Revelation Three.

 

The Revelation of Christ.

Revelation Three.

 

5^TH CHRUCH: TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS.
Revelation 3:1-6.

 

Sardis was a prosperous commercial centre and a military stronghold. It had often been attacked, but only twice in recorded history had its walls been breached.

Sardis was also famous for its great “thousand hills” cemetery marked by hundreds of burial mounds. Although Sardis no longer was of political importance it remained wealthy for two hundred years into the Christian era.

“These things say He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you do not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

A. “He who holds the seven Spirits of God,” Revelation 3:1.   

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

 

The reference here is to the Holy Spirit who gives life and strengthens believers. While there is a small minority in the church who are strengthen by the Spirit, most are spiritually dead. There is a functioning organization there called a Christian church, a “name that you are alive” but in fact the majority are not believers at all!

 

 

How often today also there are groups who assemble in “churches,” but who have never known the Spirit’s strengthen touch and whose members have never trusted Christ for salvation. These are dead churches, corpses propped up on the High Street.

 

1. “Hold fast and repent,” Revelation 3:3.

 

Repentance and a return to the teaching of the apostles is the only hope for Sardis. If the people fail to repent, Jesus will act to judge them when they least expect it.

 

2. “A few names even in Sardis,” Revelation 3:4-5.

 

The emphasis on a few makes it all too clear that the majority had departed from the faith. The contrast between “defiled garments” and “white garments” marks a distinction between those who depend on their own righteousness for acceptance by God and those who by faith have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Only those who wear the white garments are secure, for their names will never be blotted out of the Book of Life. Christ will acknowledge them before God, and their acceptance in heaven is assured.

 

A. “Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,” Revelation 3:2.

          “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

 

The first Greek word in this verse is not “be watchful” but “Wake up!” The congregation is dying and the believers there do not even realize what has happened. There is no room for self-righteousness; the true believers must act quickly to recover what remains.

The phrase “I have not found your works perfect” indicates failure to come close to meeting Christ’s expectations. Praise found in letters to other churches for such works as love, faithfulness, and persistence are utterly absent here.

 

B. “Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,” Revelation 3:2.

          “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

 

The first Greek word in this verse is not “be watchful” but “Wake up!”

The congregation is dying and the believers there do not even realize what has happened. There is no room for self-righteousness; the true believers must act quickly to recover what remains.

The phrase “I have not found your works perfect” indicates failure to come close to meeting Christ’s expectations. Praise found in letters to other churches for such works as love, faithfulness, and persistence are utterly absent here.

 

6^TH CHRUCH: TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA.  Revelation 3:7-13.

 

A main highway and imperial post road ran through Philadelphia, an important commercial and fortress city that had played a role in spreading Greek culture and language in what is now Turkey. Notably a Christian presence persisted in Philadelphia up until a.d. 1392.

“These things say He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens, and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

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

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out 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 I will write on him My new name.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

A. “He who is holy, He who is true,” Revelation 3:7.   

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens, and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.”

 

Christ presents Himself as the Messiah, who holds the key to the kingdom promised in Old and New Testaments alike.

The reference to the “synagogue of Satan” suggests that the Jews in Philadelphia claimed to be the genuine heirs of the Old Testament promises.

But the Christ who Christian’s worship is the holy and true one who “has the key of David,” and who alone can open or shut the door to heaven.

 

B. “I know your works,” Revelation 3:8-9.

          “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie, indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”

 

The Christians of Philadelphia had been faithful to the gospel and had never denied Christ’s name. The door that Christ set before them would remain open, and they are assured of a place in His kingdom.

As for their Jewish opponents the day will come when they will be forced to acknowledge that those, they had persecuted were right. As Isaiah predicted, “The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet” Isaiah 60:14.

 

C. “I will keep you from the hour of trial,” Revelation 3:10.

          “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

 

This special promise to the church at Philadelphia, like other distinctive promises to individual churches, is generally taken as a promise to all believers. Christ had commanded the Philadelphians to persevere, and they had done so.

The phrase the “hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” recalls the Old Testament prophets’ vision of a Great Tribulation, about which Christ Himself taught (Matthew 24:15-22). While this end time interpretation is rejected by some writers, it seems least strained to interpret it in the context of Christ’s own and Old Testament prophecy. This makes it a reference to the terrifying judgments God will bring on the earth at history’s end.

Those who believe the Bible teaches Christians will be ruptured (caught up to be with Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4) see support in the reference to being “kept from the hour of trial.”

This is a wonderful promise. Whatever comes, Christ Himself will protect those who have been faithful.

 

D. “Hold fast,” Revelation 3:11.

          “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Jesus encourages current as well as first-century Christians by promising that “I am coming quickly.” God’s plan is racing toward His intended conclusion. Although the pace may seem slow to us, everything is on schedule. We are to hold fast to this hope, lest we be robbed of our crown.

Here as elsewhere the “crown” symbolizes the reward God graciously intends to give to those who have been enabled by grace to serve Him well.

 

E. “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,” Revelation 3:12.

          “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And 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 I will write on him My new name.”

 

Two additional promises are given to overcomers.

1. A pillar in the temple.

The district around Philadelphia was subject to earthquakes. When a quake struck, often only the pillars of one of the pagan temples in the area would be left standing. In Christ we are not just building blocks in God’s temple, but pillars who stand firm and secure.

 

2. I will write on him the name of My God.

This promise seems to reflect a first-century custom of honouring an individual by having a special pillar added to a local temple that is inscribed with his name. Yet Christ may be speaking of an even more special inscription, one with His own name, indicating that the believer is identified with God and God’s own special possession.

 

7^TH CHUCH: TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF THE LAODICEANS. Revelation 3:14-22.

 

Laodicea lay in the fertile Lycus valley, and a major Roman road ran through the city. As well as being a commercial and communications centre, Laodicea was known for its black wool and banking facilities.

It also boasted a medical school famous for ointments that were used to treat eyes and ears.

Despite its wealth the water supply was poor, drawn from hot or cold springs that became lukewarm as it flowed through a six-mile-long channel.

“These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of thing’ and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and opens the door; I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

A. “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,” Revelation 3:14. 

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.”

 

Christ is the one who established the pattern; He is the faithful and true witness who never in any way failed to reveal and glorify God. In this identification Christ stands in stark contrast to the Laodicean church, which has failed God in every way.

 

B. “You are neither cold nor hot,” Revelation 3:15-16.

          I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

 

Like the water from the channel, the church in Laodicea was lukewarm, indifferent to God. This is revolting to the Lord, who will “vomit you out of My mouth.”

 

C. “You do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” Revelation 3:17.

          “Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

 

In terms of material possessions this was a wealthy church. In terms of spiritual assets, the church was stripped of every true blessing. It is always tragic when a believer is deceived into assuming that earthly riches are symbols of God’s blessing, when the true blessings are not material at all. When estimated by eternity’s values, the Laodiceans were wretched and pitiful, for they were spiritually poor, blind, and naked.

What a contrast with the church at Smyrna, which was outwardly poor, but inwardly rich (Revelation 2:9)!

 

D. “I counsel you,” Revelation 3:18.

          “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

 

God’s solution is to turn from all those things in which the Laodiceans took such pride and focus on that which is true and faithful.

“Buy from Me gold refined in the fire.” Peter explains the image when he speaks of the testing of faith by various trials as “more precious than gold that perishes.” When faith is tested by fire it will be “found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:7.

The lukewarm Laodiceans were so content and ready to compromise that they offended no one and challenged no cultural sin. They got along and were satisfied to do so. Yet while Christ does not tell us to seek trials or persecution, we are to stand for something. If we stand for something, we are sure to spark the very trials which will purify our faith.

 

1. “Buy from Me . . . white garments, that you may be clothed.”

White garments represent righteousness, here not an imputed righteousness but an experiential righteousness. The Laodicean Christians were settled into their culture so comfortably that they saw nothing wrong with its sins and had adopted the loose ways of their fellow-citizens. In fact, their behaviour was shameful, a compromise with the world.

 

2. “Anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see.”

The remedy for eye problems that the city produced was useless in curing spiritual blindness. And it was spiritual blindness that was the problem in Laodicea.

All three images point to the dire need of the members of this church, many for salvation, and others for renewal.

 

E. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” Revelation 3:19.   

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.”

 

The harsh words spoken to the Laodicean church were evidence of Christ’s love for them. He spoke harshly to awaken them from their spiritual slumber, and says to them, “Therefore be zealous and repent.”

 

F. “I stand at the door and knock,” Revelation 3:20.

          “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

 

The image presented in this verse is a familiar one. A visitor stands outside and knocks at mealtime. The porter or the owner of the house listens carefully to see if he recognizes the voice. Because the cord that is attached to the latch has been pulled inside, the door can only be opened from within. Yet the visitor is eager to come in and dine, symbolizing in the first century intimate fellowship.

Christ, who stands at the door, will not force His way in. The door must be opened from within. But once the door is opened and the invitation extended, Jesus will enter the life of any individual, for God is eager for an intimate relationship with men.

This image suggests that most in the church in Laodicea were professing Christians without a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. And the image is one that speaks to the unsaved to this day. Christ is eager to enter every life, and He waits, just outside, for us to open our hearts to Him.

 

G. “I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,” Revelation 3:21.   

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

 

Christ saves, raises, and rewards believers. Now we learn that we are also to share His own exalted position. Paul says it in his second letter to Timothy:

“This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.”

And Revelation 20:6 portrays the fulfilment of the promise: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

Common themes that run throughout these letters challenge Christians today. We are called to be overcomers: people who struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and through the Spirit’s power remain committed to Jesus Christ.

That commitment shows itself in the qualities commended in these letters, qualities of service, faith, patience, and perseverance, all motivated by love. While these qualities arouse the hostility of the world and lead to tribulations here, they will bring untold blessings to us when Jesus comes.

And until He comes, we must reject corrupt teaching and immorality, and guard against complacency and compromise with the values of this world.

 

Concluding promises of: Revelation 22.

 

The last chapter of the Book of Revelation features a promise of Jesus that is repeated three times.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” Revelation 22:7.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” Revelation 22:12-13.

“Surely I am coming quickly” Revelation 22:20.

Generations of Christians have heard these promises of Jesus and looked eagerly for His appearance.

Does it matter that nearly 2,000 years have passed since these promises were given? Not at all! Christ is coming! He is on the way. And that, not when, makes all the difference.

As the apostle Peter wrote so long ago,

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” 2 Peter 3:9-13.