Revelation
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Revelation 3
Revelation 3
Commentary · verses 1-6
1And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Commentary · verse 1
Description of Christ: Jesus has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Sardis lived (physically) but was dead (spiritually). The word "Sardis" meant "red." It also had a derivation sardonic that meant "ironically humorous, scornful and mocking, in a sarcastic manner." This church had the reputation (man's perspective) of being alive, but actually (God's perspective) they were dead. This church had a right WHAT with a wrong (or no) HOW/WHY.
2Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Commentary · verse 2
Did well: nothing.
Did not do well: No works of theirs were perfected: were increased because of a right HOW/WHY. They had some things (WHAT's) that remained. This church got a warning to be watchful and establish WHAT they had not completely lost.
3Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Commentary · verse 3
This church was told to repent after remembering what they had originally received and heard. Continuing not to remember and repent would cause this church not to be aware when Jesus came back.
4But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.
4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Commentary · verse 4
A few individuals in Sardis were not defiled.
5He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Commentary · verse 5
Those who overcome: will be clothed in white raiment and will not be blotted out of the book of life (Salvation) but Jesus will confess their name before the Father and before His angels.
As it related to our dispensation, the church in Sardis represented the time from around 1500 AD to around 1700 AD. This was the time of Martin Luther and John Calvin, two men who even today have "a name that livest":
- Martin Luther taught the man-made doctrine of grace: "unmerited favor."
- John Calvin taught the same religion of the Pharisees and Nicolaitans: A right WHAT with a contradictory HOW/WHY that was not supported by God's Word. Like Mormons and Muslims, John Calvin combined the Dispensation of the Law with the current Dispensation of Grace.
Both of these men introduced man-made doctrines that compromised the Doctrine of Salvation.
6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Commentary · verses 7-13
Verses 7-13: the church in Philadelphia.
7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:
7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Commentary · verse 7
Description of Christ: Jesus is holy, true, hath the key of David, and He openeth and shutteth. The "key of David" had to do with the coming Kingdom of God. The part about Jesus opening and shutting had to do with the final judgment. The "door" is open now, once the final judgment is complete, the "door" will be shut.
8I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.
8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Commentary · verse 8
Did well: More about the door, this church did two things well, but they were really good things: they kept the Word and they did not deny Jesus' Name.
Did not do well: Nothing? The next verses spoke of benefits.
9Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Commentary · verse 9
The unbelievers who claimed to be believers would bow down before this church. This didn't mean that they would be worshipping people but that they would be worshipping in front of people. Ultimately, this was in tandem with these people seeing the love Christ had for this church.
10Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Commentary · verse 10
The hour of temptation will be an extended period of time, the Tribulation. This verse referred to the pre-Tribulation Rapture of Christians.
11I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.
11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Commentary · verse 11
Notice, if no one is able to forfeit their Salvation ("thy crown") then why would people have to be told to hold fast so that no one took their Salvation? Again, this was another example that God provided everything for Salvation, but it is the responsibility of the individual to attain it and walk in it.
12He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.
12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Commentary · verse 12
Those who overcome: will be made a pillar in the temple of the Father and will go no more out and will have written on them the Name of God and the name of His city - the new Jerusalem.
As it related to our dispensation, the church in Philadelphia represented the time from around 1700 AD to around 1900 AD. This time period was one of "brotherly love" (meaning of Philadelphia) in the church, especially in America with the Great Awakenings. Believers loving believers led to a great revival.
13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Commentary · verses 14-22
Verses 14-22: the church in Laodicea.
14And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Commentary · verse 14
Description of Christ: Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Commentary · verse 15
Did well: Nothing.
Did not do well: Jesus wanted them to go cold or hot. The terms "cold" and "hot" were directional. Go hard one way or the other; state your will; God will correct you if you are wrong. Being lukewarm was not stating your will and remaining under mercy.
God responds through Justice to a person who is gaining or losing value. This means that God cannot respond to a person who is doing nothing and remaining under mercy. The individual ought to go towards what they believe is right, believing it is hot, and then be willing to find out if it was cold or hot based on God's response.
Some people try to say cold and hot are both good, that cold water refreshes and hot water soothes. They are not both good, otherwise Jesus would not have had to make the obvious point that He would that we were good. Jesus stated He would that we either made progress the right way (so His Will could be done through us) or we made progress the wrong way (so He could correct us through Justice, which would eventually be for our good).
16So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Commentary · verse 16
This church was lukewarm. They did not state their will. Lukewarm is spewed (vomited) out of Jesus' Mouth (the place of creation). This statement was more extreme than it reads to most people. It would be as if Jesus emphatically stated about lukewarm people, "You make me sick!!"
Many people are deceived by thinking lukewarm is better than cold. This is comparative thinking. Believing that as long as you are not a murderer, you are a "good" person and God will let you attain Salvation is deception. Actually, Jesus would rather you be cold than lukewarm because He cannot do anything with a person who is lukewarm.
Doctrines on this passage
17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Commentary · verse 17
This church was focused on the physical. They were satisfied with their physical wealth and declared they were in need of nothing (pride), they did not need to state their will and progress towards anything because they were satisfied.
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Commentary · verse 18
They should "buy" (an exchange of value) gold tried by fire from Jesus that they would be spiritually rich, "buy" white raiment to cover their sin, and anoint their eyes so they could see. The first step towards making progress is to be aware, to see. The first step for this church is to become aware of their true spiritual condition: poor, naked, and blind.
19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Commentary · verse 19
Those Jesus loves He rebukes and chastens. Jesus told this church to be zealous (get some energy so they could make progress) and repent which meant turn and make progress in the other way.
20Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Commentary · verse 20
Doctrine: Jesus is knocking on our doors.
Doctrine: It is up to us to choose to open it.
Doctrine: If we do, Jesus will dine with us. Jesus loves to eat.
21He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.
21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Commentary · verse 21
Those who overcome: will be granted to sit with Jesus on His throne.
As it related to our dispensation, the church in Laodicea represented the time from around 1900 AD through today and to the end of our dispensation. Today, the church is lukewarm. In fact, many churches and "Christian" authors justify being lukewarm. It is very difficult to get "Christians" to state their will and share the definitions for the words they use. The church today needs to recognize its true spiritual condition and repent. Periods of satisfaction and inactivity will occur to those who follow periods of tremendous growth (Philadelphia Age) by allowing their flesh to convince them they deserve a break.
22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Commentary · verse 22
This ended the first section of the Book of Revelation that focused on the seven churches in Asia and the events prior to the Tribulation. Revelation chapters 1, 2, and 3 all occurred in the first section of the diagram.
Verses 1-6: the church in Sardis.