In the first three letters, we have the promise to the overcomer after the command to hear what the Spirit says. In this letter and the last three, this command comes after the promise.
SARDIS, Revelation 3:1-6 (KJV) 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. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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. 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. 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. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The fifth letter was to Sardis. Again, the Lord found only a few good things.
Who was speaking?
Revelation 3:1 (KJV) 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 tho u livest, and art dead. - The Lord described Himself as the One who had the sevenfold Spirit of God, Revelation 1:4, and the seven stars. He therefore had control of the seven messengers and the churches were responsible to Him.
What was good?
Nothing, except a few things, which remained, Revelation 3:3 (KJV) 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, and the remnant, Revelation 3:4 (KJV) Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with m e in white: for they are worthy. We must remember that the Lord was speaking to a church--not to the world. He examined the church at Sardis and could not find anything that was good. How sad if the One we call our Lord examines our lives and finds nothing good!
What was bad?
As always, the Lord knew their works, but here He was not pleased with them. They had a name that they were alive but really were dead. They told people that they had been born again and had the new life in Christ, but they were still dead in their sins. Their works were not nearly good enough before God, Revelation 3:2 (KJV) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God; they had forgotten what they had learned, Revelation 3:3 (KJV) 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, and most of them had soiled their clothing by their sinful deeds, Revelation 3:4 (KJV) 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.
What to do
Revelation 3:2-3 (KJV) 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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. The Lord commanded the believers in Sardis to wake up and be watchful; to strengthen what little remained of their Christian testimony. They should remember what they had been taught, hold on to what truth they still had and repent of their evil deeds.
Warning
Revelation 3:3 (KJV) 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. If not He would suddenly come when they were not at all prepared. This coming is as a thief in the night and therefore not welcome. It is not the coming of the Lord for His own, which will be with the trumpet of God and very welcome indeed.
Message to the remnant
Revelation 3:4 (KJV) 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. Many people had their names on the church roll as if they were true Christians, but they were really dead. A few were separate from the majority; they were not made unclean by the sinful ways of the rest. They were worthy to walk with the Lord in white.
Promise to the victor
Revelation 3:5 (KJV) 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. The overcomer will wear white clothing, like the elders, Revelation 4:4 (KJV) And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty e lders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold; the martyrs, Revelation 6:11 (KJV) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled; many others, Revelation 7:9 (KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. The overcomer’s name would never be taken out of the book of life.
Finally the Lord would not be ashamed to confess the overcome’s name before God and the holy angels, Luke 9:26 (KJV) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels; Luke 12:8-9 (KJV) 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. In spite of our failings and mistakes, the Lord of glory will actually not be ashamed of His own before God and the holy angels of heaven. How wonderful is His grace!
Revelation 3:6 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. We should listen to what the Spirit said to all seven churches.
PHILADELPHIA, Revelation 3:7-13 (KJV) 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; 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. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 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. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This name means brotherly love and the Lord Jesus found nothing bad or wrong in this church. This does not mean that these people were perfect, for no one is. But on the whole, their lives and work were pleasing to the Lord. So Philadelphia was like Smyrna in this way. May this be our aim also!
Who was speaking?
Revelation 3:7 (KJV) 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; The Lord described Himself in five ways:
1. He is holy. This did not make the believers in Philadelphia afraid because they knew that they had been washed and freed from their sins, Revelation 1:5 (KJV) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
2. He is true, 1 John 5:20 (KJV) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. The Lord is called holy and true again in Revelation 6:10 (KJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?. There are false gods and false christs, and we will read about two of them in chapter 13.
3. He has the key of David. Christ as the Son of God is called the Root of David; as the Son of Man He is a descendant of David, Revelation 22:16, born to take the throne of Israel, Luke 1.32. In Revelation 1:18 He had the keys of death and Hades, the place of dead people, here He used the words spoken to Eliakim when God gave great authority in Isaiah's time, Isaiah 22.22. This Eliakim was in charge of the palace of King Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18.18, and was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. So Isaiah's words were really a prophecy concerning the Lord.
4. He can open doors and no one is able to close them. Paul had an open door to serve the Lord in Ephesus and Troas and he prayed for the same in Rome, 1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV) For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries; 2 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV) Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord; Colossians 4:3 (KJV) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.
5. Christ can also shut doors so that no one can open them. We should ask Him to open doors of service so we will always be where He wants us to be.
What was good?
Revelation 3:8 (KJV) 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. The Lord gave these believers an open door of service which no man or demon could shut. He did this because they had a little strength. This strength came from God who has all power, Revelation 5:12 (KJV) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing; Revelation 7:12 (KJV) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen; Revelation 11:17 (KJV) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned; Revelation 12:10 (KJV) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night; Revelation 19:1 (KJV) And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God; and is available to us through the Spirit, Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The believers in Philadelphia also kept God's Word, not like those in Pergamum and Thyatira, who accepted false teaching, Revelation 2:14 (KJV) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication, Revelation 15:8 (KJV) And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. In Corinth, some wanted to take the name of a great teacher, in Philadelphia we read that they did not deny the name of Christ, they confessed it, Hebrews 13:15 (KJV) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. In Pergamum, also they held to Christ's name and did not deny the faith. The overcomer in Pergamum would get a new secret name, Revelation 2:17 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it, and in Philadelphia Christ's new name, Revelation 3:12 (KJV) 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. Then the Lord gave two more special promises to Philadelphia. False Jews from Satan's synagogue had been trying to force their teaching on these believers, but they stood up against them. The Lord promised to show that He loved the Philadelphian believers by placing them near Himself when He rules on throne, and all enemies will have to bow before Him. These Jews had persecuted the church of Smyrna, and were also opposed to Christians, Acts 14:2,5 (KJV) 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them; 1 Thessalonians 2:15 (KJV) Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men. The Lord was pleased because the believers in Philadelphia patiently kept His Word, like John himself, Revelation 1:9 (KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and like the saints at Ephesus and Thyatira, Revelation 2:2-19 (KJV) 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. So He promised to keep them from the terrible time of trouble, which will come on the whole world. We will learn more about the Great Tribulation in chapters 4 through 18. Many believers even now are going through great trouble and some get killed. They will receive a crown of life, as those at Smyrna, Revelation 2:10 (KJV) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
What to do
Revelation 3:11 (KJV) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Another promise: The Lord would come quickly. He had warned other churches that He would come and judge them, Revelation 2:5-16 (KJV) 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth; Revelation 3:3 (KJV) 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., but here and in Revelation 2.25 it is a promise to those who love Him, 2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. So the Lord commanded the believers at Philadelphia to hold firmly to the truth, which they already had. If they gave up they might not get their rewards. A man or a woman might lead you into sin and so you would lose your crown. Rewards depend on faithful service right to the end.
Promise to the victor
Revelation 3:12 (KJV) 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. Anyone can overcome with the Spirit's help, and here the Lord added five special promises for the one who does.
(1) He would be a pillar in the temple of God. In Solomon's temple there were two pillars, 1 Kings 7:21 (KJV) And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz, and Peter and John and James (the Lord's brother) were considered to be pillars in the church in Jerusalem, Galatians 2:9 (KJV) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.. God made Jeremiah like an iron pillar, able to stand up against his enemies, Jeremiah 1:18 (KJV) For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.. Here the Lord meant that the victor would have a permanent place of honour.
(2) The victor would never leave God's house. This is like the special promise to the victor in Sardis; the Lord would not blot his name out of the book of life, Revelation 3:5 (KJV) 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.
(3) The Lord would write on him three names: the name of God, the Lord said my God (see Revelation 14:1 (KJV) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads, and Revelation 22:4 (KJV) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads);
(4) The name of God's city, the new Jerusalem, Hebrews 12:22 (KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; Revelation 21:2,10 (KJV) 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God; and
(5) The name of the Lord Jesus. The believers in Philadelphia had not denied His name, He will write it on them so all will know, and at His name every knee shall bow. The Lord will have another name, which no one else will know, Revelation 19:12 (KJV) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Revelation 3:13 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. It is good for believers today to be called Christians. We do not need any other name but His. This is what the Spirit is saying.
LAODICEA, Revelation 3:14-22 (KJV) 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: 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. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. 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. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This name means people of righteousness. In Laodicea there was great sin or bad doctrine as in Pergamum and Thyatira. Paul had never been to Laodicea, but he wrote a letter to this church, also asked that his epistle to the Colossians should be read to believers there, Colossians 2:1 (KJV) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; Colossians 4:16 (KJV) And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. Perhaps the Laodiceans had the same bad teaching as the Colossians, and both churches repented when they read Paul's letter. In John's time the Laodiceans may have been living up to their name, yet the Lord was ready to put them out. Why?
Who was speaking?
Revelation 3:14 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. The Lord Jesus called Himself the Amen. This word in the Testament meant faithful or true. People said amen after prayer to show that they agreed, 1 Chronicles 16:36 (KJV) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD; Nehemiah The same in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 14:16 (KJV) Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?; Revelation 5:14 (KJV) And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever, but the Lord often used it while on earth to show that He was saying was true, Matthew 5:18 (KJV) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled; John 1:51 (KJV) And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Here He used word to describe Himself, because He will fulfil all the promise God, 2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV) For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
He is also the faithful and true Witness:
1) the faithful Witness, Revelation 1:5 (KJV) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
2) holy and true, Revelation 3:7 (KJV) 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;
3) faithful and true, Revelation 19:11 (KJV) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Of course all His words are true, Revelation 21:5 (KJV) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
The Lord also called Himself the beginning of the creation God. This means that He is the Head of all creation, not that He was created first. The Lord Jesus is the Son of God, He was never created, He Himself created all things. But He came to this world and became a Man; being always God, He is the Head of all, Colossians 1:15-16 (KJV) 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. He is called the Beginning in Colossians 1:18 (KJV) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence, and called Himself by the same name in Revelation 21:6 (KJV) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely, and Revelation 22:13 (KJV) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.. also Revelation 1:5 (KJV) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
What was good?
Revelation 3:15 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. The Lord of course knew their works and found nothing to praise them for. Even so this church was not dead like Sardis.
What was bad?
The Laodiceans were neither cold nor hot. The Lord prophesied that the love of many would grow cold, Matthew 24:12 (KJV) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, but the Laodiceans had not fully given up everything. They should have been boiling hot, like Apollos, or the believers at Rome, Acts 18:25 (KJV) This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John; Romans 12:11 (KJV) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord, Revelation 3:16 (KJV) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. They were neither cold nor hot and the Lord was ready to throw them out, like something, which tastes very bad, Isaiah 19:14 (KJV) The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Revelation 3:17 (KJV) 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. They said everything was good, but the Lord knew differently. They thought they were rich, and had become richer, and were in need of nothing. The Lord knew they were sad, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Later great Babylon is a picture of the false church, and she thinks she is very rich, Revelation 17.4; Revelation 18.3. Two men in Luke thought they were rich, Luke 12.16; 16.19, but like the Laodiceans they were really poor. They may have thought that money would make them happy, but their hearts were very sad. They were not only poor; they were blind and could not see the glory of the Lord, John 9.41. They thought they could wear their fine clothes, but they needed white linen to stand before God.
What to do
Revelation 3.18 The Lord is called Counsellor, Isaiah 9.6, and here He advised the Laodiceans to buy three things: (1) pure gold. They could really be rich if they were willing to serve the Lord like the believers of Smyrna, Revelation 2.9. (2) white clothing. Then they would be able to walk with the Lord, Revelation 3.4, and not be ashamed like Adam and Eve, Genesis 3.7,10. (3) medicine for their eyes, so they could see wonderful things, Psalm 119.18.
Does the Lord Jesus sell these things?
The gift of eternal life is free, Isaiah 55.1, but we "buy" other blessings by using our time, days and years, to serve the Lord. It takes time to study the Bible in order to help in God's work, but the rewards are very great. Why did the Lord speak so strongly to Laodicea? Revelation 3:19 In Ephesians 5.25 we read that Christ loved the Church and we know that He loves all His people. Here He said He loved the Laodiceans even though He would have to throw them out if did not repent. The Lord loves all of us and so He tries to keep us from sin, Hebrews 12.6. The Lord also commanded the Laodiceans to be zealous, not lukewarm, and to repent, as He had told Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis.
Warning
The Lord warned Ephesus that He would remove their lamps if they did not repent. Here He said that He would throw them like something, which made Him feel sick.
Message to remnant
Revelation 3:20 The Lord was ready to reject the church of Laodicea, but there were a few left who would hear His voice, John 10.27, and respond to His personal call. He was knocking at the heart's door and promised to enter the life of anyone who would receive Him. These people were already believers but were filled with pride so satisfied with themselves that they had little room for Christ. Like the bridegroom He stands ready to enter and to bless, Song of Solomon 5.2. If they refuse, He is ready to judge, James 5.9.
The Lord Himself sometimes stands outside the door of our hearts. He waits for us to let Him come in for He will not come in if unwanted. He does not go where He is not welcome. Perhaps our hearts are too full of other things so that we do not have room in our lives for the Son of God. Eating together is a mark of fellowship. We can have fellowship with the Father and the Son, 1 John 1.3,7. The Lord could have fellowship with the worldly persons in Laodicea but He promises to eat supper together with any who repented. We can have fellowship with the Lord and with one another at the Lord's supper, 1 Corinthians 10.16, but Revelation 3.20 means daily, hourly, fellowship with our Saviour.
Promise to the victor
Revelation 3:21 This also speaks of fellowship. The Lord is outside the church of Laodicea, but some want to be with Him. The overcomer will share in the glory of Christ by sitting with Him on His throne. He get victory over His enemy, Revelation 5.5; Luke 10.18; John 16.33; I John 3.8. is seated on His Father's throne, Revelation 22.3; Hebrews 8.1. The Lord is now seated on His Father's throne because He gained victory over His enemy. Here He promised that the overcomer will share in His glory by sitting with Him on His throne. Such a promise is beyond our imagination. Think of sitting with the Son of God on His throne! No throne on earth could ever compare with that, not even Solomon's. But it is the One on the throne who gives it glory. What a promise! The Lord shares all that He has with His people, 1 Corinthians 3.21. We can share His inheritance and His glory, if we are willing to suffer with Him, Romans 8.17. He also shares with us the privilege of going out to the whole world with the Gospel, John 20.21.
ARE THE LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES FOR US TODAY?
We have just taken a look at the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. In these letters, which were written to the loveless, compromising, corrupt, lukewarm, persecuted, dead, and loving churches, Jesus gives very sobering exhortations. To five of the churches, He tells them to repent and to overcome or they will be thrown into fiery judgment. One is told to hold fast despite the terrible persecution it is about to experience. And one, the loving Church of Philadelphia, is promised that it will be “kept” from the hour of trial.
The context of these letters is the last three and a half years of this age—what is usually called the Great Tribulation. The idea that the Church will be present during the Great Tribulation and that God will allow only one group of believers to be “kept” is very uncomfortable for most Christians. For this reason, many pretrib proponents redefine the letters to the seven churches in a way that makes the Church of Philadelphia, which Jesus promises to “keep from the hour of temptation” (Revelation 3:10) apply to all believers in the modern day.
Proponents of this position generally use one of three arguments:
1. The seven churches are literal churches that were in existence at the time Revelation was written. This makes this passage irrelevant for us today.
2. The seven churches are not literal churches. They represent seven church “ages”, from the first century to the end of the last three and a half years of this age. Today’s church age is Philadelphia, making the other letters irrelevant for the Church today.
3. The seven churches are not literal churches. They represent six types of unbelieving (or false) churches and one true church, the Church of Philadelphia, making the other six letters irrelevant for us today.
The last two of these arguments fall back on dispensational theology, the bedrock on which the pretrib doctrine is laid. Dispensationalism is a manmade framework for interpreting the scriptures that, in practice, makes certain scriptures relevant only to specific time periods and not to believers as a whole. Dispensationalism, like its progenitor pretribulationism, relies on inference, not on direct scriptural support, and can introduce error into the otherwise plain meaning of the text. Needless to say, we do not hold a dispensational view.
Are They Literal Churches?
On the first point, it is true that these churches were seven actual churches at the time Revelation was written. This is not, however, a good argument for dismissing these letters for today. If we are going to make this assertion, we should throw out all of the New Testament books, since these were also letters written to specific individuals, groups, or churches at the time. Paul wrote “to the Corinthians”, for example, or “to the Galatians”. The books of 1 and 2 Timothy were written to this young man of God, preparing him for a leadership position. The gospel of Luke was written to encourage a believer named Theophilus. Our position is, while these seven churches were contemporary to John’s writing, they reflected or paralleled a larger fulfillment during the last three and a half years of this age.
Another reason we cannot excuse these passages is that this would require us to take them out of context. By definition, Revelation describes the events of the 70th Week. In the opening verses, Jesus makes this clear by telling John, to whom this vision is given, to record “things that must shortly take place”. This is biblical language for the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus is giving this revelation to John as a message to His children about the end times. This is followed by warnings and specific instructions to the seven churches, with very strong commandments to six of these churches to overcome and a promise to one that it will be kept from the hour of trial.
The natural questions that arise from these letters are, “Overcome what?” and “What trial?” Jesus immediately answers these questions by describing the seal judgments. If the Body of Christ will not undergo these trials, which is the straightforward reading of the text, what would be the point of Jesus’ message? Clearly, these letters were intended as an encouragement and warning to believers during this time of severe testing. Lifting these letters out of context and applying them only to first century churches is not merited.
On this point, we make the following observation:
John knew these churches. They were his contemporaries. In fact, he had been the pastor at Ephesus [the loveless church]. So in these letters, John was writing to his contemporaries, addressing specific problems that they were experiencing. However, these seven churches were also singled out because they accurately reflect the problems within Christendom at the end of the age. Therefore, this is a warning to professed Christendom inside the 70th Week. If we are actually approaching the end of the age, I can think of no body of truth that is more relevant to believers than the content of those letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3.
What About Church Ages?
The second argument in favor of removing the modern Church from the rebuke of these letters is made by making these letters refer, not to specific bodies of believers, but to seven “church ages”, during which the corporate church is said to embody each of these characteristics. In this teaching, all modernday believers comprise the Church of Philadelphia.
The seven “ages” are as follows:
1. Ephesus (Rev. 2:1–7): the loveless church at the end of the apostolic age, through the first century.
2. Smyrna (Rev. 2:8–11): the persecuted church beginning in the second century.
3. Pergamos (Rev. 2:12–17): the compromising church of imperial favor that reigned when the Emperor Constantine made Christianity the national religion in the third century.
4. Thyatira (Rev. 2:18–29): the corrupt church of the Roman Catholic papacy starting in the fourth century.
5. Sardis (Rev. 3:1–6): the dead church that spawned the Reformation beginning in 1500s.
6. Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7–13): the loving church of the “latter day outpouring” present today through the end of the age.
7. Laodicea (Rev. 3:14–22) the lukewarm church, which will be present through the end of the age.
While there are certainly interesting parallels between church history and these letters, these time periods were created to fit these passages, not the other way around. Revelation contains very concrete descriptions of people, places, and events, and Jesus tells us that its purpose is to prepare believers for the time of great trial and difficulty before His return. To suggest that these are church “ages” and not end-times churches requires the reader to abandon the normative reading of the text and switch to an allegorical one. Allegory can be a dangerous thing because it allows readers to interpret the passage in just about any way they please, which is exactly what pretrib scholars do.
This reading also creates the same problem described earlier: The context of Revelation is the 70th Week, so to suggest that only two of the seven churches described in these letters will actually enter the 70th Week takes the letters out of context.
Furthermore, the “church age” teaching creates a false picture of the Church today. If this interpretation is correct, and we are living in the age of the Church of Philadelphia, then the modern Church must be fundamentally characterized as loving, purified, and ready to be taken up into heaven. This is exactly the position taken by John Walvoord: “Eventually, as the scriptures 112 Renald Showers, There Really Is A Difference: A Comparison of Covenant and Dispensational Theology (Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1990). anticipate, He will present them [the Church] to Himself as a Bride which is spotless, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish. This purpose of God is in the process of being fulfilled” [The Return of the Lord, p. 21].
A realistic look, however, shows us that this is simply not the case. The Church is no more spotless or without blemish now than at any other time in church history. [It is interesting that scholars who take the “church age” position—that the entire body of believers making up the Body of Christ today also comprise the purified, sanctified Church of Philadelphia—will, in the same argument, point out that postmillennialism lost its momentum when the Church realized that human beings were not capable of ushering in the Millennium through their own efforts. It is ironic that these scholars are able to recognize the failings of humanity as a whole, but the frailty of the Body of Christ escapes notice. Either this, or we are forced to conclude that those who are not spotless or wrinkle-free at the beginning of the last three and a half years of the age are not truly saved, a conclusion that the Bible does not justify] The fundamental characteristics of the churches described by Jesus—loveless, persecuted, compromising, corrupt, dead, lukewarm, and loving—have been manifest in every stage of church history and in every church body since the ascension of Christ. As a whole, the Body of Christ is filled with love, faithfulness, and grace, but it is also filled with hypocrisy, compromise, and sin. As in every other time in church history, believers are at all levels of spiritual development. Some are walking in blessed fellowship with the Savior; others are babes in Christ, just taking their first steps. Some are lukewarm, not having truly submitted their hearts and wills to Jesus Christ; others are backslidden, struggling with their flesh. Corruption and false doctrine can be found even within the leadership of the Church. It is this falsehood that will allow the false church, the harlot of Babylon, to arise. In his book, A Different Gospel, D. R. McConnell discusses the danger of false teaching creeping into the Church today: “It is a strange curiosity that those Christians who are most adamant that ours is the generation that will see the Lord’s return—and the end-time deception and apostasy associated with His return—look for signs of this deception outside the church, in such conspiracies as the New Age movement, and in such cults as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Science. Admittedly, these movements pose potential threats to the church, but perhaps we would do better to look for the deception of the End Times where Jesus and the New Testament predicted it would occur: within the church, within groups that call themselves Christian but which actually preach a different gospel”.
The “church age” teaching also fails in its assessment of the Church of Laodicea, the lukewarm church, which dispensationalists teach will exist after the rapture. We highly doubt this will be a lukewarm body of believers. Rather, scripture teaches that those who are living during the last three and a half years of the age70th Week, under the persecution of the Antichrist, will be anything but lukewarm. Rather, they will be clinging fervently to their faith and to the promise of eternal salvation in Christ. [Many pretrib scholars identify the church of Laodicea as the apostate church of Revelation 17, the harlot of Babylon. This is made difficult, considering that the dispensational approach used to justify much of the pretrib position requires the Church to no longer be in existence during this period. Dispensationalism identifies those who come to Christ during this time as “tribulation saints” or “70th Week saints”, terms that are not used in the Bible. If the Church is no longer in existence, then the church of Laodicea is not really a church in the New Testament sense of the word. However, Jesus makes no distinction between the first six churches and this supposedly last, apostate end-times church. This is a reading that is entirely unsupported by the text.]
Six False Churches and One True Church?
The third attempt at dismissing these letters as not applying to the entire Body of Christ today is that they refer to six “false” churches and one true Church, the Church of Philadelphia. This approach doesn’t hold up any better than the others.
First, Jesus never said that these were false churches. In fact, the persecuted church is never told to repent, only to overcome, disqualifying it as a false church. And even among those told to repent, there are signs of spiritual life. The church at Ephesus (the loveless church), for example, is praised for its works of faith, patience, and sensitivity to false doctrine:
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary” (Rev. 2:2–3).
The church at Pergamos (the compromising church) is given similar praise:
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Rev. 2:13–14).
It is difficult to argue that these are false churches. Works, patience, and holding fast to Jesus’ name are characteristics of believers, even if they resist God’s teaching in other areas of their lives. Moreover, in Revelation 1:12–13, John sees the seven golden lampstands, which are symbolic of the testimony of believers, and Jesus, “one like the Son of Man”, standing in the midst of them. Jesus does not stand in the midst of false churches.
Second, the “six false churches and one true church” interpretation would once again place the entire Body of Christ in the Church of Philadelphia, which creates the false impression of the Church today: that all believers have kept His commandment to persevere and are walking in wisdom, truth, and love. As nice as this picture is, it is not true. A more accurate picture is the one portrayed in these letters: a Church body that is comprised of believers at all different levels in their spiritual walks. And like a classroom, in which only students who have maintained an “A” average all semester are exempt from the final exam, only the Church of Philadelphia, those believers who have achieved a level of spiritual maturity in Christ, will be protected (“kept”) during this final hour.
It should always be our hope and desire that, when Jesus comes, we will be found in the Church of Philadelphia. The letters to the churches should cause us to take a look at our own life. In particular, we should contemplate the loveless church. Contemplate, dear reader, how this church labored for the gospel, tested false apostles, and exhibited sensitivity to doctrine to the letter of the law without the accompanying compassion and love. Think of the many criticisms you had levied at churches or individuals for straying from the core of the gospel. Think of the many organizations you have condemned for allowing false doctrine or compromise to seep in. Think of the many individuals you have chastised for allowing persistent sin to remain in their lives. Ask yourself if your desire to encourage obedience in the Lord may have turned into intolerance—not of sin—but of people. Ponder if you have become so enthusiastic for testing false teachers and false doctrine that you, too, have lost your first love. The thought should chill you. Tthis concern must be a subject of prayer and meditation for all of us who are Christians.
And this is the heart, we believe, of Jesus’ message to the churches: that we would use them for reflection on our own relationships to Him. These warnings were given to believers—not to false churches—as red flags, highway billboard signs, red rocket flares to bring us back on track in case we have lost our way. To deny the relevance of these messages is to undermine one of the fundamental purposes for which they were given.
Why Isn’t the Word “Church” Used?
One of the common arguments for the pretribulation rapture is that the word “church” is not used after the fourth chapter of Revelation. This, pretrib supporters would have us believe, lends support to the argument that the rapture occurs prior to the opening of the seals. This form of debate is commonly called “arguing from absence” or “arguing from silence”, which means arguing from the lack of information rather than arguing against errors or flaws.
The fact that the word “church” is not used in the heart of the book only validates once again the fact that it will not be the church in general that undergoes Antichrist’s persecution. On the contrary, it will be the faithful remnant within the church [since the false professors will capitulate to his request to worship him and take the mark rather than face persecution and martyrdom] that will stand true to Christ during these difficult times.
It is also interesting and significant to note that John, the recorder of the book of Revelation, also penned the gospel of John and the epistle of 1 John. He doesn’t use the word “church” in either of those books. In addition, the word “church” is never used in the three classic rapture passages referred to by pretribulationists—1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53; or John 14:1–3. Also, except for general references in the first verses of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, neither of those two great prophetic books uses the word “church” either.
…When the real trouble begins, the “hard labor”, so to speak, the church in general will fall away from the faith—the apostasy—when most people’s love for Christ will grow cold. Therefore, it will not be the church in general that stands firm for Christ, but only the true believers (i.e. the saints, overcomers, bond-servants, elect of God—that will “endure to the end” through the difficult events detailed in the heart of the book of Revelation, before the great persecution by Antichrist is cut short by the events associated with the sign given in the sun, moon, and stars. For that reason, John uses the word “saint” to depict the genuine bond-servant of Christ, not the word “church”.
That is why the word “saint” is used 13 times in the heart of the book (see 5:8, 8:3–4, 11:18, 13:7, 10, 14:12, 16:6, 17:6, 18:20, 24, 19:8, 20:9), and the word “church” is avoided altogether.
In fact, the book of Revelation isn’t even addressed to the church in general, but to the true bond-servants of Christ. It is “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him [Christ] to show His bond-servants” (1:1). Revelation does, however, contain severe warnings to seven specific churches about what will happen to them when the adversity hits. But even then, in each instance, Christ separates those “who have ears to hear”—genuine bond-servants of Christ who listen carefully to what the Spirit is telling these churches— from the specific church that He is reprimanding.
