It was a medicine used for treating eye diseases. You would have thought that this was the ultimate act of humility. It takes a true friend to point out negative things in your life, and then be willing to be part of the solution. Colossae quickly decreased in importance. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8. Why you are doing something is just as important, if not more so, than the works or deeds. The city was at the crossroads of north-south traffic between Sardis and Perga and east-west from the Euphrates to Ephesus. After identifying Himself, Jesus immediately tells the church at Laodicea that He knows their worksthat they are neither cold nor hotand because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). What I said was important! Those who have ears to hear allow the Word to bear fruit to the glory of God. To fully understand what amen means, you must turn to the Old Testament. Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2. Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). There is a difference between transliteration and translation. The wine was almost always served either hot or warm, as the ancient Greeks had no efficient way to chill the wine. Spiritual discernment fends off temptation and allows us to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. This theory deems the letter addressed to a human messenger rather than an angelic one. It almost always represents purity, righteousness, or wisdom. The phrase he who has an ear qualifies everyone who will listen and obey. The church is being called on to pay close attention and seek Gods wisdom concerning the written Word. Listen that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Buying gold tried in the fire from God requires several things from us: We must be determined to pursue purity and to do what pleases God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). For example, lets say that I issued instructions for you to sit either on the left or the right side of the room but not in the center. The first thing we need to look at is what it means to be cold. That the Christians will co-reign with Christ (sitting with Him on His throne) is stated in the New Testament on numerous occasions (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:12). Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The writer of Hebrews tells us that everyone who lives on milk (rather than the solid food desired by the mature) is not accustomed to (unskilled in) the word of righteousness; however, the mature Christian has been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown (Philippians 2:5-11). Your time in the Word should be, at a minimum, four times a week.20 The more time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. Transliteration changes the Hebrew letters (Hebrew is read from right to left but my chart below has it from left to right to make it easy to understand.) The church at Laodicea was not victorious, but Christ had not yet given up on them. Spiritual fire burns away spiritual impurities. Actions, behaviors, motives, and the heart are all intertwined; they cannot be separated. The city was also known as a health resort, one of the best in the Graeco-Roman world owing mostly to its lukewarm . The ancient Greeks liked to drink hot water. They probably think they are just like any other church. A lustrous black wool was produced there which was woven into much-desired clothing. In other words, the name indicated that people made their own decisions. I wish 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. 1. The stones were ground up to powder which was mixed with oil producing a well-known eye balm that was distributed throughout the Greek and Roman world. David Treybig is a husband, father and grandfather. In Matthew 4:1-11, during Jesus' temptations, His reply always started with, it is written. But Jesus didnt only quote the Word; He had authority when He used Gods Word because He also lived by it. What will happen to me? Contrition, on the other hand, is regret for the sin committed against Gods love and regret for having grieved the Holy Spirit. Gold, spiritual riches ( I Peter 1:7 ), contrasts with the word "poor," and fire symbolizes trial. Hydrotherapy for the sick became accompanied by religious practices in the local temples. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. The keys, according to this passage, are becoming skilled in the Word of God (by which we define righteousness) and practice (through which we gain experience). In our world filled with technology, material prosperity and modern conveniences, many mistakenly assume that they do not need God. Christ told the church (in verse 17) that they were blind, and in verse 18, they are instructed to purchase eye salve. Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda is licensed to practice in California (license number 45219) and her current practice location is 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd, Baldwin Park, California.She can be reached at her office (for appointments etc.) They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. 14cthe Beginning of the creation of God. The word hot is the Greek word (zestos) and means hot or boil.15 Quite possibly, the Laodiceans may have associated the word hot with the hot waters of Hierapolis. No, it does not; just dont sit in the center. The time you give Christ to purchase this eye salve, the more results you will see. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. What was it the Laodiceans were supposed to be victorious over? Youre going to have to spend time reading the Word, studying the Word, memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word, and obeying the Word. Jesus was obedient and faithful, even to the point of death (John 12:27,28). Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. If were not doing things for the glory of God, then we are doing them for the wrong reason. In a letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. He and his wife, Teddi, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. Once again, Jesus Christ begins this message by identifying Himself as the One giving the message. Why does the church not hear his voice? Used by permission. After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. Jesus' life was controlled by God's will: Not my will, but Yours, be done. When Jesus came into the world, He declared, God, You have given Me a body, and I have come to do Your will. (Hebrews 10:5-7) Similarly, when He was facing enormous trials at the end of His life, He said, not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42). For a faster response, please call us directly at 888-666-8135. In the context of Revelation 3, then, Christ was standing at the door of the Laodicean church, eager to re-enter the congregation through the genuine repentance of its members. Jesus wants you to be cold. But we have to invite Him inside. It doesnt matter if you sit on the hot side of the room, or the cold side of the room, dont sit in the lukewarm center. The phrase ears to hear is used throughout the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4. The possibility exists that no one will hear his voice, and no one will open the door. Greek 2854. kollourion -- eye salve. It is possible the word meant the messenger or the actual person who delivered the letter, but that would require seven different messengers, one from each of the churches to have traveled to Patmos to get the letter to deliver it. While many impurities are burned off in the furnace, other metals remain. Both Laodicea and Philadelphia served as gateways to the eastern region of Phrygia and as ambassadors for Greek culture. So what does it cost to purchase eye salve from Christ? God cares more about the condition of our hearts than the condition of wallets. So wealthy was Laodicea that after the great earthquake of A.D. 17, which destroyed it, the people refused imperial help in rebuilding the city, choosing rather to do it entirely by themselves. It is my opinion, therefore, that the angel is a symbol, or personification, of the church, rather than one of the heavenly angelic hosts. Hierapolis achieved great renown for its hot springs and day spas. People traveled from around the world to obtain these supposed healing elixirs. The city also became renowned throughout the empire for it's eye and ear salve. 19btherefore be zealous and repent. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (Luke 21:34-35). What did Christ mean when He said He would spit them out of His mouth if they did not change? Call (626) 587-0033! He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). White is the most frequently mentioned color in the Bible. Incline your ear and come to Me. Thats pretty strong language. Some have wondered if the last name mentionedthe Beginning of the creation of Godindicates that Jesus was a created Being. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. The city of Laodicea (Greek Laodikeia) on the Lycus (Laodicea ad Lycum), situated one mile south of the Lycus River in the Lycus Valley west of Colossae and south of Hierapolis, was established and fortified about 261 BC by the Seleucids under Antiochus II Theos. The depressing part of this verse if the word if. One of the wealthiest city of that area during Roman times, Laodicea was widely known for its banks, a medical school with a famous eye salve [1], and a textile industry famous for glossy black wool that was used for making tunics and cloaks. Never miss a post! Gold, clothing, and eye salve represent the three major industries of Laodicea: banking, textiles, and medicines. Christs threefold prescription to cure their condition paralleled the physical circumstances that had apparently deceived them. We know from this introduction that what follows is being said by Jesus. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. The Greek word arche, which is translated Beginning, has a range of meanings from beginning, origin to the person or thing that commences to that by which anything begins to be to the first place, principality, rule, magistracy (Thayers Greek Lexicon). Uniquely situated on a large flat-topped hill, the town was protected from the flooding in the spring when the snow melted off the nearby mountains. Ho! The letter starts as if being written to an angel, but there is no doubt that it is the congregation itself who is the focus of the letter. Two of the doctors from Laodicea were so famous that their names appear on the coins of the city (Zeuxis and Alexander Philalethes). Youre going to have to spend time reading the Bible to learn the truth, and by meditating on the Word, reinforce the truth. This promise is amazing because, whenever we do overcome in the battles of life, it is always through Him. In this situation, you are not standing for Christ; you are standing for yourself. People came from all over the empire to purchase this medicine. People who are going to be faithful to God must not allow material things to lull them into a false sense of spiritual security. In the times of late antiquity, it had a large Jewish community and a significant congregation of Christians. 19a Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as "Phrygian powder," famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. laodicea means human rights Tatko na pesmaricu. Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. eye salve. The residents of Laodicea would have also traveled up to Hierapolis to sit in the hot mineral baths. Jesus is telling the church to have a purpose, to have a focus, and to make sure that Jesus is the reason for their deeds and works. The Holy Spirit will come and show us the way out. The hot Christian should also be like hot wine; the pleasant taste and aroma of a Christ-like life should cause people to want Christs salvation as well. To be a hot Christian could have several different meanings (or a combination of them) to the Laodiceans. The red dye was added to white wool and then spun into a brilliant red colored yarn. There is a major problem associated with being an angelic angel. . When we see mega churches today respond to criticisms they . Its critical to keep in mind that Laodicea, who Jesus speaks to, is a church, a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ (Christians). "Eyesalve to rub in your eyes" Laodicea was also famous as a healing center. 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