Buy God Refined by Fire/LAODICEA

 LAODICEA is last of the seven  congregations to receive a message from the resurrected Jesus. And what eye-opening, stimulating information it conveys!

Today, you would find the ruins of Laodicea near Denizli, about 55 miles southeast of Alasehir in the first century, Laodicea was a prosperous city.  Sitting on a major road junction, it was a key center for banking and commerce.  Sale of a well-known eye salve added to its wealth, and it was also famous for its  high-quality garments produced locally from a fine black wool. Lack of water, a major problem for the city, had been overcome by channeling water down from hot springs some distance away.  Thus, the water would be only lukewarm  by the time it arrived in the city.

Laodicea was near Colossae.  In writing to the Colossians, the apostle Paul mentions a letter that he had sent the Laodiceans.  (Colossians 4:15, 16)  We do not know what Paul wrote in that letter, but the message that Jesus now sends to the Laodiceans shows that they have fallen into a woeful spiritual condition.  As usual, though, Jesus first cites his own credentials, saying:  'And to the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write:  These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God." - REVELATION 3:14. 

Next time: Buy God Refined by Fire/LAODICEA -Conclusion

From the jw.org publications