The following are to be considered:
The following are to be considered:
The significance of the name p.1
The importance of the historical and geographical status of the city p.1
Other scriptural references p.2
The Messiah p.3
He who knocks p.5
References and credits p.6
Laodicea – The Self-deceived Assembly
Rev. 3:14-22
Each future assembly would have a particular problem highlighted in the letters, but there are all aspects of the letters apparent in varying degrees at all Church Periods.
Laodicea was typical of the assemblies from 1900 C.E to the present. Most of the assemblies of the present era can be seen to be self-deceived in that they are wealthy yet poor (Larkin p. 27 ).
Rev. 3:14 – The Greeting
“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Ameyn, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of Yahuah’s creation, says these things:
The city
Name: A city at this location has had several names probably as a result of subsequent devastating earthquakes. When it was rebuilt, the city was named in honour of the benefactor ((4)Fairbairn p. 59). There were several Laodiceas in the Roman Empire, and this city was known as Laodicea on the Lycus. The benefactor at the rebuilding of the city standing at the time of the Letter was Antichus Theos whose wife was called Laodice.
Geographical status: Located in the Roman province of Phrygia, close to the Lycus River and the hot thermal springs of Hierapolis. The fertile soil of its hinterland was ideal for the production of food and wine,
It was situated at the cross-roads of the main highways from Ephesus to east Asia, Pergamos/Hermus Valley to Pisidia and Pomphylia and the coast at Perga, and eastern Caria to central/west Phrygia.
Commercial status: The location and road systems made the city of great commercial and strategic importance boosted by Pax Romana (the Peace of Rome).
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(i) A great banking and financial centre, one of the wealthiest cities of the Roman Empire ((1)Barclay p. 174);
(ii) A great centre of the garment trade, both expensive, luxurious dyed woollen and cheap mass-produced clothes;
(iii) An important medical centre, centred around the Temple of Men (the Carian god). The temple was also the main social, administrative and commercial area. It was world-renowned for the manufacture of eye-salve and ear-salve.
(iv) The city was known for at least three theatres and a circus, one of which was capable of hosting up to thirty thousand people (Thomas Vol. I p. 401). This showed the affluence of the city and an indicator of the amount of leisure time available to its inhabitants.
(v) Although it was not a port city, Laodicea became the most significant commercial centre of the Phrygia region (Thomas Vol. I p. 402).
Political status: The city was given a Roman Coventus, a meeting of local dignitaries appointed by the Roman Praetor or Proconsul, approved to settle civil disputes.
Religious status: The Temple of Men was located here.
Population: A cosmopolitan mixture of people including a large Jewish community of over 7,500 males. Near-by Hierapolis housed archives of the Congregation of Jews, exiled from Mesopotamia ((1)Barclay p. 176).
Scripture: “When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.” Col. 4:16 refers to a letter from Laodicea ((4)Fairbairn p. 59). This letter was to be read out in the Colossae Assembly and the Letter to the Colossians Assembly to be read out in the Laodicean Assembly. The Laodicean Letter may have been written by Sha`ul (Henry p. 1386). Sha`ul’s Letter to the Ephesian Assembly may have been a circular letter sent out originally to Laodicea and on to the other local cities, such as Hierapolis ((2)Barclay p. 80). Sha`ul warns Archippus to take greater care over his ministry, “When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received from Yahuah, that you fulfil it.’” (Col. 4:16, 17). Archippus was later known as the first Bishop of the Laodicean Assembly ((2)Barclay p. 176 quoting The Apostolic Constitutions 8.46).
The Messiah
(i) He is the Ameyn:
(a) the `Elohiym of Truth, “so that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the `Elohiym of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the `Elohiym of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from my eyes.” (Isa. 65:16). There is total integrity and all His promises are to be relied upon;
(b) many statements of the Master recorded by the Apostle Yochanan in his Good News account starts with Ameyn, Ameyn, “He said to him, ‘Ameyn, Ameyn, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of `Eloakh
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ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” (John 1:51). It was a means that the Master had of drawing the listeners attention to what He is about to say.
(ii) He is the True Witness that must:
(a) have first-hand knowledge of events;
(b) be truthful;
(c)be able to relate events succinctly;
“He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His witness. He who has received His witness has set his seal to this, that `Eloakh is true. For He whom `Eloakh has sent speaks the words of `Eloakh; for `Eloakh gives HaRuach without measure.” (John 3:31-34).
“Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matt. 3.17). Yochanan the Immerser was a witness as to the deity of the Messiah. “While He was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.’” (Matt. 17.5). The apostles Yochanan, Ya`akob and Shimon Kefa were also witnesses as to the deity ofthe Messiah. All four were first hand witnesses of the voice of Yahuah endorsed by the dove and the bright cloud. Not only was the Messiah’s witness discounted, but also those of the apostles and the Immerser contrary to Moshaic Law, “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.” (Deut. 19:15).
ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ a-koo- ete #G191 autos ow-tos #G846 hear and obey him. ἀκούετε this verb is the second person plural, present imperative active. Yahuah is commanding all Believers to listen to and obey His Son at all times.
(ii) The cause of Creation, “For by Him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and for Him.” (Col. 1:16).
Rev. 3:15-17 – The Complaint
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and do you not know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;’”
Lukewarm
ψυχρὸς psychros soo-khros #G5593 – cold to the point of freezing.
ζεστός zes-tos #G2200 – hot to the point of boiling.
Cold (ψυχρὸς psychros) water is usually associated with the fast-flowing run-off from the mountains, fresh with very little bacteria. Hot (ζεστός zestos) water would kill off any bacteria.
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χλιαρὸς chliaros khlee-a-ros #G5513 – tepid. Water that is lukewarm can be hazardous to health. This water would probably be indicative of standing, stagnant pools of water, promoting the growth of bacteria. The action of spewing out the tepid water may have been an automatic reaction to drinking this warm water.
(i) Indifference to the Messiah;
(ii) Indifference to their own condition. “What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22);
(a) great commercial wealth although they were spiritually bankrupt;
(b) manufacturers of eye-salve although they were spiritually blind;
(c) luxurious garment trade although they were spiritually naked.
Rev. 3:18 – The Counsel
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
The wealth offered by the Messiah was one that could not fail, “Do not layup treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through and steal;” (Matt. 6:19, 20). The gold and silver that has been refined by fire, “I will bring the third part into the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is my people;’ And they will say, ‘Yahuah is my `Elohiym.’” (Zech.13:9). However true faith was more desirable than these, “that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honour at the revelation of Yahushah the Messiah” (1 Pt. 1:7).
In spite of the eye-salve and ear-salve production, only the Risen Messiah can truly open blind eyes and deaf ears, “You see many things, but do not observe. His ears are open, but he does not hear.” (Isa. 42:20).
The white raiment is indicative of the Messiah, “His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” (Mar. 9:3) and of His righteousness.
Rev. 3:19 – The Chastening
“As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.”
The Messiah’s love shows in:
(i) This Letter is proof-positive of the Messiah’s love for the Laodicean Assembly;
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(ii) That the Messiah is willing to take the trouble to chastise the congregation, “But when we are judged, we are punished by the Master, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Cor. 11:32);
(iii) That the Messiah wants to open the eyes of the miscreant in order to bring about repentance, “Behold, and answer me, Yahuah, my `Elohiym. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;” (Psa 13:3).
Rev. 3:20-22 – The Promise
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down 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 assemblies.”
He who knocks
At the door as:
(i) The Judge: Believers are encouraged to be patient with one another as the Messiah’s return is imminent, “Do not grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you will not be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.” (James 5:9);
(ii) The Lover: The Bridegroom will soon come for His Bride and He expects her to be ready and waiting, “I opened to my Beloved; But my Beloved left; gone away. My heart went out when He spoke. I looked for Him, but I did not find Him. I called Him, but He did not answer.” (Song 5:2-6):
(iii) The Seeker: The Seeker of the lost appeals to every man that there is an eternal reward for all who seek after Him, “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him, for he who comes to `Eloakh must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6).
(iv) The Diner: The Messiah will be able to sit down and have the meal of all meals, He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb’ He said to me, ‘These are true words of Yahuah.’” (Rev. 19:9).
(v) The Usher: The Messiah admits people into the presence of Yahuah. All through the remainder of Revelations, the heavenly court is a scene of either worship or one of judgement. The Messiah’s death made a door through which everyone gains access to the throne of Yahuah:
(a) For worship of Believers who have accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb (Rev. 4:4-11);
(b) For judgement of un-Believers who have rejected the sacrifice of the Lamb (Rev. 20:11-15).
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Ears
ἀκούω a-koo-oh #G191– means not only to hear but to consider, understand and to act upon what has been said and is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew שָׁמַע shema #H8085.
(i) Him: this personalises all the letters. The Messiah addresses the warnings and promises of this and all the other letters to each and every Believer throughout the ages;
(ii) Assemblies: this generalises all the letters. The Messiah addresses the warnings and promises to each and every Assembly throughout the ages.
The promise is given to those who endure to the bitter end.
There will be a more severe judgement against those who have heard the Word of Yahuah and reject it than to those who have not heard. “That servant, who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47, 48).
Yahuah bless you and keep you,
Yahuah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
All glory be to Yahuah,
Ameyn.
References and Credits
In using these references, it is in no way agreeing to or condoning the theological viewpoint of the authors.
(1)Barclay Rev. W.(1960) The Revelation of John Vol.I, St. Andrew Press, Edinburgh.
(2)Barclay Rev. W.(1959) The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, St. Andrew Press, Edinburgh.
(2Fairbairn Rev. P. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary, Vol. II, Blackie & Son, London.
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(4)Fairbairn Rev. P. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary, Vol. IV, Blackie & Son, London.
Henry. Rev. M. (1828) An Exposition of the Old and the New Testament, Vol. III,
J.R. & C. Childs, London.
Larkin C. (1919) The Book of Revelation, Moyer & Lotter, Philadelphia, PA.
Strong J. (1994) Strong’s New Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, World Bible Publishers Inc., Madison.
Strong J. (1996) The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
Thomas Dr. J. EUREKA, An Exposition of the Apocalypse in harmony with
(1861) “the things of the Kingdom of the Deity, and the name of Jesus Anointed.”, Vol. I, Maran-atha Press, London.
KJV The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.
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First Generation Assembly 