Laodicea: The Modern Lukewarm Church [1930 AD-Present]
Jesus’ promise to protect the Philadelphian church from the temptations that the Laodiceans would face was interpreted by John Gill in Exposition of the New Testament this way: “This hour seems to refer…to some affliction and distress which will befall the reformed churches.” Gill believed that Christ would “purge his floor of all his formal professors and hypocrites; and it will be known who are his true churches, and pure members; and these he will keep close to himself, and preserve safe amidst all the distress and confusion the world will be in.”[i]
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As the last of the seven churches, Laodicea represents the modern era of Christianity. When reading Jesus’ message to this final church era, consider today’s culture.
Revelation 3:14-17
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Immediately after the Philadelphian age—the era most on fire for God—Laodicea is a dire disappointment. Jesus explained that he “knows the works” of Laodicea and found they were not what he expected of Christians. The wealthy and materialistic Laodiceans “say they are rich,” yet they are unaware of their spiritual bankruptcy. The same can be said of most Christians today.
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The lukewarm analogy used by Jesus has an interesting historical context. Laodicea was about five miles away from two cities with springs: Hierapolis, the site of a hot spring, and Colossae, which had a cold spring. Laodicea had aqueducts running from both springs to supply water to the city.[ii] When hot water traveled the five miles from Hierapolis, it would have lost much of its heat. The same would be true of the cold water flowing from Colossae—the air temperature would have warmed it before it could reach its destination.[iii] Whether Laodicea’s water was initially hot or cold, the external environment quickly caused it to become tepid.
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Jesus said he would spit out the lukewarm Laodicean church, not because warm water is an uncomfortable temperature, but because it is useless. Christ did not use water temperature to measure how passionate Christians’ faith is. Both hot and cold water have distinct purposes, but lukewarm water does not. For this reason, Jesus said he wanted the Laodiceans to be either “cold or hot” in verse fifteen.[iv]
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The temperature of our Laodicean church era is not uncomfortable. On the contrary, we have become too comfortable. Christians today are too focused on accumulating wealth and possessions, unaware of how we fail to live up to God’s expectations. This is a time of great prosperity unmatched in world history, but greed has created a consumer culture fixated on self-gratification. Today’s society closely matches the warning from Paul in II Timothy 3:1-5.
II Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Many people today are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Paul cautioned us to avoid such people, even those who define themselves as Christians. Although they may go to church and say the right things, they are far from embodying the traits of the Philadelphian church age that Jesus complimented so strongly. Paul describes the lukewarm Christians as “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” We see this in today’s church—Christians rarely attempt to convert new believers, as faith is viewed as more of a personal choice than something to share. Laodiceans go through the motions of Christianity, but most do not share their beliefs with others or live according to God’s commandments. They are spiritually “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
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While Philadelphia received no reprimand from Jesus, Laodicea received no compliment. But once again, Jesus offers some advice for the Laodicean Christians of today. In verse eighteen, Jesus delivers a series of three symbolic metaphors to encourage spiritual purification and improvement.
Revelation 3:18-19
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
He first asks us to “buy of me gold tried in the fire.” Interestingly, Jesus is asking the same church he described as spiritually poor to buy him gold. He is not asking us to give to him financially, but instead to make a spiritual investment in ourselves. When gold is placed into a fire, alloys and impurities are burned off, producing a purified metal. Like the purification process for gold, we Christians can become spiritually rich when our secular impurities and sins are burned away.
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In the second metaphor, Jesus advises the Laodiceans to buy pure white clothing to resolve our spiritual nakedness because our faith lacks vigor and depth. As he told Sardis, Jesus promises Laodicea that those who overcome their spiritual trials will be clothed in white—a symbol of purity and honor.
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Lastly, in verse seventeen, Jesus condemns the Laodiceans as blind. He advises us to heal our eyes by putting an ointment on them, as we cannot see our spiritual failures. If we live as zealous, pure Christians and repent of our sins, we will receive Jesus’ love instead of his criticism.
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At the close of the chapter, Jesus uses a metaphorical phrase that should be familiar to all Christians to show us that there is still hope.
Revelation 3:20-21
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
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[i] Gill, John. 1809. “Revelation Chapter III.” In Exposition of the New Testament, Vol. III, 711. London: Mathews and Leigh.
[ii] Mounce, Robert H. 1997. The Book of Revelation (The New International Commentary on the New Testament), 109. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[iii] Fee, Gordon D. 2011. Revelation (New Covenant Commentary Series), 58. Eugene: Cascade Books.
[iv] Beale, G. K. 1999. The Book of Revelation (The New International Greek Testament Commentary), 303. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans.