Revelation 3

1. Write this to the pastor of the church in Sardis: The One who has the seven spirits and the seven stars says this to you. I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead.

Some churches say that Jesus was not born of a virgin. They say He was not actually God. They say that the Bible is not the Word of God. These churches say they are Christian churches and do not even know that they are dead.

This reminds us of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. The people said it was too late but God showed Ezekiel that He could rebuild them and give them new life.

2. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger while you still have something left and before it dies completely. I have found that what you are doing are not [complete in the eyes of] God.

This church did not put their whole heart into the things of God. If you are in the Word and working closely with God, you can ask Him to use you and He will send people to you. As you walk through the troubles of life with people and point them to Christ, you will never be bored.

3. So do not forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. And you will not know when I will come.

How are we going to remember what we have heard? We can write notes to remind ourselves. We can ask the Lord to tell it to us again. Many Christians are not watching to see the signs of Jesus returning. We have to decide if God’s things are important or not.

4. But you have a few there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with Me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy.

Do you care if God sees something dirty when He looks at you?

5 – 6

He who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not take away his name from the book of life. I will say that he belongs to Me before My Father and before His angels. Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Here are some reasons that churches do not have the victory:

They think only of what God has done in the past. They do not like to change. Their leaders are not spiritually alert. They do not show young people how to walk with Christ. They do not reach out to the world. Just stay close to the church.

7. Write this to the pastor of the church in Philadelphia: The One who is holy and true says this to you. He holds the key of David. When He opens something, it cannot be closed. And when He closes something, it cannot be opened.

Keep your eyes open to watch for doors that God opens so that you can do something for him.

I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When He opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when He closes doors, no one will be able to open them. Isaiah 22:22

8. I have put an open door before you, and no one can close it. I know that you have a little strength. But you have followed my teaching. And you were not afraid to speak My name.

Do you open your own doors? If there is a door which a human being can close then that is not the door the Lord has opened for you.

9. Listen! There is a synagogue that belongs to Satan. Those in this synagogue say they are Jews, but they are liars. They are not true Jews. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that I have loved you.

The Jews are going to see that God loves the Gentiles also.

10 – 11

You have followed My teaching about not giving up. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world. This trouble will test those who live on earth. I am coming soon. Continue the way you are now. Then no one will take away your crown.

When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not see God’s anger. Christians will not be on the earth during the days of God’s anger called the tribulation.

For God has not prepared us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Luke 21:36

12 – 13

I will make the one who wins the victory a pillar in the temple of My God. He will never have to leave it. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God. This city is the new Jerusalem. It comes down out of heaven from My God. I will also write on him My new name. Every person who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

A pillar holds up a building. God can use us to hold His church together if we let Him. Some teachers say this new name is something like. “Jehovah Tsidkenu” which means the Lord is our righteousness.

14. Write this to the pastor of the church in Laodicea: The Amen is the One who is the faithful and true witness. He is the ruler of all that God has made. He says this to you:

Laodicea means, “the opinion of the people.” If we are wise we will read the Word to see what God thinks and not worry about what people think.

15 – 16

I know what you do. You are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold!
But you are only warm—not hot, not cold. So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.

These kind of people try to stay in the middle. They hope that this way they will stay out of trouble and keep everybody happy. This idea does not work when we are dealing with the things of God.

17. You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and do not need anything. But you do not know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

This church was saying that they have everything they need. These kind of people only ask for God’s help when they have an emergency. These people think that they are very wise and everybody else’s ideas are a waste of time. They think only of how they see themselves, and not how God sees them.

18 – 19

I advise you to buy gold from Me—gold made pure in fire. Then you can be truly rich. Buy from Me clothes that are white. Then you can cover your shameful nakedness. Buy from Me medicine to put on your eyes. Then you can truly see. I correct and punish those whom I love. So be eager to do right. Change your hearts and lives.

Here are some questions which can help a church to find out if they have eye problems:

When you have a spiritual problem do you hide it so that you will not be embarrassed?
What do you spend most of your time thinking about?
Do you compare your spiritual life with others?
Do you allow small sins in your life because they do not hurt anybody?

Do you do or say things that you do not want anybody to know about?

20. Here I am! I stand at the door [of the church] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him. And he will eat with Me.

Jesus has already said that He would not stay in a church that has no love. We see here a church that He has already left. He was once on the inside and He is knocking, and asking them to let Him back in.

21. “He who wins the victory will sit with Me on my throne. It was the same with Me. I won the victory and sat down with my Father on His throne.

No matter what the problem is, the Lord will show us the solution if we give it all to Him. Jesus turned everything over to the Father as an example to us.

22. Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
You listen very closely to the things you are interested in. It should be a red flag to you when you are not interested in what God has to say.