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.
The unveiling of God
64-0614M §40
Now, when it said here that He emptied Himself, or poured out, now, we'd think like this, that, He "vomit up," the English word of emptied or poured out from Him, see, something went out of Him that was different from Him. But the word "kenos," in the Greek, does not mean that He "vomit up," or some ... his arm went off, or his eye went out, another person. And, that is, He changed Himself, He "poured Himself into,' (Amen!), into another mask, into another form. Not another person went out of Him, called the Holy S...
Revelation, Chapter 4a
60-1231 §53
Now, after the church ages was over, and everything was come ... ready, made ready, the setting of the 4th chapter here, the church ages was done. He had done left the earth, you see. Remember the voice that spoke to him, behind him, in the seven golden candlesticks, the work was finished. And now that same voice was speaking up in heaven. What was it? He had done redeemed His people. His earthly work was finished, and He was in glory, calling to John, "Come up hither!" Amen! That makes me feel like shouting on the...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
63-0627 §79
Now the Bible speaks, If there be some strangers here, the Bible speaks of speaking with tongues and interpretation, you see. So if it's spoke in tongues and interpreted, then it's prophecy, see. That's right, isn't it? That's prophecy. Now, "Come out." Now the Lord seems to be saying He's going to give you a chance now, see, something that you've never seen before, something that He's going to do. Now let's believe that with all of our hearts.
Revelation, Chapter 4b Twenty-Four Elders
61-0101 §100
It keeps getting more severe and more severe all the time, the judgement, 'cause God's continually wearing his patience out, trying to get sinners to come to Him to be reconciled. First, He was in the heavens above and shined through the stars. The second, He was on earth shining through the Shekinah glory. Next, He come and was made flesh and dwelt among us, still wearing His patience. Then, He redeemed man by His blood, came into His church in the form of the Holy Ghost. And speak against that, it's a finished th...
Door to the heart
60-0312 §5
Now I want to read tonight, you who are keeping track of the scriptures, I want to read out of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ---which that's what it is, the revelation of Jesus Christ---the third chapter. The Lord bless His Word. And we want to read of the condition of the church of this day, the Laodicean church age, beginning with the fourteenth verse: ... unto the angel of the church of ... Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of Go...