THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

Revelation Chapter 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, you have a name that says you are alive, but you are dead.

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

3 Remember therefore what you have received and heard, take it to heart, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come to you as a thief, and you will not know when I am coming to you.

4 You have a few people even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they will walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He who overcomes, will likewise be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

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

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;

8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, that no one can shut: for you have little strength, yet have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and acknowledge that I have loved you.

10 Because you have waited patiently for me as you were told, I will also keep you from the hour of trial, that will come upon the entire world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold fast to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.

12 I will make him who overcomes a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never again leave it: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

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

14 ¶ And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of the creation of God, says this;

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

16 But because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth.

17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: therefore be zealous, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am seated with my Father on his throne.

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

[Note: Verses 17-18 tell us the Laodiceans assumed they had God’s favor because they were well off. However, being blind to their own sins and shortcomings, they failed to value Christ or appreciate forgiveness.]