Revelation 3
Here in chapter 3 Jesus continues to speak to the churches of Asia…in chapter 2 he spoke to 4 of the 7 churches.
- Here in this chapter He is going to speak to the remaining 3…but the reality is, in speaking to these churches he is actually speaking to all of “the church.”
Judgment is coming on the Roman Empire as a result of Rome’s ungodliness, wickedness, and persecution of God’s people.
- The saints have called out to God for vindication.
- As a result, God is going to bring the Roman Empire
But before that judgment comes Christ has some things to say to His people.
- The reality is, when this judgment comes some of these people may die in this coming judgment…and the last thing they need is to be found living in a way that would cause them to be eternally separated from God.
- Also, during times of hardship and tribulation the church must be the “light” God wants them to be in order to “save” those who turn to God in this time of trial.
- So Christ speaks to these churches…these Christians to warn them of their need to repent….or to encourage them to continue on in their faith just as they have been.
So, let’s look at what Christ says to these remaining three churches…and hopefully we individually as well as collectively will learn these valuable lessons.
- Look at verse 1. And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this:
- Again, 7 in this book indicates “totality…or completeness.”
- And what this statement did was reassure these Christians that the One from who they were receiving these words was “totally” in agreement with God.
- And He had total authority.
Now, look what Christ says to this church at Sardis. He says:
‘I know your deeds…
- This was a working church!
- They weren’t just sitting by idly doing nothing.
- In fact, look what He says next.
He says: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive…”
- On the outside these people looked so good.
- People looked at them and said, “Wow, they are really doing great.”
- They had a reputation for being “alive.”
But look at the reality. He says; “…you have a name that you are alive…but you are dead.”
- Why does He say they were dead?
- What were they doing or not doing?
- Notice…all the other churches before this one He has commended them on some things first.
- But this time He starts out with the criticism first.
- Why? Perhaps because this fault overshadowed all the positive.
- It made the positive hard to notice.
Why does He tell them that they are dead? Well, look at verse 2:
2’Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
These brethren were great starters but they were lousy finishers.
- They would start something….they had great vision…but they had no drive…no commitment.
- They wouldn’t make the sacrifices that were needed to keep things going.
- They talked good…and they dreamed good…but when it came to doing what they said and what they dreamed…they fell way short.
I t may be that this church took a stand and said, “We are going to be a light to our community…and we are going to preach Christ to all here in Sardis…and we are going to make sure that everyone in town comes in contact with some one from the church.
- And they would get this good start…and everyone would get all excited and fired up and ready to go.
- But before long…the plan was dead…and nothing was being done.
- But then before long they would come up with something else…and the same thing would happen again.
And it wasn’t like they had all these problems and tribulations to stop them.
- If you will notice, there is nothing here to indicate that they were being persecuted like some of the other churches.
- Nothing to indicate that they had people in their midst who were stirring up trouble.
- These people apparently just didn’t have any drive.
- No commitment.
- Something would get started and the people would simply just let it die.
Look at verse 3 ‘Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, (no warning) and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.
But now notice verse 4 ‘But you have a few (not many…a few who are not dead. These are the unknown heroes.)
- I have heard this statement many times…and there have been times when I have seen people get upset over this statement.
- It is the statement that “20 % of the people in a congregation do 80% of the work.”
- That may be a pretty good description of what is going on here in Sardis.
- They only have a few who are trying to do what they are supposed to do.
He says, ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white;
- This is a concept that we need to all understand.
- Judgment will be on an individual basis.
- That means you can belong to a corrupt congregation…and still be saved as a result of your continued faith.
But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. 5’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. 6’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
I believe that what He says to the church here in Sardis is a warning to all of us to be as actively involved in the work of the church as we can be so that what we set out to do for the Lord does not turn out to be a dismal…embarrassing failure.
Now, verse 7. He now speaks to the church at Philadelphia. Look at verse 7:
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David (notice the three terms…this once again implies His deity and notice He is “holy, true, and king. This means He is absolute in purity, dependability, and sovereignty.)
He says: 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(His decrees are irreversible), says this: 8’I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut…”
- “Open door” here speaks of opportunity…a door through which a goal can be achieved.
- God opened this door for them and they stepped through it.
- He may have reference here to evangelism….they were given this opportunity to evangelize the region around them.
He says: Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power(may be a reference to them being few in numbers, or low in economic abilities, or low in social status…no political sway).
He says: Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have little power and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9’Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not but lie(not everyone is who they say they are),
–behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
- This would be an insult to any one who had exalted themselves over these saints.
- So He is saying here that He is going to totally humble these so called “Jews” while He lifts up His faithful followers.
Look what He says: 10’Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (When this testing comes He is going to “test” people to see where they stand…and He is going to test some of these Christians to see if they remain faithful.)
11’I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. (There are no condemnations here for this congregation but still, they could lose their crown if they do not “hold fast.”)
12’He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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. 13’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
- All of these terms speak of an eternal relationship with God.
- These people have eternal life if they will just “hold fast.”
Now, the church at Laodicea…starting in verse 14. “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot.
- These people had no commitment to anything.
- They were on one minute and off the next.
- And Christ says here that He would rather they had a commitment to Satan than not have one at all.
- I think the reason he says that is because their example would be so confusing…so misleading to those watching them.
16’So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17’Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,”
- Notice, their words are what gets them in trouble.
- They are bragging about their wealth…and their lack of need.
- Apparently they have spent a good deal of time collecting worldly riches.
- In came the dollar and out went Jesus!
17’Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,”and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
- How many times have you seen someone who just knew that money and wealth could solve all their problems?
- All it did for these saints is blind them to their real miserable condition.
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
- These brethren need to give all they had if necessary to obtain the true riches from God.
- They had spent too much time obtaining the worldly riches of Rome…and therefore they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”
- And they would be better off being poverty stricken in this life and rich in heaven.
19’Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;
- He still loves them!
- And notice how He shows His love to them.
- By reproof and discipline.
Sometimes parents think they can’t discipline their kids because they love them too much.
- The truth is, the opposite is true.
- By disciplining your kids you are showing them just how much you do love them.
- When you let someone do those things that are harmful to them and you don’t stop them…there is no love in that.
- But when you stop them…when you discipline them…that says “I love you.”
19’Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20’Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
- These words are written to people such as each one of you.
- He wants to come in…He is knocking…will you open the door?
21’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.
- Jesus had faced Rome and was home with God.
- Here He promises these Christians they same result if they over come.
22’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
- Hopefully, we have heard.
If we want to be a church that is pleasing to our Lord then we must be a church that is:
- Committed to our task. We finish what we start.
- We must step through the doors that God opens for us.
- And we need to be fully committed to Christ and the true riches He affords.