Here is a link to last week’s study in Revelation, “Soon”.

“To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:21 (CSB)

Seed Basket’s Revelation series on the churches takes a look at Laodicea, the last of the seven churches in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey.

Laodicea is not a church that true followers of Christ want to emulate. Let’s see what was wrong this group of believers.

The church at Laodicea was in a sad state. The description is graphic as Jesus warns the people.

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth!“

Revelation 3:16 (CSB)

Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Jesus says it’s because they are arrogant and not committed to the Gospel’s truth.

Consider the Church today: many pastors are centrists, afraid of hurting feelings, unwilling to teach about confession and repentance. They deliver empty messages of false promises without even bringing their Bibles to share God’s Word, filled with arrogance, poetry, and nonsense.

And people leave each Sunday with false hope and no eternal salvation—like this….

For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Revelation 3:17 (NLT)

But Jesus loves them, still.

For every worldly sin-sickness…

• wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked

…there is a remedy.

• spiritual treasure, clothed in sanctified garments, eyes opened to see Truth

“I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed, and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.”

Revelation 3:18 (NLT)

You see, even believers’ hearts can become so hard that we no longer clearly hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Mark 8:17-19

In His kindness and love Jesus reminds the Laodiceans as well as believers today, of this great promise:

“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” Revelation 3:19 (NLT)

Here is a very familiar passage that is often taken out of context.

“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and eat with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20

That passage was expressly for the Church at Laodicea and can be applied to any church or individual that is living apart from Christ. However, it was not used to evangelize, specifically.

Actually, Revelation 3:20 mentions the wedding feast that we will have with Jesus after the Rapture.

But the passage also illustrates that Jesus was locked out of the church at Laodicea and could enter only if they opened their spiritual door. He doesn’t force Himself; if one person answered Christ’s appeal, they could open their heart, and He would welcome them.

Jesus longs to be with us. How can we deny Him entry to our hearts?

Jesus goes on to tell the Laodiceans this:

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:22 (CSB)

You see, our Savior has not left them. Jesus loves lost people. He pursues them, even in their sin. But He never capitulates to their demands for self-centeredness and pride. That is the wicked nature of Satan.

Unless we repent of sin and place our faith and trust in Jesus then we have made our choice against Him. By not accepting Him you are rejecting Him. There is no middle of the road. Jesus has told us in this passage how He feels about being lukewarm.

Pray for the church you attend. If it is a church that is stuck in apostasy, then find a church where Jesus is Lord and material gain, and selfish ambition are not practiced.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.