Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
The Lord reveals more of His attributes to His church body. He calls Himself “The Amen,” as if it were His name because the word “Amen” is capitalized. And according to proper English grammar, you always capitalize names, as is the case here in this passage of Scripture.
Normally, names have hidden meanings, especially names of people and places in the Holy Bible. So, what does “amen” mean? And why does the Lord call Himself this? Amen typically means, “So be it.” This is why Christians say this as an utterance after prayer, or when they hear someone speaking truth. Or when Christians are in conversation; often used among Christian fellowship as an utterance of agreement.
But the meaning itself doesn’t really make much sense in the context of how Jesus Christ uses this word here to describe Himself. Most often than not, the Holy Bible acts like a dictionary, so when words stand out, the next statement or the next verse will define the use of that word; if you are paying close attention.
And this is one of many of those cases where this happens. Because Amen, is a semitic root: ‘firm; fixed or sure.’ And the related Hebrew verb also means, ‘to be reliable’ and ‘to be trusted.’ This concurs with what Jesus Christ says next, “the faithful and true witness.”
Next, He reveals that He is the beginning of all creation as He says, “the beginning of the creation of God.” What Jesus Christ is actually proclaiming here, He was there at the beginning when God His Father created. Not only that, He is also proclaiming reliable truth, that He is the beginning of creation because He is also the Creator with God His Father.
Before the Apostle John was called up into Heaven to be a witness to these series of visions and to write them down in a book, known as the Book of Revelation; He received this mystery inspired by the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is that Light from before the beginning of all God’s creation in John 1:1-14; pointing to Genesis 1:3-4. This mystery is confirmed by what the Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostle Paul in,
Colossians 1:12-18 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
So, Jesus Christ is telling us that He is The sure and reliable truth (John 14:6); the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). The Creator with God His Father in the beginning (John 1:1-5/Genesis 1:1-3). This is how we know that Jesus Christ is alive and speaking to all His churches of the church age.
What Is The Biblical Meaning of Being Lukewarm?
Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
The Lord Jesus The Christ rather have His people and His churches either hot (preferred) or cold. Hot means to be red hot and on fire with God’s Holy Spirit and active in His “Great Commission!” Or cold means to be inactive or asleep.
Because either way, the Lord can do something with either of those conditions. He can certainly use a fervent Holy Ghost minister, who’s always active in ministering His word, prayer and community works of the Lord, wherever He plants us; to bring people to Christ.
He can even wake up or revive those who are cold and inactive in Him, to bring them to spiritual fervor and activity again. Either way He can do something with either condition. Many have preached rebuke upon cold Christianity, but notice here, Jesus Christ doesn’t. He would rather have any of us hot (preferred) or cold. Because the Lukewarm, He can do nothing with. This is what He rebukes.
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
This is unmistakably a hard warning and rebuke to “Christians” who are in this apostate condition. Notice, He is speaking to His church body both individually and cooperatively here. Not to the world, but warning His people. I seriously point this out because there are many Christians who do not believe they can backslide to Hell, or lose their salvation. These are whom He is addressing this apostate condition to.
This rebuke from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself concerning His children who are in this apostate condition, that if you persist in this lukewarmness, He will eventually reject you! That’s what the word “Spue” actually means; to reject!
Lukewarmness is caused by two states of condition:
- Stagnation
- Mixture of cold and hot
Stagnation: is caused when there is no constant inlet and outlet. A spiritual state of being where activity, growth or development are halted.
Mixture of cold and hot: is caused when two opposite substances mixed together; such as hot water, with cold water mixed together, makes a lukewarm drink.
Putting all this in a spiritual perspective, when a Christian does not continually take in Holy Biblical truth, and apply it to our walk with Christ. And does not pray and minister that which we learned and live by, it causes stagnation. And stagnation causes Christians to halt in growth and maturity in Christ.
Also, when Christianity mixes with the sinful world; the desires of the flesh and the influences of the devil, it eventually will cause a lukewarm condition which is apostasy. And this is one of the major signs of the rapture of the church age.
And both fit the causation of lukewarmness in the church of Laodicea, because it concurs with what the Lord says in the next verse, Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
Notice closely what the Lord revealed about this lukewarm church, they were saying in their soul, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” He is exposing, they have everything they could ever possibly need or want in life. Therefore, they do not have a need for anything.
Which is saying, ‘We have arrived!’ ‘We are God’s gift to humanity!’ This statement is a very dangerous statement because this would also include that they have no need for God nor the Lord either. And in such a proud belief and attitude they do not realize, they’ve been spiritually blinded by conceit and choked by the riches and cares of this life.
Self-satisfaction brings people to a proud point in life where they do not need God such is the case of the church in Laodicea. Which is the very opposite of what Jesus Christ taught. We are to be independent from man, but totally dependent upon God our Creator not independent from Him.
And the Lord loves this church so much, He does not hold back with the truth. He is not willing to keep them in this apostate condition either. In order for there to be a remedy, in order for people to change course; He has to expose the apostate condition. This is His nature. He is the Light, and if the church or Christian is in any apostate condition, then they are in darkness. And light exposes darkness!
For He is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance. And He does this in His next statement, “and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
“Wretched, and Miserable” is a spiritual; as well as a physical condition, as a result of being choked by the cares of this life. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
And because they are choked by the cares of this life and the pleasures of riches, they have spiritually become bankrupt. (And as a result, they have become unprofitable or another words: poor)
“Poor,” which means, ‘utterly useless to God.’
“Blind,” is also a spiritual condition where a person is self-deceived and cannot see the truth about themselves unless someone points it out to them. It also means to veer off the path of righteousness and having lost their way back to God.
“Naked” means to be in sin, no longer covered (clothed).
The Holy Bible teaches that Christians are covered by the blood of Christ, the garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness, the Crown of Life, and with the armor of God. We are also clothed with Christ and covered (sealed) with the Holy Ghost.
To be naked, is a tall-tell sign that Christians/His church has completely rejected God; reject the cross, and His way of the born-again of life in Christ our Lord. These are ultimately the wages of sin, which leads to spiritual death if, Christians/His church continue down this path.
Running the risk of being utterly rejected by Jesus Christ who persists in this apostate condition, to the point of no return. To the point of reprobation! As it has been warned in,
Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
This is why Jesus Christ urges Christians/His church body who are in this state of being lukewarm, these next series of remedies for this one serious spiritual problem,
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
These are the instructions from the Lord, the only remedy for this particular apostate condition. And people who are found in this condition must do what the Lord instructed here, in order to be delivered from such a deep backslidden state.
For He is waiting on those in this condition, to apply these instructions to your life, because He will not do it for you. (here’s a clearer understanding of why). What doctor, after diagnosing a problem, and gives you a prescription with instructions, is going to nurture you and hand feed you the cure. No one!
Same thing with the Lord. He’s given us the only remedy with instructions. It is up to us to do what the Lord has instructed us to do. And if you don’t then you will not get better, you will get worse and die in your miserable sins and miss heaven that way. As a saying my pastor had taught for years, “The Lord will not do what He has given you the power to do.”
Those He Loves, He Corrects Sharply
Next, after His sharp rebuke, He reminds His people with an encouraging word, that He still loves those whom He disciplines and chastens. Because oftentimes when we mess up severely, we naturally wonder how God can ever love us again as He has before we strayed away and sinned against Him. Or simply wonders, ‘Does God still love me?’ He assures us He does in,
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
He assures those who are in this apostate condition that you are, at this point of the worst spiritual condition, are His children; and it’s not too late to repent, yet.
Hebrews 12:1-17 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom He delighteth.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Also, notice the specific words the Lord spoke, “rebuke and chasten.” In past studies, Jesus Christ has only been warning, up to this point. There are degrees in which God our Father and of the Son Jesus Christ, and of His Holy Ghost uses to get our attention when we are in sin.
- Warning (words of instruction and consequence)
- Conviction (a formal declaration of guilt of an offense)
- Rebuke (sharp criticism)
- Chastise (severe punishment; action on God’s part)
The Lord always first warns His children by His word (The Holy Bible) of instruction and consequence before any situation arises (it’s called reading and studying the Holy Bible). He also uses His ministers to warn ahead of time. He also warns us by a nudge or prompting of the Holy Ghost, usually in times right before we sin. Lightly warning us we are in the danger zone of sinning against the Lord.
And if we fail to listen or heed to those promptings, and we sin against Him, He therefore convicts. This conviction is a declaration of guilt by God, usually reminding us in His word that we are in sin. He uses this as the next step to bring us to repentance and back into His grace. Because when we sin, we walk out from under the grace of God; rejecting the cross, and denying the Holy Ghost free reign in our lives in Christ.
Also sinning separates, us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). That is the consequence for sinning. So, in order to be in close relationship with God, we must repent from sinning and draw close to God and be in right standing with Him. And He uses conviction to do all that. Training us in the ways of His righteous and holy living (Hebrews 12:9-14). And if we don’t do this quickly, we might eventually find ourselves like Esau (Hebrews 12:15-17).
If Christians ignore conviction, after a while He will rebuke! And if that still doesn’t get a Christians attention to repent and draw close to Him, He will use an extreme physical measure to get your attention in order to bring you back to your senses, repent and turn back to Jesus Christ.
But if a Christians still continues to go on by their own way and not the way of the Lord, He will give you over to the lusts of your flesh, lusts of your heart, and the lusts of your mind according to Romans 1:18-32 to the point of reprobation just like Esau. This warning is still in effect with all His children today. This is why it is written.
Reprobation: is an eternal condition where a Christian cannot repent from sinning and turn back to God no longer, because as the word of God says, the mind becomes carnal (Romans 1:21-25;28 which is against God (Romans 8:6-7). This is the point of no return! This is where God excommunicates sinning Christians from Him forever!
And that’s where the lukewarm church is heading! And God does all He can do to try to get a Christian/His church body back to Himself without violating the free gift He has given to all humanity; and that is the gift of “freewill.” He will not force you to submit to Him. We have to choose to turn to Him or not. He only gives us two choices, life or death. His way or not
And He uses all these means to do so. If it were not true, then the Holy Ghost, who inspired holy men to write the Holy Bible by the direction of the One and only holy God to reveal this fact in His Holy Bible. But He will not strive with man forever (Genesis 6:3)!
We can exhaust His grace! Our choices against God can frustrate Him, for the Holy Bible does in fact teach, “His mercy endureth for ever.” BUT His patience is not! And if He does not do any of these degrees of discipline to bring you back into His grace, then you are not His child (Hebrews 12:8).
Repent And Overcome
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
I’ve personally heard some ministers using this verse to bring sinners to Christ for the first time. But using this verse for that purpose is a misinterpretation, since the Lord Jesus specifically says, “if any man hear My voice,” as if to understand that the Lord is giving all people an invitation to salvation here.
He’s not, for the context is simply: the Lord speaking directly to His church body only and not to the world. So, the correct understanding of this verse, Jesus Christ is not saying this to the world who doesn’t know Him, inviting all to salvation, He is saying this to His church body, to all those backslidden Christians who has rejected the Lord’s warnings, convictions, rebukes and chastisements; that He is standing at the door of the heart and knocking.
Reassuring the backslider in this apostate condition of lukewarmness, that it’s not too late yet to open the door of your hearts to Him and let Him in. He is saying this for a specific purpose, because if we mess up, it is natural to wonder ‘if God will ever receive me again?’ He’s answering that question here with an emphatic YES!
But the backslider has to open the door and let Jesus Christ in… to do what? To restore a relationship back with you as He continues to minister, “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
And if you do choose to open the door of your heart to Jesus Christ, you will not be disappointed! You will be blessed with His Spirit (The Spirit of Christ) and have a close relationship with Him; being of one mind, one body and one spirit with the Lord again.
But you have to first open the door of your heart to Him in order to receive these blessings. He will not do this for you. He will not barge in! He will not pound on the door demanding you to let Him in or pound the door down to come in! He’s standing on the outside knocking, waiting for you to let Him in.
The second blessing the Lord promises to those who overcomes rejecting Jesus Christ and this apostate condition is found in His next statement, Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.
This is another great promise Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior has promised to them that “overcometh.” Overcomes temptations of sins of all types and shadows, overcomes; the world; the flesh and the devil, and overcomes being lukewarm towards the Lord.
I don’t know if you realize it, the word “overcometh” is a very powerful statement here. Because it leaves us with an encouraging word. That lukewarmness can be repented from. Can be conquered. But you have to choose to do what the Lord instructs in order for those in this apostate condition to overcome before it is too late.
Because again, you can exhaust God’s patients and His grace. He will not strive with any man, woman or child forever. You can lose your salvation by dragging your feet on this issue as the Lord Jesus Christ has warned earlier, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
Think about that for a moment… Let that sink in. Another word for “spue” is to vomit, or wretch. Which gives us a clear understanding that when we ingest something that’s not quite right. The body will then vomit it out. So, what is the body doing? Rejecting. He uses this word with the same conclusion; Christians who are not right with him and continue while abiding in Christ He will reject. And this is our warning… the written word… Take heed!
Also notice the Lords’ phrase here, “even as I also overcame.” What He is referring to is how He overcame temptations, before they ever turned into sin. For He never sinned, but was tempted to sin. You see, temptation is not sin, but the yielding to temptations is sinning. Doing what temptation suggests to do, that is sin.
And Jesus Christ overcame all temptations before it ever turned into sin as it is written, Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
And how did He overcome all temptations since He was tempted like as we are? By denying Himself, and picked up the cross (meaning: mortified the thoughts and the yielding to all temptations before it ever becomes sin). He practiced what He preached. He is our perfect example of what we need to be and to do! Since the Holy Bible teaches that we need to strive to be more like Christ, Christ like… That’s what the true definition of the word Christians actually means; pointing to 1 John 2-3
And that’s what He is teaching us here! Reminding all the church body of Christ to do all His teachings in order to sit with Christ as He overcame the world; the flesh and the devil and sat with His Father also.
So, it would behoove us to really take a closer look at all His teachings and to do them! Taking our relationship with Jesus Christ more seriously, since the church age is drawing to a close. Making our call and election sure now, in order to meet the Lord in the air indefinitely, and to receive all His exceedingly great and precious promises contained in the Book of Revelation that Jesus Christ has now revealed in Chapters 2&3
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Hope For A Hopeless Generation 