What did the Laodicean church say about itself in Revelation 3?
In Revelation 3:17, the Laodicean congregation said of itself, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing materially.” It saw itself as wealthy and lacking nothing, yet the Lord Jesus pronounced it wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Les explains that Revelation 3 contains the last of the seven letters, the letter to the Laodiceans, and verse 17 records the Lord Jesus’ condemnation of that congregation. They said they were rich, increased with goods, and had need of nothing materially, but Jesus said they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Les applies this to most of Christendom, which may be wealthy with tremendous plants, huge sanctuaries, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and tennis courts yet is spiritually dead for the most part. By contrast, Paul came from that wealth and high religious experience and for the gospel became poor as a church mouse.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
More Questions
Why did Jesus condemn the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:17?
Jesus condemned the Laodicean church because they thought they were rich and needed nothing materially, but were actually wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Is most of Christendom today like the church of Laodicea?
Most of Christendom today matches the Laodicean condition: enormously wealthy with huge plants, sanctuaries, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and tennis courts, yet for the most part spiritually dead.