1. Read Revelation 3:14-22 What is said to this church in comparison to the other churches? What is lacking?
2. According to the text, what do you think will happen if they do not heed Jesus’ words?
3. Do you think the church at Laodicea is aware of their spiritual condition? Why?
4. Why did Jesus have John write this message to this church? Consider these verses.
a. Job 5:17-18 How are we supposed to respond to discipline from God?
b. Psalm 94:12 Where could they have looked to find what God expected of them?
c. Proverbs 3:11-12 What comparison is made concerning the Lord’s discipline?
d. 1 Corinthians 11:32 What do we escape when we are disciplined by the Lord?
e. Hebrews 12:5-11 What does it mean if we are not disciplined when we do wrong?
5. Consider Jesus’ word to the church of Laodicea. What was:
a. their condition
b. what they can be/have
c. what they must do
6. Laodicea was a major commercial and financial center. It was known for soft, glossy, black wool it manufactured and for eye salve, which was developed by the famous medical school and used in curing eye diseases. All this made Laodicea a wealthy city.
One of the major problems was water. They had no water source and were dependent upon others. Hot water came from nearby Hierapolis, while Colossae provided cool, pure water. By the time the waters reached Laodicea, they were lukewarm.
What in this passage correlates with Jesus’ word to the Laodicean church?
7. The Greek word for “wretched” is used only one other place in the Bible: Romans 7:24. Do you see any parallel between Romans 7:24-25 and the solution in the Laodicean church?
8. How is the Greek word for “miserable” or “pitied” used in 1 Corinthians 15:19? Compare this message to the church in Laodicea.
9. There are several Greek words for poor. The word used in Revelation 3:17 is ptochos. While prosaites is descriptive of a beggar and stresses his begging, ptochos stresses his poverty stricken condition. What kind of poverty is Jesus referring to here and why?
10. They are told to buy what they needed from Jesus. What would it cost?
a. Isaiah 55:1-3
b. Revelation 22:17
c. 1 Peter 1:6-9
d. Psalm 66:8-12
11. They were blind. Look up the following verses to notice parallels.
a. Matthew 23:16-19
b. 2 Corinthian 4:3-6 Why are unbelievers blind?
c. John 9:13-39 There are two kinds of blindness mentioned. What is the cure for both?
12. The city manufactured beautiful, black, glossy wool and Jesus was saying they were naked! What do you learn in the following verses?
a. Revelation 6:11; 7:9; 19:8 What do the redeemed wear?
b. Revelation 16:15 Who are naked?
c. Matthew 22:1-14 There is a wedding supper coming–Revelation 19:9. What happens to those that are not wearing wedding clothes?
13. “Amen” acknowledges that which is valid and binding, true, trustworthy. Why do you think Jesus identifies Himself in this way to this specific church? Since each of these seven churches would receive a copy of John’s entire revelation (Revelation 1:11), what impact do you think this particular message would have on the other churches?
14. Jesus describes Himself as “the faithful and true witness.” WITNESS–martus or martur–(martyr–one who bears witness by his death), one who affirms who he has seen, heard, knows.” What is a faithful witness? What kind of a witness would God say you are?
15. These Scriptures shed light on Jesus’ witness up to the time of the Revelation.
a. John 1:18 What did Jesus come to do?
b. John 5:19, 30; 8:28-39; 14:8-12 How did Jesus accomplish His purpose?
16. The book of Revelation is Jesus’ testimony (Revelation 1:2) of things which must shortly take place. What do you learn about His “faithful and true witness”. Watch who is speaking in each incident.
a. Revelation 19:9
b. Revelation 19:11
c. Revelation 21:5
d. Revelation 22:6
e. Revelation 22:16 What is Jesus?
f. Revelation 22:18-19 How important is His witness?
17. This wasn’t the first time the Laodiceans were told that Jesus was the Beginning of the creation of God. The letter to the Colossians was also sent to Laodicea (Colossians 4:12-16) from which Laodicea received their pure, cool water.
a. Colossians 1:15-23; 2:1-5 Note Paul’s great concern connected with the teaching regarding Jesus’ relationship to creation.
b. Colossians was written about A.D. 60-62; Revelation was written about A.D. 95. Do you think things changed in the thirty-five years between the letter to the Colossians (and the Laodiceans) and Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea? What? Was Paul’s struggle or concern valid?
18. Were the majority of the people in the church in Laodicea saved or lost? Is the invitation in Revelation 3:20 to the church as a whole or to the individual? Why?
19. The Laodiceans did not realize their spiritual condition. Consider Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 13:5 and apply it to your own life.
20. What message would you give to people in the spiritual condition of the majority of those in Laodicea? How would you give them this message?