3. The Church at Laodicea!
“And to the angel of the church
in Laodicea write: The words of
the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of God’s
creation”

4. How many of you have heard the
saying “save the best for last?”
It seems Jesus has done the oppisite!
▪ I have tremendously enjoyed our study of the
churches of Revelation and I am sure this last one
will not disappoint!
▪ The better we understand these congregations,
the better we will understand the book as a whole.
▪ I would like to encourage each of us to let these
lessons be a starting point and not a stopping
point!

5. The city of Laodicea:
▪ It was the richest of the seven cities, in 60 AD
the city was destroyed and they refused aid from
others!
▪ A Center of Finance - they were the center of
banking and finance in their day!
▪ A Center of Fashion - renowned for their soft,
black wool coats. The newest styles appeared
here first!
▪ A Center of Medicine - there was a large
medical school which created a tablet that was
sold all over the Roman Empire!

6. The church at Laodicea:
▪ As we have seen only 2 of the 7
churches are not commanded to repent!
2nd & 6th!
▪ Also only 2 of the 7 receive “only” words
of rebuttal! 5th & 7th!
▪ As with the 1st one, they are addressed
only as a whole!
▪ There have a spirit of apathy as do far
too many Christians today!

7. I. The Problem!
(Rev. 3:14-17)
▪ Jesus comes to them without a single word of
commendation, only words of condemnation!
▸In considering them, He finds nothing good to
say at all!
▸In the church at Sardis, there were “a few” who
had not “soiled their garments” but in Laodicea
none are found!
▪ Jesus tells them “like the water in the city they
have become lukewarm!”

8. When the Lord looks at our lives He
sees them for what they really are!
▪ We may fool others, we may even fool
ourselves, but none of us are fooling God!
▪ “I know your works!” (Rev. 3:15) not your words,
but your works!
▸Mt 23:3 "Therefore whatever they tell you to
observe, that observe and do, but do not do
according to their works; for they say, and do not
do.”
▸Many have the right “words” but the wrong
“works!”

9. II. The Plan!
(Rev. 3:18-19)
▪ “God has no problems, just plans!”
▪ After pointing out what is wrong, Jesus then
moves on to tell them how to make it right!
Indeed we can learn a great deal from this
approach, we are to only point out what is
wrong, in hopes of helping bring about what is
right!
▪ Notice verse 18, they have all of these
physically, but they need them spiritually!

10. “Those whom I love!” (Rev. 3:19)
▪ Jesus is not telling them this to hurt them, but to
help them!
▸“My son, do not despise the Lord’s disciple or
be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves
him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom
he delights!” (Pr. 3:11-12)
▪ Biblical love is seeking the highest good of
another, and this is always what Jesus is doing for
us!
▪ As long as we have breath still in us, there is an
opportunity for us to get it right!

11. III. The Promise!
(Rev. 3:20-22)
▪ The church has evicted Jesus, yet He hasn’t
given up on them, He is on the porch knocking for
them to open up!
▸“Behold, I stand at the door and knock!”
▸We often think that we are the ones to knock,
but Jesus also is knocking on the doors of our
hearts! (Cf. Mt. 7:7)
▪ Jesus desires our fellowship, but we must meet
Him on His terms!
▸Gen. 3 it was man that moved not God!

12. The promise Jesus makes!
▪ Anyone that hears my voice and opens up!
▸I will come into him! I will eat with him, and he
with Me!
▪ The one that conquers I will grant!
▸To sit with me on My throne!
▪ These promises are for “all of us!”
▸“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches!” (Rev. 3:22)
▪ The real questions is do we believe Jesus and if
we do how does that affect us?

13. Conclusion:
▪ Truly we serve an amazing God! Even though
most of these congregations had turn away
from God, God didn’t turn away from them!
▪ What I see the most in these Seven Churches
is that fact that, “If we are willing God is able!”
▪ Have you become part of the body of Christ,
the New Testament church? If not, then why
not do so today!
▪ “He who has an ear, let him hear!”