“Cold” in Revelation 3 does not mean a good or saved condition.
Jesus does not call a person to be spiritually cold; He exposes self-satisfied lukewarmness and calls everyone to sincere repentance and a living relationship with Him.
What does Christ call “coldness”?
In His message to the church of Laodicea, Christ speaks about people who are neither cold nor hot. “Cold” is a person who has no zeal, mature faith, or love for God. Such a person may be indifferent, spiritually distant, doubtful, or may not even call himself a believer. Therefore, coldness is not a virtue and is not an alternative path to salvation.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Rev. 3:15–16
The words “I could wish you were cold or hot” should not be read as a command: “Better reject God.” Christ does not desire a person’s destruction. His desire is that the person stop living in illusion and come to genuine conversion.
Why is the “cold” person sometimes closer to healing than the “lukewarm” one?
The difference is not that a cold person is better before God, but whether that person recognizes his condition. A cold person may honestly say, “I am far from God; I do not pray; my faith is weak; I need help.” Such honesty creates the possibility for repentance.
A lukewarm person often has outward signs of faith: he may be a church member, know biblical truths, attend worship services, and say the right words. But at the same time, he does not surrender his heart, habits, plans, and priorities to Christ. His danger is spiritual self-deception: he considers himself healthy, though in reality he needs healing.
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:17
Therefore, the “cold” person is not necessarily hypocritical: his distance from God may be obvious even to himself. But the lukewarm person is capable of hiding inner emptiness under a religious form. This self-confidence is especially dangerous, because a person does not seek the Physician when convinced that he is healthy.
The image of water in Laodicea
Many researchers draw attention to the local background. Near Laodicea were the hot springs of Hierapolis and the cold, refreshing water of Colossae. Hot water could be useful for healing, and cold water for refreshment. By contrast, the water that came to Laodicea through aqueducts was often lukewarm and mineral-laden, unpleasant to the taste.
This image helps us understand Jesus’ words. A hot Christian is useful in service, love, and witness. Cold water also has its purpose—it refreshes. But lukewarm water, which brings neither healing nor refreshment, becomes unfit. In the same way, lukewarmness describes not merely a weak person, but a fruitless, self-sufficient religiosity.
However, we should not build the whole explanation only on the geographical image. The main idea of the text is clear from the following verses: the Laodiceans do not see their spiritual poverty, and Christ offers them everything necessary for restoration.
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Rev. 3:18
Christ’s goal is not condemnation, but restoration
The message to Laodicea may sound severe, but it is full of love. Jesus does not turn away from lukewarm people; He exposes them in order to save them. He stands at the door not of the pagan world, but of the church that has lost a deep connection with Him.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:19–20
Ellen G. White repeatedly applied the Laodicean message to God’s last-day people, emphasizing the danger of formal religion without a personal experience with Christ. At the same time, she stressed that the message of the True Witness contains not only rebuke but also precious hope: Christ Himself gives faith, righteousness, and spiritual sight to those who come to Him.
Practical application
There is no need to ask, “Am I hot enough to deserve God’s love?” It is better to honestly ask yourself, “Do I recognize my need of Jesus? Am I allowing Him to change my life?” If you feel spiritual coldness, do not disguise it and do not despair—name it before God. And if you see warmth in yourself, ask Christ to destroy self-confidence and give you true zeal. A practical step for today: in sincere prayer, name to the Lord one area where your faith has become formal, read Revelation 3:14–22, and ask Him to enter that very part of your life.
