Dallas Thomas asks: I'm new to Christianity, and was told by a prophet that God would vomit me out of his mouth for being lukewarm, and that I needed to be either with God (hot) or against God (cold). Can you please explain Revelation 3:15-16?

Hey Dallas,

That interpretation, although widely accepted, arose from people who fail to understand the Bible within the context of the times and culture of the Roman Empire. Here are the verses:

15. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

16. So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

It is an archeological finding, that the imagery given to the church of Laodicea, was made in reference to the city's surrounding water supply. The aqueduct from Hierapolis, which supplied hot mineral water; and the aqueduct from Colossae, which supplied very cold water.

The hot water from Hierapolis was known for its many healing properties, as the cold water from Colossae was known to be extremely refreshing. When these waters made it to their locality, the water would arrive lukewarm and contained sludge, which made the people sick.

The Church of Laodicea, would have immediately pinned the words of John to the water system. They would have easily understood that in God's eyes the "cold" and "hot" waters were both seen as positive.

Therefore, the message being delivered was that the Laodiceans were to be good for something (refreshing or healing), rather than to be good for nothing (lukewarm), which in-turn makes God sick.

In fact, notice the very next verse:

17. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Here, we see the proper understanding of what the first century church would have understood. Verse 17, describes someone who is lukewarm, and thus, makes God sick. Where as if the person were "refreshing" (cold) or "healing" (hot), God would not have a need to vomit him, as they are good for something.

If "cold" were to be used as "someone completely against God", both the lukewarm and cold waters would make God sick (since neither would please God).

Matthew makes this clear, that we are either with God or against him (there is no inbetween). “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:30).

Hope this helps, be blessed and keep on the word.

Comments:

Joanna Meadows: To me it seems that God is telling them that being away from God completely is better than being one leg with God and one leg away from God. God doesn't want people always stumbling and undecided.

CRG Hosts Joey and Chris: Romans 3:23 says we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Which would place us all as lukewarm in a sense. So in your view, would it really be better for you and I to be completely away from God, rather than for us to always try to please God even tho we are always stumbling through the way?

Joanna Meadows: Not when you put it that way, I see your point. It's just I've never heard that view before, but like you said, I do agree that we do need to understand the Bible with the understanding of those times and not our current times. God bless.

CRG Hosts Joey and Chris: God bless you too sister.

Dallas Thomas: Thanks for that, I needed that. Goes to show that when some people say "God says" when God hasn't said anything. Love your ministry!

CRG Hosts Joey and Chris: Be blessed and thanks for those nice words.

Roger Wilson: Archeological finding? Can you provide any sources for your claim?

CRG Hosts Joey and Chris: Absolutely, here's a few, but let me know if you need more:

1 Paolo Verzone, archeologist at Hierapolis, and to his publication, "1'Urbanistica Di Hierapolis Di Frigia," Atti Del XVICongresso Di Storia Dela Architetura, Settembre, 1969.

2 G. Ernest Wright, Biblical Archaeology (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1957), p. 50.

3 Tarhan Toker, Pamukkale (Hierapolis) (Denizli, Turkey: Sonhaber Gazetecilik), p. 8.

4 Sven Larsen, "The Petrified Waterfalls of Hierapolis," The Illustrated London News, October 28, 1950, p. 698.

5 Sherman E. Johnson, "Laodicea and Its Neighbors," The Biblical Archaeologist, Vol. XIII, no. 1 (February, 1950).

6 F. D. Nichol, ed., The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, pp. 716, 717.

Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".