(Revelation 3:14-22)
The message to Laodicea is a solemn warning to God's last-day church. This study aims to:
Understand the historical and prophetic significance of Laodicea.
Recognize the dangers of spiritual lukewarmness and self-deception.
Examine Christ’s loving rebuke and call to repentance.
Claim the promise of overcoming and reigning with Christ.
Before we begin, let us reflect on this prayer thought from Ellen G. White:
📝 “A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.--The Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1902.{1SM 128.1} — (Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 128)
🔹 Prayer Focus:
Pray for spiritual revival and reformation in our lives and the church.
Ask for the Holy Spirit to remove spiritual blindness and self-righteousness.
Seek Christ’s gold (faith and love), white raiment (righteousness), and eye salve (spiritual discernment).
“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”
Christ introduces Himself as:
The Amen – the final authority, confirming God’s truth.
The Faithful and True Witness – He gives an accurate testimony of our spiritual condition.
The Beginning of God’s Creation – the source and sustainer of life.
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The church is neither on fire for Christ nor completely against Him—a dangerous condition of complacency.
Lukewarm Christianity leads to rejection unless repentance takes place.
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Laodicea boasts of self-sufficiency but is actually in a wretched spiritual state.
They lack true righteousness, faith, and spiritual discernment.
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.”
"Open unto me; buy of me the heavenly wares; buy of me the gold tried in the fire." Buy faith and love, the precious, beautiful attributes of our Redeemer. . . . He invites us to buy the white raiment, which is His glorious righteousness; and the eyesalve, that we may discern spiritual things. Oh, shall we not open the heart's door to this heavenly visitor? {OHC 350.3}
Gold tried in fire – True faith and love purified through trials. 1Pet. 1:7, 8; (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11); 5:6; 1Thess. 5:6
White raiment – Christ’s righteousness, covering our sins. Mat. 17:2; 28:3; Mar. 9:3; Luk. 9:29; 3:5, 18; Rev. 4:4.
Eye salve – The Holy Spirit’s discernment to see our true condition. (Spirit of Prophecy). {FW 84.3; 1SM 358.3}
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
Christ’s rebuke comes from love, not condemnation.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” (v. 20)
Christ is outside the door, seeking entrance into the hearts of His people.
A personal invitation to a deeper relationship with Him.
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
The overcomers will reign with Christ in His kingdom.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
A final call to heed this urgent message.
Laodicea represents the final period of church history, the Seventh-day Adventist movement.
This is the judgment hour church, living during the investigative judgment.
The greatest danger is spiritual complacency, believing we have the truth but failing to live it.
The Most Solemn Message to the Church
“The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal. God signified that He wanted men at the great heart of the work to correct the state of things existing there and to stand like faithful sentinels at their post of duty. He has given them light at every point, to instruct, encourage, and confirm them, as the case required. But notwithstanding all this, those who should be faithful and true, fervent in Christian zeal, of gracious temper, knowing and loving Jesus earnestly, are found aiding the enemy to weaken and discourage those whom God is using to build up the work. The term "lukewarm" is applicable to this class. They profess to love the truth, yet are deficient in Christian fervor and devotion. They dare not give up wholly and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith. {4T 87.1}
The only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, a knowledge of the nature of their disease. They are neither cold nor hot; they occupy a neutral position, and at the same time flatter themselves that they are in need of nothing. The True Witness hates this lukewarmness. He loathes the indifference of this class of persons. Said He: "I would thou wert cold or hot." Like lukewarm water, they are nauseous to His taste. They are neither unconcerned nor selfishly stubborn. They do not engage thoroughly and heartily in the work of God, identifying themselves with its interests; but they hold aloof and are ready to leave their posts when their worldly personal interests demand it. The internal work of grace is wanting in their hearts; of such it is said: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." {4T 87.2}
Faith and love are the true riches, the pure gold which the True Witness counsels the lukewarm to buy. However rich we may be in earthly treasure, all our wealth will not enable us to buy the precious remedies that cure the disease of the soul called lukewarmness. Intellect and earthly riches were powerless to remove the defects of the Laodicean church, or to remedy their deplorable condition. They were blind, yet felt that they were well off. The Spirit of God did not illumine their minds, and they did not perceive their sinfulness; therefore they did not feel the necessity of help. {4T 88.1}
The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light.” — (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 87)
→ This is a message for us today!
The Need for True Repentance
“We should know what we must do to be saved. We should not, my brethren and sisters, float along with the popular current. Our present work is to come out from the world and be separate. This is the only way we can walk with God, as did Enoch. Divine influences were constantly working with his human efforts. Like him, we are called upon to have a strong, living, working faith, and this is the only way we can be laborers together with God. We must meet the conditions laid down in the word of God or die in our sins. We must know what moral changes are essential to be made in our characters, through the grace of Christ, in order to be fitted for the mansions above. I tell you in the fear of God: We are in danger of living like the Jews--destitute of the love of God and ignorant of His power, while the blazing light of truth is shining all around us. {5T 535.2}
Ten thousand times ten thousand may profess to obey the law and the gospel, and yet be living in transgression. Men may present in a clear manner the claims of truth upon others and yet their own hearts be carnal. Sin may be loved and practiced in secret. The truth of God may be no truth to them, because their hearts have not been sanctified by it. The love of the Saviour may exercise no constraining power over their base passions. We know by the history of the past that men may stand in sacred positions and yet handle the truth of God deceitfully. They cannot lift up holy hands to God, "without wrath and doubting." This is because God has no control over their minds. The truth was never stamped upon their hearts. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." Are you doing this? Many are not, and never have done it. Their conversion has been only superficial. {5T 536.1}
When the truth we now cherish was first seen to be Bible truth, how very strange it appeared, and how strong was the opposition we had to meet in presenting it to the people for the first time; but how earnest and sincere were the obedient, truth-loving laborers! We were indeed a peculiar people. We were few in numbers, without wealth, without worldly wisdom or worldly honors; and yet we believed God and were strong and successful, a terror to evildoers. Our love for one another was steadfast, it was not easily shaken. Then the power of God was manifested among us, the sick were healed, and there was much calm, sweet, holy joy. But while the light has continued to increase, the church has not advanced proportionately. The fine gold has gradually become dim, and deadness and formality have come in to cripple the energies of the church. Their abundant privileges and opportunities have not led God's people onward and upward to purity and holiness. A faithful improvement of the talents God has entrusted to them would greatly increase those talents. Where much is given, much will be required. Those only who faithfully accept and appreciate the light God has given us, and who take a high, noble stand in self-denial and self-sacrifice, will be channels of light to the world. Those who do not advance will retrograde, even on the very borders of the heavenly Canaan. It has been revealed to me that our faith and our works in no way correspond to the light of truth bestowed. We must not have a halfhearted faith, but that perfect faith which works by love and purifies the soul. God calls upon you in California to come into close relationship with Him. {5T 534.1}
Unless the church will follow on in His opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the observance of forms.” — (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 534)
→ We must avoid empty religious formalism.
Christ Must Be Invited In
“It is not the length of time we labor but our willingness and fidelity in the work that makes it acceptable to God. In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. He looks to see how much of the spirit of Christ we cherish, and how much of the likeness of Christ our work reveals. He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do. {COL 402.3}
Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart, but you have left Him standing outside.” — (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 402)
→ True revival happens when Christ is enthroned in our lives.
Laodicea is the Church of Judgment
“Laodicea means ‘judging the people.’ This is the last church before the final separation of the wheat and the tares.” — (1SR. p. 149)
→ We are living in the time of the investigative judgment.
Lukewarmness Leads to Rejection
“To be lukewarm means to be satisfied with partial truth and partial obedience.” — (2SR. p. 222)
→ We must fully surrender to Christ, not just profess His name.
The Need for the True Revival
“The Laodicean message calls for a complete change in heart and practice. Only those who heed this message will stand in the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” — (2SR. p. 224)
→ True revival and reformation must take place before probation closes.
✅ Laodicea represents the final church in the judgment hour.
✅ The greatest danger is spiritual complacency and self-deception.
✅ Christ calls us to true faith, righteousness, and spiritual discernment.
✅ If we open the door, Christ will dwell with us and grant us the privilege to reign with Him.
1️⃣ Are we spiritually lukewarm, or are we on fire for Christ?
2️⃣ Have we invited Christ into our hearts and lives?
3️⃣ Are we truly preparing for the final judgment, or just going through religious motions?
📖 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." – Revelation 3:22