We must pray and cry out to God, and our lust for sin has to feel the pain of being denied. Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Click the button below for more information about the copyright.Copyright. 2. Throughout the ages Satan has blinded the minds of most people (. Gold mined from rock always has impurities. If there had been a corresponding word in the Greek language, then amen could have been translated. Their wealth has become their savior who supplies their every need. 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. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. The word for love used in this verse is not agape but phileo. Perhaps the most famous ones they produced were an ointment for the ears (for a time produced only in Laodicea), and an eye salve made from Phrygian powder and oil. Repentance comes from the heart and involves confessing from the heart. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. Revelation 3:20. It almost always represents purity, righteousness, or wisdom. Its like lukewarm coffee. It has everything to do with imparted righteousness. Having gotten their attention, Jesus then explains why He described their spiritual condition as lukewarm. 5. Hebrew writing has no vowels, so the Greek leter for "e" was added by the translaters to make the word easier to read and speak. If I go to the store to purchase something, I exchange my money for the goods I wish to purchase. Amen is not an actual Greek word. Some have wondered if the last name mentionedthe Beginning of the creation of Godindicates that Jesus was a created Being. Christ calls out to us, letting us know that because He overcame, we can also overcome. Since Christ is referring to spitting something out of his mouth, the image of lukewarm wine comes to mind. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. It is a process where God makes us holy. The focus of sanctification is the healing of the dysfunctionality of sin (it is imparted). The also liked to add a little hot water to their wine. Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. Justification is God's declaration of righteousness (it is imputed). Dont become lukewarm about Gods way of life! Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the care of the eyes that it never realized that it was spiritually blind. Church of the Lukewarm: Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) November 7, 2021. The image is of a Savior who expects that His church will be looking for Him, awaiting His arrival. A change in behavior will follow true repentance. As the water cooled down, it lost its effectiveness. Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. He wants to hear about how our day went and share in our victories and sorrows. Before He left the earth, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would guide them to the truth (John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26). Jesus lived a life of humility. This occurs as we repent when we learn that we have sinned and as we allow ourselves to be led by Gods Holy Spirit. In this situation, you are not standing for Christ; you are standing for yourself. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. Jesus knew how to use God's grace. Lets remember the overall lesson from Christs message to Laodicea. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be . Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda, RPH is a Pharmacist based in Baldwin Park, California. For all its wealth, the city had poor water (comments on Revelation 3:14-22). "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. . Revelation 3:14-22 Gods problem with this church was not that it was an inactive body of believers. We must be determined to pursue purity and to do what pleases God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Therefore be zealous and repent. The city also became renowned throughout the empire for it's eye and ear salve. To fully understand what amen means, you must turn to the Old Testament. Then we must take active, practical steps to avoid falling into sin. Your time in the Word should be, at a minimum, four times a week.20 The more time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. Hear God. You would have thought that this was the ultimate act of humility. If you think back to the Garden of Eden, clothing was the first thing which Adam felt the need of, after he had sinned. The mineral water from Hieroplis helped to lock in the color dyes so that the color did not fade after being washed multiple times. Thank you! That the Christians will co-reign with Christ (sitting with Him on His throne) is stated in the New Testament on numerous occasions (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:12). Following the pattern of the other letters, this one was also to the angel of the church. Two of the doctors from Laodicea were so famous that their names appear on the coins of the city (Zeuxis and Alexander Philalethes). "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as 'Phrygian powder,' famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Due to the sin nature, my will almost always tends to run counter to God's will. It is important to understand that Jesus does not call just anyone his friend. People traveled from around the world to obtain these supposed healing elixirs. One of the two Roman theaters is remarkably well preserved, and there may still be seen the stadium, a colonnade, the aqueduct which brought the water across the valley to the city by an inverted siphon of stone pipes, a large necropolis, and the ruins of three early Christian churches (ISBE). But this can only happen when we are in the right relationship with him. It looks like Laodicea had put their faith in the gold that perishes. The fact that he does call them friends shows that he expects them to get the spiritual priorities straightened out, and back on the right path. 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. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. The keys, according to this passage, are becoming skilled in the Word of God (by which we define righteousness) and practice (through which we gain experience). People commonly but mistakenly believe that wealth means that God is pleased with them. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing there was a market for trading all sorts of goods. It was a medicine used for treating eye diseases. Eye salve in Laodicea The city of Laodicea was known for its extraordinary eye salve, as well as a medical school. Youre going to have to spend time in the reading the Bible to learn the truth and by meditating on the Word, reinforce the truth. 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. 2. While we may never be free from temptation and sin in this lifetime, we can still be victorious and overcome. Hours of Operation Monday & Tuesday 10a - 6p | Thursday & Friday 8a - 4p Saturday - By Appointment Only. The reward here seems to be one of sharing royal honor, victory, and authority with Christ in His future kingdom. Nine miles to the east of Laodicea lay the town of Colossae. In other words, the name indicated that people made their own decisions. 1. What does it mean to buy gold from Jesus? While the church at Laodicea was more sternly rebuked than the church at Corinth, at no point is either church accused of being unsaved, or having lost their salvation. Gratitude Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & more. "11 (According to dictionary.com, the word "aver" means to declare positively, or state something as a fact.) After identifying Himself, Jesus immediately tells the church at Laodicea that He knows their worksthat they are neither cold nor hotand because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). For the Laodiceans, this meant forsaking whatever might perpetuate the lack of spirituality and unwarranted self-sufficiency in which they languished. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that the Laodiceans had again refused aid from Rome following an earthquake that badly damaged the city in A.D. 60 (Annals, 14:27). 14cthe Beginning of the creation of God. Jesus also told the Laodiceans to "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying from God without money things that dont have a price. After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. 3. The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. What did they think it meant to be hot? Praying for the sick should also be the norm for a hot Christian. Similar to how some people likely spewed the citys unpleasant drinking water out of their mouths, Jesus said He would do the same, yet more violently. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The word amen is used thirty times in the Old Testament. The major idea behind this word is constancy and reliability.8 Isaiah referred to God as the God of amen, due to his truthfulness and trustworthiness (Isaiah 65:16). Never miss a post! Isaiah 1:18, Acts 3:19, and Revelation 7:17 state that the blood of Jesus washes our sin-stained garments that they would become white as snow. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. The only way to be in a right relationship with God is through forgiveness. Jesus used scripture as a weapon. The therapeutic virtues of the waters became the calling card of the town. If you are living a self-reliant, self-sufficient life; relying on your strength rather than Christs, then you are lukewarm. 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). Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. The ancient Greeks liked to drink hot water. Jesus wants you to be hot. When the messages to the churches of Revelation 2-3 are viewed as a chronological development of the Church, this passage also indicates that the return of Christ is near. It was named Laodicea by the Greek ruler Antiochus II Theos around 260 BC in honor of his wife Laodice. He wants to be the friend that we invite over to dinner. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. The Greek word for deeds ( - ergon) means means denotes comprehensively what a man is and how he acts.13 Typically translated as works or deeds, these words do not accurately convey the richness of the Greek word. You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. The lack of white clothing does not mean they removed their salvation; it simply means the clothing that symbolized their purity and righteousness was gone. Its critical to keep in mind that Laodicea, who Jesus speaks to, is a church, a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ (Christians). Uniquely situated on a large flat-topped hill, the town was protected from the flooding in the spring when the snow melted off the nearby mountains. Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as Phrygian powder, famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Those who do not have "ears to hear" are spiritually dead and cannot obey God until they respond to His work in their hearts (John 6:65; Romans 11:8). What does it mean to purchase something? The salve is responding to the work of God's Spirit as His word . In the context of Revelation 3, then, Christ was standing at the door of the Laodicean church, eager to re-enter the congregation through the genuine repentance of its members. Your time in the Word should be at a minimum, four times a week. Jesus himself used the word amen in this context many times. The word hot is the Greek word (zestos) and means hot or boil.15 Quite possibly, the Laodiceans may have associated the word hot with the hot waters of Hierapolis. NPI number for Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda is 1669536868 and her . In Gods eyes, the Laodiceans are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Serving wine lukewarm would be considered an insult. The hot mineral water was brought down from Hierapolis and used by the textile industry. Hierapolis achieved great renown for its hot springs and day spas. They werent serving God the way he wanted them to be serving. (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) It is the absolute truth and a powerful weapon against temptation and sin. David Treybig is a husband, father and grandfather. Just in case you're beginning to get the point that the person referred to here is truthful, honest, believable, and worthy of credit (trustworthy); that is exactly the idea that John is pointing out. It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. The first question well delve into is why they needed to purchase white garments. Unfortunately, Colossae did not have the wealth that Hierapolis or Laodicea possessed, and the city did not completely rebound from the earthquake in 60 A.D. as well as they did. ""To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. He was the beginning of all things. 2019 by Steven P. Wickstrom, all rights reserved. What I said was important! Those who have ears to hear allow the Word to bear fruit to the glory of God. To purchase from God gold tried in the fire is not only inclining your ear to the Lord, hearing him, going to him and making an everlasting covenant with him, but also loving, believing, and rejoicing as per 1 Peter 1:5-9, (quoted earlier). For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (Luke 21:34-35). 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. We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. What exactly is forgiveness? 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