Seven churches
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
THE SEVEN CHURCHES<br />
________________________________________________<br />
131<br />
The city was located about forty miles southeast of Philadelphia and one hundred miles<br />
east of Ephesus. Situated on the river Lycus not far from Colosse it was surrounded by<br />
rich farming area which provided for the city in abundance. But its importance comes from<br />
its position. Laodicea was on the crossroads between the important Ionian cities of that<br />
time. This produced a vigorous trade center and a banking capital. As a result people<br />
became very wealthy. Laodicea was mostly populated with Syrians and Jews transported<br />
from Babylon. Jews like their counter parts elsewhere in the world - because of their hard<br />
work and cleverness - controlled most of the trade and commerce in the city. It is<br />
assessed that there were over 7,500 Jewish families at the time this letter was written.<br />
Cicero is known to have lived in this city around 50 BC. In AD 60 an earthquake destroyed<br />
the city and the citizens were able to rebuild it without the help pf Rome. In AD 66 the city<br />
was destroyed by another earthquake and was rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius.<br />
Laodecia was the headquarters of medical practices of that period. Sitting on a volcanic<br />
mountain side the city had a number of hot, cold, and lukewarm springs. Most of these<br />
waters contained large number of minerals and was supposed have healing properties.<br />
These provided the rich with a series of health resorts which were supervised by a leading<br />
physician. Thousands of sick people journeyed to Laodicea to these spas to benefit from<br />
the medical treatments offered by the physicians, the eye salve, the mineral water, and<br />
the hot and lukewarm springs. Although the water was pleasing to the body , it was<br />
nauseating to drink.<br />
In this rich city was a rich Christian Church.<br />
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.<br />
Jesus introduces himself to this church with three epithets.<br />
Amen - The ultimate realization of all promises of God to mankind.<br />
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe<br />
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and<br />
only Son.<br />
What Jesus is saying is that he will come back to give to each person the justice that is<br />
merited - Laodecia. This is emphasized in the second epithet of faithful and true
Change language