Revelation Chapter 3
Church at 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.
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.
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.
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.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
One of the oldest cities in the world
Boasted of wealth, pleasure and luxury
Instead of awakening the world around them, the church was lulled to sleep
Jesus introduces Himself as the one with the seven Spirts of God, and the seven starts
We know God is one….the seven signifies completeness, perfection
He has control of the Holy Spirit and His messengers
It is His prerogative to bestow or take away these as He sees fit
This is appropriate given the spiritual deadness at Sardis
They became complacent, took comfort in their name, their reputation
They are not charged with heresy, or open iniquity
But they are spiritually dead
Spiritually dead…it’s just going through the motions
They have likely compromised with the world around them, as they are described as soiling their garments
Not all were dead though…there were some that had not defiled their garments
There was still hope to revive
The challenged was to revive, awaken
This typifies so many churches today, actually more than the church at Laodicea
They were affected by compromise, but still there were faithful among them
The message is be revived
Those who were revived would not have their name blotted out of the book of life
Church at 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;
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.
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.
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.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
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.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
No condemnation, no correction, just encouragement
They kept His commandments
They were battling the Jews, called false Jews
Didn’t have the faith of Abraham
Rejected Christ
Still consumed with the ceremonies and rituals
He therefore gives them an open door
He is the door
No one can prevent them coming in to Him
The open door also can signify an opportunity
An opportunity to work, to expand the kingdom of God
Hold on, hold fast what you have, don’t let anyone take your crown
Make them a pillar
Give them His name, claim as His own
Church at Laodicea
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;
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.
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:
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.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
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.
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.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Laodicea was the banking center of Asia Minor
It flowed with wealth
The church was no exception
It was materially blessed
However, in God’s eyes they were poor
They felt fairly proud of themselves, kind of a middle line
They had learned to fit in the society around them fairly well
Not against God, but not fervently for Him either
This made God sick, He had nothing good to say to them, even though there is no condemnation of allowing heresy or false teachers or outward sin
He had no good thing to say
Yet, God stands ready to forgive and fellowship
He is knocking at the door
He said He corrected and rebuked those He loved
He challenged them to be zealous and repent
Heartily repent, catch fire
Restoration was offered
He offered to come in and have communion with them
To sit with Him on His throne is offered