Rev Revelation, chapter Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 3
To the church in Sardis
‘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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Ezk 33:7; Mat 24:42Remember, 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.2Pe 3:10; 1Th 5:2; Rev 16:15
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. Rev 6:11; Rev 7:9; Rev 19:8The 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. Luk 10:20; Php 4:3Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Philadelphia
‘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.Job 12:14; Isa 22:22; Luk 1:32; Rev 1:18
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. 1Co 16:9; Col 4:3I 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. Isa 49:23; Isa 60:14Since 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.2Pe 2:9; 1Co 10:13
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no-one will take your crown. Rev 2:10The 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. Heb 12:22; Rev 2:17; Rev 14:1Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Laodicea
‘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.Col 1:15
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You 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. Hos 12:8; 1Co 4:8I 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.Rev 7:13; Rev 16:15; Rev 19:8
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Pro 3:12; Heb 12:5Here 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.Sng 5:2; Jhn 14:23
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. Mat 19:28; Rev 1:6; Rev 2:27Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’