Revelation 3:14-22 NIV
14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
When Jesus appeared to John, he gave messages addressed to churches in seven cities that were a part of John’s ministry in Asia Minor. He concludes each of the seven letters with the words, “22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” NIV Why is the “churches” plural? We must listen to not only the message addressed to one local church, but to the message addressed to many churches. All churches need all of these messages. Of course we need to hear the entire New Testament, but the churches today especially will need the message given to John in this final book of our New Testament. Are we listeners when Jesus speaks to the churches?
Consider how Jesus identifies Himself to Laodicea. In KJV “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” Amen means truly. Here Jesus is not just saying the Amen to endorse truth. He is the Amen. He is not just a witness, he is the faithful and true witness, and he is not just one present at the beginning of the creation, he is the beginning.
Why then does the NIV use the phrase “the ruler of God’s creation” where KJV has “‘the beginning”? All words have multiple meanings and usages. So, translators have to consider the context and pick the meaning which fits best. The beginning “ἡ ἀρχὴ” can mean the originator (CSB), the source (CEV), and even the ruler (NIV).
So, let’s look at more of the context to see how to refer to Jesus. Notice that Jesus was introduced to John in Revelation chapter 1 as ““I am the First and the Last, I Am the Living One. I was dead, and now look. I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and Hades.” Rev 1:17 NIV Since Jesus is both the First, and also the Last; since he is supreme over death and eternal and since he holds the keys of death, then he is greater than all of his creation. So, it is acceptable for the NIV to draw out the possible meaning that “ἡ ἀρχὴ” is a reference to a ruler. He is in charge of the creation.
This agrees with John 1 and Colossians 1. In John 1 the Logos existed in the beginning (“ Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος”.). John goes on to define the Logos as the creator who was in the beginning with God and was God. So, he is more than just someone present at the beginning, but “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3 NIV”
In Colossians he is called “the beginning” (“ἡ ἀρχὴ”). Colossians 1:15, 18 say. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. … And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. “ NIV This fits well with the claim that the person who is “the Beginning” and “the source”, is also recognized as the ruler of the creation of God.
What was the city of Laodicea like? Laodicea was located at the crossroads of major trade routes. It had a banking industry, and was known for producing luxurious garments from a black wool. Laodicea had aqueducts bringing in lukewarm water from hot springs. It had a medical school and exported medicines for eye and ear. Today, the United States has a lot in common with Laodicea. Our country has extreme economic power, we have clean water piped to us, we have an abundance of medical schools, and companies that manufacture medicines. Does our wealth and comfort make us lukewarm toward our God who provides our needs and has lavished wealth on us?
Jesus spoke to Laodicea to reveal that their spiritual condition was the opposite of their outward condition. We have the same problem today. Like the piped in water that arrived lukewarm to Laodicea, Jesus could not drink of this water. “You are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
The Laodicean wealth was deceptive. ”You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Their eye salve may have had some effect on the natural eye, but not the spiritual eye. Their beautiful clothing covered the natural body, but still they were poor, blind and naked. Their positive confession came across as just pride in their wealth and their clothes. There is something better that the church has been given the clothing of righteousness.
So, Jesus gives the Laodicean church the cure for their problem. He says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” What does Jesus want you to have? True riches, clothing of righteousness and salve that cures your spiritual eyes so that you can see Him at work in your life. Colossians tells us about aspects of that clothing of righteousness. Colossians 3:12 NIV ”Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Why does He say, “buy”? What kind of a deal does he ask for? Isaiah says, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” Don’t say you can’t afford the benefits that Jesus provides to the church without money and without cost.
What do you have to do to accept this deal from Jesus? Jesus says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Is there pain in this discipline? The CEV uses the term ‘punish”. “Revelation 3:19 “I correct and punish everyone I love. So, make up your minds to turn away from your sins.” When we listen to His rebuke, when we submit to his discipline then we are responding to love. In Hebrews the Proverbs is quoted, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV
Then Jesus makes the offer to bring you into true fellowship. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 NIV
Much of the modern church in the USA has the same problems as the Laodiceans. We have been lukewarm toward God, proud of wealth and clothing and civilized comforts. We have positive confessions, but are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. If you can hear Jesus rebuke and discipline, then open your heart. Open the door of your heart and let Jesus the Savior come in. Surrender to Jesus and return to true fellowship. I John 1:3 says, “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.“
Although Jesus made no statements to commend the Laodicean church, he makes it clear that the victorious life is available. Those who accept his call to repent and be in fellowship with him can go the next step and begin to live as an overcomer. Revelation 3:21 NIV “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Trust in Him and you can have this life as an overcomer. You can be victorious. I John 5:4 NIV “And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.”
22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Discussion by Dale Garrett for Senior Citizens Week of September, 2026-Dale Garrett lives in Winchester, KY