Let’s start with the pronunciation of the name of this city, okay? Do a Google search and you’ll find multiple instances of the typical Western pronunciation we’ve been used to hearing: Lay-ah-deh-SEE-ah. Travel to Turkey, however, and you’ll find yourself quickly adopting the Turkish sounds: Lay-ah-deh-KEY-ah. It’s a subtle difference, but much more satisfying to pronounce it like the locals as the name rolls off your tongue. Try it! 😊

To the angel of Messiah’s community in Laodicea write: “Thus says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God’s creation: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Oh, that you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spew you out of My mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have made myself wealthy, and I need nothing.’ But you do not know that you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may dress yourself and so the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed, and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who overcomes I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I myself overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities.” Revelation 3:14-22

This sounds like a rebuke that could be given to many churches in our culture today!

Their rebuke is quite memorable, as they have been known since as “the lukewarm church.” Without a water supply of their own, this community was dependent on piping in hot water from miles away—water that became lukewarm on the journey. Neighboring Colossae had a refreshing cold water supply, and the nearby hills of Hierapolis with its famous hot springs are easily seen from this city. The reminders of this warning were constantly set in front of them.

Though this community did not receive a positive message in John's book of Revelation, it appears they took the rebuke to heart. Church history records this faith community continued to thrive when others had disappeared. Seventy years after John penned Revelation, a bishop here was martyred for his faith. In 363 AD, Laodikeia was given a significant honor as it was the chosen location for a church council.

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Community Reputation: The Lukewarm Church

Correction Needed: Be zealous and repent

Promise Given: Overcomers will take a seat with Yeshua on His throneNew Paragraph

The last of the seven churches of Revelation to receive a message, Laodikeia has remained a pilgrimage site for believers since the 4th century AD.

Spiritual Inheritance

An open invitation to encounter

the presence of the Living God