Revelation 3:14-22 The Seven Churches - PowerPoint Presentation

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Revelation 3:14-22

The Seven Churches of AsiaLaodicea The Lukewarm Church

NT Church 2017-18Slide2

7 letters to 7 congregations – symbolic of the church as a whole. Common conditions found in every church

Thus we can ask, “How does this apply to us?”Laodicea

Letters to the churchesSlide3

The 7 Churches

Ephesus – Left their first loveSmyrna – Persecuted (poor-rich)Pergamos –

Compromise (tolerating)

Thyatira–

Corrupt (immorality)

Sardis –

Dead (or dying)Philadelphia – An open doorLaodicea – lukewarm (rich-poor)

Laodicea

Letters to the churchesSlide4

Laodicea

Located about 40 miles south east of Philadelphia and about 100 miles east of EphesusPart of tri-city area including Colossae and HierapolisA wealthy city known for its luxury and prosperity.

A banking center of Asia minor (minted coins)

Also black wool and Phrygian powder for the eyes

The city of Laodicea Slide5

Laodicea

They prided themselves for their self-sufficiency. In 62 when damaged by an earthquake, they refused help from Rome.A famous school of medicine was thereKnown for its arts

An assize city (courts)

A retirement city

The city of Laodicea Slide6

Laodicea

A considerable Jewish community, that was wealthy and helped support JerusalemReligion included Zeus, Asclepius and Apollo. Also Caesar worship

The city of Laodicea Slide7

Laodicea

The beginning of the church is unknown – possibly by Paul, or more likely one of his companions while he was in Ephesus.Mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:12-16,

with a letter written to them

NOTHING good is said about this congregation

The city of Laodicea Slide8

Laodicea

Christ identified

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22

Says the Amen

Ultimate affirmation

He is the last word

Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com Slide9

Laodicea

Christ identified

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22

The Faithful and True Witness

Jesus is both!

Revelation 1:5

John 8:14-16

Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com Slide10

Laodicea

Christ identified

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22

The Beginning of the creation of God

He IS God and created all things

John 1:1-3

Colossians 1:16-17

Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com Slide11

Laodicea

Commendations – NONE!Condemnations:“I know your works”

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide12

Laodicea

Condemnations:You are neither cold nor hot.Cold – one far away and knowingly rejecting God, one without faith

Hot – one “on fire” in service to God, zealous. A church that cannot be stopped (e.g. Philadelphia)

Titus 2:14, Romans 12:11

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide13

Laodicea

Condemnations:I could wish you were cold or hot - God takes no pleasure in the lost, but there is something worse…

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide14

Laodicea

Condemnations:Because you are lukewarm, - Lukewarm is tepid. Typically a drink in an unexpected state

I will vomit you out of My mouth

– to eject the contents of the stomach (some versions speak of spewing or spitting). The condition of Laodicea was revulsive to God.

E.g. “You make Me sick”

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide15

Laodicea

Condemnations:This congregation – was repulsive to the Lord. Facing rejection

A congregation that is non committed. No zeal and indifferent. Self-satisfied

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide16

Laodicea

Condemnations:Why is being lukewarm a problem?No conviction or commitment

No zeal, or lack of quality products

Often misplaced priorities

Often accompanied by arrogance and selfishness

A breeding ground for doctrinal and moral errors – not dealt with

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide17

Laodicea

Condemnations :You say, “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing”Like the city, this congregation had outward resources, and likely struggled with materialism and worldliness (not necessarily immorality or doctrinal error)

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide18

Laodicea

Condemnations :You say, “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing”The Bible warns of the dangers of wealth.

1 Timothy 6:18-19, 6:9-10

Often those comfortable in this life don’t want to change

Luke 12:21

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide19

Laodicea

Condemnation:You say, “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing”God sees them differently

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide20

Laodicea

Condemnation:You do not know that you are:Wretched – of poor quality, to be pitied –

cf. Romans 7:24

Miserable

– the result of their wretched condition

Poor

– having very little

Blind – 2 Peter 1:9Naked

– exposed, needing

protection

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide21

Laodicea

Call to action:I counsel you – a plain and clear charge

Buy gold

refined

in the fire, that you may be (spiritually) rich

– Proverbs 23:23,

Matthew 6:19-21

The Letter to Laodicea – 3:14-22Slide22

Laodicea

Call to action:Buy… white garments (as opposed to the black clothing) that you may be clothed – covered up (their shame) and protected with purity

Revelation 19:8

– fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide23

Laodicea

Call to action:Anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see – overcome their spiritual blindness –

Ephesians 1:18

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide24

Laodicea

Call to action:As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten – even in their deplorable state, God still loved them –

Hebrews 12:5-8 –

chastening designed to bring one back

There is tragedy in a child

1) who is not chastened

2) will not heed chastening

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide25

Laodicea

Call to action:Therefore, be zealous and repent – to a complacent society, they are called upon to be zealousALL ungodliness needs to be repented of!

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide26

Laodicea

Call to action:Behold, I stand at the door and knock – there was (is) still hope.Knocking implies this will not last forever – so one NEEDS to open the door!

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide27

Laodicea

Promises:If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me – to open the door (with repentance) will cause us to be fully restored

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide28

Laodicea

Promises:To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne – our goal is to always be with the Lord

As I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide29

Laodicea

Promises:He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

The Letter to Laodicea –

3:14-22Slide30

Laodicea

A church, probably in a prosperous area, with tendencies toward complacency and selfishnessA community that is probably somewhat tolerant (if you leave them alone).

The wealthy church is filled with good outward works – supporting preachers, doing other things, etc.

Does this apply to us?

3:14-22Slide31

Laodicea

They stand for the truth, but there are struggles with materialism and covetousness.Much like Sardis, they measure themselves by their outward accomplishments and worldly standards

Does this apply to us?

3:14-22Slide32

Laodicea

They have a SERIOUS spiritual problem – they are complacent and satisfied. Possibly arrogant and over confident.Other ungodly attitudes among its members

Does this apply to us?

3:14-22Slide33

Laodicea

Like Sardis, IF they don’t change they are dying. BUT, unlike Sardis, they don’t really careThere are lost souls out there,

BUT they don’t really care

They are losing members (young and old),

but they really don’t care

IF someone wants to do something, that’s fine,

they really don’t care

Does this apply to us?

3:14-22Slide34

Laodicea

What are we really willing to give up to follow after our Lord?Romans 12:1-2

Will we die for Him?

Luke 9:23-24, 14:26-27

Godly churches were commended for their willingness to sacrifice

What will we really sacrifice for Him?

Does this apply to us?

3:14-22

The future of the Lord’s church depends as much upon our attitude as it does our actionsSlide35

Are we like the church at Laodicea?