Revelation: Chapter 3
Setting
This chapter is a continuation of Revelation 2. As seen in the chronology of Revelation, John is viewing the events of this chapter from the perspective of earth, and is receiving and writing the letters from Christ to the seven churches.
Revelation 1:1-20, Revelation 2:1-29 and Revelation 3:1-22 form a group of chapters that relate to the Lord's relationship with the tribulation churches and describe the church age after the snatching away (rapture) of the New Testament churches. The progression of these churches begins first with the Jewish church in Jerusalem, led by the Apostle Peter, followed by the Body-of-Christ who includes Jews and Gentiles, as described in Galatians 2:6-9. The snatching away (rapture) is an imminent future event at the time of this writing. That event consists of the resurrection of those who died in Christ, followed directly by the rapture of those still alive in Christ. Though only a remnant of the earth’s population will be taken up at this event, it will serve as an immediate clarion call to those Jewish people left behind, who were looking for a sign, 1Corinthians 1:22-23, that Jesus is their Messiah. Once the New Testament church is taken up to be with the Lord, tribulation churches will suddenly and miraculously emerge. These seven letters from the Lord are addressed to the tribulation churches. The letters prepare them to be righteous before the Lord, before the coming tribulation. This also begins the pre-tribulation period.
There is symmetry in these seven letters. One may serve as the reason for this chapter break between Revelation 2:1-29 and Revelation 3:1-22. In the counsel to the church at Ephesus, the Lord told them to "Remember." For the first church in this chapter, Sardis, the Lord also tells them in His counsel, to "Remember." These are the only two churches where the Lord brings this up.
| Verses | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1-6 | The church of Sardis |
| 7-13 | The church of Philadelphia |
| 14-22 | The church of Laodicea |
The following map illustrates the relative location of the seven churches geographically, and among each other. The first church the Lord wrote to, Ephesus, is located on the map below, the southernmost star along the coast of Asia Minor. The progression of the letters to each church follows northward until Thyatira, then inland and southward on this horseshoe pattern of the stars. This last set of letters begins with Sardis and is south of Thyatira.
Christ's description
In Revelation 3:1, the Lord begins by revealing His characteristics that relate directly to the issues with the church of Sardis. He is warning and encouraging the few remaining believers in this church in preparation for the coming tribulation. First, the Lord tells them that He has the seven Spirits of God. This is not something new or separate from the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus is saying that He and the Holy Spirit are one, just as Jesus told the Jews challenging Him, that He and the Father are one, John 10:30. Jesus also informed the apostles the night He was betrayed, that He was sending the Holy Spirit after Him, who would reveal all things the Lord wants to deliver to them and the church, John 15:26-27, 16:13-14. The Holy Spirit is shown to have seven characteristics, and is before the throne: Isaiah 11:1-2, John 16:13-15, Zechariah 4:2, 6, 8-10.
- The spirit of the Lord
- The spirit of wisdom
- The spirit of understanding
- The spirit of counsel
- The spirit of power
- The spirit of knowledge
- The spirit of the fear of the Lord
The interpretation has already been given in Revelation 1:20 concerning the mystery of the seven stars, where the stars are the angels over each of the churches, similar to Daniel 10:1-21, Daniel 11:1, and Daniel 12:1. Except here, the Lord indicates that He is over all the churches, and directs all of them through the angels, not just Sardis. What the Lord tells this local church, Sardis, is extremely heartbreaking.
The Lord's commendation
The Lord is not mincing words, because there was nothing for Him to commend this church for. In the middle of Revelation 3:1, the church was known for a reputation of being alive, but the Lord declares them dead. The reputation of esteemed men receives a good report from men, but it is not even on the same plane as receiving a good report from the Lord. This is demonstrated in the account of Samuel arriving at Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king over Israel. In reviewing his sons, Samuel looked upon their physical characteristics, not the heart, 1Samuel 16:1-13. Another parallel in scripture is found in Jerusalem, before the invasion of King Nebuchadnezzar, where the people of Israel believed that just because they had the temple, and believed the Lord was in their midst, that calamity would not come upon them, Jeremiah 7:4, Micah 3:11. However, the Lord passed judgment upon them who abhorred justice, Micah 3:9-12. Likewise, the Lord commented that there would be those in the judgment who would claim that they did great things in His name, yet He said for them to go away; He never knew them, Matthew 7:21-23. As Sardis, many churches have great histories when the Lord did a great work through them, and the people were responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. But today they are utterly dead, though they practice many good and wonderful works toward their fellow man. The Lord has no commendation for Sardis, nor for those churches that have similar historic profiles.
The people of this church, or any other church, cannot inherit salvation from their parents, other believers, or from being a part of a strong believing church; each individual has to come to that decision themselves, to believe and repent to the Lord. Those who have not believed in Christ Jesus and that God raised Him from the dead are not saved, but still dead in their sins, Romans 10:9, John 3:18-21.
The Lord's condemnation
In the last part of Revelation 3:1 is the qualifier to the previous phrase in this verse; the church of Sardis is dead. Works alone or the number of individuals attending a congregation, does not make a living church; it is the presence of the Spirit of the Lord. Despite their deadness as a church, the Lord is still faithful, 2Timothy 2:11-13. For example, before the Israelites appeared below the mountain of Sinai, the Lord had provided them daily sustenance of manna from heaven, except on the Sabbath. This provision by the Lord lasted through their entire exodus of 40 years, Exodus 16:34-35. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai at the call of the Lord, and had been removed from the sight of the people for 40 days, they rebelled against the Lord, made an idol that they declared delivered them from Egypt, and performed many lewd acts. Despite all this and other future acts, the Lord continued to provide them with their daily manna. But when Moses came down the mountain and witnessed the great sin among the people, judgment came upon the people, Exodus 32. But the Lord was still faithful to His word to deliver the people into the land He promised to Abraham, confirmed with Isaac and Jacob, Exodus 33:1-6.
The Lord's counsel
In Revelation 3:2, based on the Lord’s assessment of the church of Sardis, He counsels them first to be watchful. They are to assess where they are and return to follow Christ Jesus fully as a church and as individuals. Too many in this church followed their ways, completely overshadowing the few true believers still in the church of Sardis, who could have kept the church alive and active for the Lord.
Second, they are to strengthen the things that remain. As a church, they drifted far from Christ and His ways. Few things of Christ in their church remain. The Lord warns them that even those things are ready to die. The Lord gives a point-blank warning: their works are not perfect before God; they have not finished what they were to do. Paul wrote that each one of us in the dispensation of grace is God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that God ordained beforehand, Ephesians 2:10. The Lord redeemed us from all iniquity, to purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Titus 2:14.
In Revelation 3:3, the Lord tells the church to remember, as He did to the church of Ephesus. They must remember what they received, when the gospel was first given, and what they learned from the teachers and elders who expounded on the truth. Then they are to hold fast to that teaching and repent. They are to wake up! Ezekiel 18:30-31. A little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; So, shall their poverty come, Proverbs 6:9-11. The Lord had warned Judah to wake up! A warning that is appropriate for Sardis, Ezekiel 18:30-31. It was further revealed to Ezekiel that judgment begins at the Lord’s house. Those who follow the Lord are sealed, and the rest are destroyed, Ezekiel 9. They are sternly warned that if they refuse to wake up, the Lord will come like a thief in judgment, Matthew 24:45-51.
In Revelation 3:4-6, the Lord makes promises to the overcomers. Paul wrote to Timothy that He knows those who are His, 2Timothy 2:19. In Sardis, a few in the church have not defiled their garments. These will be clothed in white raiment, in Christ Jesus’ righteousness, and walk with Him. The white raiment is also used for the wedding, Matthew 22:1-14. These are called worthy. Their name will be in the book of life, and confessed by Jesus to the Father and His angels because they did not deny the Lord before men, Matthew 10:32-33. At the end of David’s life, he confessed to Israel the names of 37 of his mighty men, 2Samuel 23:8-39, but Joab (v18) and Ahithophel (v34, 2Samuel 16:23) were not identified with the mighty men, despite having prominent roles in David’s life. They were faithless near the end of David’s life, so they were mentioned in passing because they were related to one of the mighty men. This is similar to a name being blotted out for unfaithfulness. For the overcomers, the Lord will confess their name before the Father and His angels. The letter ends with all the other overcomers in other churches, to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
A summary of the letter to the church of Sardis
| The Lord's statements | To the church of Sardis |
|---|---|
| Christ's description | He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars |
| Commendation | Works, a name that you are alive? |
| Condemnation | You are dead. Works not complete |
| Counsel | Watch, strengthen the things that remain. Remember, hold fast and repent |
| "He who overcomes ..." | shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels |
Christ's description
As with the previous five churches, the Lord first spoke to the angel of the church, Revelation 1:20. These angels are the Lord’s messengers to each church. Through them, the Lord identifies specific attributes of Himself to each church, just as He revealed to John in Revelation 1. The Lord, who is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, and the creator of all things, reveals Himself to us, exactly where we are, and for encouragement of what lies ahead for us. These seven tribulation churches are being prepared spiritually to enter into the time of the great tribulation. This is similar to when the Lord sent the people through the wilderness and the Red Sea, so that they would not have to fight a war with the Philistines on their way to the promised land, Exodus 14:17. Had Israel obeyed the Lord in faith, He would have driven indigenous people out with hornets, Exodus 23:28.
In Revelation 3:7, the Lord first identifies Himself to the church at Philadelphia as Holy. In the Body-of-Christ, Paul wrote that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service, Romans 12:1. He also wrote that the kingdom of God is not for the pleasure and freedom of food, but is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17. Peter wrote that we are to prepare our minds for action, be self-controlled, and to set our hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed; in other words, we are to be holy as Christ is holy, 1Peter 1:13-16. Second, the Lord identified Himself as True. John the Baptist testified that Jesus was full of grace and truth, John 1:14. Jesus said that He was the way and the truth, John 14:6. He also has the keys of David.
The Lord holds other keys, such as:
- Key to the house of David, Isaiah 22:20-22
- The fear of the Lord is the key to a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, Isaiah 33:5-6
- The key of knowledge, Luke 11:46-52
- Keys of the kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 16:15-20
- The keys of death and Hades, Revelation 1:17-18
- Key to the shaft of the Abyss, Revelation 9:1-3
- Key to the Abyss, Revelation 20:1-3
Having keys to something implies ownership, and here, the Lord owns all creation, Colossians 1:16. What the Lord opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. Paul asked for prayer to open opportunities to share the gospel, Colossians 4:2-6. God’s hand shut the door to the ark, separating Noah and his family from the worldwide judgment, Genesis 7:13-16. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.
The Lord Jesus Christ placed before the church of Philadelphia an open door that no one can shut. The notes that they have little strength, Zechariah 4:1-9, 2Cor 11:30, 12:7-10, but they kept His word and they did not deny His name. In addition to a source of persecution from the Babylon the Great, false religion, Revelation 17:5-6, the Lord identified another lethal source of persecution from those who claim to be Jews, but are of the synagogue of Satan. The Lord shows how these same people will fall at their feet and acknowledge that Christ loved the congregation of Philadelphia. The church of Smyrna was attacked by Jews also, Revelation 2:9. The believers in the church at Philadelphia kept the commandments of Christ, John 14:21, 1John 2:3-6, and they endured patiently, Galatians 5:22-24, Colossians 1:9-12. As a result, they will be kept from (not through) the hour of trial (the tribulation) that is coming upon the whole world to test them (Some apply this as a rapture verse for the church today, before the tribulation).
The Lord's commendation
In Revelation 3:8-10, the Lord reveals to this church that He knows their works, and that He had placed before them an open door that no one can shut. The church of Philadelphia had little strength, Zechariah 4:1-9, 2Corinthians 11:30, 2Corinthians 12:7-10, but relied on Christ for their strength. The Lord commended this church that they had kept His word and had not denied His name.
The Lord also judges those who claim to be Jews, but in the eyes of the Lord, they are of the synagogue of Satan. This group of people must have and will afflict the members of this church and the Philadelphia church greatly. But the Lord now proclaims that they will fall at the feet of this church's members and acknowledge that Christ loved the congregation of Philadelphia. These false Jews are the same group of individuals that the Lord referred to when He spoke to the church of Smyrna, Revelation 2:9.
The Lord again commended this church for they had kept the commandments of Christ, John 14:21, 1John 2:3-6, and had endured patiently, Galatians 5:22-24, Colossians 1:9-12. As a result of these things, the Lord promised them that they would be kept from (not through) the hour of trial (the tribulation) that is coming upon the whole world to test them (those left behind following the snatching away (rapture) of the church before the tribulation. The Lord will divinely intervene on their behalf to deliver them through this hour of temptation upon the whole world. Scripture is full of God’s intervention for His people, such as the number of times David was allowed to escape being arrested by King Saul.
The Lord's condemnation
The Philadelphia church is the second of two churches for which the Lord gives no word of correction or condemnation. This church, in the face of those who persecuted them and who thought they were doing the work of God, is faithful in all things and is given a great assurance as they rest in the Lord’s promises and take refuge in him. They will be delivered from the great tribulation, Daniel 12:1, as shown on this website, discussing the Background on church history and the churches.
The Lord's counsel
In Revelation 3:11, the Lord makes two comments: that He is coming soon, and He encourages them to hold on to what they have, which are not material but spiritual things, so that no one can take their crown. This is similar to the time of Esther, who recognized the fate of her people due to a command and decree of the king, crafted by Haman, Esther 4:7. Esther faced death if she entered into the presence of the king in his inner court without being summoned, still her uncle Mordecai told her that who knew that she had come into her place in the kingdom for such a time as this, Esther 4:14. If she had not acted for her people, God would raise another to take her place. Esther would lose her place of recognition among the heroes of Israel. The same is true for the overcomers in the Philadelphia church. They received praise from the Lord for keeping His word and not denying His name. The Lord opened doors for their ministry, and in the face of great danger from the ecumenical church, Revelation 17:5-6, and the “synagogue of Satan,” Revelation 3:9, they were to continue their faithful work for Him. The crowns for their work were already theirs, unless they lost faith and denied the Lord, in which case it would go to another. Also, “The Lord is coming soon” is not the snatching away (rapture). This refers to His second coming on the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4. God will provision and deliver these overcomers, Daniel 12:1, in the Philadelphia church during the tribulation. They are told to hide themselves in their homes, Isaiah 26:20-21.
There are several crowns spoken of in the scripture:
- A crown of love and compassion, Psalms 103:1-4
- A crown of salvation, Psalms 149:1-4
- A crown of splendor, Proverbs 4:7-9
- A crown that lasts eternally for those saved, 1Corinthians 9:22-25
- A crown of life, James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, for those who persevere under trial and who love Him
- A crown of glory, 1Peter 5:1-4, for the elders who are shepherds of God's flock under their care
- A crown of righteousness, 2Timothy 4:8, which is for those who long for His appearing (those who lived, and are living in the dispensation of grace
He who has an ear ...
In Revelation 3:12-13, the Lord makes several promises to the overcomers in the church of Philadelphia and to all the churches:
- A pillar will be dedicated to them in God’s temple
- They will never have to leave, but will remain in His temple
- They have written on them:
- The name of God written on them
- The name of the city of God, which is the new Jerusalem
- The Lord’s new name written on them
These promises to these overcomers, John 16:33, 1John 5:3-5, Revelation 21:6-8, are beyond glorious. In light of what they will go through after the Body-of-Christ is snatched away (raptured) until the Lord returns after the great tribulation, these rewards are eternal and just wonderful! Each overcomer will have a pillar to their name in the temple of God, the new Jerusalem, Revelation 21:9-14; the pillars in the millennial temple will be named for the believers in the church of Philadelphia. Historically, in the temple Solomon built, two ornate pillars were placed on either side of the main temple’s entrance, 1Kings 7:21. The northside pillar was named Boaz, meaning “in him is strength.” Boaz was the picture of the kinsman redeemer. The second pillar to the south was named Jachin, which means “He will establish.” Jachin was the son of Simeon, the son of Jacob, Numbers 26:12. Jacob prophesied that Simeon would be scattered throughout Israel, Genesis 49:5-7. Putting Jachin’s name on a pillar established Simeon’s son as a new hope for them. Even the millennial temple there will be two pillars, but the number is not given, Ezekiel 40:49, which will last forever, Ezekiel 43:7, 9. The following is an artist’s view of the millennial temple revealed to Ezekiel, showing two pillars at the entrance to the Lord’s house.
In the Old Testament, when a servant wanted to remain with his master rather than be freed, a hole would be bored through his earlobe, indicating he was a servant for life to his master, Deuteronomy 15:17. However, the night Jesus was betrayed, following the departure of Judas Iscariot from the dinner group, the Lord told those in attendance that he no longer called them servants, but friends. There was no greater love than that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-16. For eternity future, rather than put a bore hole in the earlobe to show their eternal relation to Christ Jesus as a servant, the Lord writes these names on them to show their personal and eternal relationship with God, having positional authority in the kingdom of God.
A summary of the letter to the church of Philadelphia
| The Lord's statements | To the church of Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Christ's description | He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens |
| Commendation | Works, missions, little strength, kept my word, not denied my name |
| Condemnation | None |
| Counsel | Hold on to what you have to keep your crown |
| "He who overcomes ..." | I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God; and I will write upon 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 My new name |
Christ's description
In Revelation 3:14, the Lord is the word of the Amen. Amen means: Truly, certainly, or so be it. This is the same word in Hebrew, Greek, and English, but according to Dr. J. Vernon McGee, this is the only time this word is used as a proper name, which is the name of Christ, 2Corinthians 1:20, the Alpha and Omega, Revelation 1:8, Isaiah 65:16, Christ is the final word. He is also faithful, as seen in His total obedience to the Father, John 12:47-50, Revelation 1:1, a true witness, John 8:13-18, and the ruler of God’s creation, Colossians 1:15-20.
The Lord's commendation
In Revelation 3:15, there is no commendation given. This is completely the opposite to the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, which had only commendations from the Lord Jesus Christ, and no words of condemnation.
The Lord's condemnation
In Revelation 3:15-17, the Lord tells the church of Laodicea that they are neither hot nor cold. The Lord has no place for apathy, as seen in His response to the observation that they were either hot or cold, which is to repulse their behavior and lack of any commitment. They were self-deceived, thinking that they were rich, 2Timothy 3:1-5, in that they had acquired wealth and felt they did not require anything, equating material accumulation with spiritual righteousness; in other words, they were self-righteous (in contrast, they did not follow spiritual things as in John 16:12-15). The Lord judges that instead they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. In comparison, Christ knew the afflictions and poverty of Smyrna, but declared that they were rich! A parallel is the story that the Lord spoke of concerning the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man, who is never named in this story, concerned himself with the matters of this world, with no consideration for his spiritual welfare. Lazarus suffered much at the doorstep of the rich man. However, when both men died, Lazarus was found in the bosom of Abraham, whereas the rich man was in Hades, suffering.
The Lord's counsel
In Revelation 3:18-20, the counsel of the Lord is direct to the church of Laodicea; that they buy gold from the Lord that is refined in fire so that they will be rich, Isaiah 55:1, 6-9, 1Peter 1:3-7. They are also to buy white clothes to wear, which is the righteousness of Christ, Isaiah 1:18, Daniel 7:9-10 [the Father], Revelation 19:14, to cover their nakedness. They were to put salve on their eyes so that they could see, John 9:39-41. They were being rebuked and disciplined, 1Corinthians 11:27-32, Hebrews 12:5-11. Christ reveals Himself to John as the one standing at the door and knocking.
He who has an ear ...
In Revelation 3:21-22, the Lord concludes His letter to this church by saying that to him who overcomes, John 16:33, 1John 5:3-5, Revelation 21:6-8, that person will have the right to sit with the Lord on His throne, just as Christ sat down with His Father on His throne, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 7:21-23. This is a great honor, privilege, and glory in God’s kingdom to anyone granted this by God.
A summary of the letter to the church of Laodicea
| The Lord's statements | To the church of Laodicea |
|---|---|
| Christ's description | The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God |
| Commendation | None |
| Condemnation | You are lukewarm, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked |
| Counsel | Buy gold tried by fire and white raiment. Anoint your eyes. Be zealous and repent |
| "He who overcomes ..." | I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne |