Revelation 3:14-22

1. how Christ identifies himself to the church – 14
1. the message to the church at Laodicea is a message to the church in its final state of apostasy
1. the ruin of that church was pride, material wealth and self-satisfaction among the people
2. they did not need God--they had everything
3. we are now living in a church age symbolized by the spirit of the Laodiceans of John's day--pride, wealth, and self-satisfaction
2. "the Amen"
1. the word means true, certain or faithful
1. what He affirms is true
2. what He promises or threatens is certain
3. He to whom it is applied is extremely true and faithful
2. the Speaker addressing the Laodiceans is "The Truth,"
1. Christ is only pleased when He finds this quality in others
2. He looks with displeasure on the Laodicean church because they were lukewarm, which implies insincerity
3. as the "Amen" He has the final word on all things
3. "the faithful and true witness"
1. Jesus Christ alone will reveal all and tell all
2. in the days of apostasy, who can you believe –there is only one faithful and true witness
4. "the beginning of the creation of God"
1. He is the Creator, but the myth of evolution is widely accepted today
2. there are only two explanations for the origin of the universe
1. speculation – because nobody was there to see it
2. revelation – what the Word of God has to say
3. evolution is the denial of Deity
1. it is no wonder that Jesus calls them "wretched" – 17
2. the ruin of this church was pride, material wealth and self-satisfaction among the people
3. they did not need God--they had everything
4. they gloried in things--not in the Lord
2. no commendation for this church, but only a rebuke – 15
1. omniscience is a divine attribute, and Jesus Christ is divine [I know thy works]
2. this last phase of the church is the worst, by all means
1. notice the use of the terms "COLD" and "HOT" -- not "DEAD" and "ALIVE"
2. the Laodiceans were in the most dangerous state possible
3. they were not referred to as being spiritually dead, nor as being spiritually alive, they were indifferent
4. they were lost, for had they been born again they would not have been spewed out of His mouth
5. had the church been totally cold, there would have been a possibility of reviving the coldness
6. if it was hot the Lord could have blessed them
7. the church at Laodicea was a group of undecided, neutral members who would not take a stand one way or the other toward Christ or the truth [neither cold nor hot]
8. this is the most hateful, disgusting spirit possible to display against Christ, the Word, or the Church
9. total indifference is damning more people today than all other types of sin combined
3. we can understand why He would prefer them hot, but why does He prefer them cold over lukewarm
1. a state of professed unbelief is more honest
1. there is no disguise, no concealment, no pretense
2. sad as the state is, it is at least honest
2. such a state is more honorable
1. a man who is false to himself is an utter fool
2. the character of the man who is openly opposed, and takes his stand, can be respected for being true to himself
3. there is more hope of salvation for the one who is cold
1. the most hopeless people are those who are members of a church; who have made a profession but do not possess Christ (Judas)
2. a person who willingly deceives himself has little hope of ever being saved
3. a man who honestly admits his unbelief may one day see the light (Paul)
3. consequences for being lukewarm – 16 [I will spew thee out]
1. judgment:--they will be spewed out, ALL OF THEM, not even a remnant will be spared
1. His determination to cast out such a church was not final, there was room for repentance
2. the number of such churches today are legion
3. these are a greater hindrance to the cause of Christ than if they were cold and dead
2. a lukewarm professor is…
1. one that serves God and mammon
2. one that halts between two opinions
3. one that knows not what religion is best, and cares little for any
4. one that has no thought for the glory of God, or the interest of Christ and truth
3. Christianity began its history under the brightest promise
1. Christianity will climax under the darkest cloud ever to rest upon the course of mankind
2. the Utopia the politicians talk about will never come to pass as long as the devil is loose
3. when Jesus personally places him in the pit, we will have Utopia
4. until that glorious hour, evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse
4. two views of the same church – 17
1. the view of the people
1. the Laodiceans testified that there was a self-satisfied condition in the assembly, and also pride
1. the church boasted openly, "I am rich!"
2. the church at Laodicea could matched some of our big churches today--in members, social influence, gifts, showy buildings, robed choirs, intellectual leaders
3. any church, whether then or now, is headed for ruin when it puts "things" ahead of Jesus
4. wealth at the expense of spirituality is a tragedy and a curse
2. the Laodiceans testify further: "And have need of nothing"
1. these people had absolutely no place for the Lord Jesus Christ in their program
2. they did not need anything He had; they were completely satisfied
3. they believed what the liberals and modernists are preaching today--"the goodness of God"
4. they did not believe in a God who is a consuming fire, and judges in righteousness
3. this church had all its wants satisfied; they had enough of everything
1. therefore they sat down in contentment, self-complacency, and indifference
2. it is almost unavoidable that those who are rich in this world’s goods should feel that they have need of nothing
3. there is a common illusion among men that if one has wealth he has everything
4. this is the reason for the universal desire to be rich
2. how Jesus saw them
1. these people did not know their spiritual condition
1. the true character of the Laodiceans are summed up by the Spirit in three words: poverty, nakedness, blindness
2. deep down in their own sinful hearts they thought they were sitting on top of the world religiously, but in reality they were on top of the world
3. spiritually they were wretched, and miserable, but their blind hearts could not see nor feel their misery
2. this prophecy relates to the prophecy of Matthew 24:37-39
1. in the days of Noah people were eating (it takes riches to eat and become gluttons)
2. they were marrying and giving in marriage (it takes money to marry and divorce)
3. this went on until the flood came AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY, Why?
4. because they KNEW NOT
5. they were ignorant of the spiritual judgment that hung over their heads; though they were wise in the things of this earth
5. the advice that Jesus had for them – 18
1. He who is the "Wonderful Counsellor" still loves this church in spite of what they are
1. His counsel concerns their desperate, but unrecognized need
2. all their wealth cannot buy what they need
3. the purchase price is to recognize their wretched condition, and come to Him in repentance
1. forsaking their riches and prestige for true riches
2. forsaking their worldly wisdom for true wisdom
4. they must receive the pure white garments of His righteousness to replace the filthy rags of their own righteousness
2. what Christ was offering them
1. true wealth – "pure gold tried in the fire"
2. fulfillment of their one need – "white raiment"
3. spiritual discernment – "eyesalve"
6. God’s actions toward those He loves – 19
1. Christ is trying to show this church that they are not His children
1. God chastens and rebukes His children
2. they were without chastisement (happy and content)
3. God does not whip the devil’s children
4. God loves sinners, but God’s love for His children causes Him to chasten them
5. any person who can live in sin, prosper in sin, be happy in sin and continue in sin without the chastening hand of God being placed upon him, has never been a son
6. just because a person has made a profession, does not mean they are born again
2. Jesus calls them to repentance
7. Christ’s relationship with the church in the last days – 20
1. the last picture of the church is sad, because we find the Lord Jesus Christ on the outside trying to get in
1. He is knocking at the door of the church, not an individual heart
2. if one individual will open the door, His promise is, "I will come in and sup with him, and he with me"
3. here we have a true display of the grace of God, even when the church has stooped to the lowest degree and has pushed the Lord Jesus out, He is still seeking them
4. the way of repentance and hope was not closed to them
2. the act of knocking implies two things
1. we desire to enter in
2. we recognize the right of him who dwells within to open the door to us or not
3. this expression proves that the attempt for reconciliation begins with the Savior
4. we must hear the Word of God before we can open the door to Christ [hear my voice, and open the door]
5. salvation is as simple as opening the door to let someone in
6. the blessedness of opening the door is in having the friendship of Christ [will sup with him…]
8. the promise to the overcomers – 21
1. the path to victory and reward lies open to every believer
2. the overcomer will share the honors of Christ [sit with me in my throne]
3. Jesus has never asked one of His children to travel a path He did not travel before us [as I also overcame]
4. salvation is free--but rewards and victory are earned at a tremendous price
9. hearing what the Spirit says to the churches - 22
1. this is the seventh time that this command is given, and it stresses the extreme importance of the matter
1. it is vital that we read and heed these messages to the churches
2. the problems they faced, are the problems that confront churches today
3. the same warnings and promises apply to us as well as to them
2. in this verse is the last mention of the church in the book of Revelation until the last chapter