Laodicea
(people ruling)
Background
Laodicea was
about 40 miles east of Ephesus, and about 10 miles west of Colossae, and was
built on the banks of the Lycus River, a tributary of the Maeander River.
With the
coming of the Pax Romana (peace under Rome’s rule) Laodicea prospered. It was a
strategic banking center. Laodicea became so wealthy that it paid for its own
reconstruction after a devastating earthquake in A.D. 60.
Laodicea was
known for its black wool industry; it manufactured garments from the
raven-black wool produced by the sheep of the surrounding area.
It was an
important center of ancient medicine. The temple of the Phrygian god Men Karou
had an important medical school associated with it, which was famous for an
eye-salve that it had developed, and was exported all over the Greco-Roman
world.
The
Laodicean condition describes the spiritual lukewarmness and worldliness that
will prevail in the professing church of Christ at the end of the age. Rich,
cultured, religiously ritualistic, this church will have become so
self-satisfied and worldly as to have ostracized Christ completely. Even the
Talmud speaks scornfully of the life of ease and laxity lived by the Laodicean
Jews.
The living
Lord demands enthusiasm and total commitment from those who worship Him.
©2012 Kenute P. Curry.
All rights reserved.
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