Seven churches

THE SEVEN CHURCHES
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Rev 3:17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But
you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Jesus talking to the rich Laodicians in their own terms. They were proud of their riches
and great acquisitions. Such prosperity develops an antipathy to spiritual matters.
Deu 8:17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have
produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives
you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your
forefathers, as it is today. 19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods
and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be
destroyed. 20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed
for not obeying the LORD your God.
Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become
rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and
salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
The city was also noted for the black cloth manufactured there from black wool produced
in the valley. The wool was glossy black and of a soft texture almost like silk and famous
throughout the whole region,. Black garments were almost universally worn by the
Laodiceans and it symbolized their social status. They also wore gold ornaments. Christ
advised the Christians of the city to buy of Him, "gold refined in the fire, .... and white
clothes to wear". The people of Laodicea were familiar with the white toga worn by Roman
citizens and officials. Only the Roman citizens were privileged to wear this white garment
and it was a high honor. It was symbol of victory and authority. They were the rulers. In
the Bible white represents purity and righteousness. Jesus asks the Laodecians to wear
the imputed righteousness of Jesus so that they become victors and rulers of the earth.
Come and be part of the King who is coming to judge.
We have elsewhere referred to the School of Medicine and Aesculapius. There were over
two hundred Temples of Karu dedicated to Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine. In
this temple they made the famous Phygian eye salve, called collyrium. Jesus the Great
Physician, prescribes to this the spiritually blind Laodiceans to buy eye salve from Him
that they might have spiritual vision instead of the eye salve from the heather gods.