This 9th post in our journey through Revelation brings us to the last of the seven letters to the recipients of Revelation, the message to Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).  A recording of this post will be available on the Shofar Durbanville Youtube channel.   

John’s Revelation aims to comfort and challenge the church in its uncertain times.  This book reveals three significant threats against the churches during the last decade of the first century: the intimidation by Rome (“the Beast”), the seduction of luxurious living (“Babylon the harlot”), and the deception of false religions (“the False Prophet”) – all agents of Satan (“that Great Dragon”) attempting to snuff out the faith of the church.  In Christ’s letter to Laodicea, the lure of carnal living was the most significant threat to the church’s devotion to Christ and their witness of his Kingdom.

Laodicea was situated southeast of Philadelphia, close to major trade routes that connected it to Ephesus, Smyrna and Sardis.  It was a wealthy city, renowned for its banking industry, wool industry, medical school, and boasting an elaborate aqueduct system bringing water four miles from the springs at Denizli.

The church in Laodicea was probably founded by Epaphras (Colossians 4:13; 1:7). It was prominent and privileged to receive correspondence from both the Apostles John and Paul (Revelation 1:11; Colossians 4:16).  This church, unlike the other churches in its time, was wealthy and self-sufficient (Revelation 3:17), a fact which forms the focal point of Christ’s message to the Laodicean believers.

The Revelation of Christ (3:14).  Christ reveals himself as… [Read the full commentary of Revelation in Faithful to the End]

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