The Putrid Church-Revelation 3:14-22

Over the last seven weeks we’ve taken a fascinating journey around Asia Minor and visited some fairly interested churches along the way. Some have been healthy while others were on life-support. Some have been inspiring, while others have proven frightening. However, the fact that Christ provides a message to all of these churches means that Jesus saw potential for each of these body of believers in their respective contexts. With this in mind, our journey in Asia minor ends today as we look at Revelation 3:14-22. Although I wish I could say that we are ending on a high note, the truth is, the message to the church at Laodicea contains the sharpest rebuke of the whole bunch. That said, after examining the seven components of Jesus’ final message in Revelation 3, we will learn how important it is to welcome Jesus into every aspect of church life.

1. Commission-3:14a-“…To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:..”

Laodicea was founded around 260 B.C. by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus II. He named the city after his wife Laodice (aw…how romantic) 😊, whom he divorced ten years later (aw…what a shame) ☹.  Its location along a road leading westward to Ephesus and eastward to Syrian Antioch caused the city to thrive as both a commercial and banking center (Wilson, ZIBBC, 277). In A.D. 60 an earthquake devastated several Asian cities, including Laodicea, and although this city had accepted aid from Rome after an earlier earthquake, following this later geological event, Laodicea was among the Asian cities that refused to accept Roman financial assistance and rebuilt using its own resources. This background highlights the wealth and independence of this prominent and proud city. These attitudes are reiterated by the way in which this city was used and the people who populated this region. Edward Meyers notes, “Laodicea was popular place for wealthy people to retire…” (Meyers, Letters from the Lord of Heaven, 76). No doubt the hot springs health resort and medical center in town were also selling points for the older affluent citizens of the Roman empire. Rich, prosperous, self-sufficient—think the Villages of Florida on steroids.

2. Character-3:14b

Jesus makes his self-introduction to the church in Laodicea by referring to his character first as “the Amen”—that is the affirmation of God’s truth (Keener, IVPBBC, 736). This unique title and its meaning is supported by what Paul says in places like 2 Corinthians 1:20.

2 Corinthians 1:20-“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

The idea that Jesus is the affirmation of God’s truth is reiterated by what follows—“the faithful and true Witness,…” (4:14c). Truly all that Jesus said and did testified to the glory of God the Father.

John 5:19-“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”

John 5:30-32-“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true

Jesus is the most faithful and greatest witness of the Father and his work because he, unlike anyone else, is able to represent the Lord so perfectly.

Colossians 1:15-“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”

Not only does Jesus confirm that he is the affirmation of the truth of God and that he is the greatest witness to both the person and work of God, he also continues by establishing that he is “the Beginning of the creation of God…” (3:14). This divine title argues that Jesus was the agent behind creation—he is the Beginning that brought everything into existence. Interestingly, the Roman emperor’s primary title during this period was princeps—"the first.” Here Jesus says even before these emperors came to power, he was—highlighting his superiority over these so-called inferior “first-place holders” of the world. These same divine attributes (firstness) and activities (creating) are ascribed to Jesus in the beginning of John’s gospel.

John 1:1-3-“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Jesus introduces himself to this church by drawing attention to his ability to affirm the truth of God (the AMEN), testify to the things of Father (both faithfully and truthfully), and bring things into existence, demonstrating his rulership over creation like the Almighty Lord (the Beginning). After this kind of introduction, the church could not easily disregard or delegitimize the message to be shared (no matter how much they may have wanted to). Instead, it could only trust that whatever message Jesus brought for them came from on high and faithfully and truthfully corresponded with God and his will. (making the coming comments all the more difficult to hear).

3. Commendation-NONE

4. Condemnation-3:15-17

Tragically, there is NO word of commendation granted to this church. This is especially ominous given that even to the church of Sardis—the petrified church—Jesus was able to find at least something remotely nice to say. However, to this beautiful, affluent, prosperous, independent, and picturesque church and city, the character introduction is followed by the sharpest of condemnations. First, Jesus calls them useless—“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I with that you were cold or hot” (3:15). This is the first of two popular verses that have been horribly misinterpreted over the years.  Many assume “hot” means “on fire” for God and “cold” represents being completely cut off from him.  These interpreters will conclude something to the tune of “God would rather you be totally one way (a solid believer) of the other (a willful and aware unbeliever) than on the fence.” However, this could not be further from the truth, especially given the context of this church in Laodicea.

White travertine cliffs at Hierapolis (in view six miles north of Laodicea), were formed because of the nearby mineral hot springs. Colossae, about eleven miles to the east, was known for its cold pure waters. Laodicea, on the other hand, received its water supply through an aqueduct built by the Romans. Its water source was an abundant spring five miles to the south. Because of the distance this water had to travel, by the time it reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm and undoubtedly a standard complaint of local residents, most of whom had a comfortable life otherwise (Keener, IVPBBC, 737; Wilson, ZIBBC, 276). Hot water was useful for cleaning, bathing, and medicinal/therapeutic purposes. Cold water was refreshing to drink. Lukewarm water was…well…useless. Therefore, Jesus says of this church that they, like the water running through their pipes, are useless and an offense to him.  

Jesus’ adverse reaction to this lukewarm church is described in verse 16—“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth…”. More than just useless, this church was putrid—inducing Jesus’ gag-reflex. It is an image that is equal parts shocking and convicting. This church was putrid to the Lord.  

What is worse is that in addition to being useless (and subsequently vomit-inducing), this church was also oblivious—“Because you say ‘I am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’…” (3:17). The veritable disdain this church brought to the mind of Christ was something for which this church was largely unaware. After all, things were comfortable in Laodicea. The church believed itself to be (like the city in which it ministered) self-sufficient and without any tangible needs. The socioeconomic status of Laodicea was a microcosm of Rome’s excessive materialism and unfortunately these worldly sentiments had infiltrated the people of God in this region.

Blinded by their unusually high opinion of themselves and their capabilities, the church failed to realize how much in need they were for Christ’s influence. Never fear! Jesus reminds them of their reality in the latter part of verse 17 and holds no punches—“and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” The polysyndeton (repetition of “and”) implemented here accentuates the indictment made. Though this church had it all in the world’s eyes, they were desperate and destitute in the Lord’s eyes.

This putrid church in Laodicea had some real issues lurking, like faulty plumbing, beneath the surface of its impressive edifice. They were disgustingly useless and woefully oblivious.

5. Correction-3:18-19

However, out of his grace, Jesus provides a compelling word of correction. First, rather than embrace what the world would sell them and measure their value in ways similar to their self-sufficient and largely independent context, Jesus identifies what this church really ought to buy into. First, instead of worldly abundance, they ought to focus on abundance from God—“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you have become rich” (3:18a). Though this church had all kinds of resources and its town was known for its big banks, Jesus reminds this church of what is really valuable—Christ and His gospel (“buy from Me gold refined by fire”). Those who follow this correction are promised spiritual riches.

In addition to reminding them of the real source of riches—Christ and His gospel—Jesus advises them to buy “white garments so that you may clothe yourself and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed” (3:18b). The city was noted in antiquity for a breed of sheep that produced soft, raven-black wool. This local product galvanized a prominent textile industry, rendering this correction dripping with irony. “Jesus finds his people naked despite the local looms that produced their own version of ‘designer’ clothing” (Wilson, ZIBBC, 277). Though clothed with the best brands, God saw shameful nudity and advises them to put on the only clothing that matters –righteousness—sourced exclusively from house of God. White clothing will prove to be a prolific symbol in Revelation for righteousness. In Revelation 19:8, for instance, the Bride of Christ is arrayed in “fine linen bright and clean: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Hindson, Revelation, 49).

In addition to buying into the gold that is the gospel and adorning the raiment of righteousness, Jesus calls them to buy into God’s vision of the world around them—“and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (3:18c). Laodicea housed one of the Roman medical schools of its day. One of its graduates was Demosthenes Philalethes, a renowned ophthalmologist. Also, no doubt in connection with his research and prominence, the city of Laodicea was known for its Phrygian powder that was put into an eye salve marketed and sold in the region. Therefore, again, the irony is seething:  the Laodiceans lived in a place noted for its treatment of the eye, yet they were spiritually blind. “In contrast to the famous Phrygian eye salve for which Laodicea was so well known, the Lord urges them to anoint their eyes with the eye salve of the truth so that they might see things as God sees them” (Hindson, Revelation, 49).

Everything in which Laodicea could have confidence outwardly (its commerce [gold], industry [textiles], and expertise [eye treatments], etc.) its church, which reflected its culture, lacked spiritually. Altogether, Jesus advises the church in Laodicea to buy into God’s abundance as found in the gospel, God’s adorning righteousness as granted through Jesus Christ, and God’s vision of the world—divine gold, white garments, and spiritual eye salve.

To make these corrections, the church needed to take advantage of the grace of God’s present discipline—“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline” (3:19a). As displeasing as this church was, these were still God’s kids and according to Hebrews 12:6, “for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and he scourges every son whom He receives.” Therefore, the church needed to use this difficult and yet necessary episode of “tough-love” discipline to make needed changes.

This begins with repentance—“therefore be zealous and repent” (3:19c). Turn away from your self-sufficiency and depend on the Lord in all things. Quit being impressed with what you can see and grow more fascinated by what is unseen. Stop being impressed with the things you can hold and remember who it is that holds it all.

6. Call-3:20, 22

This leads to the call that Jesus cries out to the church in Laodicea—“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” (3:20). This is yet another verse that is proof-texted and misused. The door mentioned here does not lead to a lost individual’s heart, but to a church full of saints (albeit useless and oblivious saints at present). This is the great tragedy of this message—Jesus is uninvolved in the goings on in Laodicea because the church has, either subconsciously or consciously, showed him the door. Jesus is on the outside looking into this local body of believers and they would do well to turn down the celebration of their independence and superficial prosperity enough to hear the knocking and answer the door so that the only source of true transformation can come in and use them for the kind of works that are pleasing to his palette.

The same goes for any other church who has become enamored with their worldly success to the point that they have forgotten their need for Jesus’ involvement—“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (3:22).

7. Challenge-3:21

As with all the letters, Jesus closes with a challenge—“he who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (3:21a). In this context, overcomers are those who overcome their high view of self and learn how to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. These will enjoy a place to sit on the throne in heaven.  

Laodicea was known as a “throne city” because one of its citizens (Zeno) was awarded a seat of power after resisting a powerful invader in 39 B.C. Zeno’s family continued to rule over the next century and they all figured prominently on the city’s coinage. The throne was for Laodicea and the majority of the known world the most visible symbol of power. The same powerful symbolism was true in ancient Israel. 2 Kings 21:1 and 1 Kings 2:19 also betray that the king could share his throne with his son or other members of his family. Jesus thus promises to share his reign in a superior and eternal kingdom with those who overcome. This is fulfilled later in Revelation 20:4.

Revelation 20:4-“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

So What?

This promise rings true for those of us who fight against the tendency to ever believe our own press, marvel unnecessarily at worldly trappings, and/or grow self-sufficient to the point that we fail to remember how much we need the Lord Jesus Christ to be actively engaged in all that we are and do. When Jesus stands on the outside looking into a church that behaves as though they have no need of him, they become useless and oblivious and, subsequently, trigger God’s gag reflex. May this never be the case for us! As we grow and develop our ministry, may we never become more impressed with our success than we are of the one who is responsible for it!  May there never be a barrier between us and what Jesus wants to do in and through us! May we prove useful and aware in the hands of the Lord as we are about his mission in the context to which he has called us! And may these all be so until we rule with him in his coming kingdom!