Laodicea: The Self-Confident Church
August 3, 2021 Speaker: Noah Hartmetz Series: Revelation
Scripture: Revelation 3:14–22
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Main Theme: In His 7th letter Christ rebukes the church at Laodicea for its uselessness and self-sufficiency, offering His own exclusive provision for what they lack, and appeals to them to repent and be restored to fellowship with Him.
1A. (14a) Church
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Laodicea had explosive population growth in 1st century
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City recovered from a devastating earthquake (AD 60) by its own financial means, turning down the emperor's offer to help
2A. (14b) Christ
1B. The true evaluator (cf. Isa 65:16)
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See esp. 1:5
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“Faithful and true” (cf. 22:20) → accept Jesus’ evaluation
2B. The Sovereign
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“Origin of creation” (but Christ is never presented as Creator in Revelation)
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OR “ruler over creation” (see 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21; 12:5; 17:14; 19:15-16; 20:4-6)
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Sovereign either way
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Prepares for vision in chs. 4–5
3A. (15-16) Evaluation
1B. Knowledge of general conduct
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Stative verb → “I am in the full state of knowing”
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Refers to drinking water condition
2B. Evaluation of existing state: useless and repulsive
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Often “hot” and “cold” considered along spiritual spectrum
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Key Question: Does Christ prefer open hostility to indifference?
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Often compared to water situation of the area
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Collosae → cool, fresh water (refreshment)
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Hierapolis → hot mineral water (healing)
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Laodicea → tepid
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Point of this position––Laodecia is half-hearted, indifferent, useless, and ineffective
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BUT note emphasis on the water → drinking water
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Water is spit out because of its tepid temperature
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Compare this sense to broader cultural drinking practices
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Preference for cold drinks for some meals and in some seasons (i.e., Summer)
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Preference for hot drinks for other meals and other seasons (i.e., Winter)
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This background suggests NOT half-hearted commitment BUT repulsive conduct
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See vv. 17-18 → self-sufficient, satisfied with material wealth
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4A. (17-18) Wise counsel for a critical decision
1B. (17) Reasons for Counsel: Conflicting Evaluations
1C. (17a) Confident self-evaluation
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Utter misapprehension of condition
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Self-perception governed by wealth (contrast Smyrna [2:9]; cf. Babylon’s materialism [18:7-8, 16-19])
2C. (17b) Revealed self-evaluation
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Laodecians self-evaluation is contrary to Christ’s evaluation
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True condition is bankrupt, ignorant, shameful
3B. (18) Counsel: Depend on Christ to supply what you lack
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“Advise” → wise advice to someone facing a critical decision
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Cure for their condition is beyond their resources to meet––source is Christ Himself (“buy from Me”; cf. Isa 55:1)
1C. True wealth (cf. 1 Pet 1:7; 1 Tim 6:18-19) (contrast “poor”)
2C. True righteousness/purity (cf. 3:4-5; 16:15; 19:8; contrast “naked”; cf. 17:16)
3C. True relief from blindness (contrast “blind”)
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Lack of knowledge and understanding of truth (Acts 26:18; 1 Pet 2:9)
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Cf. enlightenment from conversion and instruction, 2 Cor 4:4
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Revelation as a whole opens eyes to see present and future realities that are otherwise hidden from view (cf. 1:1; 4:1; 22:6; all “I saw” statements)
5A. (19a) Christ’s motivation for message
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Motivation → loving concern for welfare
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ὅσους ἐὰν → general or indefinite → every person whom Jesus loves, He reproves and instructs
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Christ’s action is the basis for commanded zeal and repentance
6A. (19b) Command––Earnestly attend to this and repent
7A. (20) Gracious offer
1B. He’s here (cf. Luke 12:35-38)
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“Behold” and perfect verb “I stand” → emphatic of invitation
2B. Fellowship
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Resumes “fellowship dinner” theme (cf. “hot,” “cold,” “lukewarm”) → appeal to renew intimacy
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Warmth of reconciled relationship offered
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NOT “I will come into him” (εις αυτον), i.e., entering and indwelling
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BUT “I will come in (εισερχομαι) to him” (προς αυτον), i.e., entering someone’s home and proceeding to where the person is in order to share a meal together
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8A. (21) Promises to the Overcomer
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Share Christ’s sovereign authority
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Look forward to the consummation of God’s salvation (cf. Dan 7:9-14, 22, 26)
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Overcomers are Christlike (cf. John 16:33; Ps 110:1)
9A. (22) Command––Listen
APPLICATIONS
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Self-confidence is…
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Useless and repulsive (16)
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Self-deceiving (17)
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Grounded in materialism (17a)
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Materialism is a form of idolatry (cf. Babylon, 18:16-19)
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Christless (20a)
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Christ is…
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The true Evaluator (15a)
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The exclusive Provider (18)
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Sweet fellowship (20)
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