Laodicea is the seventh and last church in Asia Minor that received an evaluation of its overall spiritual condition from God:
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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:
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. " (Revelation 3:14-21, KJV)
Laodicea was originally called Diospolis and then Rhoas. It got its name from Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II., king of Syria, who rebuilt it. It was one of the most important and flourishing cities of Asia Minor. At a very early period
it became one of the chief seats of Christianity (see Col. 2:1, 4:15; Rev. 1:11, etc.).
Ancient Laodicea was located near the river Lycus and about twenty miles from Colosse. It had a wall of vast compass, three marble theatres, and, like Rome, was built on seven hills.
The apostle Paul was very instrumental in planting the gospel in this city, from which he wrote a letter, as he mentions in the last chapter of Colossians.
Scriptural References: Revelation 3; Colossians 2 , 4 (KJV Bible)
Sources Used: Adam Clark's Commentary on the Entire Bible; Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible; Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
