"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. 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. 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. 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. 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 him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches".
The city of Laodicea was founded in 250 B.C. by Antiochus II of Syria. The city was named after his wife Laodice who later poisoned him. The city was located on the main route between Ephesus & Syria. It was renowned for being a commercial & financial center, as well as being a great manufacturing center. Perhaps Laodicea was most noted for its great medical school: famous for the ointments which were used for eyes & ears They took great pride in these ointments. We know that Paul greatly struggled to help this church (See Col 2:1) and told the church in Colosse (the church that Paul wrote the letter Colossians to) to specifically make sure the letter he wrote to them (Colossians) be shared with the church in Laodicea (See Col 4:16), suggesting that what was written in Colossians also very much applied to Laodicea.
God appears quite disgusted with this church. He calls them "Lukewarm", suggesting this church was guilty of apathy, complacency, and indifference. They needed a revival , a renewal of their relationship with God. He refers to the eye salve the city was famous for and tells them they need "salve to put on their eyes, so they could see", meaning spiritually. It should be noted that this is the only church out of the seven that God had nothing good to say about.
The Dispensational View of
the Letter to Laodicea
(1900 A.D. to Tribulation)
This Church age is described as the "Lukewarm Church". It is neither hot nor cold. They are not hot enough to respond to the Holy Spirit and not cold enough to realize they are dead. Paul tells Timothy that in the last days, churches and believers would be characterized as "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" and to stay away from such (See 2Tim. 3:5). The letter describes this Church as spiritually self-deluded. This church sees itself as rich and in need of nothing, but God sees it as poor and wretched. This is the total opposite of the church at Smyrna which was poor in the world but rich in God.
When we examine the pulse of the Church at large during this current period in time, we see "Lukewarmness". Churches and members that seem to be more caught up with the important things of this world rather than the important things of God. We have become apathetic, indifferent, and uncaring about God's real truth reveled by the Holy Spirit through Scriptures. In this day and age one could go to some churches and not even hear the name Jesus even mentioned. Ask a typical American on the street who profess they are Christian. Would they say they are "cold" towards they Lord? Most likely they would say "no, I believe in God". They may even say "no, I believe in Jesus", however, many people who call themselves Christians today rarely even use His name...Jesus. Would they say they are "on fire" for the Lord? Again, most likely their response would be..."Well, I don't know if I would go that far...". Most prefer to be right in the middle, ie neither hot nor cold...just Lukewarm.
Personal
Application
Examine the church we belong to. Examine our own relationship with Jesus. Ask ourselves.... Are we hot for him?.... Are we cold for him?.... or are we just "Lukewarm"?
GET ON FIRE
FOR JESUS!!
