Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
REVELATION 3
To the Church in Sardis
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Application Notes
3:1 The wealthy city of Sardis was actually in two locations. The older section of the city was on a mountain, and when its population outgrew that spot, a newer section was built in the valley below.
3:1 The "seven spirits of God" is another name for the Holy Spirit. The seven stars are the messengers, or leaders, of the churches (see the second note on 2:1).
3:1 The problem in the Sardis church was not heresy but spiritual deadness. In spite of its reputation for being active, Sardis was infested with sin. Its deeds were evil, and its clothes soiled. The Spirit has no words of commendation for this church that looked good on the outside but was corrupt on the inside.
Even though Christ called Sardis a dead church, he also affirmed the handful of people who were faithful believers. Christ loves to defeat death. If you find yourself in a dead church, make sure you preserve your own faithfulness. Ask God to intervene. Ask God to help you find other faithful followers of Jesus, and pray together for an awakening of your church.
3:3 The church in Sardis was urged to go back to what they had first heard and believed, to return to the basics of the faith. To avoid the mistakes of Sardis, we need to grow in our knowledge of the Lord and deepen our understanding through careful study of God's Word. No matter how much we learn, however, we must never abandon the foundational truths of our faith. No new truth from God will ever contradict these core biblical teachings.
This church was also told to wake up. Their wealth and comfort had lulled them to sleep. Their self-satisfaction had caused them to die spiritually. Not only had they wandered from the apostles' teaching, but they were also no longer growing in faith or evangelism. They lacked compassionate service to others and had no unity or love. Are you watchful and alert? If God has given you a place of responsibility to teach, lead, or serve, use that position to encourage those around you to be spiritually prepared and morally awake.
3:5 To be "dressed in white" means to be set apart for God and made pure. Christ promises future honour and eternal life to those who stand firm in their faith. The names of alt believers are registered in the book of life. This book symbolises God's knowledge of who belongs to him. All such people are guaranteed a listing in the book of life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ (see 20:12-15; Daniel 7:10; Luke 12:8-9).
3:7 Philadelphia was founded by the citizens of Pergamum. The community was built in a frontier area as a gateway to the central plateau of Asia Minor. Philadelphia's residents kept barbarians out of the region and brought in Greek culture and language. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 17, and aftershocks kept the people so worried that most of them lived outside the city limits.
3:7 The "key of David" represents Christ's authority to open the door into his future kingdom (see Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19). After the door is opened, no one can close it--salvation is assured. Once it is closed, no one can open it--judgment is certain.
3:10 Some believe that "I will also keep you from the hour of trial" means that in a future time of great tribulation, true believers will be spared. Others interpret this to mean that the church will go through the time of great tribulation and that God will keep them strong in the midst of it. Still others believe this refers to times of great distress in general, the church's suffering through the ages. We cannot interpret from this verse if or when or for how long Christians will experience "the hour of trial." Today, millions of Christians throughout the world are suffering and dying at the hands of godless tyrants. To them, the time of testing has already begun. Whenever Christians suffer, Christ promises eternal protection for them (see Luke 21:17-19).
3:11 Christians have differing gifts, abilities, experience, and maturity. God doesn't expect us all to be and act the same, but he does expect us to hold on to what we have, to persevere in using our resources for him. The Philadelphians were commended for their effort to obey (3:8) and encouraged to hold tightly to whatever spiritual strength they had. You may be a new believer and feel that your faith and spiritual strength are insignificant and weak. But use what you have to live for Christ, and God will commend you.
3:12 The new Jerusalem is the future dwelling place of the people of God (21:2). We will have new citizenship in God's future kingdom. Look forward to the time when everything will be new, pure, and secure.
3:15 Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, its manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye ointment. But the city had always had a problem with its water supply. At one time, an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool-only lukewarm. Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink.
The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm in faith and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't take a stand for anything; apathy and indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hard-hearted and self-satisfied. It was destroying itself. God won't use an apathetic, self-sufficient, nominal Christian. Don't settle for following God halfway. Let Christ fire up your faith and get you into the action.
3:17 Some believers falsely assume that having lots of money and possessions is a sign of God's spiritual blessing. Laodicea was a wealthy city, and the church was also wealthy. But what the Laodiceans could see and buy had become more valuable to them than what is unseen and eternal. Wealth, luxury, and ease can make people feel confident, satisfied, and complacent. But no matter how much you possess or how much money you make, you have nothing if you don't have a vital relationship with Christ. How does your current level of wealth affect your spiritual desire?
3:18 Laodicea was known for its great wealth, but Christ told the Laodiceans to buy their gold--real spiritual treasures--from him. They were proud of the city's cloth and dyeing industries, but Christ told them to buy white clothes-his righteousness-from him. They prided themselves on their precious eye ointment that healed many eye problems, but Christ told them to buy ointment for their eyes so they could see the truth (John 9:39). Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value is not in material possessions but in a right relationship with God. Their possessions and achievements were valueless compared with the everlasting future of Christ's kingdom.
3:19 God would discipline this lukewarm church unless they turned from their indifference toward him. God's purpose in discipline is not to punish us but to bring us back to him. Are you lukewarm in your devotion to God? God may discipline you to snap you out of your spiritual apathy, but his love for you is what moves him to do so. You can avoid God's discipline by drawing near to him again through confession. service. worship, and studying his Word. Just as the spark of love can be rekindled in marriage, the Holy Spirit can reignite our zeal for God when we allow him to work in our hearts.
3:20 The Laodicean church was complacent and rich. They felt selfsatisfied, but they didn't have Christ's presence among them. Christ knocked at the door of their hearts, but they were so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that they didn't notice that he was trying to enter. The pleasures of this world--money. security, material possessions--can be dangerous, because their temporary satisfaction can make us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction. If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God, and you won't need to worry about hearing his knock. letting him in will bring you lasting fulfilment
3:20 Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts because he wants to save us and have fellowship with us. He patiently and persistently waits to get through to us--not breaking and entering. but knocking. He allows us to decide whether to open our lives to him and welcome him in. Do you intentionally keep his life-changing presence and power on the other side of the door?
3:22 At the end of each letter to these churches. John records the words of Christ. urging the believers to listen and understand what had been written to them. Although a different message was addressed to each church, all the messages contain warnings and principles for everyone. Which letter speaks most directly to your church? Which has the greatest bearing on your personal spiritual condition at this time? How will you respond?
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)