CHAPTER THREE
This chapter completes the messages to the seven churches in Asia. The format is the same as the
previous chapter: the Lord Jesus describes the existing problems in the churches, mentions things
of worthiness and gives them recommendations for improvement.
I love the chapter's closing statement. It ends in simplicity, yet greatness, as Jesus gives this
invitation: "...behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Jesus Christ is the door and the
way. Entrance to heaven is provided only through Him as a result of His finished work at
Calvary. Praise God! Our work is to believe in His work. This is not to say that Christians have
no task to do other than intellectual assent to Jesus as Savior of the world. However, a
Christian's work (obedience to God and ministry to others) will follow belief in Christ, not
precede it. In other words, Christian work is an outgrowth of a believing heart. I emphasize this
because man has a problem remembering that salvation originates in God, not himself.
Dead Church
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven
Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are
alive, and yet you are dead.
2 'Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have
not found your works perfect before God.
3 'Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore
if you will not watch, I shall come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I
shall come upon you.
4 'You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they
shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 'He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life; but 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.'
The Faithful Church
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy,
He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts
and no one opens".
8 'I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for
you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 'Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not,
but lieindeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have
loved you.
10 'Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of
trial which shall come upon all the world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 'Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one take your crown.
12 He who also overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall
go out no more. And I will write on 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 I will
write on him My new name.
13 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
The Lukewarm Church
14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen,
the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.
16 'So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spew you out of My
mouth.
17 'Because you say: I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing--and do
not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--
18 'I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white
garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness not be revealed; and
anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous 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 dine with him, and he with Me.
21 'To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"