An Urgent Warning to Awaken a Self-Satisfied Church In Laodicea Before It’s Too Late (The Lukewarm Church)
Bible Study Guide
The Church in Laodicea: When Comfort Replaces Christ
(Verse 14) You can almost imagine the silence that must have filled the room as the believers in Laodicea gathered to hear the final letter read aloud. One by one, they had heard the piercing words of Christ to the other churches — each message cutting deep, each warning exposing the truth that could no longer be ignored. And now… it was their turn. The letter to the church in Laodicea was about to confront them, and every heart must have raced with uneasy anticipation.
Laodicea was a city bursting with life and wealth. Nestled near the banks of the Lycus River, it stood as the southernmost of the seven cities Christ addressed. It was known for its rich black wool, its prosperous banking industry, and its popular eye salve that brought physical healing to many. But beneath the glitter of their prosperity, there was a spiritual poverty that ran deep.
They had comfort — but not conviction.
They had wealth — but not worship.
This church had everything — except Jesus.
And that’s exactly what Christ was about to reveal: a people who thought they had need of nothing, yet were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).
We live in the final hours of the Church Age — where faithfulness and lukewarmness stand side by side. One will be caught up to meet the Lord; the other will be left behind.
This letter is more than ancient history — it’s prophecy alive in our very day. We are living in the closing moments of the Church Age, standing between two spiritual realities: the faithful Church of Philadelphia, holding fast to truth and perseverance, and the lukewarm Church of Laodicea, satisfied with comfort and compromise.
This is the generation that will witness the final events before the devastation of the Tribulation. The question is urgent — which church will you be part of when that trumpet sounds?
Which Part of the Church Age Does the Church in Laodicea Represent?
| Church | Dates (Approx.) | Historical Period | Significance |
| Laodicea | 1750-Present Day | The Lukewarm Church (Liberal Church) | This church symbolizes liberal theology that discounts the claims of Jesus and denies the foundations of the Christian faith. These people will face the wrath of the Tribulation. Not all who claim to know Christ truly know Him. |
Chart of the Historical Period of the Seven Churches of Revelation
Lukewarm Faith In the Church in Laodicea
(Verse 15-16) Colossae was the sister city to Laodicea. Paul wrote letters to both of these cities. But his letter to the Colossians was inspired by the Holy Spirit to be included in the Bible and not the other. Laodicea received nothing more than a mention.
“After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16)
“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:1-3)
In this verse, Jesus uses the cities geographical positioning as a metaphor to their distasteful spiritual condition. The high mountains that gazed down upon the city of Laodicea provided cool mountain springs of water to the city of Colossae. The springs of Hierapolis provided hot therapeutic water to it’s citizens.
When you combine the two, you get a distasteful lukewarm water. This was the water that was fed to Laodicea through the aqueduct that came into the city.
Jesus had wished that the congregation of the church in Laodicea was hot or cold. But it was neither. It was an unsatisfying lukewarm and Jesus was about to spit them out of His mouth. These are the harshest words that Jesus had spoken to any of the seven churches.
Laodicea Congregation Was Rich But Poor
(Verses 17-18) The congregation of Laodicea was wealthy and they had everything they needed. All their worldly desires were met because of their richness. Therefore, they felt comfortable and secure in their religious faith.
But Jesus explains to church in Laodicea that they’re actually, ‘wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” In other words, their spiritual state was in need of a savior that their wealth could not buy.
He invites them to a strong faith without sin so that they may be rich in spiritual things so they can wear the white clothes of the saints.
The white clothes are a symbol of holiness and righteousness as seen being worn throughout Revelation.
“Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.”
(Revelation 4:4)
“Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”–Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people. (Revelation 19:8)
“The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:14)
Also out of Laodicea came an eye salve that they exported throughout the region. There is no real evidence of its effectiveness in soothing or healing. Jesus references eye salve as a rebuke to the congregation indicating that only He can provide real eye salve to heal their spiritual blindness to their sinful condition.
He Disciplines Those He Loves
(Verse 19) It’s often difficult when we’re on the receiving end of a rebuke to see it in a positive light. It’s important that we’re reminded that God disciplines those He loves.
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“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)
“because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:12)
(Verse 20) He finishes by reminding the congregation that He’s not far off but nearby and ready for anyone who’ll open the door to Him.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
(John 14:20-21)
A Final Reminder of Victory for the Church in Laodicea
(Verses 21-22) Jesus leaves His lukewarm believers with one final exciting reminder. The ones who are victorious in spiritual things of God will reign with Him when He returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. Let that sink in for a moment. As true believers and followers of Christ, the day is fast approaching when we will rule with Him.
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
(Romans 8:17)
“Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;”
(2 Timothy 2:11-12)
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4-6)
Closing Reflections — The Church in Laodicea
When I read Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea, I can’t help but feel a deep stirring in my spirit. It’s as if He’s speaking directly to us — to this generation that has grown so comfortable, so distracted, and so numb to the things of eternity.
Jesus said, “You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But what if that’s us? What if we’ve built our lives around everything except Him — and we don’t even realize how poor and empty we’ve become?
I look at the world around us, and I see a church that loves comfort more than conviction, crowds more than Christ, applause more than repentance. But Jesus stands at the door, knocking — not out of anger, but with heartbreak, longing to come in before it’s too late.
These words are not ancient history; they are a mirror. We are living in the age of two churches — the faithful church of Philadelphia, watching and waiting, and the lukewarm church of Laodicea, content and unprepared. The dividing line is being drawn right now.
So I must ask myself — which church am I in?
Which voice am I following?
Which door have I opened — the door of comfort, or the door to Christ?
Because the truth is sobering: when the trumpet sounds, one of these churches will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds… and the other will be left behind to face the storm of the Tribulation.
Jesus is still knocking. The question is — will we open the door before He closes it forever?
🙏 Closing Prayer: “Awaken Us, Lord, from the Laodicean Slumber”
Heavenly Father,
We come before You humbled and undone, for Your Word pierces through every layer of comfort and complacency. You have spoken to the church in Laodicea, and we confess — far too often, that church is us. We have become rich in possessions but poor in passion. We have chased comfort while neglecting conviction. We’ve built churches full of noise, yet hearts that have gone silent toward You.
Lord Jesus, You stand at the door and knock. You call to Your church — not with anger, but with love, pleading for hearts to awaken before the midnight cry. Open our eyes to see where we have grown lukewarm. Ignite in us the fire that once burned bright, when Your name was our highest joy and Your return our greatest hope.
May we not be found among those who boast, “I have need of nothing,” but among those who fall to their knees crying, “Without You, we have nothing.”
Refine us, Lord, in the fire of Your holiness. Strip away our pride, our compromise, and our love for this world. Clothe us in Your righteousness, anoint our eyes with the truth of Your Spirit, and renew in us the fervent love that will not grow cold.
We know the hour is late. We feel the urgency in our spirit. Help us to stand as the faithful church of Philadelphia in the midst of a lukewarm generation — watching, waiting, and working until You call us home.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Awaken Your church. Revive our hearts.
Let us burn bright in these final hours before the dawn.
In Your holy and powerful name we pray,
Amen.
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