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Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
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The City of Laodicea is Lukewarm: Day 18 
"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." (Revelation 3.14-16)
Laodicea is Reprimanded
Laodicea has the grim distinction of being the only Church of which the Risen Christ has nothing good to say. It was founded about 250 B.C. by Antiochus of Syria and was named after his wife Laodice.
The letter to Laodicea reprimands the community for being lukewarm, but no particular faults are singled out. Their material prosperity is contrasted with their spiritual poverty. The violet tunics that were the source of their wealth are compared to the white robe of baptism. The famous eye ointment is viewed against true spiritual perception. The believers didn't take a stand for anything and indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.
The importance of Laodicea was due entirely to its position. The road from Ephesus to the east and to Syria was the most important in Asia. It began at the coast at Ephesus and climbed up to the 8,500 feet central plateau. It set out along the valley of the River Maeander until it reached what were known as the Gates of Phrygia. Beyond this point lay a broad valley where Lydia, Phrygia and Caria met. The Maeander entered that valley by a narrow, precipitous gorge through which no road could pass. The road, therefore, detoured through the Lycus valley. In that valley stood Laodicea.
Of all the seven Churches that of Laodicea is most condemned. There is no redeeming feature in it. It is interesting to note that the third century work. Archippus was the first Bishop of the Church in Laodicea (1). When Paul was writing to the neighboring Church of Colossae, he says sternly: "Say to Archippus, 'See that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord'" (2). It would seem that Archippus was somehow failing in his duty. That was thirty years before the Revelation was written, but it may be that the rot had set in in the Church in Laodicea.
Jesus - the Amen
Like all the other letters, the letter to Laodicea begins with a series of titles for Jesus Christ.
He is called the Amen. This is a strange title and may go back to either of two origins. God is called "the God of truth" (3) but in the Hebrew he is called the "the God of Amen". "Amen" is the word which is often put at the end of a solemn statement in order to authenticate its truth. If God is "the God of Amen", he is utterly to be relied upon. This would mean that Jesus Christ is the One whose promises are true beyond all doubt.
In John's gospel, Jesus' statements often begin: "Truly, truly, I say to you" (4). The Greek for truly is "Amen". It is possible that when Jesus Christ is called "the Amen", it is a reminder of his own way of speaking. The meaning would be the same, Jesus is one whose promises can be relied upon.
Jesus - the Faithful and True Witness
Jesus is the witness on whom we can rely and who is true. A witness must have seen with his own eyes that of which he tells. He must be absolutely honest, so that he repeats with accuracy that which he has heard and seen and he must have the ability to tell what he has to say, so that his statement may make its true impression on those who hear.
Jesus Christ perfectly satisfied these conditions. He can tell of God, because he came from him. He is able to tell his message, for never did another human being speak as he did.
The Ruler of God's Creation.
Jesus is the ruler of God's creation. Jesus began the process of creation. Trench wrote it as, "dynamically the beginning." The word for beginning is "arche." God is the "arche" of all things, that is, all things find their beginning in him.
The connection of the Son with creation is frequently made in the New Testament. John begins his gospel by saying of the Word: "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made" (5). "In him," says Paul, "all things were created" (6). As the Christian sees it, the God of creation and the God of redemption are one and the same.
A Wealthy City
Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities. It was renowned for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye ointment. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye ointments.
Laodicea was a great banking and financial centre. When Cicero was travelling in Asia Minor it was at Laodicea that he cashed his letters of credit. It was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. In A.D. 61, it was devastated by an earthquake; but so rich and independent were its citizens that they refused any help from the Roman government and out of their own resources rebuilt their city. No wonder that Laodicea could boast that it was rich and had amassed wealth and had need of nothing. It was so wealthy that it did not even feel it needed God.
A Lukewarm Water Supply Problem
The city had always had a problem with its water supply, it was lukewarm. Its neighbor, Hierapolis, had hot springs used for healing and Colossae had streams of refreshing cold pure water. At one time a six-mile long aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from the hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot enough for a bath nor cool enough to drink, just lukewarm! It was neither healing nor refreshing! Who could stomach it? The church had become as bland as the tepid water that entered it. I am about to spit you out of my mouth, says Jesus.
A Clothing Manufacturer
Laodicea was a great centre of clothing manufacture. The sheep which grazed round Laodicea were famous for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool. It mass-produced cheap outer garments.
A Medical Centre
Laodicea was also a very considerable medical centre. So famous were its doctors that the names of some appear on the coins of Laodicea. Two of them were called Zeuxis and Alexander Philalethes.
The medical school at Laodicea was famous for ointment or eye-salve for the ear and for the eye. The word for salve literally means "a little roll of bread." This famous powder was exported all over the world in solidified tablet form in the shape of little rolls. Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the care of the eyes that it never realized that it was spiritually blind.
The words of the Risen Christ arise directly from the prosperity and the skill in which Laodicea took so much pride and which had in the minds of its citizens, and even of its Church, eliminated the need for God.
Meditation
Are you "lukewarm" in your faith? What would it mean to you if Christ fired up your faith?
Prayer
"Yesterday, Today, Forever, Jesus is the same, All may change but Jesus never, Glory to his name"
Notes
(1) The Apostolic Constitutions 8:46 (2) Colossians 4:17 (3) Isaiah 65:16 (4) John 1:51; 3:3, 5, 11 (5) John 1:3 (6) Colossians 1:15,18
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
