Laodicea

Laodikeia (Turkey) Laodikeia Laodikeia

Laodikea (Asia Minor)

Row of columns on the road across the city of Laodicea

Laodicea (Greek: Λαοδικεία Laodikeia) on the Lycos, near present-day Denizli in Turkey, is the last of the seven communities addressed by John in the Apocalypse. The Council of Laodicea also took place here in the 4th century.

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

– Revelation 3:14–22

According to Rudolf Steiner, the 7 communities represent the 7 cultural epochs through which humanity passes. At present we are in the first third of the 5th cultural epoch. The community of Laodicea points to the future 7th cultural epoch.

„And the seventh period will gather those who have found this spiritual life around the great leader; it will unite them around this great leader. They will already belong to the spiritual life to such an extent that they will be distinguished from those who have fallen away, from those who are lukewarm, "not cold and not warm". The little group that has found spirituality will understand the one who may say, revealing himself: I am the one who encloses in himself the real final being towards which everything is heading. - For this final being is designated by the word "Amen". Hence chapter 3, 14: "And to the Angel of the community in Laodicea write: 'This is what the Amen says' - the One who in His essence represents the essence of the end.“ (Lit.:GA 104, p. 85)

Literature

• Rudolf Steiner: Die Apokalypse des Johannes, GA 104 (1985), ISBN 3-7274-1040-X English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated. Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.

Seven Christian Communities in Asia Minor

Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamon | Thyatira | Sardes | Philadelphia | Laodicea