Video Transcript: Laodicea

 Ancient Laodicea a town located on a flat topped Hill, once a thriving city now  lies in ruins, awaiting a more thorough excavation than it has so far received.  Located at the junction of several important trade routes, Laodicea is 77  kilometers from Philadelphia, Alashehir and 150 kilometers from Ephesus of the  several cities named Laodicea. In Syria and Asia Minor, only one is mentioned in the scriptures, namely, the one situated within the confines of Phrygia and Lydia  Laodicea is located near the modern city of Denizli, overshadowed by the more  spectacular nearby site of Hierapolis, Laodicea receives only the occasional  busload of tourists, who stop to view the remains of this city, which once  boasted, I am rich, I have prospered and I need nothing. Revelation 3:17 Come  with me on a journey, the quest for answers, looking for the first followers of  Christ in Turkey. Laodicea is south of the modern village of Goncali and north of  the village of Eskihisar. Laodicea is situated 10 kilometers from Hierapolis and  16 from Colossae. Discovered in 1835, by WJ Hamilton, the site of Colossi still  awaits archaeological excavation, the visitor to the site will likely be disappointed for not much can be seen at this once important city in the Lycus River Valley.  On the south side of the river right here is a low mound, the site of the Acropolis  of the ancient city of Colossae on the sides and the top of the site, which can be  quickly climbed are a few scattered remains of building fragments. On the  eastern side of the mound. The concave outline of the theater at Colossae is still discernible to the north of the Lycus River was located the necropolis of the city  where several tombs with flat slabs have been discovered. On the other hand,  Hierapolis formally Pamukkale is a great place to visit long before the visitor  arrives at Pamukkale. The gleaming white calcified cliffs attract attention.  Looking like snow on a mountainside. These limestone formations are the result  of calcium deposits for mineral rich water that still flows over the cliffs. Perhaps  the best way to visit the site is to begin at the Pamukkale Museum. Among the  noteworthy objects are statues of the god of Hades, or relief of the marriage of  Zeus and Leto, or relief of the birth of Apollo, and the relief of King Eumenes of  Pergamum and reliefs of gladiators fighting. The exhibit also contains some  objects found at Laodicea, including a statue of a priestess of Isis and relief of  Dionysus and Pan. North East of the museum is the sacred pool. A portion of  the colonnaded street can be seen to the east of the sacred pool. The Street,  which was the major street of the city, ran north to south behind the sacred pool  is the Nymphaeum the monumental fourth century AD fountain that has been  partially restored. The Nymphaeeum is located in front of the temple of Apollo.  All the remains of the structures are the foundation's platform and entry steps on the south side of the temple is an arched opening that leads to the plutonium the sacred cave, believed to be the entrance to the underworld, the domain of the  god Pluto. One of the most impressive structures at Hierapolis is the Roman  theater. The theater had a seating capacity of 12,000 to 15,000 Follow the dirt  path north that goes beside the theater to reach the Martyrium of St. Philip the 

apostle located north of the ancient city walls for over a mile on both sides of the highway entering Hierapolis are numerous tombs, representing a variety of  styles including sarcophagi, house-type and temple tombs and tumulus tombs.  This necropolis is one of the largest in Turkey containing over 1000 tombs from  the Hellenistic period to the early Christian period. South of the necropolis past  the North baths is a monumental entryway to the city known as the gate of  Domitian. The site of ancient Laodicea was partially excavated by Canadian  Archaeologists from 1961 to 1963. At the southern end of the site are the  remains of the ancient aqueduct and still water pipes that brought water into  Laodicea. Note the heavy lime deposits in the pipes. The pipes distributed water from this point to the various homes in the community. Adjacent to the terminus  of the aqueduct, was a fountain and also the remains of a large building that  was a gymnasium bath complex. To the west of the gymnasium bath are the  ruins of a stadium, one of the most impressive remains at the site. The  colonnaded street ran along the north side of the Nymphaeum portions of the  paved street as well as some of the column fragments are visible. facing the  street on the north side of the remains of a large complex with a courtyard that  likely had porticoes on its east, south and west side. A large building was at the  north end of the complex this complex likely built after the middle of the second  century CE was probably a temple dedicated to the Imperial cult. Laodicea had  five agoras or assembly places as an important city along a major trade route  and with an extensive textile industry. The city evidently felt it needed all of these agoras for doing business. Although one agora function as a political agora, or  forum. Laodicea has two theatres, one in the West, dated to the Hellenistic  period, and a larger on the north, this one from the second century AD, this  theatre, with a diameter of more than 120 meters, could hold more than 20,000  people. About 20 churches and chapels have been found in Laodicea. Some of  these structures used to be private houses. dated to the beginning of the fourth  century AD, the largest church structure at Laodicea spanned a whole city block. The church was decorated with marble floors. In the middle of the nave is the  speaker's podium, a platform and an altar along with decorated chancel screens sat at the far eastern end of the nave. Below the altar, archaeologists found a  water basin and miniature bottles, which suggests that holy water was bottled  and given to pilgrims. The baptistry of the church of Laodicea features a cross  shaped box the city of Laodicea was originally named Diospolis, city of Jupiter,  then Rhoas. The city had been founded as a major urban center around 250 BC  by Antiochus II to be a gateway to Phrygia and was settled by Syrians and Jews  brought from Babylonia. Antiochus named the city after his wife or sister,  Laodice. After 188 BC, the city came under the rule of the Perganies. Laodicea  came under the control of the Romans in 133 BC. Because of its favorable  location on the system of the Roman roads, the city became one of the greatest  commercial and financial centres of the ancient world. Laodicea was 

enormously wealthy and they were proud of it. When around 68 D, it was  devastated by an earthquake. Its citizens were so rich and independent that  according to the Roman historian Tacitus, they refused Imperial help and rebuilt  the city using their own resources. Most of the city's wealth came from the  clothing, manufacturing industry and banking transactions. Laodicea was widely  known for a fine quality of soft and glossy black wool used in the production of  different kinds of garments and carpets, which were exported all over the world.  This commercial prosperity made the city a great banking center where a large  quantity of gold was stored. In addition, Laodicea was famous for its medical  school, which had a reputation throughout the ancient world for its treatment of  eye diseases. By the means of the eye salve made from Phrygian powder mixed with oil, the major weakness of Laodicea was its lack of an adequate and  convenient source for water. Its location had been determined by the road  system rather than by natural resources. Colossae was known for its cold, pure  water. And Hierapolis in antiquity, as well as today was noted for its hot springs,  which provided water used for medical purposes, as well as for a hot drink. But  the Laodiceans did not have an adequate water supply, and had to resort to  aqueducts to convey water to their city, either from Hierapolis or from Colossae  such an aqueduct could easily be cut off, leaving the city helpless, especially in  the dry season when the Lycus could dry up. By the time the water arrived at  Laodicea much of it was tepid and unpalatable, but they continued to use it.  Laodicea was the center of the Imperial cult, and later received temple worship  under Commodus. The church in Laodicea was probably founded during the  time Paul spent at Ephesus on his third missionary journey, perhaps by  Ephesus. There is no evidence that Paul visited the church, although he wrote  them a letter that was subsequently lost. The Christian community at Laodicea  was closely connected with that of Colossae and its mission five times in Paul's  letters to the Colossians Laodicea formed a cluster with two others at Colossae  and Hierapolis and possibly with certain other house churches, in the same  general area. 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, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I would  wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 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, I counsel you to buy from me, gold  refined in the fire, that you may be rich and white garments, that you may be  clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint  your eyes with eye salve that you may see, as many as I love, I rebuke and  chasten 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 dine with him, and he with Me, To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My 

throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who  has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, Revelation 3:14- 22. The Church at Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of  Asia minor. Laodicea was the opposite of the church of Philadelphia, as the  church of Philadelphia was rebuked for nothing. So the church of Laodicea was  commended for nothing. The state of the church in Laodicea was one of self  satisfaction and complacency. Apparently, the Christians, like the city itself,  enjoyed a high degree of comfort and prosperity, a factor that led to a diminished zeal for the things of God and yet, this was one of the seven golden lampstands  a corrupt Church may still be a church, and Jesus is still there. He stands at the  hearts door of each believer and knocks, requesting permission to enter in order to perform the miracle of salvation and transformation. This is the one letter in  which the titles of Christ are not drawn from the description of Revelation 1. To  the church of Laodicea Jesus identifies himself with three titles. First, Jesus is  the Amen. The word amen comes to us from Hebrew via Greek and basically  means in truth. According to Barclay was used to affirm and to guarantee a  statement as absolutely true and trustworthy. This title reminds one of Isaiah  65:16, where God is called the God of truth. In Hebrew, God of Amen. In the  Gospel of Jesus often begins to statements with truly, truly, I say to you, next,  Jesus is described as the faithful and true witness. It presents the  trustworthiness of Christ in sharp contrast to the faithfulness of the Laodicean  church. He is the witness that we can fully rely on. This is most likely what Paul  had in mind when he said, For as many as are the promises of God in Him they  are yes. Therefore, also through Him is our amen to the glory of God through us. Finally, Jesus is the beginning of God's creation. The phraseology should not be  misunderstood, to suggest that Christ is a created being But rather, the one who begins or initiates the creation of God and has absolute authority over it to the  self sufficient church in Laodicea. Christ introduces himself as the Amen of God,  the faithful and true witness, the only one who has absolute power over the  world because he is the source and origin of all creation. His faithful testimony  exposes the true condition of the church falling away from him. Therefore, when  he speaks, the church is to listen and obey. As you open your life to Christ, He  will point out your real condition, and Jesus will guide you to the only answer  you need, himself. Christ knows that the Laodiceans are neither cold nor hot.  The word cold is used for freezing water and hot for boiling water. The  Laodiceans probably thought they could strike a middle road between  worshiping God and worshiping the Roman emperor. Jesus prefers that the  church be either hot or cold. He intends simply that knowing definitely where  they should stand, they stand there. The only reason Christ would prefer  coldness to lukewarmness is that it symbolizes hypocritical profession of faith.  They could not even be classed with the worldly people around them, who had  absolutely no concern about the things of Christ. It is worse to have believed 

and sunk into indifference about one's faith, than to have had no faith from the  start. So the lukewarm condition denotes compromise. Their lukewarm condition indicates that they have fallen into the status of indifference and self sufficiency.  They have lost their original enthusiasm and zeal for spiritual matters. Their  lukewarm condition provides neither refreshment for the spiritually weary nor  healing for the spiritually sick. Here he points to a contrast of the Laodicean  lukewarmness with the hot medicinal waters of Hierapolis and the cold, pure life  giving waters of Colossae, concluding that the emphasis is on ineffectiveness  instead of halfheartedness. The church is not being called to task for its spiritual  temperature, but for the barrenness of its works. In any case, because the  Laodiceans are lukewarm, Christ says I'm about to spit you out of my mouth.  This is a figure of disgust and rejection. The glorified Christ will no longer  tolerate such lukewarm, ineffective believers. They're like salt that has lost its  saltiness, which will be thrown out as useless. This is a heart searching  message for this hour. There's a great division in Christianity today. And it's not  in denominations, it's not in Romanism and Protestantism. The great division  consists of those who believed in the Word of God and follow it, who those who  love it, obey it, and then those who reject it. That is the line of division today.  Which side are you on? The Laodiceans are not condemned for apostasy or  heresy. They're not being persecuted, yet Jesus finds no good thing to say  about them. The only good thing in Laodicea is the church's thoroughly good  opinion of herself, and that is false. She claims to have everything and has  nothing. The main problem is her indifference. The church has been infected by  the city's pride and self sufficiency as expressed through their attitude. I am rich  and have become wealthy and have need of nothing. The city of Laodicea  prided itself on its material wealth, clothing, trade, and popular ice house. This  spirit evidently crept into the church, the Laodicean Christians were putting their  trust in their own wealth, yet, they may have regarded it as a blessing from God, thus being deceived as to their true spiritual condition. Their pretentious claim  was not only that they were rich, but that they had received it and achieved it all  on their own. And beyond that, they had need of nothing. But the truth was that  they were the ones who were poor, blind and naked. While the church in  Smyrna appears poor yet in reality is rich. The Laodiceans think that they're rich, while in reality, they are poor in their spiritual pride. They're blind to their own  condition and think themselves the opposite of what they really are. They are  poor in reference to the true riches of life, blind in reference to truth and  knowledge, and they are naked in reference to their utter lack of Christ like  character and genuine good works, which are the evidence of a truly spiritual  life? The one who does not know and the one who is not aware that he does not know, are both in the same precarious position. The sin that is most nearly  hopeless and incurable is pride of opinion, self conceit, this stands in the way of  all growth. What do you think about yourself? No, no? What do you really think 

about you? Remember the first words of Jesus in the Sermon of the mountain?  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The divine  response to their own unrecognized wretchedness is to counsel them to buy  from Christ what is necessary to become what they think they are are not. In  fact, they need to receive gold refined in the fire that stands figuratively for faith  which has been tested. This gold comes not from the think tanks in their city, but from Jesus Himself. They need to put on Christ as their white clothes, not  depending on the well known black wool of the sheep in their fields. Their eyes  must be enlightened by the Spirit, for their renowned eye salve had only left  them blind. Jesus tells them be earnest, be zealous and repent. Still, Jesus uses the tender personal word for love for phileo when he issues his rebuke and  discipline. He stands at the door of each individual's heart and asks invitation to  enter. Jesus is standing before the door of every human heart and asking to be  invited in for a meal of mutual and intimate love. He does not break in he waits  for you. What is your decision? Jesus promises to share his throne with the  overcomers in the church, just as He overcame and sat with his father on his  father's throne. The fulfillment of this promise will be realized after his return to  Earth. It is significant that while the number of promises to the other churches  increases in proportion, with the decline of their spiritual condition, Laodicea as  bad as it is, is given only one promise. However, this promise incorporates all  other promises given to the churches, to sit with Jesus on his throne means to  have everything. This letter is both the sternest of the letters and the most  tender. And maybe this loving letter was not just for the Church at Laodicea,  maybe it is for you and I as well. In this loving letter, Jesus Christ assures us all  that we are beloved friend, he is not scolding you, he is pleading with you. He is  challenging his beloved child, because you mean so much to him, and he  cannot simply stand by and watch your downward spiral. In love Jesus does not  compel you to repent, but rather calls you to repent. You and you alone must  open the door that your own lukewarmness has closed. Jesus Christ knocks he  respects your freedom to choose how you will respond. Only you can open the  door. You may think that you are not worthy to open the door that you have gone so far from God. But no matter where you are friend Jesus loves you. softly and  tenderly he asks you to open the door. What will your answer be? Softly and  tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me. See on the portals He's  waiting and watching. Watching for you and for me. Come home, come home.  You who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling, "O sinner come home" Think of the wonderful he has promised.  Promised for you and for me. Though we have sinned he has mercy and  pardon. Pardon for you and for me. Come home, come home. You who are  weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling, "O sinner come  home" Come home, come home. You who are weary come home. Earnestly, 

tenderly Jesus is calling Calling, "O sinner come home" Earnestly, tenderly  Jesus is calling Calling, "O sinner come home" Calling, "O sinner come home" Let's pray Our Father and our God, we thank you for your encouragement in our lives. We thank you for speaking directly to the changes that need to become  reality in our hearts we pray especially Lord Jesus that that you would give us  the gift of repentance that we would that we would love you with passion, the  way we first loved you when we received your grace at the beginning of our  Christian journey. Father continue to guide our lives make us a blessing to those around us that we would encourage others and that together with them. We will  spend eternity with you. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus name we pray.  Amen. Dear friend, thank you so much for watching us. Don't forget to share  with your friends and relatives. The quest for answers looking for the first  followers of Christ here in Turkey. Don't forget to visit our website. On our  website. You can send us a message, your prayer request, and as well you can  make your donation on our website. May God bless you and hope to see you  soon