, Antiochus II (261-253 B.C.), and
named in honor of his wife Laodice.
Religion
The ancient near east entertained a pantheon of
gods. Those who acknowledged polytheism became burdensome with sacrifices, whereas
the worshipers of Jesus – the one true God who took upon Himself human form and
became the Sacrificial Lamb once and for all – satisfied all the requirements
for appeasement. Simply by belief in His death, burial, and Resurrection, one
would inherit eternal life and no longer need to sacrifice animals for
conciliation.
Succeeding Jupiter (Zeus), the mythological
supreme god, Laodiceans prided themselves on Aesculapius or Asclepius, the
god of healing. A tertiary deity, Apollo, the son of Zeus, was also paid homage
to for healing. Caesar worship was also prominent.
Interestingly, Laodicea had a large Jewish
population (approximately 11,000), many of whom were entrepreneurs. Yearly at
Passover, they would remunerate their Temple tax in gold. In A.D. 62, Flaccus,
the Roman governor of Asia, stopped and seized all gold being shipped illegally
to Jerusalem.
Today the city lies in ruins. Foliage, which looks
like wild oats, permeates the landscape. Excavation sites reveal a stadium,
gymnasium, Roman baths, temples, a theatresta,
a bouleuterion (administration
building), aqueducts, and three Christian churches.
In the following studies, we will hear from our
Lord concerning the Laodiceans, and examine how and why a church and Church Age
deteriorates into apostasy.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does the word Laodicea mean?
2. What made the city of Laodicea famous?
3. How was the church formed?
4. What do we know about their character thus far?
5. How does Laodicea fit into the scheme of church
history?
6. What key feature stands out from other churches?
7. What led to their destruction?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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