Revelation

Chapter 3

Christ's Letters to Sardis-Philadelphia-Laodicea

Message to the Church in Sardis

• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας· Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι τὸ ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ
  • Notes
    • ° Interesting enough the meaning of the name Sardis is somewhat a mystery, it is like the name literally died at some point; it had a name but is dead as we will see...
      ° Some think it means prince of joy, others say dead worship, but there is not a single source to say this is what thename is rooted in to mean
      ° Jesus uses the title Himself "he that hat the seven Spirits of God, and seven stars"
      ° The seven Spirits of God sit before His throne
      
      Revelation 1:4 — John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
      
      ° The seven stars are in His hand and are the angels of the seven churches
      
      Revelation 1:20 — The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
      
      

    The Seven Fold Nature of the Holy Spirit

    • Isaiah 11:2 — And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
      
      
    1. The Spirit of the Lord:
       
       Judges 3:9 — And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
       Judges 3:10 — And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.
       
       Luke 4:18 — The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
       
       
    2. The Spirit of Wisdom:
       
       Exodus 28:3 — And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
       
       
    3. The Spirit of Understandng:
       
       Exodus 31:2 — See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
       Exodus 31:3 — And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
       
       
    4. The Spirit of Counsel: The israelites were constantly seeking outside counsel, not counsel from the LORD
       
       I Chronicles 10:13 — So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
       
       Isaiah 19:13 — The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
       
       Isaiah 30:1 — Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
       
       Hosea 4:12 — My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
       
       
    5. The Spirit of Might:
       
       Micah 3:7 — Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answere of God.
       Micah 3:8 — But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
       
       
    6. The Spirit of Knowledge:
       
       See →Exodus 31:2-5
       
       
    7. The Spirit of The Fear of the Lord:
       
       I Samuel 11:6 — And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
       I Samuel 11:7 — And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
       
       
• 2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
  
  • Greek
    • γίνου γρηγορῶν καὶ στήριξον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ μὲλλει ἀποθανεῖν οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας καὶ τήρει καὶ μετανόησον ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ ὡς κλέπτης καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σε
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα καὶ ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς ὅτι ἄξιοί εἰσιν
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ νικῶν οὕτος περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ἐξομολογήσομαι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ
• 6. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις

Message to the Church in Philadelphia

• 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;
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἅγιος ὁ ἀληθινός ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖδα τοῦ Δαβίδ, ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείει, καὶ κλείει καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίγει·
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα ἰδού, δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἀνεῳγμένην, καὶ οὐδεὶς δύναται κλεῖσαι αὐτήν ὅτι μικρὰν ἔχεις δύναμιν καὶ ἐτήρησάς μου τὸν λόγον καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου
• ↓9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say the are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
  
  • Greek
    • ἰδού, διδωμι ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τοῦ Σατανᾶ τῶν λεγόντων ἑαυτοὺς Ἰουδαίους εἶναι καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ ψεύδονται ἰδού, ποιήσω αὐτοὺς ἵνα ἥξωσιν καὶ προσκυνήσωσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου καὶ γνῶσιν ὅτι ἐγὼ ἠγάπησά σε
  • Notes
    • ° In the New Testament, philadelphia is the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren...let it continue! _MF-NCC
      
      
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ὅτι ἐτήρησας τὸν λόγον τῆς ὑπομονῆς μου κἀγώ σε τηρήσω ἐκ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦ τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ὅλης πειράσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
• 11. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
  
  • Greek
    • ἰδού, ἔρχομαι ταχύ· κράτει ὃ ἔχεις ἵνα μηδεὶς λάβῃ τὸν στέφανόν σου
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ νικῶν ποιήσω αὐτὸν στῦλον ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ θεοῦ μου καὶ ἔξω οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἔτι καὶ γράψω ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ μου καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως τοῦ θεοῦ μου τῆς καινῆς Ἰερουσαλήμ ἡ καταβαίνουσα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου καὶ τὸ ὄνομά μου τὸ καινόν
• ↓13. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις
  • Notes
    • See →Hebrews 13:2

Message to the Church in Laodicea

• 14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the begining of the creation of God;
  
  • Greek
    • Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐκκλησίας Λαοδικέων γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ Ἀμήν ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ·
• 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
  
  • Greek
    • Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός ὄφελον ψυχρὸς εἴης ἢ ζεστός
• 16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
  
  • Greek
    • οὕτως ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ καὶ οὔτε ψυχρός οὔτε ζεστὸς μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου
• 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:
  
  • Greek
    • ὅτι λέγεις ὅτι Πλούσιός εἰμι καὶ πεπλούτηκα καὶ οὐδενὸς χρείαν ἔχω καὶ οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ταλαίπωρος καὶ ἐλεεινὸς καὶ πτωχὸς καὶ τυφλὸς καὶ γυμνός
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • συμβουλεύω σοι ἀγοράσαι παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ χρυσίον πεπυρωμένον ἐκ πυρὸς ἵνα πλουτήσῃς καὶ ἱμάτια λευκὰ ἵνα περιβάλῃ καὶ μὴ φανερωθῇ ἡ αἰσχύνη τῆς γυμνότητός σου καὶ κολλούριον ἐγχρῖσον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου ἵνα βλέπῃς
• 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
  
  • Greek
    • ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω· ζήλωσον οὖν καὶ μετανόησον
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ἰδού, ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ κρούω· ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ
• 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.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ νικῶν δώσω αὐτῷ καθίσαι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ μου ὡς κἀγὼ ἐνίκησα καὶ ἐκάθισα μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ αὐτοῦ
• 22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
  
  • Greek
    • ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις