Lesson 7 Jesus’ letter to the Church in Laodicea and summary (Rev 3:14-22)
Character of Jesus
Commendation by Jesus
None
Complaint by Jesus
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Counsel by Jesus
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
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 eat with him, and he with me.
Promise of Jesus
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Hear the Holy Spirit
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”
(Rev 3:14-22 ESV)
Summary of Jesus’ letters to the seven churches
| SN | Church | Christ | Commendation | Complaint | Counsel | Promise |
| 1 | Ephesus | 7 stars, 7 lampstands | Deeds, toils, perseverance, intolerance of wicked, hates Nicolaitans | Left first love | Remember. Repent, repeat 1st deeds | Eat of the tree of life in God’s paradise |
| 2 | Smyrna | 1st & last, was dead and has come to life | Endured tribulation, poverty, blasphemy | – | Do not fear temporal suffering, remain faithful | Never be hurt by the second death |
| 3 | Pergamum | Has sharp 2-edged sword | Hold fast Christ’s Name, Did not deny His faith | Some held teachings of Balaam and Nicolaitans | Repent or face judgment from Jesus’ sword | Hidden manna, a white stone with new secret name |
| 4 | Thyatira | Flaming eyes and burnished bronze feet | Deeds, love, faith, service, perseverance and recent improvement in deeds | Tolerate seductive, immoral, idolatrous Jezebel | Faithful hold fast | Authority to rule over nations w Christ, morning star |
| 5 | Sardis | 7 spirits and 7 stars | Some had not soiled their garments | Dead, incomplete deeds and asleep | Wake up, strengthen what remains, remember what you hear, obey and repent | Clothed in white garments, name in book of life, name confessed B4 the Father and His angels |
| 6 | Philadelphia | Holy & True, David’s key | Deeds, little power, kept His word, not denied His Name and persevered | – | Hold fast what you have | Pillar in God’s temple, never leave, Names of God, His city & Christ |
| 7 | Laodicea | Amen, F&T, Source of God’s creation | – | Lukewarm, self-sufficient, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked | Buy from Christ refined gold, white garments and eye salve. Repent, Open the door to Him | Sit down at Christ’s throne on earth |
