Letters To 7 Churches In The Book Of Revelation - Laodicea -

In this series of Bible Study articles, Letters To 7 Churches In The Book Of Revelation, we are going to study the letters to 7 churches in the book of Revelation. These letters to 7 churches are in Revelation 2 and 3. These are letters and messages that Jesus told John to send to 7 actual churches located in Asia Minor. Asia Minor is Turkey in modern times.

Some of the letters to the 7 churches are important messages to us today, because there are many similarities to today’s modern churches, especially in America. Specifically the letters to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Laodicea.

John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his faithfulness to Jesus, and because of his witness to others about Jesus. Prior to his exile to Patmos John was the leader and pastor of the church in Ephesus.

In the first part of this series of Bible study articles about the Letters To 7 Churches In The Book of Revelation we studied Revelation 1. Specifically about how John was led to write the Book of Revelation. And how Jesus appeared to John when he was in exile on the island of Patmos, and Jesus’ appearance.

In Part 2 we studied the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7.

In Part 3 we studied the letter that Jesus had John write and send to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11

In Part 4 we studied Jesus’ letter to the church of Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17.

In Part 5 we studied the letter that Jesus sent through John to the church of Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29.

In Part 6 we studied Jesus’ letter to the 5th of 7 churches in the Book of revelation, the church of Sardis.

In Part 7 we studied the letter Jesus sent to the church of Philadelphia.

Now we will complete this series of Bible study articles about the Letters to 7 Churches In The Book of Revelation with Jesus’ letter to the church in Laodicea.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

The City of Laodicea

Laodicea was another ancient city located in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey. It was located approximately 96 miles to the east of Ephesus, and approximately 48 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Laodicea was located in the Lycus Valley, and was close to 2 other cities in the Lycus Valley. Hieropolis was approximately 6 miles to the north, and Colossae was approximately 10 miles to the east. You find the church of Laodicea mentioned in Paul’s first letter to the church of Colossians.

Laodicea was founded in 261BC by King Antiochus II. Laodicea is derived from the name of queen Laodice, who was King Antiochus II’s wife. The city was annexed by Rome in 133BC.

The city was located on the intersection of 2 main Roman imperial trade routes, one going north & south, and the other east & west. Because of it’s important location, Ladociea became a very wealthy city. It was so wealthy that when an earthquake destroyed the city in 60AD, they did not need help from the Roman government to rebuild.

Laodicea was known for it’s commerce, banking, black wool and dyed wool industries, and also for an important medical school. The medical school was connected to the pagan temple of Asclepius, the false god of healing. The city of Corinth, one of the 7 cities that Jesus sent a letter to, also had a temple of Ascelpius. The medical school became well known for ophthalmology, and developed an important eye salve for people that had eye problems.

Laodicea was also known for it’s magnificent buildings of marble, various temples to pagan gods, the largest stadium in Asia Minor which held 25,000 people, and 2 theaters. Laodicea also was known for it’s aqueduct system for water.

Laodicea did not have it’s own source of water to pull from, so they build a sophisticated aqueduct system to pipe in water from 5 miles away, near the neighboring city of Hieropolis. The nearby city of Hieropolis was well known for it’s hot water springs, which provided healing. And the other nearby city of Colossae had a refreshing source of cold mountain spring water. The source of Laodicea’s water started out hot and had a large amount of mineral deposits in it. By the time it traveled 5 miles through the aqueduct system, it arrived in Laodicea as lukewarm water with many minerals in it. It was not good water to drink, and in fact was known to be nauseating to drink. Jesus refers to this lukewarm and nauseating water in His letter to the church in Laodicea.

The Spiritual Makeup of Laodicea

Like the other cities of Asia Minor, there was considerable pagan worship and idolatry. A large temple known as Temple A was for worshiping the pagan gods Apollo, Artemis and Aphrodite. There were also temples and statues for other false gods such as Athena and Zeus. Also located in Laodicea was a famous medical school that was connected to the temple of the pagan god of healing Ascelpius.

Also like other cities in Asia Minor, there was a Jewish temple located in Laodicea, since there were Jews living throughout the region. Like in the times of Jesus, the Jewish people were another source of persecution for the Lord’s church.

Being a part of the Roman Empire, there was also considerable pressure and expectation to worship the Roman emperor. And a temple to the Roman Caesar was also in Laodicea.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Background & History of the Church in Laodicea

Like the churches of Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatire, Sardis and Philadelphia, there is no direct record of the official start of the church in Laodicea in the Bible. In Colossians 1:5-8 Paul speaks about Epaphras taking the Gospel to the Colossians, and most likely he and others spread the Gospel message to the other cities in the Lycus Valley.

“ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf  and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.”  – Colossians 1:3-8

So the church in Laodicea started out as people, at least some of the people, that were saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Something happened in between the Gospel reaching some of the people in Laodicea and Jesus’ letter to the church in Laodicea. His letter was approximately 30-40 years after the start of the church.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Letter to the Church in Laodicea

Here is the letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:14-22

The Words of the Amen

The Faithful And True Witness

Jesus is described as the faithful and true witness. He is the One True God. Not a false god or a pagan god. The One True God. And Jesus always speaks truth.

“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.”  – John 3:31-33

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  – John 14:6

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  – John 1:14

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”  – 1 John 5:20

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  – Revelation 6:9-10

The Beginning (or The Ruler) of God’s Creation

“…the ruler (or the Beginning) of God’s creation.”  – Revelation 3:14

The Greek word for “ruler” (ESV), or the Beginning in other versions, is “protokos”. It means that Jesus is the Source of all creation.

In 1 Colossians 15-18 Paul writes this about Jesus:

“ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” 

Jesus is The Creator. He is The Author of life. Spiritual life and physical life.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  – John 1:1-5

It is important to recognize Jesus as not only the Savior of the world, but as The Creator. And the Living God. He was with God the Father from the beginning, as was the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

In the letter Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, located close to Laodicea, he addressed a heresy that some were adopting in the church. The heresy was that some people in the church were misled to believe the false teaching that denied the deity of Jesus. The false teaching led some to believe that Jesus was a created being, or some type of angelic being. Paul addressed the heresy in Colossians, and most likely it spread to the nearby church of Laodicea. So Jesus addressed it in this letter also.

People who believe in heresy or false teachings, especially about the nature of Jesus, are not true believers. Denying the deity of Jesus Christ will lead to many other false teachings, and will end up in a church full of spiritually dead people. Such as the church in Laodicea.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

No Commendations from Jesus

” I know your deeds…” – Revelation 3:15

Jesus sees and knows all. Everything that we say, think, and do, Jesus sees it all. He tells every church in His letters to 7 churches in the book of Revelation “I know your deeds”. He is the all seeing, all knowing God.

After Jesus states that He knows their deeds, it is the only church of the 7 in Revelation that receives no commendation from Jesus. None at all. There is nothing to commend and nothing good in this church. Jesus does not mention that there are a few who are faithfully following and obeying Him, and persevering. There are none in this church that are worthy of a commendation from Jesus.

This is one of the first references in this letter that suggests that there are no more true believers and followers of Jesus in the church of Laodicea. If there were there would be at least a commendation from Jesus for the ones that were persevering and faithfully following and serving Him. There are other references found later in Jesus’ letter to suggest this also.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Only Condemnations From Jesus For the Church in Laodicea

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  – Revelation 3:15-16

Jesus uses a reference to the lukewarm, nauseating water of Laodicea to describe how the church made him nauseated or sick. Because they were neither hot or cold, and made him sick or nauseated, he says that he is going to “spit them out” (NIV) of his mouth. In other versions, and more accurately, Jesus says that he is going to “vomit” them out of his mouth.

There was no love and passion for Jesus in the church. They were not passionately devoted to Jesus as was the early church in Acts. The church was full of people doing church. Probably doing some good church things. But no sign of a true First Love relationship with Jesus. It was a fake or false church, full of people going through the motions.

A Prideful & Arrogant Church, Unaware Of Their True Spiritual Condition

“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.”  – Revelation 3:17

It is interesting to see the similarities of the church in Laodicea and the church in America. Much like America, Laodicea was full of rich and wealthy people. And the effects of wealth and prosperity are not usually good on a church or on people of faith. People in the church of Laodicea, and many in America too, are full of pride, and even arrogance. Thinking they know far better than others. There was probably some spiritual pride or arrogance as well.

It was a church full of prideful people who think they are doing well. Perhaps they even thought they were doing better than others. And they thought they didn’t need anything. Like when they didn’t need the Roman Empire’s help to rebuild the city after the devastating earthquake of 60AD. In their hearts they probably felt that they didn’t really even need Jesus.

But Jesus corrects and rebukes them for this, saying they think they are rich, and do not need a thing. But they didn’t realize that spiritually they were wretched (Greek word means miserable and distressed), pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Despite them having much gold and wealth, Jesus says they were poor. Despite having a famous medical school known for the eye salve they made, Jesus says they were blind. And despite the fancy black wool and dyed wool garments they were known for, Jesus said they were naked.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

 Jesus’ Recommendations to The Church in Laodicea

“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.”  – Revelation 3:18

Again Jesus references their material wealth, but their spiritual poverty. And their fine clothes, but their spiritual nakedness. And their famous eye salve, but their spiritual blindness.

Jesus is referencing Isaiah 55 when he talks about gold refined with fire.

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”  – Isaiah 55:1-3

These verses refer to a lost person’s need for salvation. And God is inviting lost people to be saved and then rich spiritually.

Jesus also refers to “white clothes to wear” in verse 18. Again this is a reference to their need for salvation. White clothes in God’s word describes salvation, and people that have been washed in the blood of Jesus and made righteous by His sacrifice on the cross.

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”  – Revelation 3:4

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and

and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands.”  – Revelation 7:9

Jesus also refers to their need for salve on their eyes so they can see. Again this is a reference to their need for salvation. Some very interesting verses about lost people are found in Acts 26:

“ delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  – Acts 26:17-18

Lost people in these verses are described as blind; spiritually blind. And as people who are in darkness; they are in the dark spiritually, confused, and they don’t know what is true and what is not. And very interesting also, they are described as people that need to be delivered from the power of Satan. In other words they are under the influence and lies and deception of our enemy Satan. How did Paul go about helping them to see, and go from the darkness to the light, and from the power of Satan to God? By preaching the Gospel message, which has the power of God to save and deliver lost people.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

An Appeal From Jesus

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with me.”  – Revelation 3:19-20

After condemning the church of Laodicea in the previous parts of His letter, Jesus now makes an appeal to the people in the church. It is an appeal to lost people. Yes they were going to church, and doing church things and some good things. But they were still lost. This is similar to so many people in America and other parts of the world. Church going lost people.

Jesus begins this part with “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline”. Even though they were lost and made Jesus sick and want to vomit, Jesus still loved them. That is why He rebuked and condemned them. To get their attention and try to fix their spiritual problem of being lost and blind and poor and wretched.

God “so loved the world” that He sent His only Son Jesus to save people. Jesus so loves everyone in the world, the sinners of the world, that He was willing to leave His place of glory. And willing to suffer and die the most horrific and painful way to die known to mankind, crucified on a cross. So that whoever would believe in Him and repent could be saved. And have a restored relationship with God, and fellowship with Him, and a place in His forever kingdom.

Jesus says that He is standing at the door and knocking. He is waiting at the door of every heart and at the door of every church, knocking and hoping that lost people would repent, turn to Him and place their faith in Him. And let Him come into their hearts and lives, and willingly let Jesus be their Savior and the Lord of their lives. Jesus is still working in the world today, and in the hearts and lives of lost people, trying to save them. He will never give up on them.

And we as Jesus followers need join Him and obey His call and command in Matthew 4:19 and Acts 1:8 and Mark 16:15 to be faithful witnesses. To share the Gospel message with as many as we can.

To Those Who Are Victorious…

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”  – Revelation 3:21

Jesus ended every one of His letters to 7 churches in the book of Revelation the same way. He states “to the one who is victorious” or “the one who conquers or overcomes”. Who is Jesus talking to? He is speaking to anyone who repents and places their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And who perseveres through the difficulties and persecution that comes to Jesus’ followers. And who remain faithful and devoted to Jesus until the end.

Jesus promises that whoever is victorious, whoever conquers or overcomes, whoever remains faithful to the end, they will gain the right to sit with Jesus on His throne. They will be given the reward of the victor’s crown, and the honor of reigning with Jesus in His eternal kingdom. There are many places in the Bible that refer to the victor’s crown and the saints sitting on thrones and reigning with Jesus. The Greek word “thronos” appears 47 times in the book of Revelation.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.” – Matthew 25:31

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended”  – Revelation 20:4-5

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

The Final Message

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  – Revelation 3:13

As in the other letters to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus ends His letter to the church in Philadelphia with the same word “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.

This means that Jesus is not only speaking to those in the church of Philadelphia or the other 6 churches, but that He is speaking to all people who will read the letters. The messages in the 7 letters are for everyone, especially for believers. Jewish believers and non-Jewish believers. Jesus is saying to anyone who reads His letters to pay attention and listen to what He has to say.

The word listen in the Bible is more than just hearing what Jesus has to say. The word listen in the Bible is to hear what Jesus says, and in your heart you are ready to do and obey whatever Jesus is saying to do. A good example is in 1 Samuel 3:10: “ And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening”.

We need to not only read and hear what Jesus says, but in our hearts, out of love and devotion for Jesus, we need to be ready to respond and follow and obey whatever Jesus says. When Jesus is truly our First Love, we will have a heart that is ready to do whatever Jesus says, even before we hear what He says.

Being A Good Church Member vs Being A True Disciple of Jesus

In our more than 20 years of missions ministry we have helped &/or preach in &/or trained more than 250 churches in 33 countries. And we have visited many more churches, and also have met with many more church leaders and pastors. In the US we have tried to help 58 churches, offering preaching, training, and help to reach the lost and make disciples. We never ask for support or offering, we only offer help. Only 3 have had any interest in receiving help in these “first importance” things.

There is a noticeable lack of “first love” passion for Jesus in many church leaders today. And there is a noticeable lack of passion in the leaders and in many people in churches today for the “first importance” things of taking the Gospel out to the lost and making true disciples of Jesus. Most of the churches in America and other places have replaced evangelism with social assistance and other ministry events and projects.

And most churches have replaced teaching believers how to be a true & passionate follower and disciple of Jesus with teaching people how to be a good church member. There is a big difference between being a good church member and being a true and passionate follower/disciple of Jesus. A good church member is taught that he or she needs to attend the worship service to worship God, and attend the Bible study on Wednesday night and a small group if they have them. And they need to serve somewhere in the church, and also give to the church.

So many people in churches end up having a “What a good Christian or church member should do list”. What is interesting (and sad) is to see that most churches do not teach the “First Importance” things anymore. Which again are having Jesus as your First Love and having close fellowship with Him. And our Kingdom building mission of 1) taking the Gospel everywhere and reaching the lost, and 2) teaching believers how to be passionate and true disciples/followers of Jesus.

And there are many people in many churches today that are beyond compromising their walk with Jesus. What started out as a small compromise is now full blown tolerance of sin and evil. And even openly practicing and boasting about things that are offensive to God. Things that God calls abominations in His word. Unless there is repentance God will be forced to deal with them, for the sake of His name and the integrity of His church and people.

May we allow Jesus to touch and change our hearts, so that we will be the church that God wants. A spirit filled church of victorious and fruitful and faithful followers of Jesus. And filled with love and passionate devotion to our First Love Jesus. A church that God can use greatly to reach many lost people, and make many true followers and disciples of Jesus.

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