Revelation 3:16, The Lukewarm Church

Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2014 in Bible Commentary | 0 comments

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

//Revelation’s letters to the churches contain some fascinating subtleties that only come to light with historical study. I’ve written about some of these before. Here is another one.

The church at Laodicea was described as distastefully lukewarm, and God says he will spew them out of his mouth. I’m guessing John of Patmos (who wrote these words) had visited Laodicea, and came away less than impressed by the drinking water.

Laodicea was built not far from an enormous hot spring, and water was piped from this spring to the city. However, by the time it got there, it was lukewarm, fit for neither cleaning nor drinking.