Sitting With Christ – Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14: “And to the messenger of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.”

In Colossians 2:1, Paul mentions that he experienced a great conflict (ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα) for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. The word he used for conflict in the original Greek text is ἀγῶνα from which we get our English word, “agony.” Originally, it referred to athletic contests or races in an arena, but it evolved metaphorically to mean a rigorous mental, spiritual, or physical strain. [1]

In Colossians 4:12-13, Paul wrote that Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, always labored fervently in prayers, that the Colossians and Laodiceans would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Epaphras had a great zeal for the Colossians and for the Laodiceans.

Jesus introduced Himself to the Laodiceans as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” The phrase “Faithful and True Witness” comes from the Greek words pistos (πιστός), alēthinos (ἀληθινός), and martys (μάρτυς). Faithful (Pistos - πιστός) means trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. It describes someone whose actions match their promises and who is worthy of full confidence. True (Alēthinos - ἀληθινός) means real, genuine, and truthful in character. It stands in contrast to what is false or fake. Witness (Martys - μάρτυς) means someone who gives testimony based on personal knowledge or experience. This Greek word is the origin of our English word martyr because early witnesses for Christ often faced death to share their testimony.

Thus, the Laodiceans, like the people of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, had been given a faithful and true witness from the Lord, and were without excuse for their lackluster service unto God.

In Jeremiah 35:15, the Lord said, “I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.” So, what did the Lord do with Israel in Jeremiah’s days? He spewed them out of the Promised Land!

Revelation 3:15-16: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

The name Laodicea means “people rule.” The Laodiceans tasted lukewarm to God. Lukewarm is a metaphor for apathetic. Jesus warned them that He spews such people out of His mouth.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the Lord says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Why did the Laodiceans lack fire for the Lord? They were more carnal than spiritual. When the Holy Spirit fire came to them, they did not welcome Him. They threw resistance and hardness of heart at Him.

Revelation 3:17-18: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Laodicea was famous for worldly gold not spiritual gold. Laodicea was famous for black clothing, not garments made white by holy living. They were famous for physical not spiritual healing.

In Mark 8:36, Jesus asked us a question to help us get our priorities right. He asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Worldly speaking, the Laodiceans were rich and finely clothed. In their minds, they had mastered the art of how to be followers of Jesus and enjoy the pleasures of the world at the same time.

Jesus looked into their souls with His eyes a fire, and described to them the condition of their souls. The five Greek words Jesus used to describe them are as follows:

ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros): Wretched, miserable, or distressed.
ἐλεεινὸς (eleeinos): Pitiable, miserable, or inspiring compassion.
πτωχὸς (ptōchos): Poor, destitute, or beggarly.
τυφλὸς (typhlos): Blind.
γυμνός (gymnos): Naked, poorly clothed, or stripped. [2]

Incidentally, the English word gymnasium is derived from the Greek word γυμνός which means “naked” or “nude.” Ancient Greek athletes traditionally competed and exercised completely in the nude. Perhaps, the Laodicean Christians joined in this practice.

How many Christians nowadays are rich with worldly pleasures, but poor in their spiritual souls?

In John 9:40-41, when some Pharisees (people steeped in Bible knowledge) heard the words of Jesus, they asked Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” Because they quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they had no conviction of sin in their consciences, thus, their sin remained, and if they did not come to their senses, they would be eternally lost.

The Lord provides a good word for us about our need for ongoing spiritual discipline in Hebrews 12:7-11: “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul spoke of keeping the flesh in check so that the soul may prosper. He wrote, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

In Galatians 5-6, Paul speaks about how the flesh and the Spirit struggle for control of a person’s mind. In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul wrote, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

In Galatians 5:24, Paul wrote, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” And then in Galatians 6:8, he adds, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter speaks of having the genuineness of our faith tested by fire, “so that it may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is one thing to say with our mind and our mouth that we believe in Jesus, but another thing to speak for Him to others. When we profess and serve Jesus before our peers, and encounter opposition and persecution from them for His Name’s sake, we learn the true nature of our soul’s condition.

Revelation 3:19: “ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.”

William Barclay wrote, “Jesus’ great love was expressed in His rebuke. It is, in fact, God’s final punishment to leave a person alone.” Laodicea was the worst of the seven churches, but Jesus still loved them. Therefore, He brought to light the condition of their souls before Him.

In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote, “When we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

In Luke 12:36, Jesus urged us to be like men who wait for their master... “that when He comes and knocks they may open to Him immediately.”

May the Lord help us to be like the lover in Song of Solomon 5:2, saying, “I sleep, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my Beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘Open for Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My perfect one...” The Lord wants a close relationship with us.

In Jeremiah 2:2, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.” In the early days of their relationship with Him, they loved God fervently, but by and by their fire for Him went cold.

In Jeremiah 13:11, the Lord said, “For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, says the Lord, that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.” The Lord wanted His people to be as close to Him as a beautiful article of clothing about His body, but they were defiled by their love of the world, and became a source of shame to Him.

In John 14:23, Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

In John 15:5-6, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus received no respect from the Laodiceans. They left Him on the outside of their gatherings. They did not talk about Him during their personal conversations with one another.

Jesus had to knock and urge them to let Him in. The text does not say, “If the Church will open the door.” It says, “If anyone hear My voice and open the door.” It must be done by individuals. The Church gets right with God as each Christian gets right with God. Jesus told them to open their hearts to Him and He would come and sup with them.

Revelation 3:21-22: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The one who overcomes apathy, compromise, and self-reliance, gets to sit with King Jesus. Laodicea is the worst of the seven Churches. Thus, enthronement with Christ is promised to the faithful witnesses for Christ in this Church.

[1-2] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance