Message to Sardis: Alive in Name Only
Study note
Sardis has a reputation for being alive but is actually dead. Christ commands them to wake up and strengthen what remains, warning that he will come like a thief if they do not repent. A faithful remnant who have not soiled their clothing will walk with Christ in white, and overcomers will never have their names blotted from the book of life.
1 "Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: This message comes from the one who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing. People say you are alive, but you are dead." 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.
2 "Wake up! Make the little bit of life you have left stronger before it dies completely. I have looked at your work and found it unfinished in God's eyes." Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 "Remember what you were taught and what you heard. Hold on to it and turn back. If you do not wake up, I will come as quietly as a thief, and you will have no idea when I am coming." 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.
4 "But a few of you in Sardis have not ruined your clothes with sin. You will walk with me dressed in white, because you deserve it." 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.
5 "The person who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes. I will never erase their name from the book of life. I will announce their name in front of my Father and in front of his angels." 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.
6 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches." He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Message to Philadelphia: An Open Door
Study note
Philadelphia, like Smyrna, receives no rebuke. Christ, who holds the key of David, has set an open door before this church that no one can shut. Though they have little strength, they have kept his word. Christ promises to keep them from the coming hour of testing and to make overcomers permanent pillars in God's temple, inscribed with God's name and the name of the new Jerusalem.
7 "Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: This message comes from the one who is holy and true, who holds David's key. When he opens a door, nobody can close it. When he closes a door, nobody can open it." 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;
8 "I know what you have been doing. Look -- I have opened a door before you that nobody can shut. I know you do not have much strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not turned your back on my name." 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.
9 "Pay attention! I will deal with people from Satan's group -- the ones who say they are Jews but are lying about it. I am going to make them come and bow down at your feet. They will realize that I love you." 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.
10 "Because you obeyed my command to hold on with patience, I will keep you safe from the time of testing. That testing is about to come over the whole world to test everyone living on the earth." 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.
11 "I am coming soon! Hold tight to what you have so that nobody takes your crown." Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 "The one who wins -- I will make that person a pillar in God's temple. They will never have to leave. I will write God's name on them and the name of God's city. That city is the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. I will also write my own new name on them." 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.
13 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches." He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Message to Laodicea: Lukewarm and Self-Deceived
Study note
The Laodicean church is neither hot nor cold, prompting Christ's famous warning that he will spit them out. They boast of wealth but are spiritually wretched, blind, and naked. Christ lovingly counsels them to buy refined gold, white clothing, and eye salve from him. The iconic image of Christ knocking at the door shows his patient desire for intimate fellowship. Overcomers are promised a seat with Christ on his throne.
14 "Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: This message comes from the Amen. He is the faithful and true witness, the source of all God's creation." 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;
15 "I know what you are doing. You are not cold and you are not hot. I wish you were one or the other." I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 "But since you are lukewarm -- not cold, not hot -- I am going to spit you out of my mouth." So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 "You keep saying, 'I am rich, I have everything I need, I am doing great.' But you have no idea that you are pitiful, poor, blind, and walking around naked." 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:
18 "Here is my advice: buy gold from me that has been purified by fire, and then you will truly be rich. Buy white clothes from me so you can cover up and not be ashamed. Buy medicine for your eyes so you can see." 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.
19 "I correct and discipline everyone I love. So get serious and turn back to me." As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 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.
21 "To the one who wins, I will let them sit with me on my throne. I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne." 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.
22 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches." He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.