Revelation Chapter 3

First we note that neither hot nor cold are bad things in and of themselves. Yeshua wishes that the Laodiceans were either hot or cold. Yeshua would never wish someone to be cold toward God in a faith sense, and therefore this cannot refer to the fire of those with zeal and the coolness of those without it, which is a common misteaching of this text

Introduction:
 
As the letters to the seven faith communities continue, a familiar refrain forms a rhythm for the listener, “I know your deeds.” The only exceptions have been Smyrna (mourning), “I know your afflictions,” and Pergamum (Pride), “I know where you dwell.”
 
These exceptions tell us two things:

• First, in affliction we are challenged to accept or reject trust in God from a place of powerlessness.
• Second, where we dwell doesn’t have to affect who we are.

 
In any case our actions, be they right or wrong, are an indication of the focus of our core being. Hence, Yeshua doesn’t say, “I know your thoughts,” or “I know your plans,” rather He says, “I know your deeds,” because our deeds are either the result of our own thoughts and plans or they’re a result of His thoughts and plans at work in us.
 
“Our weapons of warfare are not of the flesh but are of divine power to demolish strongholds, arguments that seek to overthrow, and every high thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and in taking captive every thought, submitting all to the Messiah.”
 
-2 Corinthians 10:4-5 [Author’s translation]
 
The Messiah continues to name that aspect of His character which is most relevant to the body of believers in question. He continues to reflect back to each assembly the issues associated with their respective names. In the mirror of His truth the darkness is illuminated and shown for what it really is.
 
Yeshua speaks warning, not with the desire to destroy but with the love that offers reconciliation. He disciplines those He loves, the wrath of God is born of His love.
 
1.)    Thyatira, “Odour” (Consequence of Sin)
2.)    Sardis, “Deep orange/red” semi-precious stone used in making jewellery (façade)
3.)    Philadelphia, “Brotherly love” (love & Faithfulness)
4.)    Laodicea, “People under Judgement” (Judgement)
 
These last three letters follow Yeshua’s rebuke concerning the odour of sin (Thyatira) with His indictment against the façade (Sardis) 1 of self-deception, then from holiness and through love He offers an opportunity for faithfulness (Philadelphia) 2 to bring right action, prior to the coming judgement (Laodicea).3
 
In conclusion, Yeshua reminds us that the one who has ears to hear will be clothed in white, named with belonging and given a place to sit beside Him.
 
The Text Revelation 3:
 
1 “To the messenger of the assembly in Sardis (façade) write:
He who holds the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and that you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
 
It’s important to remind ourselves that the messenger in question is a human being belonging to the community who both receives messages for the community and travels to deliver messages from the community. With this in mind we can discern that all seven communities of faith must have had some knowledge of the issues facing them as a whole in addition to their individual challenges and successes.
 
Sardis derives its name from the Greek for a reddish semi-precious stone used in costume jewellery. The symbolic meaning presents a façade, the illusion of costly beauty. Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and a city of great wealth. It is said to be the birthplace of coinage (6th century BCE), and it was at one time famous for the great wealth of its last king, Croesus.
 
Yeshua names Himself here as, “He who holds the sevenfold (Holy) Spirit of God,” an allusion to the fact that the רוח הקודש Ruach Ha-Kodesh (The Holy Spirit) is imparted by the Father and the Son in order to bring glory to the testimony of the Son and in turn to the Father (John 15:26; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 5:7).
 
“However, you are not in flesh but in Spirit—if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. However, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, that one does not belong to Him.”
 
-Romans 8:9
 
Yeshua also names Himself as, “the one who holds the seven stars,” that is, the messengers of the assemblies. The messengers and the message they bring are secure and unwavering, maintained in the right hand of Yeshua’s strength.
 
‘I know your deeds, and that you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.’ The symbolism is rich, just as the name of the city itself denotes a pretence, so too the illusion of good deeds, wealth and prosperity cover the spiritual sickness beneath. Their makeup is covering up the signs of a life threatening condition.
 
This can be seen in our own lives when we take on the false theological doctrines of prosperity teachers and claim absolute authority over healing based on the magical use of communion. When we use all the right spiritual jargon and present ourselves as pure while practicing sin in what we believe to be hidden places. The aforementioned actions are pretence and are soon exposed by the reality of poverty and sickness, both spiritual and physical.
 
Many religious people give generously to charities and advocate for social justice groups, but beneath the façade are the dark motives of acclaim and false humility. It’s important to note that in their modern iterations many of the so called “Christian NGO’s” are in fact humanitarian (born of humanism) pseudo-Christian political advocacy groups who thrive on antisemitic rhetoric disguised as critique of the modern state of Israel. They love to claim Micah 6:8 as their mantra and yet they act unjustly toward the Jewish people, show no mercy for the Jewish people, and full of self-righteous pride level false accusations against the Jewish people. In short, they are the very antithesis of Micah 6:8. Those Christians who fail to do their due diligence in vetting these pseudo-Christian, satanic organisations will be judged by God as being complicit.
 
In many cases the western church has foolishly elected to believe that we are rich because we are deserving and that God has blessed us as a result, when in fact we are the poorest of people, temporarily satisfied by an illusion of faith in place of true faith. Vain religion is a façade.
 
In many cases what fallen humanity sees as blessing is in fact curse, and vice versa.
 
A reputation is formed before an audience of human beings, but God sees the intent of the core being. As a community of believers we can’t hide our motivations from HaShem. Those who seek applause are idolaters, while the truly righteous receive honour from God.
 
2 Wake up and stay awake, strengthen and turn with resolve toward the remnants of your faith, which are about to die; for I have not found your deeds full in the sight of My God.
 
Waking is a response to the presence of light and sleeping a kind of escape from the absence of it.
 
This exhortation is one that is familiar to the people of Israel. The prophet Isaiah reminds her of the future hope of the resurrection with the same words. This warning is just that, a warning intended to inspire repentance.
 
“Your dead will live;
Their corpses will rise.
You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy,
For your dew is as the dew of the dawn,
And the land will give birth to the departed spirits.”
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 26:19
 
The plain meaning notwithstanding Yeshua appears to be combining the meanings of two passages from the prophet Isaiah, the second being the one employed by Rav Shaul (Paul the Apostle) in Ephesians 5:14. 
 
“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of HaShem has risen upon you.”
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 60:1
 
When bright light—in this case Yeshua, The All Existing Light of the Universe—shines on the closed eyes of a sleeping person, eventually they can’t help but open their eyes: the question is, will that person choose to stay awake? In order to stay awake, a person prone to sleep must act, by acting the heart is stirred and the day is spent in good purpose.
 
The congregation of Sardis has slept too long, so much so that only a small remnant of true faith is available to them. Therefore Yeshua exhorts them to wake, stay awake and act in righteousness from a pure heart in order to dissolve their spiritual façade in the strength of the living Word.
 
11 “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,
 
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Messiah will shine on you.” [Ref. Isaiah 60:1]
 
[“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of HaShem has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)]
 
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
 
–Ephesians 5:11-18 
 
Notice that Yeshua is compared to YHVH by Shaul (Paul), the writer of the letter to the Ephesians.
 
“I have not found your deeds full in the sight of My God.” Deeds that are not full are empty, in the same way that a half-truth is a whole lie. Incomplete good deeds are nothing more than good intentions. The aphorism applies, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” As does the Lyle Lovett lyric, “She wasn’t good, but she had good intentions.” Good deeds that are not full fail to meet the goal. When our good deeds miss the mark set by God’s holiness the motivation behind them is exposed.
 
3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and return. Therefore if you do not wake up and stay awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
 
When we take time to remember what God has done, we become aware of what He is doing and find hope in what He has promised He will do. In this case that hope is in the resurrection and the עולם הבא Olam Haba (World to come).
 
Yeshua repeats the call to awaken, “wake up and stay awake,” emphasising the immediacy of the situation. This is compounded by the phrasing, “I will come like a thief,” which draws on the imagery of His second coming (Matt. 24:42-50; Lk 12:39-46; 1 Th 5:2-8; 2 Peter 3:8-13—Day of the Lord), but here denotes a temporal judgement that will take place prior to the final judgement unless the assembly in Sardis returns (repents). A just father begins judgement with His children.
 
4 But you have a few people in Sardis (façade) who have not soiled their garments (are authentic, righteous); and they will walk with Me in white, for they are deserving.
 
Yeshua doesn’t make a blanket judgement here. Like the Father, He is just and rewards all according to their deeds. There are those in Sardis who have not dirtied the garments of their good deeds with the pretence of prosperity and false humility, these few are promised that they will continue walking with Messiah in the white garments of their righteous actions. They have been redeemed by Yeshua and as a result they act out of love by doing what is right before God. This is the counterpoint to the empty deeds of their pairs. The deeds of the righteous are full in the sight of God.
 
White clothes are used throughout the Scriptures as a symbol for the righteous deeds of the people of God (Isa. 61:10; Eph. 2:10; Rev 3:18, 4:4, 6:11, 7:9-14, 16:15, 19:8-14).
 
These white garments (deeds motivated by Messiah in us) are contrasted against the, “filthy rags” (the appearance of good deeds) described in Isaiah 64:6 (5).
 
“For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like used menstrual rags;
And all of us wither like leaves,
And our perversity, like the wind, takes us away.”
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 64:6
 
5 He who overcomes (in Me) will be clothed in white garments; and it’s not at all possible for Me to blot out his name from the book of life, and I will acknowledge his name openly before My Father and before His angels/messengers. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.’
 
It’s essential to a holistic understanding of the Scriptures that we read, “The person who overcomes” as, “The person who overcomes in Messiah.”
 
As a result of this illuminated understanding we’re able to better understand what follows, that is, that the white clothing (good deeds) are a result of our having overcome in Messiah. The clothing is not a reward, rather it is the appropriate attire for those who belong to the King.
 
The ספר החיים Sefer Ha-Chayim Book of Living is referred to in the key passages Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28 and Daniel 12:1.
 
It is not the one who does good deeds who is securely etched into the book of life, rather it is the one who has overcome in Messiah. This same person will be announced before the Father and His messengers, celebrated before the community of God like a Jewish boy at His Bar Mitzvah. (Matt. 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9; John 10:3)
 
Therefore, in much the same way that it’s impossible for God to sin—because it goes against His character—it is also impossible for those who have overcome in Messiah to be blotted out of a book in which their names are written in Messiah’s eternal blood before the creation of the world (Rev. 13:8 & 17:8).
 
We note that so far as Scripture is concerned names are written in the book of life prior to the creation of the world and are subsequently blotted out upon perpetual rejection of God’s atoning love (Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1, Rev. 13:8 & 17:8). We note that where Scripture speaks of the Book of Life names are (not will be) written or will be (not have already been) blotted out. Because Messiah’s atoning blood is everlasting, it’s impossible for one who has been redeemed by Him to have their name blotted out. Only those who perpetually and wilfully reject the atoning love of God will have their names blotted out of ספר החיים Sefer Ha-Chayim (The Book of Living).
 
7 “And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia (Brotherly love & Faithfulness) write: The Holy One, Who is true, Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one will shut, and Who shuts and no one opens, says this:
 
Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love has a faithful assembly of Messiah followers and is unique among the seven assemblies because this congregation receives only praise from Yeshua.
 
“The Holy One,” הקדוש Ha-Kadosh in Hebrew, is a term that refers to God Himself. The Talmud and prayer book (siddur) refer to God in this way, as do a number of other prominent Jewish historical writings. It’s common in Judaism to refer to God as, הקדוש ברוך הוא Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu (The Holy One blessed is He). Acts 6:10 uses this phrase to designate God the Father, here however the phrase is used by Yeshua to describe Himself, there is therefore no need to add the, ברוך הוא Baruch Hu “blessed is he” because God with us the Messiah need not call Himself blessed.
 
“Who is true” The Scriptures also refer to God as the God of truth (Psa. 31:5; Isa. 65:16; Rom. 1:25; 3:7). Here Yeshua uses this phrase to name Himself. This also relates to Rev 1:5, which describes Yeshua as the faithful witness.
 
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
 
-Yeshua (John 14:6)
 
“Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one will shut and Who shuts and no one opens…”
 
Yeshua is quoting Yeshayahu (Isaiah) the prophet, who prophesied over 600 years prior to the recording of the Revelation concerning Eliyakim (My God Who Rises) the son of Hilkiyah (A part of YHVH), who is to be given the key to the house of David (Beloved):
 
“20 Then it will come about in that day, that I will summon My servant Eliyakim (My God Who Rises) the son of Hilkiyah (A part of YHVH), 21 And I will clothe him with your tunic and tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust him with your authority, and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Flood of Peace) and to the house of Judah (Praise). 22 Then I will set the key of the house of David (Beloved) on his shoulder, when he opens no one will shut, when he shuts no one will open.”
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 22:20-22
 
Isaiah is speaking of the kingdom and authority of David being taken back from an illegitimate ruler and given to Eliyakim (My God Who Rises), whose name reflects the nature of the Messianic King Who will reign over Judah, Israel and the nations.
 
Therefore, “The key of David,” is the key that unlocks all earthly authority. It is the key of the beloved Son of God, Yeshua the rightful King of Israel.
 
The opening and shutting is under the immutable governance of the One Who holds the key of David. This means that the open and shut doors are a matter of firm resolve on the part of the Messiah, within the plans of the Father God.
 
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My Name. 9 Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
 
As in the other letters the deeds of the community are acknowledged. In this case they’re deeds of righteousness performed in spite of affliction and limited resources. Yeshua affirms the unchangeable future hope that He has laid out before them, an open door to the Olam Haba that no one can shut.
 
The phrase, “you have little strength” could be read, “you have little wealth.” Though they were weak in worldly wealth they were strong in the Word and the Name of Yeshua.
 
Yeshua also promises imminent judgement against those Gentiles who have lied about being Jews and are teaching false doctrine and persecuting the assembly of believers in both Smyrna and Philadelphia. It seems that their evil actions had spread throughout the diaspora. The good news is that the judgement will bring about repentance on their part and that the final outcome will be that they submit to the authority (Key of David) of those who are following Messiah diligently.
 
This is reminiscent of the prophetic words of the TaNaKh (OT) regarding the humbling of the nations before Israel:
 
“The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet;
And they will call you the city of HaShem,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
 
–Yeshayahu/Isaiah 60:14
 
(See also: Isaiah 45:14, 49:23, 60:14 and Ezekiel 36:23, 37:28).
 
It’s possible that the assembly of Philadelphia had a large number of Jewish members who would receive the repentance of those Gentiles who had lied about being Jewish and had participated in the assembly of Satan. This acknowledges the legitimate role of Jewish Messianic believers as guides and older brothers to their Gentile counterparts.
 
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep my eye on you and guard you from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
 
“The time of trial” which is coming on the world is spoken of in the TaNaKh:
 
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.”
 
–Daniel 12:1 (Ref. Romans 11:25-27)
 
The phrase, “keep you from the hour of trial” is best rendered, “I also will keep my eye on you and guard you from the hour of trial” meaning that those being kept are being shielded/rescued from the trial that the people of the earth will undergo (9:4) and will be warned to flee the impending judgement (18:4).
 
“Come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth”: In this context the equivalent Hebrew phrase, יושבי הארץ Yoshvey ha-aretz is understood to reflect the meaning of the text of Isaiah 26:18 which refers to all human beings except those who are devoted to God. In other words, those who follow the Beast/Satan (13:3, 8) and have refused to return to God. This means that the pagan world will be put through trial by experiencing God’s judgement upon the earth (Chapters 6-18). The remnant of Israel (Jews) will respond to the trial by repenting (11:13) in alignment with the promise of Romans 11:25-27, which is the desire of HaShem (1 Peter 3:9); but the remainder of the people among the pagan nations will not (9:20-21; 16:8-11, 21).
 
“I am coming without delay” seems to indicate the immediate judgement of those non-Jews who are the assembly (synagogue) of Satan.
 
The crown is a competitors laurel given to participants of the Roman games. Here it symbolizes a believer’s commitment to completing the race (2 Timothy 4:7), and reminds the believer that the crown of the Greater Son of David informs the royal identity of the believer.
 
12 He who overcomes (in me), I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never leave it again; and I will write on him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem (flood of peace), which comes down out of the heavens (Third heaven outside of time and space) from My God, and My new Name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.’
 
This obvious parallel to the pillars of Solomon’s temple is full of rich meaning for the believer of Philadelphia. This is a promise of eternal glory and established strength in Yeshua. This everlasting spiritual strength is the counterpoint to the weakness found in earthly wealth which is temporary.
 
“He set up the pillars in the porch of the temple; and he set up the right pillar and named it יָכִין Yachin (He will establish), and he set up the left pillar and named it בֹּֽעַז Boaz (In him is strength, or Coming Strength).”
 
–1 Kings 7:21
 
The pillars of Solomon’s temple were fashioned from bronze by חוּרָמ אָבִי Churam Avi (Faithful Witness of My Father), an obvious figurative allusion to Yeshua, Who is named the, “Faithful Witness” in Revelation 1:5.
 
“Churam Avi (Faithful Witness of My Father), fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.”
 
–1 Kings 7:15
 
This is a wonderful figure for our relationship in Messiah, like Churam Avi it is Yeshua the faithful witness of our Father God, Who has fashioned us to be pillars in His Father’s House.
 
The bronze pillars seen here as the righteous children of God are also linked to the feet of bronze as from a furnace, belonging to Messiah, as described in Revelation 1:15; 2:18. We are the functioning body of Messiah on earth (Hence feet), tested by fire and proven as bronze pillars.
 
Peter describes the Jewish believers in this way:
 
“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua our Mashiach.”
 
–1 Peter 2:5
 
The New Jerusalem (Downpour of Peace) will descend from the third heaven outside of time and space and will be presented with its inhabitants as the bride of Messiah (Rev 21:2). God Himself and the Lamb will be the temple and light of the city and believers will be its pillars (Rev. 21:22).
 
The names we bear indicate who we belong to. In the Torah God placed His Name on the people of Israel, commanding Aaron the High Priest to bless them (Numbers 6:24-27). Those who are faithful to Messiah Yeshua will bear the Name of God (Rev 22:4) and the Name of the Messiah (Rev 14:1), including Yeshua’s own new Name (Rev 2:17, 19:12). In opposition to this the followers of the Beast will bear its name (Rev 13:17), indicating that they belong to the evil one.
 
On his forehead the High Priest of Israel would wear a gold plate that read, “Kadosh l’Adonai,” Holy to The LORD (YHVH). This represents the fact that both the Priest and the people of Israel are Holy unto God. This is true of all who admit their guilt before God and accept Messiah’s saving sacrifice. He has become our Great High Priest, we belong to Him and bear His name. He is our God, not because He belongs to us but because we belong to Him.
 
1.)    The Name of My God: we belong to the Father
2.)    The Name of the City of My God: we are citizens of the New Jerusalem
3.)    My New Name: we belong to Messiah and His fully illuminated identity
 
14 “To the messenger of the assembly in Laodicea (People under Judgement) write:
The אמן Amen/Aman (Faith, agreement, belief, trust), the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
 
The congregation of Laodicea are a people under judgement. In contrast to Philadelphia who received only praise, Laodicea receives only rebuke.
 
Rav Shaul (Paul) the apostle worked hard for the assembly of Laodicea (Colossians 2:1, 4:13) and considered them brethren, writing them a letter (Colossians 4:15-16). It’s interesting to note that we have no copies of this lost letter, perhaps an indication of how little respect it was given by its recipients. The letters written by Shaul to the other congregations were carefully copied and distributed by the early Ecclesia. Whereas Laodicea’s Pauline letter has been lost to history through neglect.
 
The Hebrew word, אמן Amen/Aman (Faith, agreement, belief, trust) shares the same Hebrew root that informs the feminine form אֱמוּנָה emunah (faith) and is also connected with the word אֶמֶת emet meaning “truth” because it is sometimes understood to bear the quality of truth and therefore in certain passages is translated into English as “truth.” The meaning it expresses is of established trust, acceptance, and agreement. Many translate it, “So be it” or, “So say we all.”
 
אמן Amen/Aman is found in a number of different contexts in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 5: 22; Deuteronomy 27: 15; 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; I Kings I: 36; Isaiah 65: 16; Jeremiah II: 5; 28: 6; I Chronicles 16: 36; Nehemiah 5: 13; 8: 6; Psalms 41: 14; 72: 19; 89: 52; 106: 48).
 
A late second-century teacher in the Talmud takes the initial letters of amen as an acronym representing  אל מלך נאמן “El Melekh neman”, (God, Faithful King). This reflects Yeshua’s descriptions of Himself in Revelation 1:5, 3:7.
 
A later Jewish commentator of the siddur (prayer book) interprets the initial letters homiletically as, אני מוסר נאפשי ani moser nafshi, literally: I surrender my soul (I offer up myself as a sacrifice). A clearer description of the life of Yeshua we could not find.
 
“Because he who is blessed in the earth
Will be blessed by the God of אָמֵן Amein (truth);
And he who swears in the earth
Will swear by the God of  אָמֵן Amein (truth);
Because the former troubles are forgotten,
And because they are hidden from My sight!
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 65:16
 
Yeshua is the faithful אֱמוּנָה (emunah) witness to the truth אֶמֶת (emet), the agreement אמן (Amein/Aman) with HaShem (Rev. 1:5-6)
 
Yeshua defines faith as the אמן Aman (Agreement, Trust, Faith).
 
The first use of the Hebrew root אמן Aman is recorded in Genesis 15:6:
 
וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ לּ֖וֹ צְדָקָֽה
 
“Abraham אֱמִן emin trusted God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.”
 
Therefore, Yeshua is the אמן Faith within Abraham to which Abraham responds in אמן Faith and in Whom Abraham receives an accounting of righteousness. In short, Abraham’s saving faith is in Yeshua the King Messiah, Who is the Word essence of God and the Lamb Slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
 
“The Beginning of the creation of God” The Greek ἀρχὴ archē, “Ruler, Beginning” is equivalent to the Hebrew רֹאשׁ Rosh, “Head, First, Beginning” which affirms Yeshua’s role as the דָבָר Davar (Word) of John 1:1. This title Names Messiah Yeshua as the All Existing Son of God Who was in the beginning with God and Who is God with us. Yeshua is both the Author and Ruler of creation, the Word essence of the Father.
 
Therefore to the Laodiceans Yeshua is the:
 
1.)    Amen: He agrees with God that their spiritual condition is shameful
2.)    Faithful and true witness: His testimony concerning them cannot be refuted
3.)    The Beginning and the Ruler of God’s creation: Able to bring judgement against them if they don’t return to God
 
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
 
First we note that neither hot nor cold are bad things in and of themselves. Yeshua wishes that the Laodiceans were either hot or cold. Yeshua would never wish someone to be cold toward God in a faith sense, and therefore this cannot refer to the fire of those with zeal and the coolness of those without it, which is a common misteaching of this text.
 
Second, historical record tells us that there were medicinal hot springs in nearby Hierapolis and freshwater tributaries in the surrounding area. This could indicate that Yeshua desires that the assembly of Laodicea provide healing to the spiritually sick and the life giving water of Yeshua to the spiritually thirsty.
 
Third, the position between hot and cold is a place of ineffectiveness. Faith in Yeshua is marked by an uncompromising commitment to Him as King of the Universe. We are to effectively minister both the healing of the hot spring and the life giving water of the cool fresh spring. Therefore, to stand in a redundant position between the two is distasteful to Messiah.
 
The Greek ἐμέσαι emesai means to, “vomit.” This is a fierce metaphor, there is no room for ineffective faith born of lazy compromise in the assemblies of God. Put simply, if one were to take some of the sulphur rich hot mineral water of the one source and mix it with the cold spring water of the other, and then give it to another to drink, what would be the result? Vomit!
 
17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
 
The purpose of Yeshua’s exhortation is repentance (18-20). The physical wealth and self-sufficiency of the Laodiceans is compounded by the spiritual beliefs they have adopted in light of what they see as prosperity. They claim to be rich, self-made and self-sufficient. Each of these beliefs stands in direct opposition to the Gospel of Messiah.
 
13 “Lead, go to, now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we’ll go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and buy and sell and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For your life is a vapor, a mist, smoke that appears, is seen for a short time, gone in a moment, and then is corrupted, disfigured, vanishes, perishes, [Heb. then its canopy will depart]. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord YHVH wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you rejoice, glory, boast, praise in your pride, arrogance; all such boasting, praising is evil, wicked.”
 
–Yaakov (James) 4:13-16
 
The boasting of the self-made men of the Messianic Jewish Diaspora, is rebuked by Yaakov (James). They had failed to trust in God’s provision.
 
8 [9] And  Ephraim said, “Surely I have become wealthy, I have attained vigour for myself; in all my toil they will find no iniquity in me, which is sin.” 9 [10] And I am YHVH the Lord your God, from the land of Egypt; again I will make you dwell in tents like the days of an appointed time (festival). 10 [11] And I have spoken upon the prophets, and I multiplied visions, and in the hand of the prophets I used likenesses, comparisons, parables [alt. I appeared as likenesses].
 
–Hosea 12:9-10
 
The result of Ephraim’s pride was that God returned her to desert wandering.
 
From Yeshua’s perspective the Laodiceans are wretched rather than rich, miserable and poor rather than wealthy, and naked rather than in need of nothing. In fact they were in great spiritual need. It’s true to say that the western Church is in the same position today?
 
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
 
Yeshua is gentle here, He offers advice, instruction, rather than an ultimatum. A righteous groom would never force Himself on his bride to be, the wedding chamber is sacred.
 
Yeshua uses the term, “buy” as a means of countering the, “buying” power of the Laodiceans: He doesn’t intend to infer that the gifts of God can be purchased, on the contrary His point is, “You can’t buy these spiritual things with your worldly wealth” (Rev 22:17; Isaiah 55:1; Romans 3:24).
 
“Hey! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
 
–Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:1
 
Laodicea was known for its prosperous trade guilds and had a famous medical college where, “Phrygian powder” was refined and used to make an eye salve. It also boasted an extensive textile industry.
 
The Laodicean assembly boasted:
 
1.)    I’m rich (from my own business dealings)
2.)    I’m wealthy (from medicinal profiteering)
3.)    I’m in need of nothing (I have all the modern clothing I could want)
 
Yeshua says:
 
1.)    You’re wretched (because you have trusted in your own ability)
2.)    Miserable and poor (because your wealth is temporary)
3.)    Blind and naked (because you have chosen not to see Me and have failed to clothe yourself with the righteous deeds of the saints)
 
Yeshua offers a way of return (teshuvah):
 
1.)    Buy from Me (without money) Gold refined by fire (a metaphor for refining and purifying from sin, Proverbs 27:21).
2.)    Eye salve that will heal your spiritual blindness
3.)    White clothing (the righteous deeds of the faithful)
 
19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and return.
 
Yeshua loves the errant Laodicean Ecclesia, His purpose is to discipline them and reconcile them to the Father.
 
“Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Hashem,
And whom You teach out of Your Torah;”
 
–Tehillim (Psalm) 94:12
 
“I know, O HaShem, that Your judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”
 
–Tehillim (Psalm) 119:75
 
“For those whom HaShem loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
 
–Hebrews 12:6
 
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
 
In the context of this letter Yeshua is knocking at the door of the errant Laodicean believing community. This is not intended as a general evangelistic invitation to all people, but as an invitation to blinded believers who have gone astray and have shut the door to Yeshua.
 
Throughout the letters to the assemblies Yeshua has repeated the phrase, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” Here he offers an opportunity to wayward believers to hear anew, He is calling out and knocking, but He will not force His way in. The door can be seen as a metaphor for the access point at the core of our being, Yeshua is standing in the midst of the assemblies but is calling on the individual members, the building blocks of the community of faith. He is presenting each one with an opportunity for revival.
 
The dining analogy is one of powerful importance to every culture. Food is the centre of family and community interaction and an opportunity for building intimate relationships. Food warms the body and fills it with fuel for life, it provides a foundation of physical contentment upon which we build lasting friendships.
 
God is ever ready to receive repentant sinners:
 
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says HaShem of heavens armies, “Return to Me,” declares HaShem of heavens armies, “that I may return to you,” says HaShem of heavens armies.”
 
 –Zechariah 1:3
 
21 He who overcomes (in Me), I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.’”
 
Yeshua has overcome sin and death by His atoning work on the cross and has therefore, made it possible for anyone who would receive Him to overcome sin and death. It is only in Him that we are able to overcome, therefore we shouldn’t fret about how we will find the strength, because He is our strength.
 
9 But now we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels /messengers, Yeshua, through His suffering death crowned with glory and honour, splendour, so that by the grace, unmerited favour, practical love of God He might eat death for everyone, individually and collectively. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things individually and collectively and through Whom are all things individually and collectively, in bringing many sons into glory, splendour, genius, the Author, Originator, Prince of their salvation through sufferings, to perfect, consecrate, fulfil, complete. 11 For both He who sanctifies, consecrates, atones and those who are sanctified, consecrated, atoned for, are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
 
–Hebrews 2:9-11
 
15 For we do not have a high priest Who is unable to sympathize, have compassion with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted, tried, examined, proved in all things just as we are, yet without sin [missing the mark set by God’s holiness]. 16 Therefore let us come freely with boldness, confidently to the throne of grace, unmerited favour, practical love, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
 
–Hebrews 4:15-16
 
“That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” refers not only to sickness and physical suffering but also regards our struggle to resist sinful actions, we have need of grace and mercy in Messiah when we are faced with moral choices, when we are tempted or in despair, depressed or feeling overwhelmed. Whatever our need may be, we’re able to receive mercy and find grace in Him at any time.
 
Believers who overcome in Yeshua will actually sit with Him on His throne (Rev 20:4-6, 11; Matt 19:28), which He shares with God the Father.
 
“For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we reject Him, He will also reject us;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot reject Himself.”
 
–2 Timothy 2:11-13
 
Just as in the case of Abraham, where faith was given by and reflected back to Messiah, making it impossible for Abraham’s name to ever be blotted out of the Book of Living, so too it is with those of us who have received Messiah through His atoning work.
 
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
 
-1 John 4:19
 
Copyright 2026 Yaakov Ben Yehoshua