Revelation 3
3
Message to Sardis
1“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis:
These are the words of the one who holds God’s seven spirits and the seven stars: I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, and you are in fact dead. 2Wake up and strengthen whatever you have left, teetering on the brink of death, for I’ve found that your works are far from complete in the eyes of my God. 3So remember what you received and heard. Hold on to it and change your hearts and lives. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know what time I will come upon you. 4But you do have a few people in Sardis who haven’t stained their clothing. They will walk with me clothed in white because they are worthy. 5Those who emerge victorious will wear white clothing like this. I won’t scratch out their names from the scroll of life, but will declare their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. 6If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Message to Philadelphia
7“Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia:
These are the words of the one who is holy and true, who has the key of David. Whatever he opens, no one will shut; and whatever he shuts, no one opens. 8I know your works. Look! I have set in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have so little power, and yet you have kept my word and haven’t denied my name. 9Because of this I will make the people from Satan’s synagogue (who say they are Jews and really aren’t, but are lying)—I will make them come and bow down at your feet and realize that I have loved you. 10Because you kept my command to endure, I will keep you safe through the time of testing that is about to come over the whole world, to test those who live on earth. 11I’m coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown. 12As for those who emerge victorious, I will make them pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my own new name. 13If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Message to Laodicea
14“Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler#3.14 Or beginning of God’s creation. 15I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth. 17After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. 18My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. 19I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. 20Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. 21As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
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Revelation 3: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Revelation 3
3
The Letter to the Church in Sardis
1“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Sardis.
Here are the words of Jesus, who holds the seven spirits of God. He has the seven stars in his hand. He says,
‘I know what you are doing. People think you are alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what is left, or it will die. You have not done all that my God wants you to do. 3So remember what you have been taught and have heard. Hold firmly to it. Turn away from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief. You won’t know when I will come to you.
4‘But you have a few people in Sardis who are pure. They aren’t covered with evil like dirty clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, because they are worthy. 5Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will dress that person in white like those worthy people. I will never erase their names from the book of life. I will speak of them by name to my Father and his angels. 6Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’
The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia
7“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Philadelphia.
Here are the words of Jesus, who is holy and true. He holds the key of David. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts. He says,
8‘I know what you are doing. Look! I have put an open door in front of you. No one can shut it. I know that you don’t have much strength. But you have obeyed my word. You have not said no to me. 9Some people claim they are Jews but are not. They are liars. Their worship comes from Satan. I will make them come and fall down at your feet. I will make them say in public that I have loved you. 10You have kept my command to remain strong in the faith no matter what happens. So I will keep you from the time of suffering. That time is going to come to the whole world. It will test those who live on the earth.
11‘I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have. Then no one will take away your crown. 12Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will make that person a pillar in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write the name of my God on them. I will write the name of the city of my God on them. This is the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my new name on them. 13Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’
The Letter to the Church in Laodicea
14“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Laodicea.
Here are the words of Jesus, who is the Amen. What he speaks is faithful and true. He rules over what God has created. He says,
15‘I know what you are doing. I know you aren’t cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16But you are lukewarm. You aren’t hot or cold. So I am going to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, “I am rich. I’ve become wealthy and don’t need anything.” But you don’t realize how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked. 18So here’s my advice. Buy from me gold made pure by fire. Then you will become rich. Buy from me white clothes to wear. Then you will be able to cover the shame of your naked bodies. And buy from me healing lotion to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.
19‘I warn and correct those I love. So be sincere, and turn away from your sins. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. I will eat with that person, and they will eat with me.
21‘Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will give that person the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I had victory. Then I sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
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