The church in Sardis
Rev 3:1 And 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.
Sardis was on an important trade route. The first coins made were made in Sardis. It was a place of ease and luxury. It was known for apathy and immorality. Even the pagans called it a place of self indulgence and decadence. The city was protected by steep cliff walls. Because the city had natural defenses, they were lazy about having watchmen. King Cyrus sent his soldiers up a hidden trail, scaling the cliffs in the night, they conquered the unguarded city.
Jesus described himself to this church as having the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Using the number seven as fullness; Jesus had the fullness of God's Spirit and was the head or fullness of the church.
Jesus knew their works, you have a name that you live, (perhaps, the church of life?) but you are dead. Churches may promote themselves as being the church where truth and light and miracles are, but in truth Jesus says, they are dead.
Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Rev 3:3 Remember 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.
Jesus speaks to an apathetic worldly church. Remember, you heard at one time and received, hold fast and repent; Jesus spoke this verse to Ephesus, which was stronger in faith:
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Jesus was not pleased with the works of the church in Sardis. They may have been meeting as a church, but they were an apathetic dead in Spirit church. He warned them that he would come suddenly as a thief. This was the rapture or the sudden judgment of God.
1 Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1 Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1 Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1 Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1 Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Rev 3:4 Thou 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.
There was a remnant that had not defiled their garments; sexual sin, drunkenness, immoral living.
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
A few, who call themselves his church in Sardis, shall be saved and clothed in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He 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.
He that overcometh, who serve the Lord in truth, not indulging in sinful things, shall be clothed in white raiment and his name will not be blotted out of the book of life? Can names be blotted out? Some may think that their name is in the book, but they are not.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The church in Philadelphia
Rev 3:7 And 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;
Philadelphia, means brotherly love. Jesus speaks to them as he that is holy, true, and having the key of David. As the Son of God, Jesus is holy and true, the light of truth. He was the son of man, after king David. David could not save anyone, but Jesus has the power to change and to save people. He has dominion over heaven and earth.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Only Jesus can give this power to his disciples.
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
He has absolute power over life and death.
Rev 3:8 I 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.
They were commended for keeping his word, and not denying his name. Jesus is the door to God, they have access, but they have little strength. They had little strength, but the Holy Spirit would give them what was needed. An open door refers to opportunities in ministry.
2 Cor 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord.
1 Cor 16:8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
1 Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
We will have open doors for ministry. Prepare now and walk through the doors that open to you.
Rev 3:9 Behold, 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.
They were persecuted by the Jewish community who were actually serving satan. These were not spiritual Jews. God would avenge them by having Jews bow to them, recognizing Jesus as Lord.
1 Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1 Cor 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
People are saved by God through the spoken word believed.
Rev 3:10 Because 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.
They are kept from the hour of temptation or tribulation, to try the unbelievers on earth. Perhaps they would be raptured before the tribulation?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Behold, he will come unexpectedly: hold fast to what you have. They have love, faithfulness to God, evangelistic opportunities and reliance on God's Spirit. They will receive a crown of victory, let no man take this from you. Do not receive unbelief.
Rev 3:12 Him 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.
The ancient city of Philadelphia suffered from frequent earthquakes. When a building collapsed in an earthquake often all that remained were the huge pillars. Jesus offers us this same strength, to remain standing in Him when everything around us crumbles.(Guzik)
A pillar must be built on a strong foundation.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
We will receive new names and titles from our Lord. Jesus gave names to his disciples describing their character.
Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1 Pet 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Keep standing in faith and walk through the doors of opportunity as they are opened to you. Our strength is His strength. He has called you for His purpose and he has a new name for you. Philadelphia, the church that Jesus spoke well of.
The Church of the Laodiceans
Rev 3:14 And 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;
The name laodicea means, "ruled by the people" give the people what they want to hear, a user friendly church, a social club, but not a church obeying God in holiness and in truth, reaching the lost with the sword of the word and delivering them from satans bondage. Jesus describes himself to the Laodicean church as the amen, "so be it"
2 Cor 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The faithful and true witness. Jesus, denying himself obeyed God the Father. He was faithful all the way to the cross. He spoke the word of truth as he received it from the Father. He was in the beginning with the Father as the Word. His title was the Living Word of God; God the Son.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
We know who Jesus is and he knows our works, as he speaks to the church at Laodicea. Many agree that this is the predominant church in our nation, but hopefully not the church we attend.
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
They are neither hot nor cold, they were neutral, indifferent, perhaps the word "tolerant" would fit them, they were not for or against anything. They were no threat to the world and of no use to God. Jesus said, as lukewarm they were vomited out of his mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because 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:
They were rich in things, needing nothing, but Jesus saw their hearts; and they didn't even know that they were spiritually wretched, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Rev 3:18 I 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.
Jesus, the counsellor: Buy of him gold tried in the fire,
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
They needed faith in Jesus, proven faith that endures the fiery trials.
And white raiment, that you may be clothed. They needed to be clothed with the righteousness of God, through the blood of Jesus. They needed to be covered with the righteousness of grace through Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
If not clothed in the righteousness of Christ, you will not be chosen to be his eternal bride with the true church of God. Ask him to forgive your sins and make him Lord of your life. We receive from him by believing in him.
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
God loves us, so we must trust and obey in him over and above our earthly treasures.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Be Zealous
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Be on fire for Jesus, doing his will and going through doors of opportunity with nothing but faith in him, his Spirit and his word in your heart.
Jesus knocking
Rev 3:20 Behold, 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.
Jesus stood in the midst of the candlesticks, representing the churches. Was the Laodicean church the one church that he was not in the midst of? Perhaps, but this is personal, to each member of a church.
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
To be in a church requires a confession of faith. Let this be a true change in your heart, for if Jesus is not in you and you in him, you are not his. He gives you his Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Do you have the new eternal life? Or are you trusting in yourself and the worlds things?
Rev 3:21 To 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.
You overcome the world, flesh and the devil, by the blood of the Lamb, by faith, by his grace, by His Spirit abiding in you. Open the door to your heart, you who are dead in spirit. Open the door to Jesus dead church, and let him give you new life.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The Spirit is talking to you and I and all who name the name of Jesus. He is talking to the churches, for in the new kingdom there shall one church, the redeemed of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Where do we stand?
What is Jesus saying to the seven churches, to the fullness of the church? What is he saying to you and I, for we are part of his church? What does he commend and what does he hate? Don't we need to know this? What about grace to be saved and not works?
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So many do nothing after being saved. Many churches are content to be just saved by grace, yes, amen. But do not teach to the church that they are not to do good works. What does verse ten say?
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. What is Jesus saying to the church? We are the church.
I will let you review the different church names and their strengths and weaknesses. I want to just list the important things. Search your heart to see where you stand in the faith.
What Jesus commends:
We are to reject evil, we are to be holy as he is holy.
We are to keep the faith, pure doctrine in the Spirit of truth.
We are to persevere, not give up. No one said it would be easy, but Jesus has given us God's word and His Spirit to give us strength.
We are to gracefully bear suffering and persecution. Jesus really likes that.
We are to be patient, with love and service.
Criticisms, things to repent from:
No longer having fervent love for Jesus, as in the beginning
Tolerating immorality, idolatry and heresies...not to be tolerant of satan's things. Repent, judgment coming, keep the faith
Indifference, neither hot nor cold, be zealous and repent
You are just dead, no spiritual life in you, repent strengthen what remains.
If we do well we will rewarded in the New Jerusalem when Jesus Christ returns.
Overcomers Promises:
The tree of life
The crown of life
Hidden manna and a white stone with a new name
Rule over nations and receive the morning star
Faithful are rewarded and will wear white raiment
A place in God's presence, a new name
Share Christ's throne
We cannot please God unless Jesus is in our heart. He is knocking so let him in, with the Holy Spirit. You cannot make it without him. He does care about our works after salvation. I suggest that you carefully study what he likes and dislikes and walk so as to please him. These are written for all the church.
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Revelation 1 Table of Contents
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