Revelation 3:14 Commentary and Bible Study

Sadly Laodicea was probably the very worst of the churches, in spite of the compromises of some of the others. The features of the cities in which these churches were set are all pressed into service in the exhortations of the Lord to each church. This church was in a city that was so rich, and no doubt the church was rich also. It was situated on a major imperial trade route, some ten miles from Colossi, which it had eclipsed in size, and not far from Hierapolis that had springs, famous springs that yielded up quite hot water. But Laodicea for all its wealth did not have any springs, and so it had to tap the springs that were near to Hierapolis, about six miles away. The water was conducted by a double conduit, made of stone pipes, three feet in diameter, buried in the ground so that invaders would not find the supply. But by the time this water arrived in Laodicea, it was no longer hot. That circumstance is pressed into service in the warning of the Lord Jesus Christ to this church. There was a very famous school of medicine at Laodicea. This was the first that actually hit upon the idea of mixing ingredients together in medicines, making compound preparations. They were famous for medicines for the ear, but most famous for an eye ointment which was known as Phrygian powder, mixed with a little oil and used as a poultice. This too is pressed into service. Then they had remarkable sheep that had been bred for their shiny black wool, and Laodicea was famous for the wool, and garments made from this wool were highly prized all over the Roman Empire. But principally they were very rich and it was a major banking centre. There was a tremendous population of rich Jews along with the Greeks in this place. When there was an earthquake in AD 60, Laodicea was known in the empire as the only major city that in its pride and in its self-sufficiency had turned down any offer of monetary help from the Roman emperor. ‘These things saith the Amen.’ That name is exclusive to this letter. The Amen – Christ alone is true, and firm, and sure forever. They may trust in wealth; they may trust in earthly accomplishments. But all these will be swept away, sometimes in our own lifetime by one means or another, but certainly at the end of life’s journey. Only Christ is true, only with him are we secure and to have him is more than anything that we could possibly possess on earth.‘The beginning of the creation of God.’ That does not mean that he was first to be created, but the very opposite – that he is the one through whom all things were created. It was the Son, equal with the Father, equal with the Holy Spirit, who was the appointed agency of the Godhead to create the world. So the world and all that is in it, the whole universe was created by none other than the one who came to be its Saviour.