La-odice'a (lay-ahd-i-see'uh) - A prosperous Roman city, dating to 250 B.C. The location of the church in the seventh letter (Revelation 3:14-22).

It is believed that the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation represent the spiritual development of the church from the time of Christ to His second coming. Today, many believe that La-odice'a symbolically represents the final state of apostasy in the church, just preceding the Second Coming of Christ.

Revelation 3:14-22 And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

In this letter, Christ demonstrates His sovereignty and the certainty of the fulfillment of His promises, through His title. Christ says that the church is of little value (lukewarm) and that He will reject it because it has become content, self sufficient and dependent on material wealth. The church lacks true spiritual perception, value, righteousness, devotion and faith in God. Christ exhorts the church to repent and receive the blessings of God, through salvation in Him.