Revelation Chapter Three
Revelation 3:1
To Sardis: Warning, Blessing
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
saith he Jesus (Revelation 1:4) (Revelation 1:16)
livest, and art dead This church has physical life, but spiritually it is dead.
Revelation 3:2
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
which remain Appears to be yet a small amount of truth remaining in the church.
perfect The only way to be perfect before God is through Jesus Christ, putting your faith fully upon His work at Calvary.
Any church doctrine that is held that adds a "work" to obtain perfection, takes away from the perfect atonement work of Christ,
as evident by His resurrection
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19) (Galatians 2:21).
It appears this church was trusting in the Gospel, but had added a doctrine of works.
Revelation 3:3
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
repent (Matthew 4:17)
watch Jesus commands believers to watch (Mark 13:32-37). Those who are watching will not be caught
unaware (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
note: God gives as an illustration of a sleeping church, that was not watching during tribulation.
While Jesus began to endure that wrath of God in the garden called Gethsemane, which means oil press (Matthew 26:39)
(1 Corinthians 15:22).
note: The first Adam fell in the garden causing death, the second Adam fell in a garden causing life
(Matthew 26:39) (1Corinthians 15:22).
Revelation 3:4
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
few names although Christ proclaims the church at Sardis dead, He still had a small remnant of true believers (Romans 11:1-6).
defiled garments (Hebrews 6:4) (2 Peter 2:19-21) (1 John 2:19)
They had a form of godliness, but were dead (2 Timothy 3:5)
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) (Titus 1:16).
Revelation 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
clothed in white raiment clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9) (Revelation 7:14).
Book of life This refers to all who live in Adam (Romans 5:12)
(Romans 7:9) (Hebrews 7:9-10).
The Lambs book of life are all those redeemed before the foundation of the world (Psalms 69:28)
(Philippians 4:3) (Revelation 17:8) (Revelation 21:27).
confess his name (Matthew 10:31) (Luke 12:8)
Revelation 3:6
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Only those who are true believers are able to hear the Spiritual message of God (Mark 4:11-12)
(John 14:17) (Luke 24:45) (Acts 16:14)
(1 Corinthians 2:14).
Revelation 3:7
To Philadelphia: commendation, warning,blessing
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
saith he Jesus who is...
holy (1 Peter 1:15-16)
true (John 14:6) (Revelation 19:11)
and hath the key of David (Isaiah 22:22)
Revelation 3:8
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
kept my word, not denied my name the Lord has opened a door to this church because of their faithfulness.
Revelation 3:9
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
see (Revelation 2:9)
but do lie (John 8:44)
Revelation 3:10
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
keep thee from the Lord will spiritually protect the faithful believers
during the tribulation (2 Peter 2:9) (Revelation 9:4)
note: keep Strongs (#5083) tereo - to watch over, preserve
hour of tribulation the Lord often refers to "hour" as a duration of
time, of a certain event. This "hour" we find is not always a literal hour.
For example (John 12-23) (John 12:27) (John 13:1) (John 17:1)
These examples refer to the duration of time that Jesus endured the wrath of God on
behalf of the believers. We find in Revelation that this "hour" reference relates
to the duration of the great tribulation (Revelation 14:7) (Revelation 17:12)
(Revelation 18:10) (Revelation 18:17)
(Revelation 18:19). Later in this study we
learn the great tribulation is divided into two parts. This explains the "half
and hour" of silence in (Revelation 8:1), which is a time of spiritual famine, when
no one is being saved. The second part of the tribulation will be a time when a great
mulitude, that no man could number, shall be saved.
upon all the world this will be universal, and not limited to just a certain church or region.
Revelation 3:11
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
I come quickly (Revelation 22:7) (Revelation 22:12) (Revelation 22:20) Describes the manner of the Lord's return there will be no time for repentance. The time of salvation through the Gospel of Grace will have come to an end (2 Corinthians 6:2).
hold that fast hold fast to Jesus your Saviour.
crown the crown represents Jesus, who is the reward to those who are His true believers (Isaiah 28:5).
see attributes of...
righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)
life (James 1:12)
glory (James 5:4)
Revelation 3:12
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
pillar support, strong hold in the temple
new Jerusalem refers to believers that make up the eternal Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2) (Revelation 21:9) (Revelation 21:10).
see (Revelation 21 study)
new name (Ephesian 3:14-15) (Isaiah 62:2) (Revelation 2:17)
Revelation 3:13
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Only those who are true believers are able to hear the Spiritual message of God (Mark 4:11-12)
(John 14:17) (Luke 24:45) (Acts 16:14)
(1 Corinthians 2:14).
Revelation 3:14
To Laodicea: warning, blessing
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
the Amen Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20)
faithful and true witness Jesus (Revelation 1:5) (Revelation 19:11)
the beginning of the creation of God (Colossians 1:15-19)
Revelation 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
There is no "in the middle" with Jesus. You are either for Him or against Him. Those
who are neither cold nor hot, will be rejected of Christ (Matthew 6:24) (Luke 6:14-18)
(1 Corinthians 10:21)
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Revelation 3:17
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
rich This church was rich in the world, but spiritually they were bankrupt, they
were without Jesus (Romans 11:33) (Ephesians 3:8)
(Ephesians 3:13-21) (Philippians 4:19).
Believers must choose between this world or Christ.
see Moses (Hebrews 11:24-26)
see (Matthew 6:19-21) (James 4:4)
Revelation 3:18
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
I counsel our Lord always gives the best advice, and that which is most suitable to the sinners case.
buy of me Jesus paid the price for our redemption so that we may buy from him
without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1-2)
(Revelation 22:17). Believers must part with
sin and come to Christ with a sense of poverty and emptiness to be filled with the riches
of Christ.
gold Jesus offers gold, spiritual gold tried in the fire, the pure refining work and doctrine of Christ (Job 23:10) (Zechariah 13:9).
white raiment the eternal righteousness of Jesus (Revelation 1:13) (Revelation 7:14) (Revelation 19:7-9). Buy of Jesus goods that have eternal value, unlike the gold and raiments of this corruptable world (James 5:1-3) (Matthew 6:19-23).
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (John 9:11)
The physical healings of Jesus in the Gospels represents what he does spiritually.
Like the spiritual leaders at the time of Christ's ministry, this church was guilty
of the same sin. Physically they could see, but spiritually they were blind
(John 9:39-41).
Revelation 3:19
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
As many I love, I rebuke (Hebrews 12:3-15) (James 1:2-4)
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
This verse must be understood in context with the rest of the message of the entire word
of God to interpret its meaning properly. God must do the work (John 6:29), and he gives us the ability
to open the door
(Acts 14:27) (2 Corinthians 2:12) (Colossians 4:3).
It must also
be noted that the natural man is at enmity with God
(Romans 8:7) (Ephesians 2:14-15)
and would not want to open the door and find Jesus as judge (James 5:9).
Revelation 3:21
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Those who have overcome, have been quickened together with Christ, and sit in authority with Him (Ephesian 2:5-6) (Revelation 20:4).
Revelation 3:22
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Only those who are true believers are able to hear the Spiritual message of God (Mark 4:11-12)
(John 14:17) (Luke 24:45) (Acts 16:14)
(1 Corinthians 2:14).
