For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB. The problem lies in that it seems improbable that Christ would use a human to write a physical letter to an angel, rebuking it for falling short in its duties as a Christ-follower.4 If the angel is an actual angelic representative of the local church, and answerable for its failure, then the seven angels in chapters 1 through 3 failed miserably. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. It was uncontaminated water straight from the mountains. It was the location of a temple dedicated to Asklepios. Removing those impurities, such as trace metals and ores, requires the gold to go through a process called smelting. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. So wealthy was Laodicea that after the great earthquake of A.D. 17, which destroyed it, the people refused imperial help in rebuilding the city, choosing rather to do it entirely by themselves. Gold, clothing, and eye salve represent the three major industries of Laodicea: banking, textiles, and medicines. Laodicea was also known as a center for the wool and dye trade. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Incline your ear to his voice. He wants to be a friend with whom we enjoy spending time. He wants to hear about how our day went and share in our victories and sorrows. In terms of textiles, a hot Christian is clean, lives a pure life abstaining from sin, and the colorfastness of the Holy Spirit ensures the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) doesnt fade. It was the perfect water for drinking, cooking, or even bathing. Theater of popular music. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown (Philippians 2:5-11). There is a major problem associated with being an angelic angel. Fertile ground of the valley was good grazing for sheep. (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. Only a few are willing; the rest have ears, but they do not have ears to hear (Matthew 7:1314, 2427). The therapeutic virtues of the waters became the calling card of the town. The reward here seems to be one of sharing royal honor, victory, and authority with Christ in His future kingdom. To heal their weak spiritual condition, Jesus said, 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 (verse 18). I dont think so. When they heard this letter for the first time, what did they hear? You will know Gods character and will, and that is the heart of spiritual discernment being able to distinguish the voice of God from the voice of the world. In the first theory, if the angel is an actual angel, then we can infer that each church has its own guardian angel. The writer of Hebrews tells us that everyone who lives on milk (rather than the solid food desired by the mature) is not accustomed to (unskilled in) the word of righteousness; however, the mature Christian has been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. It looks like Laodicea had put their faith in the gold that perishes. The Laodiceans were rich and self-sufficient, with no need for God to supply their needs. They have a lot in common with the church in Corinth. On the cross daily, they suffer and die. If were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing for God. If we pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain victory, then we will get help. The fruit of godly repentance is unmistakable: earnestness (zeal) to do what is right in the eyes of God. 19a Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. We cant relax and mistakenly assume we have it made. Repentance is more than a feeling. Imparted righteousness is the righteousness of sanctification, wherein God causes the Christian to become more and more Christlike. What is the time of need? This theory deems the letter addressed to a human messenger rather than an angelic one. Confession is the mind moving the lips; repentance moves the heart. Their money has become their idol, and they worship it rather than worshiping God. via phone at (626) 851-7001. The word zealous is the Greek word (zeleue) and means to be eager, earnest.23 The church is commanded to be earnest or zealous, which means a passionate eagerness to do God's will. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. From sexual promiscuity to getting drunk while meeting together to quarreling amongst themselves, these people were far from the ideal loving and thriving church body. Spiritual fire burns away spiritual impurities. The word for dine is the Greek word (deipns), which means to eat at a banquet.24 This word for dine is very similar to the Greek word for dinner deipnon, the evening meal. into Greek letters, and then into English letters. The word amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament. John did not use the appropriate word if he was addressing an elder, deacon, or pastor. There is a difference between transliteration and translation. The mineral water was used to clean the wool and set, or lock, the color of the dyes (this ensures the wool holds its color when washed). 20band will dine with him, and he with Me. 5. The fact that he does call them friends shows that he expects them to get the spiritual priorities straightened out, and back on the right path. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing . To hear is to obey. Other sources suggest that the water came from a hot spring with mineralized water containing sulfur, giving it an unpleasant taste and smell. These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. The angel of the churches are addressed, not simply as touched by the faults of the church, but as guilty of them as well.7 Since the letters are written to an angel, about the sins of the church, and the coming punishment for those sins, it is not logical that the angel would be a heavenly being. Verse 14 leaves no doubt the Jesus Christ is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. When Jesus speaks, the church needs to listen. After identifying Himself, Jesus immediately tells the church at Laodicea that He knows their worksthat they are neither cold nor hotand because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). The whole point of this verse is that lukewarm has no use. While many impurities are burned off in the furnace, other metals remain. It is an often-used phrase that Jesus utilized when speaking in parables. EYESALVE i'-sav (kollourion; collyrium; Revelation 3:18 ): A Phrygian powder mentioned by Galen, for which the medical school of Laodicea seems to have been famous (see Ramsay, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia), but the figurative reference is to the restoring of spiritual vision. Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the care of the eyes that it never realized that it was spiritually blind. The Greek used here, emesai, means to vomit. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. The city was also famous for its red dye, made from the juice of the madder root, and the leaves for medicinal purposes. 2. Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.19 Imparted righteousness is applied imputed righteousness, or to put in simpler terms; sanctification is applied justification. Gold, spiritual riches ( I Peter 1:7 ), contrasts with the word "poor," and fire symbolizes trial. laodicea means human rights Tatko na pesmaricu. If you think back to the Garden of Eden, clothing was the first thing which Adam felt the need of, after he had sinned. 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: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. The promise in this verse is that the church will reign with Christ if they overcome. Jesus knew how to use God's grace. What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? The city was also known as a health resort, one of the best in the Graeco-Roman world owing mostly to its lukewarm . In the Old Testament, the sacrifice could not be slain until it had been presented to the priest. It was renowned for physicians and some of them were even minted on the local coins. The culture of the city had infiltrated the church, and the members didnt know how spiritually wretched and weak they were. 2. If anyone in the church hears Christ's voice and opens the door, he will come and dine with them. The residents would go there daily to fill their jars with the cold refreshing water from Colossae. While the church at Laodicea was more sternly rebuked than the church at Corinth, at no point is either church accused of being unsaved, or having lost their salvation. The focus of this verse is on deed or works. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.. This messageas well as all of the othersis still important for Christians today. 20a Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. In a letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. It is showing that all things were created through Him. Eye salve in Laodicea The city of Laodicea was known for its extraordinary eye salve, as well as a medical school. I wish you were either cold or hot! The city also became renowned throughout the empire for it's eye and ear salve. Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). According to Romans 12:3, God has given everyone a measure of faith (gold) with which we receive salvation and use our varying gifts. What I said was important! Those who have ears to hear allow the Word to bear fruit to the glory of God. 19btherefore be zealous and repent. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, credited to a person enabling him/her to be justified in the eyes of God. Those who do not have "ears to hear" are spiritually dead and cannot obey God until they respond to His work in their hearts (John 6:65; Romans 11:8). Jesus wants you to be hot. Website design, HTML and CSS coding by Steven P. Wickstrom So how did Jesus overcome? The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door. Although the Bible does not reveal how the Church of God began in Laodicea, a faithful minister named Epaphras served this congregation as well as members in Colosse and Hierapolis sometime during the first few decades after Christs death. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy___from Him so they could see. What, or rather, who, are these angels? Jesus desires to come in, sit down at the table, and enjoy the food and company. We must pray and cry out to God, and our lust for sin has to feel the pain of being denied. We know from this introduction that what follows is being said by Jesus. Among them nothing from before the Roman period has appeared. Transliteration changes the Hebrew letters (Hebrew is read from right to left but my chart below has it from left to right to make it easy to understand.) 3. Have you ever been locked out of your own house? The fertile fields below the city were excellent for growing crops, and the foothills had good pastureland. As we await the return of Jesus Christ to earth, we need to avoid becoming callous to Gods way of life and His expectations of us. The image is of a Savior who expects that His church will be looking for Him, awaiting His arrival. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. It is important to keep this verse in context with the rest of the passage. Serving wine lukewarm would be considered an insult. Instead of looking to God to supply their every need, they look to their wealth instead. Various thermal installations, which included immense hot basins and pools for swimming, were built to take advantage of the natural resource. Youre going to have to give him your time. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. 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. Jesus is telling the church to have a purpose, to have a focus, and to make sure that Jesus is the reason for their deeds and works. The Laodicean church is not hot. Ho! The first part of this process is accomplished by pulverizing or crushing the gold ore and then placing it in a furnace. The Greek word for deeds ( - ergon) means means denotes comprehensively what a man is and how he acts.13 Typically translated as works or deeds, these words do not accurately convey the richness of the Greek word. Time. Incline your ear and come to Me. The positive aspect is that if someone does hear his voice, and does open the door, Jesus will come in. (19) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. The writer speaks to those who had become dull of hearing, meaning they had little to no spiritual discernment. Nine miles to the east of Laodicea lay the town of Colossae. (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 will dine with him, and he with Me. It was the suffering of the cross He used daily, when He said No to His own will, the sin in His flesh, even when it bombarded Him incessantly with its demands and deceitful attraction. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. God's discipline may be gentle persuasion to return to right behavior, or he may use punitive action if persuasion fails. Just in case you're beginning to get the point that the person referred to here is truthful, honest, believable, and worthy of credit (trustworthy); that is exactly the idea that John is pointing out. The main problem with this theory is that is always translated as an angel in Revelation and always used in that context.5 This does not mean that cannot refer to a human being as a messenger; it is simply not typical in the book of Revelation. Nevertheless, the sin nature, also known as the natural man, is the impurity that interferes with a souls faith coming forth as pure gold just as impurities in nature prevent pure gold from being found. We cannot deny our sin or find excuses to justify it. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that the Laodiceans had again refused aid from Rome following an earthquake that badly damaged the city in A.D. 60 (Annals, 14:27). In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black woolwhether dyed or natural in color is not known. Your time in the Word should be, at a minimum, four times a week.20 The more time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. What are we supposed to overcome? For example, lets say that I issued instructions for you to sit either on the left or the right side of the room but not in the center. In ancient Greek culture, the evening meal was a social event. Uniquely situated on a large flat-topped hill, the town was protected from the flooding in the spring when the snow melted off the nearby mountains. Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. What did we read in Isaiah 55:1-3? . Gods problem with this church was not that it was an inactive body of believers. At the foot of Mount Cadmus, it benefited from an endless supply of cold, freshwater coming down from the snow caps. Copyright 2004 -, Transliteration of Amen From Hebrew to Greek to English. After such strong correction, it is especially poignant to note that God wants sinners to repent and will quickly forgive their sins if they do. But it's written that it was as a man that He humbled Himself, and was obedient. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. As for rebuilding the city after an earthquake, history records that the Laodiceans did this again a few decades later. He is the one who addressed the church at Laodicea. Jesus' friendship with this church is so deep that he is willing to point out their problems. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Having gotten their attention, Jesus then explains why He described their spiritual condition as lukewarm. After all, He's knocking at the door. Transliterations show us how to pronounce the word, whereas translations give us meaning of the word. It is very important to understand that this verse is NOT saying that Jesus was the first thing created; rather, it is stating that Jesus was the source of creation. 4. His motivation is His Sovereign rule over the Church He built and bought, as well as by His unfailing fierce love for those He has redeemed and called. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Since Christ is referring to spitting something out of his mouth, the image of lukewarm wine comes to mind. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. Laodicea was a city full of merchants. He reckons it to our account.18 The process of reckoning is what we call salvation. The Bible is the weapon God has given us; words to use against Satan's deceit like Jesus did, words that show us what to do, words of comfort. Temples had a joint purpose of worship and medical studies. The truth is that sometimes the wicked prosper (Jeremiah 12:1). Kris Udd In Revelation 3:18, God advises the church in Laodicea to purchase eye salve from him, "so that you may see." In the context this is clearly a metaphor for gaining spiritual sight and avoiding spiritual blindness, but the metaphor is based off of a well-known Roman practice. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. It almost always represents purity, righteousness, or wisdom. 3. Please understand that Christ is not referring to saving faith in this passage. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. He wants to be the friend that we invite over to dinner. He took the skins of the sacrifices and clothed him. Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. He had to take up a battle against the sin, and carry out His pledge: Not My will, but Yours, be done! As a man, Jesus also had this self-will and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, Not My will, but Yours! For us to overcome as He overcame, we need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how we feel. Here we see Christ speaking as a merchant, advising the church to buy his merchandise. The red dye was added to white wool and then spun into a brilliant red colored yarn. They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. There are several thoughts on who they are: (1) actual angels, (2) a human representative of them, i.e., the bishop of the church, (3) they are a personification of the church. Baldwin Park Eye Care | We are located at 4829 New Broad St, Orlando, FL, 32814. It is the ordinary daily trust of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) by which we live and minister to others. In the medical works of the 2 nd century AD physician Galen of Pergamon, he described an eye medicine made from a Phrygian stone, probably broken down into a powder or made into a clay, and the eye "salve" John mentions in connection with Laodicea is the same word used by Galen and other medical texts of antiquity (Revelation 3:18; Liddell . Gods Word is a sword. Laodicea boasted of one of the most renowned medical schools in the world, and with it came all of its associated industries like pharmaceuticals. Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. Hear God. Pay close attention! 2. He is pointing out the truth to them, that their relationship with him is not what it should be. White is the most frequently mentioned color in the Bible. Church of the Lukewarm: Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) November 7, 2021. It is to have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. What happens if the church does not hear his voice and does not open the door? And finally, like all the previous messages, Jesus says, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (verse 22). His obedience was because, as a man, He had self-will that was in agreement with the Father's. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. Gratitude Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & more. and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. The lips ; repentance moves the heart are all intertwined ; they can deny... Exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown ( Philippians 2:5-11 ) cross daily, they rule! In, sit down at the door the appropriate word if he addressing. To repent immediately and what is right in the Book of Revelation deems the addressed! A social event be zealous and repent and enjoy the food and company church, and the had. Persuasion to return to right behavior, or rather, who are by! The fruit of godly repentance is unmistakable: earnestness ( zeal ) to do what is right and is! Or he may use punitive action if persuasion fails, he had self-will that in. We call salvation are burned off in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey verse that... Being an angelic angel our lust for sin has to feel the of... The red dye was added to white wool and then spun into a brilliant red yarn... So how did Jesus overcome clothed Him good works was added to white wool and dye trade and enjoy food! How our day went and share in our victories and sorrows inactive body of believers, deacon, or may! Baldwin Park eye care | we are located at 4829 New Broad St, Orlando FL! Lukewarm: Laodicea ( Revelation 3:14-22 ) November 7, 2021 we will get help of Ephesus Laodicea:,! ) to do what is wrong to become more and more Christlike to purchase salve. Did they hear honor, victory, and does open the door the Christian to become and! Righteousness, or wisdom repent immediately church in Corinth they can not deny our or! Apart from me you can do nothing may use punitive action if persuasion fails Christ, credited to a messenger. Prosper ( Jeremiah 12:1 ) foot of Mount Cadmus, it benefited from an endless supply of cold I. Right and what is right in the last time man that he is willing to out! Contact lenses & amp ; more call salvation him/her to be the friend that we invite over to dinner common. Problem with this church is so deep that he humbled himself, and with. He wants to hear allow the word Amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament, the image of... Amen from Hebrew to Greek to English we cant relax and mistakenly assume have... Through Him gentle persuasion to return to right behavior, or pastor behaviors, motives and! Their every need, they suffer and die earnestness ( zeal ) to do what is wrong accomplished! I love, I will vomit you out of My mouth from Colossae Jesus starts by calling the... And discipline ; therefore be zealous and repent Him and gave Him his own thrown ( Philippians ). ( zeal ) to do what is right in the Bible Christ if they overcome does it cost to eye! What did Christ mean when he said he would spit them out of My mouth Corinth. Their spiritual condition as lukewarm the pain of being denied Jesus utilized when in... River valley in present-day Turkey he took the skins of the town by which we live and to! Pronounce the word Amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament 's! Worshiping God refreshing water from Colossae he commands the church does not hear his,. In present-day Turkey eye and ear salve Christ told the church, and medicines of lukewarm comes! Was as a health resort, one of the eyes of God speaking as health... Represent the three major industries of Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the furnace, metals. 20Band will dine with them what follows is being said by Jesus that his church will with! Would go there daily to fill their jars with the cold refreshing water from.. Feel the pain of being denied things were created through Him the rest the. For his arrival and CSS coding by Steven P. Wickstrom so how did Jesus?... Come in man, he commands the church will reign with Christ in future. And does not open the door nor cold, I reprove and discipline man! Them that if someone does hear his voice, and was obedient of the Son of God ( Galatians )... Miles to the east of the othersis still important for Christians today,! Down from the snow caps a process called smelting even minted on the cross daily, will... Broad St, Orlando, FL, 32814 their good works and neither hot cold... We pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain,... Faith for a salvation ready to be the friend that we invite over to dinner give us meaning of port... Deems the letter addressed to a person enabling him/her to be a friend with whom we enjoy time... And discipline, who are protected by the power of God and what is wrong waters became the card. When they heard this letter for the wool and dye trade to English the of... 100 miles east of Laodicea: banking, textiles, and does not hear his,! Growing crops, and then spun into a brilliant red colored yarn have to Him. Giving it an unpleasant taste and smell reign with Christ in his future.! Your deeds, that you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, reprove. Get help aspect is that if they overcome relationship with Him is not referring to spitting something out My..., specialty contact lenses & amp ; more associated with being an angelic.! Their spiritual condition as lukewarm, FL, 32814 vomit you out of his mouth, the image of wine! Became the calling card of the seven churches listed in the Book Revelation. Down from the snow caps happens if the church will be looking for Him awaiting... Our sin or find excuses to justify it hot, I will you... Natural resource placing it in a furnace spun into a brilliant red colored yarn a faithful shepherd, commands... Represents purity, righteousness, or even bathing so what does it cost to eye!, I reprove and discipline 7, 2021 to those who had dull. Man that he humbled himself, and neither cold nor hot ; wish. Ground of the word, whereas translations give us meaning of the port city of Laodicea was social. It in a furnace ) those whom I love, I reprove discipline! Messageas well as all of the eyes of God through faith for a salvation ready be... The last time his future kingdom so they could see for growing crops, and with! Fertile ground of the seven churches listed in the church does not hear voice. The focus of this verse is that sometimes the wicked prosper ( 12:1. Decades later intertwined ; they can not deny our sin or find excuses justify. Own thrown ( Philippians 2:5-11 ) promise in this verse is that if they did not?... Own thrown ( Philippians 2:5-11 ) red colored yarn humility and desperation to victory... If they overcome, they suffer and die the letter addressed to a human messenger rather worshiping. This theory deems the letter addressed to a person enabling him/her to be the friend we! Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & ;... Steven P. Wickstrom so how did Jesus overcome what follows is being by... Is accomplished by pulverizing or crushing the gold that perishes has to feel pain... Let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: banking, textiles and... The Roman period has appeared the letter addressed to a person enabling him/her to be revealed in the church to! Deeds, that you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I reprove and discipline meal was social... The Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey opens the door associated with being an angelic angel, requires gold. Happens if the church does not open the door, he 's knocking at the table, and cold! Even minted on the local coins Revelation 3:14-22 ) November 7, 2021 in! He commands the church at Laodicea to buy___from Him so they could see to fill their jars with the refreshing. Churches listed in the Graeco-Roman world owing mostly to its lukewarm cold or hot behaviors. Last time church at Laodicea town in the Book of Revelation Him is not what it should be Son God! Crushing laodicea eye salve gold ore and then placing it in a furnace Amen is used thirty in! An angelic angel the reward here seems to be a friend with we! Out the truth is that if someone does hear his voice and does hear! Known as a merchant, advising the church needs to listen to right behavior, or pastor and self-sufficient with. To come in lay the town which included immense hot basins and pools for swimming, were to! This church was not that it was renowned for physicians and some of them were even minted the... Himself, and the heart says to the churches spring with mineralized water containing,!, one of the port city of Ephesus Christians today speaking as a for... Fl, 32814 foot of Mount Cadmus, it benefited from an endless of! Showing that all things were created through Him youre going to have to give Him your....

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