Revelation 3:1
(1) To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: (2) I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
- The church in Sardis, the fourth church, is addressed by the one with the seven-fold spirit and the seven stars.
- They appear to be something, but are not.
Revelation 3:2-4
(1) Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; (2) for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. (3) So remember what you have received and heard; (4) and keep it, and repent. (5) Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. (6) But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
- The sleeping church must wake up, for they are about to lose what they have.
- Unlike the previous church, their works were not sufficient, “completed”. God requires more of them.
- This comes through the tending of that Word that was implanted in the soil of their hearts. They must tend that word through remembrance.
- They must therefore keep the word, and turn from their current station, “repentance”. A few of the churches of Revelation are called on to repent. Repentance is just as much for the unbeliever coming to Christ as it is for those who are growing in Him. When we realize, as here through this revelation, we are in error, we must repent, and turn from it. He is faithful and just to forgive, but we must turn from it.
- The warning for those who do not wake up is sudden and swift judgment upon them.
- All the while, some of this church were spotless. Some did keep the faith purely, and did not defile themselves. This is again, in contrast, to the rest of the church. These were pure, and undefiled, found worthy. The others in Christ’s church at Sardis were not, and they would face recompense. God expects us to live holy, and to live worthy, according to the Word that we have received.
Revelation 3:5-6
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- The one who overcomes, therefore, will be clothed in white, and will receive life Eternal.
Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
- The sixth church, Philadelphia. The one who is holy and true and has the power to open and close addresses this church.
Revelation 3:8-9
(1) I know your deeds. (2) Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because (3) you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (4) Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. (5) Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- What they do is mentioned.
- In light of this, there is an open door.
- The power they do have they have persevered in, and not backed down.
- Jesus will cause the opposition against them to bow at their feet.
- And, because they persevered, they will escape the tribulation that was about to come upon the whole world, to test those on the Earth.
Revelation 3:11
I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
- They are told to watch, so as to not lose what they have. He who stands, take heed, lest he fall.
Revelation 3:12-13
(1) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, (2) the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- The will be pillars in the house of God, much like it is written of eunuchs. They will remain there, as in Psalm 27:4.
- Mentioned later in Revelation 21.
Revelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
- The last church, Laodicea. The Amen, the ending, and the faithful witness, which is what He is calling this church to be. Many see this as the church of the current age. Certainly, the conditions match the state of much of the Western church, making this a very Laodicean age.
Revelation 3:15-18
(1) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. (2) So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (3) Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” (4) and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (5) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- Their deeds neither refresh nor soothe. It is not that God would rather have us either completely for Him or completely against. That misses the metaphor completely, as it relates historically to the city. They are lukewarm, in that their deeds do nothing.
- They will be spit from His mouth, that is, if they do not change.
- They believe they have everything they need.
- God says they are completely destitute, and they do not realize it.
- This three-fold prescription is the prescription for much of the church today. They are instructed to buy refined gold, that is, tested faith; white garments, to have righteous deeds that are pure and undefiled; and eye salve, which is the last thing instructed, but is the cause of their whole confusion. They cannot see, because of the hardness of their heart. They need to softening of the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts, and open the eyes of the hearts, so that they can see. Only then, will they be able to see the real condition of their hearts, their souls, and their sad state. But, it begins with faith. And right faith leads to right actions. And, it is only then, in the place of right action, of loving mercy and doing justice, that their eyes will finally begin again to see. Even as Daniel 4:27 says, as Daniel advises Nebuchadnezzar to attempt to stop the coming judgment against himself, He said to renounce sins by doing what was right, and wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It is thus that Daniel, in his wisdom, knew that the way to overcome the blindness was to help others who were hurting. In the same way, the Laodicean church could do to learn real faith, help those who are hurting, and in so doing, purchase real eye salve of the Holy Spirit to let them see what really matters, the love of God and love for the brethren. Real sight, to see the one in need.
Revelation 3:19-20
(1) Those whom I love, (2) I reprove and discipline; (3) therefore be zealous and repent. (4) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
- Jesus reaffirms his love for His people.
- Even though it will come in the midst of reproving and disciplining.
- Yet, the instruction is the same as always, to be zealous and repent.
- And, the promise is that God would come in and dine with us, within.
Revelation 3:21-22
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- Those who do this will sit on Christ’s throne, joint-heirs and co-rulers with Him.