1“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:
15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. 21He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
A city in western Turkey (formerly Asia Minor and Anatolia) in the Lycos Valley in the Roman province of Phrygia. Laodicea was one of the seven congregations of Revelation (1:11, 3:14), a congregation possibly founded by Epaphras (Col 1:7 and 4:13). The city of Laodicea (Ad Lycum) had been founded by Antiochus II (261-246 BC) of Syria who named it after his wife Laodike; and he populated it with Syrians and with Jews, the latter which were transplanted from Babylonia. Laodicea, naturally lying on the major southern Anatolian highway and at a key junction, began to flourish after the Roman province of Asia was formed in 190 B.C. Thus Laodicea was especially known for its: fine black wool, Phrygian powder for the eyes manufactured there (Rev 3:18), and renowned school of medicine. An earthquake in AD 60 almost entirely destroyed Laodicea, however wealthy citizens rejected Rome’s aid and quickly rebuilt it at their own expense (see Rev 3:17). It was a city of great wealth, with extensive banking operations (see Rev 3:18). Little is known of the early history of the Messianic movement of Jews and God-fearers; however, Laodicea was made the bishopric of Phrygia and about 166 AD Sagaris, its bishop, was martyred. In 1071 Laodicea was taken by the Seljuks; in 1119 John Comnenus won it back for the Christians, and in the 13th century it fell into the hands of the Turks. The ruins, today called Eski Hissar or old castle, lie near the Turkish town Gonjelli, and they have long served as a quarry for the neighboring town of Denizli. Much can still be seen today from the Roman period, including an aqueduct bringing water across the valley by an inverted siphon of stone pipes, a theater, a stadium, a colonnade as well as a necropolis and ruins of three churches. Turkey announced in 2011 that a large church with 11 apses and a baptistery was discovered at Laodicea, tentatively dated to the fourth century. If the dating is correct, the church would have witnessed or even hosted the Council of Laodicea in AD 363-365. - BK