Revelation 3:14 - 22

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: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 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— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the 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. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 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. 21 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 thr one.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

John is once again told to write to the one who has the responsibility of delivering the message to the congregation.

Christ identifies Himself using a different description but another accurate one. John chapter one tells us he was in the beginning with God and all things were made through him. “Amen” is a statement meaning “So be it” and it punctuates the sentence of Christ being both the Faithful and True Witness. A true witness would never endorse any statement which was false. He is Faithful because everything He says came from God the Father. (John 5)(John 14:10)

He again knows what goes on in this congregation at Laodicea. This time it is not praise or commendation, because what He speaks is critical of their conditions.

“Neither hot or cold” this is not a comparison of being either good or evil. It is figurative based on the desirable traits of some food and drinks. Some like their coffee hot or it isn't worth drinking to them. Some of us like drinks which have a lot of ice and is cold and after the ice melts it is only to be dumped down the drain.

He is telling them their condition is like lukewarm coffee or a lukewarm cold drink needing to be tossed away.

They are apparently an affluent congregation and have begun to trust more in their earthly riches than in laying up treasures in heaven to depend on. They have the belief they are rich and wealthy and do not need anything. But Christ says they do not understand that they are spiritually “miserable, poor, blind and naked.” This is the very reason Christ spoke of how easy it is for riches to blind one's perspective. They had become like the thorny ground of the parable of the sower. Their riches had deceived them and choked the word of God and made them unfruitful. (Matthew 13)

Christ advises them to obtain “Gold refined by fire” which is a figurative name for having faith in God. (1 Peter 1:7) The faith makes them so they can see and correct their path to salvation, it allows them to prepare and become fitting for the white robe which will allow entrance into heaven, no one without the proper garment will be allowed into heaven (Matthew 22:11 – 14), faith makes one rich spiritually.

Christ says he rebukes and chastens because He loves those who have need of correction such as us or the congregation at Laodicea. Chastening is only done because of love. Paul writes of how we are chastened by God because of His love for us and how well we become if we endure the chastening. (Hebrews 12)

To be hot for Christ we must be zealous for His cause. We have to take a stand for what is right and against what is wrong.

There is a quote which has been around for almost 100 years although the source is not clear. “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.”

Without zeal for Christ one fits this category, like the Laodiceans, lukewarm and worth only to be spit out.

Christ says become zealous and repent of the idea that you do not need God.

He says He is available to the faithful and will open the door to those who knock. He will not accept forced obedience, He will only accept those who want to be followers of Christ.

By asking to come in then Christ and the Father will dine with those who want to be there.

By overcoming the different conditions which are listed as facing these congregations which the seven letters are addressed to then those who do are invited into heaven to sit with Christ on His throne.

Again He ends the letter by telling all of us to hear and obey His words.