The church of Laodicea was located within a Christian community in the city of Laodicea near the river Lycus in the Roman province of Asia. In a very wealthy area, due to the land being fertile with pastures that produced beautiful flocks of sheep. Laodicea became the financial and political headquarters of the entire region. Across the Lycus river from Laodicea was the city of Hierapolis. The bathes and spas of Hierapolis were visited by people due to claims that; the water possessed medicinal benefits. A third city in the same region was Colossae, built on a major trade route in the Lycus River Valley, known for its beautiful dark red wool. Although at one time just as important, by the time Apostle Paul wrote to Colossae, it was an unimportant place in comparison to Laodicea and Hierapolis. Nevertheless, this region was home of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Could have been due to the wealth of the region that caused people of Laodicea to be viewed as a conceded people. Their self-exaggerated reputation may have spilled-over into the church. We are brought to today’s definition of a Laodicean: “A person with a halfhearted attitude toward religion or politics.” Another definition of a Laodicean is: “A person who is lukewarm or indifferent, especially in religion.”
The Bible speaks about those who are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm. This signifies that people, who are as such, sometimes deny that the Word of God is Devine and Holy and at other times acknowledge its truth. This is the condition of church today. Full of spiritually blind, naked, and tepid folks is a compromised church. A church filled with people of increased wealth, with no need of anything, who fail to realize that they are spiritually despicable, poor, blind, and naked. When people possess earthly richness, they sometimes equate this to having abundant knowledge of good and truth. However, these things are of Heaven and the church of God. Those who have no need of anything are fooled into believing they have no need of more wisdom, understanding, or truth.
All that they have comes from God. In the heavenly realm, their earthly money buys nothing. The church must be Jesus driven, so must the home, city, and nation, with Him at its center.
It is better for them to either deny the Holy things of God or acknowledge them, both from the heart. Because there will surely come a time that the lukewarm shall be as vomit out of the mouth of God which signifies a separation from the Lord. False prophets have gone out into the world preaching prosperity, leading the masses away from Bible based ministry.
The time is now for the churches of the wealthy regions of the world to place Jesus back in the center of ministry. He is outside waiting to take His rightful place in the church. This last age church has lost its eyesight. The house of God is not about entertainment, politics, or commerce, for it is these things that are disgusting in the sight of God.
Where Jesus is, so is the Father. Jesus is the origin of creation and the confirmation of God’s existence. Spend time in the Word of God, place Jesus in the center of everything that we do, and His blessings shall be overflowing from our storehouses.
Revelation 1:11
11 “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Revelation 3:14-22
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:
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.
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.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”