Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 3:7-22
The conventional wisdom throughout American Christianity is that we should gently preach the gospel. If we have neighbors who are unsaved, we should lightly probe their beliefs and only present the gospel when they are ready to hear it. If we have friends who believe in abortion or same-sex marriage, we should pray for them and only portray their beliefs as sin when we can do so without offending them.
The third chapter of Revelation contains a letter written to the church in Laodicea. That letter contains some language which condemns this mentality.
Rev. 3:7 ¶ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ¶ This is what He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says:
The church in Philadelphia is only mentioned in the book of Revelation.
Look at the phrases “opens and no one will shut” and “shuts and no one opens”. These are statements about the sovereignty of God. No one can oppose God or thwart any of His actions.
Rev. 3:8 ¶ ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Think about the actions that received praise. The Philadelphians kept God’s word, in other words, they obeyed Him. Also, they did not deny His name.
Throughout history, Christians have been known for many things. Love, generosity, crusades, cathedrals, starting hospitals, and worldwide evangelism. Amidst everything Christians can do and should do, we should make sure we are known for keeping God’s word and not denying His name.
Rev. 3:9 Behold, I am giving up those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
Rev. 3:10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
The hour of testing is the tribulation. Jesus promised that those who kept the word of His perseverance would be kept from the tribulation. Once again we see the priority of obeying Jesus.
Rev. 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Rev. 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Rev. 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Rev. 3:14 ¶ “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ¶ This is what the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says:
Laodicea is mentioned four times in the book of Colossians. Colossae was a city near the city of Laodicea.
Rev. 3:15 ¶ ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.
Rev. 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
The church in Laodicea was lukewarm. That was bad.
Many churches today are not hot. They don’t preach the truth boldly, at every opportunity, and without concern for any consequences. They are afraid of offending people with the truth. They try to stand up for life and the Biblical definition of marriage without offending people in the process of doing so.
On the other hand, they timidly share the gospel and preach the truth, and they hold to the Biblical definition of gender and marriage; therefore, they are not cold.
Jesus does not like lukewarm churches. Therefore, we should conclude He is not happy with many churches today.
Rev. 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 pitiable and poor and blind and naked.
This is a great description of most churches in the western world. We have vast financial resources, huge church buildings, large homes, and great retirement plans. We think we have everything we need. However, we are actually spiritually poor and wretched because we are lukewarm.
Rev. 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 manifested; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Our priorities should be on storing up wealth in heaven.
Rev. 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Look at the word “reprove”. 21st century western churches need to be reproved. We are not hot, nor are we cold. We are lukewarm, and that is a bad thing. We need to repent, which means we need to change. We need to speak the truth boldly, without any concern for the consequences of speaking the truth. We need to proclaim Jesus, and stand up for life, and the Biblical definitions of gender and marriage even though we will be scorned and persecuted.
Rev. 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.
Rev. 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.
Rev. 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
A common mentality in modern Christianity is that we should speak the truth and stand up for our beliefs in a manner that does not offend people. However, in order to do that, we have to be lukewarm. The letter to the church in Laodicea makes it clear that Jesus does not like lukewarm Christianity.
Christians have truth that the world needs to hear. We should speak it boldly, without reservation, and regardless of the consequences. Jesus and the Apostle Paul offended many people when they spoke the truth. We should not hesitate to speak the truth based on a fear that we will offend people with the truth.
Is your church hot, cold, or lukewarm?
What does your church need to do in order to be hot?
What unbiblical mindsets are keeping your church from being hot?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”