Revelation 3
3
The Dead Church
1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who #Rev. 1:4, 16has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3#1 Tim. 6:20Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and #Rev. 3:19repent. #Matt. 24:42, 43; Luke 12:39Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you #1 Thess. 5:2; (2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4You have #Acts 1:15a few names even in Sardis who have not #(Jude 23)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me #Rev. 4:4; 6:11in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes #(Rev. 19:8)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not #Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Luke 10:20; (Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27)blot out his name from the #Phil. 4:3Book of Life; but #Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Faithful Church
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says #Acts 3:14He who is holy, #John 14:6; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 3:14; 19:11He who is true, #Is. 9:7; 22:22; Jer. 23:5“He who has the key of David, #(Matt. 16:19; Rev. 1:18)He who opens and no one shuts, and #Job 12:14shuts and no one opens”: 8#Rev. 3:1“I know your works. See, I have set before you #1 Cor. 16:9an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9Indeed I will make #Rev. 2:9those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed #Is. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, #2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Pet. 2:9I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon #Luke 2:1the whole world, to test those who dwell #Is. 24:17on the earth. 11Behold, #Phil. 4:5I am coming quickly! #Rev. 2:25Hold fast what you have, that no one may take #(Rev. 2:10)your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him #1 Kin. 7:21; Jer. 1:18; Gal. 2:9a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall #Ps. 23:6go out no more. #(Rev. 14:1; 22:4)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the #(Heb. 12:22)New Jerusalem, which #Rev. 21:2comes down out of heaven from My God. #(Rev. 2:17; 22:4)And I will write on him My new name.
13#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Lukewarm Church
14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
#Is. 65:16; 2 Cor. 1:20‘These things says the Amen, #Rev. 1:5; 3:7; 19:11the Faithful and True Witness, #(Col. 1:15)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15#Rev. 3:1“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, #Hos. 12:8; Zech. 11:5; (Matt. 5:3); 1 Cor. 4:8‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18I counsel you #Is. 55:1; Matt. 13:44to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and #2 Cor. 5:3white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19#Job 5:17As many as I love, I rebuke and #Prov. 3:12; (2 Cor. 11:32); Heb. 12:6chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, #Song 5:2I stand at the door and knock. #Luke 12:36, 37; John 10:3If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, #(John 14:23)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To him who overcomes #Matt. 19:28; 2 Tim. 2:12; (Rev. 2:26; 20:4)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
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Revelation 3: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Revelation 3
3
To the church in Sardis
1 ‘To the angel # 3:1 Or messenger ; also in verses 7 and 14 of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits # 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars.
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Philadelphia
7 ‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.
8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no-one will take your crown. 12The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Laodicea
14 ‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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