Revelation 3:14 …These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 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. TNIV
I like warm soda. I like my coffee at room temperature. Hot coffee burns my mouth and cold soda hurts my teeth. Because I like lukewarm drinks, I have always had problems understanding Revelations 3″14-16. What are we to make of Christ saying to the church at Laodicea “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Is that what he really said? Well yes the translators agree that “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth,” is really what was said. Since we know what is said we are still left to ask, “What does he mean?”
I have heard it explained that hot and cold speaks about the feelings of the Laodicea Christians heart toward Christ. Taking this as the meaning, then a hot Christian would be one on fire for Christ and a cold Christian would be one who had turned his heart from Christ and was walking in rebellion against God. I wonder how those accepting this explanation separate the lukewarm Christians from the hot Christians. Remember that the text says, “I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot.” What makes their deeds lukewarm and not cold or hot?
I think you can find the meaning of the text asking, “What did it mean to the intended hearers of the words?” If we want to know what this text means we must seek to understand what the words meant to the Christians of Laodicea. What did “Hot Water” and “Cold Water” mean to the Laodiceans?
They did not have water heaters, nor did they have refrigerators. What they did have was a unique geographical location. Their city was in western Turkey, in the Lycus River Valley. Colossae and Hierapolis were also built in the same valley. Hierapolis and Laodicea stood six miles apart on opposite sides of the valley with the Lycus River flowing between them. Colossae was located a few miles upriver, on the same side as Laodicea.

Map by Biblemapper.com
Colossae had springs of ice-cold water that flowed down from the snowcapped mountain peaks. People knew of Hierapolis for its soothing hot mineral springs. Thousands of people visited Hierapolis to bathe in the spas and drink the water due to the claims that the water had medicinal benefits. An aqueduct provided Laodicea’s water. The aqueduct ruins remain to this day. Mineral deposits have almost completely filled Sections of the ruins. The water that flowed into the aqueduct was a mixture of the mineral rich water from the hills above Hierapolis and the spring water above Colossae. By the time the water arrived in Laodicea, it was lukewarm; it smelled bad and tasted nasty.
Once we look that this text in light of the history of Laodicea it takes on new meaning. I would paraphrase the text, as “15. I know your deeds. Your deeds are not soothing and healing like the hot springs of Hierapolis. Your deeds are not refreshing and life giving like the cold mountain springs of Colossae. I wish you were healing or life giving, but you are neither. 16 Your deeds leave a bad taste like the lukewarm water that flows from your own aqueduct, and I will spit you out or my mouth.
The church must be good for something, or it is good for nothing. A good for nothing church is not acceptable to Christ.