Revelation 3: 14-22, Message to Laodicea

Jesus has given instructions to seven ancient churches. Here is the last one.

Revelation 3: 14-17, The church in  Laodicea

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 
17 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. 

Jesus identifies himself as the ruler of God's creation.

This contented and wealthy church has lost its priorities. It receives condemnation for its apathy and an invitation to return to its original passion for Jesus.  The church has become accustomed to luxury and comfort. (Sound familiar?)  It believes it has no needs when spiritually naked and impoverished.

Being "lukewarm" is attacked here. The church is told to be hot (excited, eager) or cold (dead, empty) so that it is clear of their status.  But instead they limp along pretending to be hot when they are really rather cold.

Revelation 3: 14-22, The message to Laodicea

18 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 
20 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.

Jesus offers rebuke and criticism, and encouragement.  Available from him are true spiritual wealth and dress. 

Verse 20 completes the invitation -- Jesus is inviting this church to open up and welcome him once again.  This verse, often taken out of context as an evangelistic invitation, certainly represents a more general principle emphasized by John -- Jesus is always inviting one to turn to him -- or, as in this case, turn to him again.

Revelation 3: 14-22, The message to Laodicea

21 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. 
22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

There are a number of phrases repeated again and again in these messages to the churches and they provide a theme for this section and for the book. At the end of the message to Laodicea we again have promises to those who are victorious: they will sit with Jesus on the throne.

Whoever has ears... should listen to these emphatic messages!

How do we interpret these seven churches and Jesus's message to them?  Historically, there has been a number of approaches to this -- the letters could be interpreted literally, as true statements to seven specific churches in Asia Minor at the time of John. But given the dramatic imagery of this book, with layer on layer of prophetic allusions, it is easy to suggest that these seven churches represent more. Some have attempted to put church history into a time line with seven periods. (Those who do so always put themselves at the end, in the church of Laodicea.)  I think a more reasonable alternative is to interpret these churches as representatives of the Church in different places and times.  This interpretation can be combined with the first -- maybe, at the end of the first century, those seven specific churches were representative.

I'll say more on interpreting Revelation later. But first we must read it.  It was meant to be read; it is much more important that we read Revelation than that we attempt to interpret it!