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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