What Does It Mean in Rev 3:16 Where the Lord Talks About Spewing Out of His Mouth?
1) Direct Answer
It means the Lord rejects the lukewarm church condition and removes it from being His mouthpiece. He will not speak through, endorse, or own that mixed, complacent state. He casts it out of His fellowship as a body, while still calling individuals to repent and overcome.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- “Because thou art lukewarm… I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). Lukewarm is neither hot (on fire of the Spirit) nor cold (openly unbelieving), but a safe, self-satisfied mixture.
- He describes them as saying, “I am rich… and have need of nothing,” yet He says they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
- He counsels, “buy of me gold tried in the fire… white raiment… and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve” (Revelation 3:18)—true faith, His righteousness, and spiritual sight.
- He stands outside, knocking: “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20). The system is rejected, but individuals are invited.
- Overcomers are promised to sit with Him in His throne (Revelation 3:21).
The “mouth” in Scripture is the place of His Word and confession (Revelation 1:16; 2:16; Jeremiah 1:9; Romans 10:9-10). Being in His “mouth” pictures being the instrument He uses to speak and testify.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The church is to be His Body on earth; the “mouth” is the part that speaks His Word.
- When a church becomes lukewarm—mixing truth with worldliness, boasting in wealth and programs while lacking the fire of the Spirit—He cannot let that represent Him. Like lukewarm water, it is nauseating, so He spews it out—He separates from it.
- Yet He loves and rebukes: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). Those who hear His voice and open to Him personally will dine with Him now and reign with Him as overcomers.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, He rejects the lukewarm system, but He is calling out a people who will be hot with His life, clothed in His righteousness, and fit to speak His Word. Be zealous, repent, and let Him back inside.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 9:E-36
I want you to watch this carefully now and see something really sweet and beautiful. I said this is His end-time revelation of Himself. When the day of grace closes, then the millennium comes very shortly thereafter, doesn't it? Well, read with me Isaiah 65:16-19. "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes. For behold, I create...
Seals 6: The Fourth Seal
63-0321 §137
Now, if you want to see their bodies, let's turn over here to Revelation 19 after the Word slays them. Now, the Word is going to kill them. You know that. All right now, you just watch and see what happens when Christ coming, in Revelation 19, beginning with the 17th verse. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; Now that's right after... Look above here. "And his vesture was dipped in blood, and he was called King of kings and Lord of lords." In the 13th verse, He's called The Word of God. Now, here He is King of...
The Spoken Word is the original seed
62-0318 §368
I believe someday the real bride of Christ will be forced to stop preaching the Word of God. The Bible prophesies of it in Revelations 13:16 (if you want to put it down.) Denominations will force it to stop or take its mark. Then when the Lamb will take His bride and judge the whore for this.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 6:E-80
God looketh on the heart. That has never changed. Neither will it ever change. Here, as through all the ages there are two groups, both proclaiming their revelation from God and their relationship to God. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them which are His." II Timothy 2:19. "The Lord searcheth the reins." The word 'search' means to 'track' or 'follow up.' God tracks down our thoughts (reins); He knows what is in our hearts. He sees our works which are a definite...
What does thou here?
59-0301E §21
I was talking to some brethren over in Puerto Rico a few weeks ago. That when I seen the great sea in a great storm, the waves were higher than this tabernacle. And I said, "You know what? It hasn't got one more drop of water in it than when it's perfectly calm." Well, what does that churning, and jumping, and... What does it mean? It throws all the trash out of it upon the bank. That's what the church needs, is a revival to shake from it all the worldliness and the things of the world, and bring back purity and ho...