The church in the West—particularly in America—seems to have lost its way. It’s not advancing the Kingdom as it should. Some time ago, I was drawn to the Letter to the Laodiceans in the book of Revelation. Among the seven messages to the churches, this one is perhaps the most well-known, largely due to its use of the term “lukewarm.” That image powerfully captures a church that has drifted from its purpose, and it struck me that the critique and counsel Jesus offers there might still apply to us today.
Jesus’ commands in the letter are metaphorical rather than prescriptive. They don’t give us a checklist of actions, but they do serve as starting points for prayerful reflection and seeking. Although the letter was originally addressed to a congregation, Jesus ends it with a personal call: “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door…” That makes it clear that His appeal is not limited to a collective response but is extended to individuals willing to listen and respond.
Of course, this is just one of the seven letters to the churches. Each contains a different mix of commendation, correction, and encouragement. Still, the letter to Laodicea, as the final message, feels in some ways like a summary—a culminating call to attention.
Over the years, I’ve spent time meditating on the metaphors in this letter. It became increasingly clear that to grasp its full meaning—especially when compared and combined with insights from the other six letters—one must develop a deeper understanding of the book of Revelation as a whole. This is no small task. Revelation’s rich symbolic language and its distance from us in both time and culture make it a difficult book to fully interpret. Still, even the early stages of study have opened up fresh insights. I believe there’s fruitful ground here for ongoing spiritual discovery.
At a broad level, Revelation can be seen as portraying the conflict between the kingdom of God and worldly empires—essentially satanic in nature—that oppose it. Its vivid, symbolic imagery reveals the spiritual forces at work behind physical events. The negative powers, led by the dragon (Satan), are aligned with idolatry, greed, blasphemy, sexual immorality, abuse of power, and all that resists God’s purposes. These forces attack God’s people—sometimes through violent opposition, but often through subtle deception.
Though the cultural forms have changed, these same spiritual battles continue today. The false gods we face may not demand animal sacrifice, but they show up in the worship of wealth, self, and sensuality. Part of studying Revelation is to uncover spiritual truths that echo the teachings found throughout Scripture. It’s not just about decoding apocalyptic imagery—it’s about learning how to live faithfully in the midst of ongoing spiritual conflict.
God’s faithful people, both then and now, are called to witness against these forces. This witness takes two forms: the lived witness of actions aligned with the kingdom of God, and the verbal witness that proclaims His truth. The battle, at its heart, is spiritual. Satan’s weapon is deception, and the church’s counter-weapon is faithful witness. Along the way, believers may be misled, attacked, or worn down—but Revelation shows that victory belongs to God. The unfolding of that victory gives us insight into the challenges we face and what faithfulness looks like in the meantime.
This is the part I find most compelling. I’m seeking clarity on what this spiritual battle looks like today, what the church’s role is, and—most personally—what my role is within it. Along those lines, much of the future work of this blog will focus on exploring the spiritual themes in Revelation, lining them up against the current world, and seeking ways to witness more effectively.
Exploring Antioch 