Revelation 3:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

NIV: To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

NASB: To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

CSB: "Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation:

NLT: Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen — the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

KJV: 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;

NKJV: “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

In this verse Jesus commands the apostle John to write to the church in Laodicea in care of "the angel of the church," likely the pastor. In both Greek and Hebrew, the words translated as "angel" more literally mean "messenger." Laodicea was known for its independence, having experienced a devastating earthquake in AD 17 but refusing financial aid from Rome. The city of Laodicea was located near Colossae and Hierapolis, about 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Antiochus II named the city after His wife Laodice. It was a wealthy trade-route city with an abundance of bankers and merchants. The church in Laodicea had characteristics that prefigured those of many churches in the modern and post-modern eras.

The letter to the church at Laodicea concludes the second section of Revelation, those things which were presently existing at the time John wrote these words (Revelation 1:19).

Jesus identifies himself as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, and the beginning of God's creation." The name "Amen" indicates that He is God's perfect and final revelation. The writer to the Hebrews affirmed that "long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1–2). Jesus is also God's reliable witness, who never swerves from the truth. The Laodiceans could take His word to them at face value. Furthermore, Jesus is the originator of God's creation. In His gospel, John testifies: "All things were made through [Jesus], and without [Jesus] was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). Because of Jesus' superior, sovereign person and work, the Laodiceans had good reason to heed what He communicated in His letter to them.

Revelation 3:14–22 is Jesus' final and most strident message, addressed to the church at Laodicea. We learn from this assessment that the Laodicean church was lukewarm, smug, and self-satisfied. It boasted about its wealth and need of nothing. But the church deceived itself. In terms of its spiritual condition, it was wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Jesus urged the church to turn to Him, as He was positioned outside the church, inviting whoever heard His voice to open the door and welcome Him. Laodicea is the only church of seven which receives only criticism, and no positive remarks.

These final letters symbolize Church history from AD 1500 to the Rapture, the event that transports the Church from earth to be with Jesus. Sardis had a good reputation, but it was actually spiritually dead. Philadelphia had a good opportunity to spread the gospel, and it had kept Jesus' word and had remained loyal to Him. As such, Jesus promises to reward this church's conquerors. Laodicea was proud of its wealth, but was spiritually lukewarm, a characteristic that Jesus detests. He promises to fellowship with anyone in the church who would heed His voice and welcome Him. Laodicea is the only church given no praise by Christ.

This chapter concludes the letters Jesus instructed the apostle John to write to seven churches in Asia Minor. Those messages began in chapter 2. This passage ends the section of Revelation that describes the things that are (Revelation 1:19), meaning the things which existed in John's lifetime. Chapter 1 describes what John had seen (Revelation 1:19), and chapter 4 begins John's account of what was to take place in the future (Revelation 1:19).

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''