I wish you were cold. Wait, huh?

Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

How many times have you heard it taught that God would prefer us cold (dead) to lukewarm? That's not what these verses are saying at all. A cold drink refreshes on a hot day; and a hot drink warms on a cold day. A lukewarm drink does neither. No, God certainly doesn't prefer us cold as in dead; that makes no sense.

Yes indeed, I would describe it in the following way:

When Jesus told them that He desired them to be either hot or cold, it certainly cannot mean that He desired them to be spiritually dead and unsaved in preference to them being just lukewarm. Jesus was saying that they had only the nauseating effect of a lukewarm drink, just as the hot springs at Hierapolis six miles away were lukewarm and useless when tapped at Laodicea. Jesus threatens to "spue" (spew) them out of His mouth, which probably means that He would cast them on one side as useless in His service.

If someone is cold you hope you can warm them up a little, if they are hot you can cool them down but when they are neither hot nor cold what can you do?

You tell them they must pray but they do pray, but their prayers are lukewarm
You tell them they must praise God but they do sing hymns after a perfunctory manner
You must witness for Christ but they do witness although their witness is lacklustre and unenthusiastic

I'll probably derail my own thread, but I have to say it: The Passion Translation (TPT)? This isn't a translation but one man's attempt to inject New Apostolic Reformation doctrine into God's word.

I don't agree with everything the TPT says but I agree it is more of an interpretation than a literal translation. I bring it up only to show an interpretation that tries to clarify what is meant by "cold". "Cool with apathy" or "cooler heads prevail" seems to be a context that can be drawn from the passage without conflict.

Okay, thanks for the clarification.

I still don't agree with TPT, however, because it seems to be a new way of expressing an old—in my view—misinterpretation. That is "frozen in apathy."

Other thing about this is .. its churches getting spewed out.. by the context of who is being addressed

Church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7)

he’s telling people to either choose life or death because of they remain on the fence he’s going to cast them out it’s an exhortation

being lukewarm means we are approaching the gospel half heartedly and without any real commitment to hear and follow the lords will

he’s exhorting them to repent

“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; ( blinded by mammon and material)

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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:14-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

calling them to come forth from being on the fence and repent from thier love of the possessions and money because he’s getting ready to spit them out of they were cold or hot the decision would already be made

7. Laodicea - Man`s Character and his Purposes. (Rev. 3: 14 – 19)

Christ reveals Himself to this group as the Originator (Beginning) & the one who will Terminate all things, (Amen) plus the one who oversees all in between. It is His purposes that will prevail, not man`s.

`These things says the Amen, ......the Beginning of the creation of God.` (Rev. 3: 14)

This group believe that by partnering with the world system they can transform & change the world bringing peace, hope & justice, through man`s efforts. This is shown by their name, which reveals their character & motives.

Laodicea - `Laos` - people, & `dike` - justice, meaning – the people`s justice.

This is spiritual adultery, joining with the world & not relying on the Lord.

`....friendship with the world is enmity with God.` (James 4: 4)

Friendship – from the Gk word, `philia` friendship & `philos` friend, associate, partner

This group also look to the world for leadership techniques & business strategies, measuring their success by worldly standards.

`I am rich, have become wealthy, & have need of nothing.` (Rev. 3: 17)

The Lord however chastises them quite severely saying that He sees them as -

`wretched, miserable, poor, blind & naked -` (Rev. 3: 17)

This group should have been a `Witness` to the world of the power of God to change people.

They should have been `faithful` to show that it is by His Spirit people are changed, & not by man`s efforts – promotions of organisations, entertainment, or big events etc.

They should have been `true` to God`s word declaring that He will judge the world, instead of saying that He is transforming it for the better.

The Lord `the faithful & True Witness` then addresses their watered down witness or `lukewarmness.` He tells them quite strongly, that unless they repent He will `vomit ` them out of His mouth.(Rev. 3: 16) He then counsels them to know Him as their source -

`buy from Me gold....white garments...& anoint your eyes...` (Rev. 3: 18)

Gold - Faith in Christ & not in man. (1 Peter 1: 7)
White Garments - Christ`s righteousness not man`s efforts. (Titus 3: 5 & 6)
Anoint your eyes - Insight by the Holy Spirit into Christ`s purposes, & not man`s purposes. (John 16: 13)