This letter is a strong rebuke to the church that has departed from the faith. There is no praise, no mentioning of good works, and no apparent remnant of true believers in the congregation. At the same time, however, the picture of Jesus standing and knocking at the door of a heart He has deemed repugnant is also one of the most remarkable evidences of the love and mercy of God found anywhere in the Bible.

3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

Because Laodicea had departed from the true doctrine of Christ, and instead had accepted the doctrines of men, Jesus presents Himself with a three-fold title that shows Him to be the Truth.

First, Jesus calls Himself "the Amen", which means "true.” Where God is twice called in Scripture the “God of truth”, it means the “God of the Amen" (Isa.65:16). In other words, Jesus is the eternally true.

Secondly, Jesus calls Himself "the Faithful and True Witness". In contrast to worldly doctrines of humanism and materialism and all other vain philosophies, Jesus is (in the most absolute sense) the “Faithful and True”. He is the One in the bosom of the Father who has declared Him (John 1:18), the absolute expression of God to man (John 8:19b), the eternally true and reliable Witness.

Finally, Jesus calls Himself "the Beginning of the creation of God". This signifies Jesus to be the Creator of all creation, its origin and active cause. (See Col.1:15). He existed before time began; He is the eternal One.

3:15-16 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

Water becomes lukewarm in one of two ways: Whether its steaming hot or frozen solid, if allowed to sit at room temperature or mixed, cold with hot, water becomes lukewarm. In the same way, when Christians sit idly and do nothing with their faith, or when they mix truth with untruth, they become spiritually lukewarm.

The issue for Laodicea was having mixed the Word of Truth with untrue worldly philosophies. As a result, they concocted spiritually lukewarm hearts. They were neither hot nor cold, neither fervent for God nor bitterly opposed to God. They had adopted total indifference without conviction.

“I could wish you were cold or hot.” In other words, if Laodicea were “hot” it would have signified a heart that burned for Christ, whereas if they were “cold” it might have stirred a need to know Christ. Instead, Laodicea had become so satisfied and smugly contented with their complacency it became comfortable to neither desire Christ fervently, or to change. One commentator illustrates it well, “Whereas a cold person might at least sense a need, seek out a fire, and move near it, a lukewarm person senses no need, seeks out nothing, and comfortably stays put”.

"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth." At first glance, this would appear that the Laodiceans were in danger of losing salvation, but I don’t consider the admonition concerning salvation. I believe the warning had to do with losing the opportunity to enjoy fellowship inside the body of Christ. Foremost, because that’s how God used this particular graphic one other time against His own people. He warned Israel not to defile their land with abominations “lest the land vomit you out” and then went on to say, “For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people" (Lev.18:24-29). The implication being (at least to me) that they would be discharged from the Nation and lose the blessing of fellowship with God's people, yet continue to be a people of God, rooted to the Nation, nonetheless.

We read about a similar incident in the church at Corinth regarding a man charged with adultery. In that case, Paul angrily admonished the congregation to drive the man from the group and “put away from yourselves that wicked person” (I Cor.5:13). But it’s clear that the admonition didn't regard that man’s salvation because Paul says, “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (I Cor.5:5). Moreover, when the man seemingly did repent later, the Apostle urged the congregation to "forgive and comfort him" and to "reaffirm your love to him" (2 Cor.2:7,8).

So the unrepentant of Laodicea were in danger, but not of losing their salvation. Jesus would “spew” or "discharge" them from His Body, which is the Church. Meaning they would to be cut off from among His people, and like those in Israel, and the man in Corinth, would lose the joy of fellowship, the peace of the Spirit, the nourishment of the Word, and a sense of God's blessings and presence.

3:17-18 'Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing"-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

The great stumbling block for the Laodiceans was their wealth.

A commercially rich city with many wealthy business people stuffing the church coffers, Laodicea had a sense of a financial well being that blinded them to the reality of their own spiritual depravity. "[You don't even know] that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…I counsel you to buy from Me," Jesus told them. What Laodicea needed most their money couldn't buy, and only Jesus Christ can give.

First, they needed "gold refined in fire." This was to meet their spiritual poverty. The Bible says that godly wisdom is the "enduring riches" (Prov.8:18); the same burden, incidentally, that the Apostle Paul held for Laodicea years before (Col.2:1-3).

Secondly, they needed "white garments.” This was to meet their spiritual nakedness. In the pride of their financial success, Laodicea had unwittingly stripped itself of the covering of Christ. Considering themselves in need of nothing, they left themselves naked before God, and unrighteous in all their ways. They needed a covering of the righteousness of Christ.

Finally, they needed "eyesalve." This was to meet their spiritual blindness. This speaks of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. For apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, there can be no enlightenment about the Person or purposes of God (Eph.1:17-23).

3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Though Laodicea's complacency had ruined their relationship with Christ, it’s evident that Jesus did not turn His back on the Laodiceans, for He qualifies them as His legitimate children, whom He loves. (See also—Heb.12:5,6).

More miraculous still is that He continues to pursue the Laodiceans. Though crowded out of their hearts, Jesus remains at their hearts, beckoning at the door deliberately shut to Him. It’s a compelling picture of our Heavenly Father. That He would find us prodigal, yet in His heart yearn to be in fellowship with us still.

Oh, how wonderfully reassuring are the words,

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me" (Ps.139:7-10).

3:21-22 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne as I also 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."

“I will grant to sit with Me on My throne as also I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” The idea here is that nothing will remain in us that would defile His throne, or prevent us from sitting next to Him. By His grace, we shall become His righteousness, both pure and clean.

Historically: Known for its black wool industry, Laodicea became one of the most important and flourishing cities in Asia Minor during the Roman period. As the seat of large money transactions and its extensive trade in wool, most citizens developed a taste for Greek art, were distinguished in literature and science, and were wealthy. In fact it was the wealthy citizens of Laodicea that rebuilt the city following a destructive earthquake in AD 62 (without help from the state). It is believed that the Apostle Paul had a major hand in planting the Gospel in Laodicea, although he had not yet visited the city when he wrote Colossians 2:1. The site of Laodicea is now a deserted heap of ruins the Turks call Eski Hisar.

[This ends part two of Revelation. John has written those things "which are.” What follows concerns those things which “follow after these things”]