Revelation 3 - Wake Up! Hold On!

 1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] 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.

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.

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.”

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
2. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit

Observation Questions

What are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars to the angel of the church in Sardis? (verse 1-6)
What reputation did the church in Sardis have? (verse 1)
Why was the church in Sardis told to wake up? (verse 2)
What was the church told to remember? (verse 3)
What was the church to do? (verse 3)
If the church does not wake up, who will come like a thief? (verse 1-3)
What will those in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes do? (verse 4)
Who's name will be acknowledged before our Father and his angels? (verse 5)

Who's words are being spoken to the angel of the church in Philadelphia? (verse 7)
Can anyone open what the one who is holy and true shuts? (verse 7)
Can anyone shut what the one who is holy and true opens? (verse 7)
What has been placed in verse 8?
What has not been denied in verse 8?
Who are the people who claim to be Jews but are not? (verse 9)
What is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth? (verse 10)
What is the reason to hold on to what you have? (verse 11)
What is said about the one who is victorious in verse 12? 

Who is the Amen? (verse 14)
What does it mean to be lukewarm? (verse 16)
What is the difference between what is said and what is in verse 17?
What counsel is given in verse 18?
Who does the Amen rebuke and discipline? (verse 19)
What will the Amen do if anyone hears the Amen's voice & opens the door? (verse 20)

What is said about the one who is victorious in verse 21? 

Who is to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? (verse 6, 13, & 22)

Interpretation

What does this chapter say about God?
What does it mean to be lukewarm? 


Thoughts

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. 
 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.

 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. 

So be earnest and repent.