Revelation: Lukewarm Laodicea

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

Lukewarm Laodicea

In this blog, we finally come to the last and seventh church.

If we follow the historical interpretation of the seven churches and believe that they also represent seven periods of church history from the time Jesus stands among the lampstands as the risen Savior, then this is the church that lives just before the return of Jesus and will experience it.
From this church, we are justified in expecting much. Jesus is almost returning, they see the signs of the times, and they have a long history behind them to study as examples or warnings.
How fervent they should be! How good!
But sadly, Revelation tells us something different about the church of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:14-16 (ESV)
"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.'"

Jesus introduces Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness. What He says here is true. He is reliable. "Amen" literally means "let it be so." He is also called the "beginning" or "firstborn" of God's creation. In a previous study, we discussed this in detail.
He is the Most High and the foremost; He is the chief in all creation.
In the letter to the Colossians, it is said:

Colossians 1:15-23 (ESV)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.'"

It is no wonder that this letter was also written to Laodicea:

Colossians 4:15-16 (ESV)
"Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea."

Laodicea had become lukewarm.
The word "hot" here comes from the Greek word meaning fervent. "Cold," on the other hand, comes from a Greek word used to represent a cooling of love.
Ephesus, the first church, had a problem with its first love.
Laodicea, the last church, also has a problem with its love.
It is neither fervent nor completely rejecting God and losing all love. It is lukewarm. And by adopting this attitude, it gives a wrong picture of God and brings itself into deadly danger.
They should have continued to look to Jesus, who is so clearly set forth in the letter to the Colossians. For faith produces love:

Galatians 5:6 (ESV)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."

But there is healing possible for this condition. In the next blogs, we will see what remedies Jesus gives to this church.