According to Romans 12:3, God has given everyone a measure of faith (gold) with which we receive salvation and use our varying gifts. As we await the return of Jesus Christ to earth, we need to avoid becoming callous to Gods way of life and His expectations of us. One of the famous Laodicean remedies was a "Phrygian eye-salve" which was supposed to cure inflammation. It looks like Laodicea had put their faith in the gold that perishes. In the first theory, if the angel is an actual angel, then we can infer that each church has its own guardian angel. He currently pastors the Austin, Texas, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. Laodicea lies 40 miles southeast from Philadelphia in the Lycus Valley. "Eyesalve to rub in your eyes" Laodicea was also famous as a healing center. We must pray and cry out to God, and our lust for sin has to feel the pain of being denied. He humbled Himself to the Father's will. While Colossae was neither as prominent or wealthy as Hierapolis or Laodicea, its location at the end of the valley made it easy to defend from enemies. As a man, Jesus also had this self-will and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, Not My will, but Yours! For us to overcome as He overcame, we need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how we feel. The culture of the city had infiltrated the church, and the members didnt know how spiritually wretched and weak they were. It is the ordinary daily trust of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) by which we live and minister to others. The same logic applies to hot or cold. His motivation is His Sovereign rule over the Church He built and bought, as well as by His unfailing fierce love for those He has redeemed and called. 2. Jesus' friendship with this church is so deep that he is willing to point out their problems. No, it does not; just dont sit in the center. Theres no time to waste. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. As for rebuilding the city after an earthquake, history records that the Laodiceans did this again a few decades later. Although the Bible does not reveal how the Church of God began in Laodicea, a faithful minister named Epaphras served this congregation as well as members in Colosse and Hierapolis sometime during the first few decades after Christs death. It was a banking center. Gold, clothing, and eye salve represent the three major industries of Laodicea: banking, textiles, and medicines. Christ told the church (in verse 17) that they were blind, and in verse 18, they are instructed to purchase eye salve. As the faithful and true witness, Jesus is relaying to us what he heard from God the Father. What images came into their minds? It has everything to do with imparted righteousness. The Bible exposes Satan's lies and deceit and is the tool to overcome all the sinful tendencies in our flesh. Additionally, it was the home of a medical school known for the treatment of eye problems, where it produced a famous eye salve. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. Coffee, for example, can be served either hot or iced (cold). It is the motive behind the action, or works, that is important. The Greek word amen () was transliterated from the Hebrew word for amen (). And because Jesus was the Creator, He has the rule over it. The church at Laodicea was very active. God advises them to obtain spiritual riches produced through trials, which the self-sufficient Laodicean avoids by compromising. Gods problem with this church was not that it was an inactive body of believers. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? The residents would go there daily to fill their jars with the cold refreshing water from Colossae. Youre going to have to give him your time. The city of Laodicea (Greek Laodikeia) on the Lycus (Laodicea ad Lycum), situated one mile south of the Lycus River in the Lycus Valley west of Colossae and south of Hierapolis, was established and fortified about 261 BC by the Seleucids under Antiochus II Theos. Local resources of zinc and alum became the basis for the production of eye ointments, known as kollyria, also sold by merchants from Laodicea.3 The powder would be mixed with water to give it a paste-like consistency and then applied to the eyes. Used by permission. In the medical works of the 2 nd century AD physician Galen of Pergamon, he described an eye medicine made from a Phrygian stone, probably broken down into a powder or made into a clay, and the eye "salve" John mentions in connection with Laodicea is the same word used by Galen and other medical texts of antiquity (Revelation 3:18; Liddell . He encourages them to overcome just as He did. Instead of looking to God to supply their every need, they look to their wealth instead. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). There was still hope for the church at Laodicea. While the original name of the city came from Antiochus IIs wife, the name also has an interesting meaning in Greek. The church is being called on to pay close attention and seek Gods wisdom concerning the written Word. Consider the following: Jesus then tells the Laodiceans that He has given them this strong correction because He loves them and wants them to be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19). These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. In the New Testament, eyes tend to represent spiritual discernment (Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11). Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. His entire life was a fulfillment of God's Word, and thereby, Gods will. Laodicea also produced a special eye salve that was made by powdering a special Phrygian stone. John 1:3 (HSCB) says, All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. John 1:10 (HSCB) says, He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6 (HSCB) says, yet for us, there is one God, the Father. You would probably spit it out at the first sip. About Laodicea (See Colossians 2:1; 4:13-16) . Be referring to himself as the beginning of the creation of God; he once again ascertains his deity. John did not use the appropriate word if he was addressing an elder, deacon, or pastor. Revelation 3:14-22. Laodicea was a city full of merchants. (Luke 9:23, Luke 14:26) It costs us something. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? laodicea means human rightsNitro Acoustic. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. So, as a faithful shepherd, He commands the church to repent immediately. The third theory (I tend to side with this one) is that the angel is simply a personification of the church itself.6 A personification is an imaginary person or creature conceived to represent something. That would not be logical since the church at Laodicea has already accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. 3. The word zealous is the Greek word (zeleue) and means to be eager, earnest.23 The church is commanded to be earnest or zealous, which means a passionate eagerness to do God's will. The stones were ground up to powder which was mixed with oil producing a well-known eye balm that was distributed throughout the Greek and Roman world. The white clothing we need to purchase from Christ is imparted righteousness. They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. It is up to the hearer to decide whether to take the Word seriously and try to understand it, and obey it. Wrapping up His message, Jesus then explains that He is standing at the door and knocking, meaning that He wants to come in and dine with them (Revelation 3:20). Gratitude Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & more. He wants to hear about how our day went and share in our victories and sorrows. The word for overcomes is the Greek word (nika), which means to be victorious.25 What does it mean to overcome, to to be victorious? Of course, Gods love extends to all humanity. 4. They were storing up treasure on earth, but not in heaven. It was part of a long trade route that included the four previous cities to the north. A change of heart will follow honest confession. Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying from God without money things that dont have a price. Making an everlasting covenant with God (salvation is only the starting point). 14bthe faithful and true Witness. . It is to have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. Its another way of saying, Listen up! Verse 20 is not a salvation message for non-Christians; it is a warning to Christians. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ( 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). If we pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and desperation to gain victory, then we will get help. Jesus knows what it is like to be human. Repentance is more than a feeling. 14a To the angel of the church in Laodicea. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. He had to take up a battle against the sin, and carry out His pledge: Not My will, but Yours, be done! The word for dine is the Greek word (deipns), which means to eat at a banquet.24 This word for dine is very similar to the Greek word for dinner deipnon, the evening meal. Time. All rights reserved. The time of need is when temptation comes when we see and feel the sin in our flesh when we struggle to keep ourselves from sinning. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? Colossae quickly decreased in importance. The focus of justification is the removal of the guilt of sin. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. 20a Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. They may have been well off economically, but they were poor in their relationship with God. While we may never be free from temptation and sin in this lifetime, we can still be victorious and overcome. Laodicea on the Lycus, located at the crossroads of important trade routes, was once a prosperous city, famous for its black wool, banking services, and medical achievements. The sin in His nature had received its death sentence when He said, Your will be done, God. As disciples who follow Jesus, we must learn to hate the sin in our own life, deny ourselves, and take up our cross. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Other sources suggest that the water came from a hot spring with mineralized water containing sulfur, giving it an unpleasant taste and smell. It is the foundation of wisdom. What are we supposed to overcome? How is your hearing? For a faster response, please call us directly at 888-666-8135. We need to look at this verse in context with the entire passage. via phone at (626) 851-7001. Gold mined from rock always has impurities. What, or rather, who, are these angels? Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. It can only come by the revelation of Jesus Christ to the believer, and then must be developed by way of training in righteousness (Hebrews 5:14) and prayer (Ephesians 6:18). Both churches needed a severe rebuke. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe. From sexual promiscuity to getting drunk while meeting together to quarreling amongst themselves, these people were far from the ideal loving and thriving church body. The only way to be in a right relationship with God is through forgiveness. The image is of a Savior who expects that His church will be looking for Him, awaiting His arrival. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. The word rebuke is the Greek word (elegch) and means to convict, to prove one in the wrong.21 Jesus is doing more than just telling the Laodiceans their faults; he is convicting them of their sin. 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