Revelation Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 "And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: "He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: "I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

• (a) Sardis is the name of a most flourishing and famous city, where the kings of Lydia kept their courts. (1) The fifth passage is to the pastors of Sardis. The introduction is taken from (Revelation 1:4,16).
• (b) You are said to live, but are dead indeed.

3:2 Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.

• (c) Other things, whose state is such, that they are now going, and unless they are confirmed, will perish without delay.

3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you.

3:4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

• (3) That is, who have with all religion guarded themselves from sin and moral corruption, even from the very show of evil; (Jude 1:23). (4) Pure from all spot, and shining with glory. So it is to be understood always hereafter, as in (Revelation 3:5).
• (d) They are suitable and proper, that is, because they are justified in Christ, as they have truly showed it: for he who acts righteously is righteous in the same way that a tree bears good fruit; (Romans 8:18).

3:5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

3:7 "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:

• (6) The sixth passage is to the pastors of Philadelphia. The introduction is taken from (Revelation 1:18).
• (e) All power of rule in commanding and forbidding, in delivering and punishing. The house of David is the Church, and the continual promise of David’s kingdom belongs to Christ.

3:8 "I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name.

• (7) The note of praise is in this verse of promises, and (Revelation 3:9) to bring home again them that wander, in (Revelation 3:10) to preserve the godly and in (Revelation 3:11) to exhort.

3:9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

• (f) I will bring them to that case. (8) That is, fall down and worship either you civilly, or Christ religiously at thy feet (this is how I would rather take it) whether here in the Church (which seems more proper to the argument here) or there in the world to come, for Christ shall truly fulfil his word.

3:10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

(to come) time indicator

• (g) Because you have been patient and constant, as I would have my servants be.

3:11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.

• (coming quickly) time indicator

3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.

• (9) The conclusion which contains a promise, and a commandment.
• (10) That is, the new man shall be called after his father, mother, and his head Christ.

3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

3:14 "To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God's creation, says these things:

• (11) The seventh passage is to the pastors of the Church of Laodicea. The introduction is taken out of (Revelation 1:5).
• (h) Amen sounds as much in the Hebrew tongue, as truly, or truth itself.
• (i) Of who all things that are made, have their beginning.

3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

• (12) The proposition of reproof is in this verse, and in (Revelation 3:16) a threat while in (Revelation 3:17) a confirmation declares the same. To faith and repentance in (Revelation 3:18,19) a conditional promise is added in (Revelation 3:20).

3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

3:17 Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;

• (13) The spiritual misery of men is metaphorically expressed in three points which are matched as corresponds to those remedies offered in (Revelation 3:18).

3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

• (k) Zeal is set against those who are neither hot nor cold.

3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.

• (14) This must be taken after the manner of an allegory; (John 14:23).

3:21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

• (15) The conclusion, consisting of a promise, as in (Revelation 2:26) and of an exhortation.

3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies."