Laodicea is located in the Lycus River Valley, a natural route of travel from east to west. This "highway" led to the great cities in Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, and India.
Nearby are
the ruins of Colosse and Hierapolis, known for their
springs—hot at Hierapolis and cold at Colosse. To the church at Laodicea, in
between the two, John wrote these words: "I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you
are lukewarm; neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16)
It is very likely that Epaphras was instrumental in
establishing the church at Laodicea. When Paul wrote his letter to the church at Colossae (only 8 miles away), he said it should be read by the believers
at Laodicea. (Colossians 2:1) Paul also wrote a letter to the church at Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16) This letter has not been discovered, although many scholars speculate
that the book we call "Ephesians" was originally addressed to the
church at Laodicea.
Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. According to Roman historian Tacticus, Rome offered to pay for the city to be rebuilt, but the people
declined, saying that they were wealthy enough to restore it on their own.
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