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Letter to Sardis Letter to Laodicea |
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Letter to Laodicea by Dr. David Antion There were many cities where there were Churches of God in the time of Jesus and the Apostles. But Christ picked out 7 of them that would characterize the Body of Christ (the Great Church) in all ages. Each of these churches had a message for all of us..."he that has ears let him hear what the spirit says to the churches." One of these cities was the ancient town of Diospolis ("city of Zeus") or Rhoas -- fortified as a Seleucid outpost by Antiochus II ca. 250 B.C. and renamed for his wife, Laodice. It is situated on a southern plateau more than 30 m. (100 ft.) above the valley of the Lycus River. It was one of three cities within 12 miles of one another -- only 10 km. (6 mi.) S of Hierapolis, 18 km. (11 mi.) W of Colossae, and slightly more than 160 km. (100 mi.) E of Ephesus and 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia. It was dominated for quite some time by the Syrians and the Pergamenes and finally fell under Roman rule in 133 BC. They reconstructed ancient roads and Laodicea became the major junction for traffic west to Ephesus and the Aegean, north and west to Philadelphia, Pergamum, and Smyrna, east through southern Galatia to the Cilician Gates, and south to the Mediterranean. Although it had been a small city, it grew rapidly during Roman rule and became very wealthy (cf. Rev 3:17). When Laodicea was destroyed by an earth-quake ca. A.D. 60, it proudly refused imperial financial assistance in rebuilding (Tacitus Ann. xiv.27; cf. RRAM, I, 564). Among its chief exports were costly, seamless garments woven of glossy, black wool (Strabo Geog. xii.8.16). It had a school of medicine that was connected to a "Phrygian powder," ground locally in Laodicea, apparently was used to treat diseases of the eyes. Galen, however, regarded such medicinal preparations as magical pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, the eye salve is a historically appropriate symbol for Laodicea. NAU Revelation 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: NET Revelation 3:14 "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: NAU Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. NET Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, NAU Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Col 1:16 NAU) Laodicea is mention by Paul: Colossians 4:12-16 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. NAU Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, NET Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. This church had NO heresies, NO persecution, NO false doctrines, NO immorality! What was its problem? NAU Revelation 3:15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness. Half-hearted! Cold = very cold, Hot = boiling hot. NAU Acts 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; NAU Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; NET Romans 12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. NAU 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. NET 2 Timothy 1:6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God's gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. NIV 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. There is the saying: if you have commitment without reflection it is fanaticism but reflection without commitment is paralysis! NAU Revelation 3:17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, NET Revelation 3:17 Because you say, "I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing," but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, How hard for rich? Rare to have rich be worshipful and fear God but some do. But many are atheists. CEB Revelation 3:18 My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won't be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. NAU Revelation 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. NET Revelation 3:18 take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! "buy from me" NAU John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. NAU Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. NET Psalm 95:7 For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him! 8 He says, "Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors challenged my authority, and tried my patience, even though they had seen my work. 10 For forty years I was continually disgusted with that generation, and I said, 'These people desire to go astray; they do not obey my commands.' "Spew you out of my mouth!" The City today: Among the distinguishable ruins are a large stadium, a gymnasium, two theaters, gates, and several churches. Also evident are the remains of a great water system. Its fine aqueduct is built from large, tightly fitted, and cemented rectangular stones, through which a circular central channel is bored. The water was transported by the aqueduct from the mountain springs and raised to a tall water-distribution tower by syphon action. Laodicea also has a magnificent nymphaeum (public fountain). Take Jesus’ advice, His counsel: because of who He is! The Amen, Faithful and true witness. NAU Revelation 3:19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. NET Revelation 3:19 All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! Repent = turn from your ways and thoughts that displease God. Be zealous is to continue. Repent is to do it NOW. NAU 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. NET Revelation 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. The expression in Greek does not mean entrance into the person, as is popularly taken, but entrance into a room or building toward the person. See ExSyn 380–82. Some interpreters understand the door here to be the door to the Laodicean church, and thus a collective or corporate image rather than an individual one. Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. To over come or conquer means to "repent and to be zealous. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." Revelation 3:22 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" (NAU)
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