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
The Letter to Sardis
1 “Write to the angel # 3:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 7,14 of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God#Rv 1:4; 4:5; 5:6 and the seven stars:#Rv 1:16,20; 2:1 I know your works; #Rv 2:2,19; 3:8,15 you have a reputation#3:1 Or have a name for being alive, but you are dead.#Rm 6:11 2Be alert#Mt 25:13; 26:40–41; Ac 20:31; 1Co 16:13; 1Pt 5:8; 2Pt 3:10 and strengthen#3:2 Other mss read guard what remains, which is about to die,#3:2 Or strengthen who remain, who are about to die for I have not found your works complete before my God. 3Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come#3:3 Other mss add upon you like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.#Mt 24:42–44; Mk 13:32–37; Lk 12:35–40; 1Th 5:1–11; Rv 16:15 4But you have a few people#3:4 Lit few names in Sardis who have not defiled#3:4 Or soiled their clothes,#Zch 3:3–4; 2Co 7:1; Rv 14:4 and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
5 “In the same way, the one who conquers #
1Jn 2:13–14; 4:4; 5:4–5; Rv 2:7,11,17,26; 3:12,21 will be dressed in white clothes,#Mt 17:2; Rv 3:18; 4:4 and I will never erase his name from the book of life#Ex 32:32–33; Ps 69:28; Dn 12:1; Rv 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27 but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.#Mt 10:32; Lk 12:8
6 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen #
Mt 11:15; 13:9,43; Lk 8:8; 14:35 to what the Spirit says#Ac 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 21:11; 28:25; 1Tm 4:1; Heb 3:7; 10:15; Rv 14:13; 22:17 to the churches.
The Letter to Philadelphia
7 “Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, #
1Jn 5:20; Rv 6:10; 19:11 the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: #Is 22:22; Mt 16:19 8I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.#Ac 14:27; 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3 9Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet,#Is 45:14; 49:23; 60:14; 1Co 14:25 and they will know that I have loved you.#Is 43:4 10Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing#Lk 8:13; Heb 3:8; 1Pt 4:12 that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.#Rv 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8,14; 17:8 11I am coming soon.#Rv 22:7,12,20 Hold on to what you have,#Rv 2:25 so that no one takes your crown.#1Co 9:25; 1Th 2:19; 2Tm 4:8; Jms 1:12; 1Pt 5:4
12 “The one who conquers I will make a pillar #
1Kg 7:21; 2Ch 3:17; Jr 1:18; Gl 2:9 in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God — the new Jerusalem,#Ezk 48:35; Gl 4:26; Heb 12:22; Rv 21:2 which comes down out of heaven from my God — and my new name.#Rv 2:17; 7:3; 14:1; 22:4
13 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Letter to Laodicea
14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, #
2Co 1:20
the faithful and true witness, the originator#3:14 Or beginning, or ruler#Mk 10:6; 13:19; Jn 1:1–5; Col 1:18; 2Pt 3:4 of God’s creation: 15I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit#3:16 Or spit you out of my mouth. 17For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’#Hs 12:8; Zch 11:5; 1Co 4:8 and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich,#Zch 13:9; 1Pt 1:7 white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed,#Gn 2:25; Is 20:4; Ezk 23:29; Rv 16:15 and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.#Heb 12:26 So be zealous and repent. 20See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.#Lk 24:29–30
21 “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, #
Mt 19:28; 2Tm 2:12; Rv 20:4 just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
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