We conclude our study of the seven messages to the churches of Asia recorded in Revelation 2-3. The final message is addressed to Philadelphia.

Message to Laodicea (Part 1)

Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the seven messages.

Rev 3:14-18

Laodicea A city near Colossae and Hierapolis. It was a centre for fine wool, ointments, banking, among other things. It had a water supply channelled from hot springs. The water arrived lukewarm.

The Amen Jesus calls himself here "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness...". The word "Amen" is a Hebrew word meaning "true". In this title of Christ, the use of "Amen" simply reinforces the verity of the testimony of Christ, "the faithful and true witness" (cf Rev 1:2,9).

Beginning of the creation Jesus again refers to himself as "the beginning". As we have seen, he is "the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Rev 22:13).

Jesus Christ, the Beginning

By calling himself "the beginning of the creation of God", Jesus does not mean that he is the first being ever created by God. He is the beginning "and the end", the first "and the last". So what Jesus means is that he is the source or origin of all creation (Jhn 1:1-3, Col 2:16-18, Rev 1:5).

By becoming a human being, however, the eternal Son of God became part of the very creation of which he himself was the origin. And by rising from the dead and ascending to the right hand of God, he is the "firstborn of all creation" (Acts 26:23, Rom 8:29 1Co 15:20-23, Col 1:15). His title, "the beginning of the creation of God", carries this idea as well. He is the beginning not only of the present creation, but of the eternal and glorious new heavens and new earth to come (Rev 21:1-7).

I know... Jesus assessed the Laodiceans by their deeds, and found that they were lukewarm, "Neither cold nor hot".

...out of my mouth Jesus threatens to spit these Laodicean Christians out of his mouth, to reject and repudiate them. This develops that part of the vision in which John saw a sharp two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of Christ, and this sword was the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev 1:9,16). So when Jesus threatens to spit the Laodiceans out of his mouth, he emphasises their failure to abide by, and be zealous of, his word.

rich... poor The Laodiceans thought they were rich, however Jesus tells them they are miserably poor. There are two ways this could have happened.

• (1) They may have been materially rich and thought that their financial wealth was a sign of God’s approval.
• (2) They may have thought they were rich in knowledge when they had mixed superstition and vain philosophy with the gospel.

Buy of me... Jesus has described the Laodiceans as "poor and blind and naked" (verse 17). So he tells them to buy from him...

• gold (because they are poor). Gold represents the heavenly inheritance in the glorious kingdom of Christ.
• white garments (because they are naked). White garments represent the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice that Christ.
• eye salve (because they are blind). Eye ointment represents the spiritual healing and restoration of spiritual insight which Christ can provide in this world of darkness and ignorance.

But if they are "poor", how can they "buy"? Well of course it is Jesus who paid the price for our redemption, and if he redeemed us then he owns us as his slaves. As our Owner and Master, he looks after our welfare in a manner unimaginably kind and generous: he gives us gold and fine linen to wear, and healing balm —and everlasting happiness. Wonderful is our redeemer. Praise his name!

 Lesson continues (Part 2)

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