♪[dramatic, triumphant
theme music]♪ ♪[dramatic, triumphant
theme music]♪ ♪[music ends]♪♪ >>John Bradshaw: This
is "It Is Written." I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me. In the well-known children's
story, too hot is too hot, too cool is not warm enough,
but somewhere in the middle things were just right. So why is it that in the
Bible lukewarm is a bad thing? To answer this, we're visiting
a place famous for its apathy, a place that's become
synonymous with the word lukewarm. A place called Laodicea. ♪Middle Eastern music♪ Laodicea was an ancient city. It was located on a plateau
in the Lycus Valley. This was a fertile area
surrounded by creeks and rivers. ♪[music ends]♪♪ This wealthy city was laid
out in a grid system and stretched out over
five square kilometers. And it's in this city that
we find the last of the seven churches of Revelation. Laodicea was home to several
incredible buildings. There were giant porticoes,
agoras, and theaters. There were public baths,
a gymnasium, a stadium. There were also temples. After all, the city used
to be called Diospolis, which means the city of Zeus. There was a temple dedicated
to Artemis and Apollo. Another was dedicated
to Zeus and Athena. The whole gods thing
was important here. And, keep in mind, Rome didn't
care if you cared about their gods. You didn't have to
believe in them, you just had to go
through the motions. You had to recognize them. It wasn't a question
of loving the gods, it was a question
of loyalty to them. And this loyalty united society. In fact, Laodicea applied to
be granted the privilege of establishing an imperial
cult temple here. These were temples built in
honor of the emperors who were now considered, if
not actual gods, that they had joined the gods. God enough. Christians who believed in a
Creator God, in one True God, were enemies of the state. Christians were the unbelievers
in the eyes of the Romans. In fact, when trials were
conducted of Christians who refused to worship
the Roman gods, a statue of the emperor would
be present so that the accused could offer the appropriate
sacrifices then and there and therefore avoid punishment. ♪[somber music]♪ Laodicea wasn't the only place
with a Christian community. There were other believers just
a few miles away from here. To the north of Laodicea was
the city of Hierapolis and to the southeast was Colossae. In the book Paul wrote to
the believers in Colossae, he greets those in
Laodicea and Hierapolis. "For I bear him witness
that he, Epaphras, "has a great zeal for you, and
those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis." So, there's a cluster of places
here that show up in the Bible. ♪[dramatic music]♪ This area is surrounded
by mountains, some reaching up to around
eight thousand feet or close to two thousand five
hundred meters. And Turkey is one of the most
seismically active regions in the world. A devastating earthquake
affected the east of Turkey in 2023. But as far back as
the year A.D. 60, an earthquake destroyed
Laodicea, Philadelphia, and other towns. But unlike other cities
devastated by the earthquake, Laodicea made a
surprising choice. After that earthquake, Laodicea
turned down financial aid from the Roman Empire, choosing
to rebuild itself using its own resources. The city's commercial and
political prominence had a lot to do with its
advantageous position on the local trade routes. The city minted its own coins. They had inscriptions on them
to such pagan gods as Apollo and Zeus and any number
of Roman emperors. It was a well-to-do place. And while there's nothing
wrong at all with wealth, there's a real danger that
prosperity can distract a person from faith in God, and
that's what happened here. Laodicea became comfortable
and that comfort became spiritually deadly. I'll tell you more
in just a moment. ♪[dramatic music]♪ ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[calm, piano music]♪ >>Announcer: For 2,000 years
it's been the hope of the Christian church. It's a major theme of the Bible
and the focal point of the book of Revelation: the return
of Jesus to the world. Call now for your free copy
of "The Soon Return of Jesus." Learn what the Bible says on
this vital subject and untangle many modern myths. Call 800-253-3000. That's 800-253-3000. Or visit us online
at iiwoffer.com. ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[dramatic music]♪ >>John Bradshaw: He had it all. Extravagant wealth,
immense power, and wisdom far greater
than any person before him. He'd seen the glory of God,
had spoken personally with God, and was told by God he could
have anything he wanted. But as his focus shifted over
time, his life collapsed. As he contemplated
his existence, he concluded that
all was vanity. Don't miss "Great Characters of
the Bible: Solomon," as we look at the story of the
wisest man who ever lived, a man who wrote three
books of the Bible, a man who was
revered by monarchs and feared by his enemies. The man who constructed
what may have been the most beautiful temple ever built,
and yet turned away from faithfulness to God. But God didn't turn from him. The story of Solomon is
a tragedy and a victory. Don't miss "Great Characters of
the Bible: Solomon," brought to you by
It Is Written TV. ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[Middle Eastern music]♪ >>John Bradshaw: We're
exploring the ancient city of Laodicea, about an hour's drive
southeast of Philadelphia in the valley of
the Lycus River. This was home to the last
of the seven churches of Revelation. It was named for Laodice, the
wife of the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus II, in around 260 B.C. And that name is important in
the context of Jesus' remarks to this church. Laodicea means "a
people judged." This whole region is filled
with centuries of incredible history and natural wonder. Just a few miles north of
Laodicea is the ancient city of Hierapolis. Hierapolis is a
fascinating place. The first thing you notice are
the brilliant white terraces. They are mineral deposits
formed by the hot springs that flow from here. Back then, people believed
that these hot springs had healing properties. Today, they attract tourists
from all over the world. Just past the thermal pools is
another incredible structure. This theater was rebuilt by
Emperor Hadrian in the second century A.D. and could accommodate
15,000 people. ♪[music ends]♪♪ The theater
is mostly made of marble, and even today you can see the
elaborate decorative features. Jesus speaks to the church
at Laodicea and says: "These things says the Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God." This isn't to say that
Jesus was a created being. He was not. John is writing that Jesus is
the Originator of creation, the Creator Himself. Where Paul writes to the
Colossians that Jesus is the Firstborn of every creature,
he's writing of Jesus' preeminence, not that He was
less than divine or more human than he actually was. Now Jesus wastes no time
getting to the point here. He says to the Laodiceans,
"I know your works, "that you are neither
cold nor hot. I could wish that you
were cold or hot." He's contrasting the Laodiceans
with the hot water that came from Hierapolis over there and
the cold water that come from Colossae over there Hot water good, cold water
good, but you Laodiceans, you're neither one
thing nor the other. You're lukewarm. He's speaking about their
spiritual condition. The problem the Laodiceans
had is they were indifferent. They were spiritually neutral. Professing the name of Jesus,
but not committed in any real way to actual Christianity. Not an all-out rebellion,
but they were not all in. Not committed. And Jesus shows us just how
serious that is when He says: "So then, because
you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spew you out of My mouth." Lukewarm water can have a
certain emetic quality about it. Hot water, as long as it's
not too hot, goes down easily. Cold water, the same. But lukewarm water can
be a little sickly. Can leave you feeling
a bit unsettled. Now, we don't often talk
together about vomiting, but why don't we do
that for just a moment. The act of throwing up
isn't a voluntary act. It's not something you
can typically do without, without some kind
of intervention, some kind of help, if, if,
it that's the right word. The throwing up is involuntary. You've experienced that. You don't want to,
you don't want to, you don't want to
and then--it happens. You don't plan it,
you don't work it up. Jesus isn't saying here,
"I want to eject you." He's not saying, "I
want to spew you out." He's simply not able to
accept these people in their lukewarm state. So, to these people just going
through the motions of their faith, which isn't really
genuine faith, Jesus says, "I just can't keep this down." Now, is that God being
less than gracious? Well, no, it's
God being honest, endeavoring to
wake up the world. It's why in the book of
Revelation there are three angels with important
messages for the world, pictured as flying in the midst
of heaven and calling to the world with a loud voice. It's important. Time is running out
for planet earth. The movements we're
seeing in the world today, the signs of the
times being fulfilled, it's like God has
pressed His foot down on the accelerator of time. And so here, Jesus
is just being honest. He's saying, so much of what's
going on in the world today, even in the church today,
is nauseating to Him. This thing being presented as
faith in Jesus, but it isn't. He doesn't want people
thinking they're saved, when they're lost. Thinking they're having a
genuine Christian experience, and they're actually
not having that at all. One of the greatest problems
facing the world has to be that people are self-deceived,
thinking they're okay with God when they're not. And that was true of
the church of Laodicea. Listen to this. "Because you say, 'I am
rich, have become wealthy, "and have need of nothing-
-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked.'" They were
in a perilous situation. The Laodiceans
were actually rich. Again, nothing
wrong with wealth, but it brings with it
certain temptations. These people became comfortable
in their comfort and they lost sight of what it meant to have
a vital Christian experience. They said in their hearts,
"We have need of nothing." They were satisfied. And this isn't just speaking
about material things. Jesus is speaking to the church
about its spiritual condition. They were just fine. Or, so they thought. In actuality, they
were wretched. The only other time that word
is used in the New Testament, it's when Paul speaks
to the Romans and says, "Oh wretched man that I am." The difference is with Paul, he
was aware of his wretchedness, which is why he was able to
cry out to God in desperation. But this group of people, unaware of their true
spiritual condition, they cannot cry
out to God for a remedy. Jesus said they were miserable. Now, this is another word
that only appears twice in the New Testament. And again, the only other time
it is used it's used by the apostle Paul. He wrote to the church
in Corinth and he said, "If in this life only
we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable." The condition of people who
only had hope in this world and had no hope in the world to
come is described as miserable. The Laodiceans, although they
didn't know it, were miserable. These well-off people
were described as poor, as well as blind and naked. But true to the rest of the
letters to the seven churched, there was hope even
for the Laodiceans, which is phenomenal, isn't it? Wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked, but they could have hope,
and that's Jesus' way. It's often been said that the
most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten "Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." But the very next verse is
another you don't want to miss. John 3:17. "For God sent not His Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through
Him might be saved." Even three centuries after
John's letter the Laodiceans continued to deceive themselves. The town of Laodicea hosted an
important event known as the Council of Laodicea,
between 363 and 364 A.D. It took place during the
reign of Emperor Julian. He was called the apostate
due to his attempts to revive paganism and diminish the
influence of Christianity. The Council of Laodicea is
significant because it outlawed the keeping of the original
seventh-day Sabbath and encouraged rest on Sunday. It also attempted to establish
a biblical canon which included apocryphal books such
as First Esdras, Baruch, and the epistles of Jeremiah. Although the Council of
Laodicea wasn't specifically from the Laodicean church,
it represented the overall attitude of the
church at that time. The council highlighted
the Laodiceans' failure to prioritize the Word
of God as supreme. So, where was the hope for a
people described by Jesus as wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked? Well, there
was a lot of hope. I'll share that with
you in just a moment. ♪[dramatic music]♪♪ ♪[calm piano music]♪ >>John Bradshaw: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written exists because of the kindness
of people just like you. To support this international
life-changing ministry, please call us now
at 800-253-3000. You can send your tax
-deductible gift to the address on your screen or
you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. Thank you for your prayers and
for your financial support. Our number again is 800
-253-3000 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[epic music]♪ >>John Bradshaw: It's a
land rich with culture. Colorful bazaars,
stunning mosques, and ancient ruins now occupy
the same territory once conquered by the Persian,
Greek, and Roman empires. In the midst of this
tumultuous history, followers of Christ began to
form their first churches. One of these churches was
instructed by Jesus to "be watchful and strengthen the
things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not
found your works perfect before God." What were the believers
in Sardis missing? And how is this letter to
a church that existed two thousand years ago relevant
to the church today? Find out by watching, "The
Seven Churches of Revelation, Sardis," and learn what it
means to truly overcome. "The Seven Churches
of Revelation, Sardis" brought to you
by It Is Written TV. ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[piano music]♪♪ >>John Bradshaw: The ruins
of this Christian church in Laodicea dates to the
fourth century A.D. The church wasn't standing when
the early Christians were here and that's because those early
Christians typically faced a lot of persecution and didn't
worship in church buildings in those days. The first reference we have
to a Christian community in Laodicea can be found in the
Apostle Paul's epistle to the neighboring Colossians. He says in Colossians 4:16:
"Now when this epistle is read "among you, see that it is
read also in the church of the "Laodiceans, and that you
likewise read the epistle from Laodicea." Either the Laodiceans had
written to Colossae or to Paul and the apostle wanted the
Colossians to be aware of that. The epistle to the
Colossians may, in fact, have been a circular letter, to
be sent to each of the various congregations in the territory. Some of the Greek manuscripts
of Paul's first epistle to Timothy read,
"written at Laodicea." Paul may have been visiting
Laodicea when he wrote his first letter to his
protégé Timothy. Jesus' message to the church
that was here was as straight as can be. "You say that you're rich and
increased with goods and have "need of nothing, but you are
unaware that you are wretched, miserable, poor,
blind, and naked." But Jesus was quick to share
hope with the Laodiceans and He does that with all of
the seven churches. "Ephesus, you have left your
first love, but if you repent, you'll be okay." "Smyrna, you're facing
terrible persecution, but you don't have to fear,
I'll give you a crown of life." "Pergamos, I have a few things
against you with your false "teachings and your immorality
and more, but if you repent, I'll give you a white
stone and a new name." "Thyatira, you put up with
Jezebel and all that false "teaching, but I'll give you
power over nations and I'll give you the morning star." That's Jesus. "Sardis, you have a
name that you're alive, "but you're actually dead. "But in spite of that, you may
be clothed in white clothing and your name will stay
in the Book of Life." "Philadelphia, I'll make you a
pillar in the temple of My God." "And Laodicea, the church that
makes me sick to my stomach, there is hope for you." And here's what Dr. Jesus
prescribed for these self-deceived
Laodiceans, He said, "I counsel you to buy from
Me gold refined in the fire, "that you may be rich;
and white garments, "that you might be clothed, that
the shame of your nakedness may "not be revealed; and anoint
your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." Gold tried in the fire
that you may be rich. They thought they were rich,
many of them in this banking center, but Jesus is
talking about true riches. He doesn't mind if you
have earthly riches, too, as long as that's
dedicated to Him, and isn't acting as a
millstone around your neck. I've heard gold tried in a fire
being described as faith that works by love. Gold tried in the fire. Jesus said, "You need that,
and then you'll be really rich. You'll have something
of real value." And then Jesus says, "You need
white garments that you might be clothed." Now, this is interesting. Historians say that back in
those times Laodicea produced soft, black wool, which was
used to manufacture clothing. Jesus says to a people in a
place known for its black wool, "What you need is
white clothing." And, of course, that white
clothing is the righteousness of Christ. What we all need to know is
that our own righteousness is of no value. Isaiah described it
as, "Filthy rags." But we can freely receive the
perfect righteousness of Jesus. God offers that
to you right now. Jesus went on to say that the
Laodiceans needed to anoint their eyes with eye
salve so they could see. Laodicea was home to a medical
school in the first century. One of its first graduates
was an ophthalmologist, an eye doctor, who wrote an
influential textbook on the subject of the eye. And a popular eye salve
was produced here. It was sold by the
merchants of the city. And Jesus says, "I can offer
you the eye salve that really works, and that works
for you spiritually." He wanted to open the eyes of
the Laodiceans to the beauty of the Gospel, which, of course,
is the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, "I'll give
you My Holy Spirit, who will transform you,
who will remake you." Jesus tells us why He is so
direct with the Laodiceans when He says, "As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
zealous and repent." And then He says, "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock. "If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come into him and dine
with him, and he with Me." This is Jesus knocking
on the door of the heart. Notice, he doesn't force His
way in. He knocks and allows you to open, or not. He says if you'll
open the door, He'll come in. And notice it
says, "We'll dine together." That's real hospitality. "We'll be friends," Jesus says. "We'll eat together. We'll have fellowship." What an invitation from
the Divine Son of God. ♪[happy piano music]♪♪ >>Announcer: For 2,000 years
it's been the hope of the Christian church. It's a major theme of the Bible
and the focal point of the book of Revelation: the return
of Jesus to the world. Call now for your free copy
of "The Soon Return of Jesus." Learn what the Bible says on
this vital subject and untangle many modern myths. Call 800-253-3000. That's 800-253-3000. Or visit us online
at iiwoffer.com. ♪[music ends]♪♪ ♪[piano music]♪ >>John Bradshaw: Patmos was
a lonely island when John was here two thousand years ago. Which is interesting because
the letters to the seven churches reached their
crescendo with an invitation to anything but loneliness. Jesus said that He knocks
on the door of your heart. Doesn't force His way in. He
says if you will open the door then He will come in and dine
with you and you with Him. That's Jesus saying
friendship, fellowship, unity for you and Him
throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. No loneliness. No solitude. Very much unlike what John
experienced right here on Patmos two millennia ago. Do you want that friendship? That's where the letters
to the seven churches lead, to you and Jesus
being one forever. If you'll say yes, you have
eternity to look forward to, with the one the Book of
Revelation calls the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let me pray with you now. Our Father in heaven, we thank
You that above all things You wish that we, that's You
and us, be connected, be one forever and ever. Let that be, dear Lord. In spite of our weakness,
in spite of our sin, in spite of our faults, join
us to Yourself through faith in the Christ of the Revelation,
the Christ of the Bible. We thank You for what You have
prepared for us in the letters to the seven churches. As we live by that instruction,
as we live by that guidance, prepare us more and yet more
for eternity when Jesus comes back to take us home. Let that day come soon,
we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you so much
for joining me. I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time. ♪[theme music increases]♪ Until then, remember:
"It is written, 'Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'" ♪[dramatic, triumphant
theme music]♪ ♪[music ends]♪♪
