Revelation 3:14-5:14
3:14-22 To the angel of the church in Laodicea-- the Lord describes Himself as "the Amen," and "the faithful and true witness," and "the ruler of God's creation." He knows their deeds. They are neither hot nor cold, but are lukewarm. The Lord would prefer them to be hot or cold, but since they are lukewarm (apathetic, complacent) He warns them that He's about to spit them out of His mouth. They think they are rich and don't need anything but they are "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." The Lord counsels them to buy gold from Him and white clothes and eye salve. He is rebuking them and disciplining them because He loves them. They must repent of being lukewarm. There is a door between them and the Lord. He is knocking and they are told to open the door. If they do the Lord will come in and eat with them. Those who overcome will be given the right to sit with the Lord on His throne.

What does this letter say about the Lord?

He is the "Amen" or the final word. He's a faithful and true witness for God and He's the ruler of all God's creation. He knows the deeds of the Laodiceans. The Lord does not accept their "lukewarm" attitude. He wants them to be either strongly for Him (hot) or strongly against Him (cold). He will not tolerate this much longer but is about to "spit them out of His mouth." He knows that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, however He has the remedy for this and is willing to let them have gold, white clothing, and eye salve. The Lord rebukes and disciplines those He loves. There is a redemptive tone to His warning. The door between them can be opened by the Laodiceans. They can open it by repenting. Not only will the Lord accept those who repent but He will give them the right to sit with Him on His throne.

What does this letter say about the believers in Laodicea?  

They are not passionate about the Lord but seem comfortable in their physical wealth and self-sufficiency. They are spiritually poor, blind, naked, etc but they don't realize it. All that they need (gold, white clothing, eye salve) is available to them however if they don't recognize their condition they will not receive what they desperately need. This rebuke from the Lord should motivate them to repent. The door is of their own making. They've shut out the Lord and must now reunite with Him. Those who heed the warning and repent will be richly rewarded by an eternity of being with the Lord on His throne.

 

Take a moment once again to look at the chart with all seven letters. (See Chart) 

Notice that there's a closed door in this letter to the Laodiceans but there was an open door in the letter to the Philadelphians. The Lord opened a door for Philadelphia that no one could close (3:8) but the closed door in Laodicea can be opened by the believers.

Next we will read about a third door....

 

4:1-11 John looked and there was a door standing open in heaven. The same voice he heard in chapter one told him to come up to heaven so he could see "what must take place after this." John saw a throne and someone seated on it. A rainbow encircled the throne. There were 24 elders dressed in white and wearing golden crowns seated on thrones of their own. Being dressed in white indicates righteousness; the crowns and thrones indicate that they had authority like kings. Lightening flashed out from the throne and there was thunder. Seven lamps (the seven-fold Spirit) burned in front of the throne and John saw a sea of glass. Around the throne were four winged creatures covered with eyes; one like a lion, one like an ox, one like a man, and one like a flying eagle. Whenever the four living creatures praised God, who was on His throne, the 24 elders would lay down their crowns before the throne and praise Him for creating all things.

 

5:1-10 In His hand God had a scroll that was sealed with seven seals. In a loud voice an angel asked who was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. John wept because no one was worthy to open it. Then one of the elders told him that the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, was worthy to open the scroll. John saw a Lamb that looked as though it had been killed standing in the center of the throne. He had seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven-fold Spirit of God. When the Lamb took the scroll the four creatures and 24 elders fell down before Him and sang a new song. The old song in 4:8 praised God for creating all things but this new song praises the Lamb for purchasing men for God. They sang that He purchased with His blood men from every tribe, language, people and nation. The 24 elders each had a harp and golden bowls full of the prayers of the saints.

 

v. 11-14 Praise for the Lamb continues as millions of angels join them saying, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then every creature not only in heaven but also on earth and in the sea began singing, "to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen."

 

Take a little time to visualize the scene John saw in this incredible vision. We drew a very rough picture of it on the whiteboard in class. Click here to see it. Notice that God the Father and Jesus Christ are at the center of it all. The attention of all creation is fixed on God and the Lamb.

 

Next time we will see what happens as the Lord opens each of the seven seals.

 --Sandy Blank  
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