The Dead Church

“And to the [a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who (A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [b]God. (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (C)repent. (D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. [c]You have (F)a few names [d]even in Sardis who have not (G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (H)in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes (I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (J)blot out his name from the (K)Book of Life; but (L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

(M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

“And to the [e]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says (N)He who is holy, (O)He who is true, (P)“He who has the key of David, (Q)He who opens and no one shuts, and (R)shuts and no one opens”: (S)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (T)an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make (U)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (V)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, (W)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (X)the whole world, to test those who dwell (Y)on the earth. 11 [h]Behold, (Z)I am coming quickly! (AA)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (AB)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (AC)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (AD)go out no more. (AE)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (AF)New Jerusalem, which (AG)comes down out of heaven from My God. (AH)And I will write on him My new name.

13 (AI)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the [i]angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write,

(AJ)‘These things says the Amen, (AK)the Faithful and True Witness, (AL)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (AM)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (AN)‘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 (AO)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (AP)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (AQ)As many as I love, I rebuke and (AR)chasten.[l] Therefore be [m]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (AS)I stand at the door and knock. (AT)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (AU)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (AV)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 (AW)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
  3. Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
  4. Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
  5. Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
  6. Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
  7. Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
  8. Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
  9. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
  10. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
  11. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
  12. Revelation 3:19 discipline
  13. Revelation 3:19 eager

Message to Sardis

“To the angel of the church in (A)Sardis write:

He who has [a](B)the seven spirits of God and (C)the seven stars, says this: ‘(D)I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are (E)dead. Be constantly alert, 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. So (F)remember [b]what you have received and heard; and [c]keep it, and (G)repent. Then if you are not alert, (H)I will come (I)like a thief, and you will not know at (J)what hour I will come to you. But you have a few [d](K)people in (L)Sardis who have not (M)soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me (N)in white, for they are worthy. (O)The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in (P)white garments; and I will not (Q)erase his name from the book of life, and (R)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (S)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Philadelphia

“And to the angel of the church in (T)Philadelphia write:

(U)He who is holy, (V)who is true, who has (W)the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

(X)I know your [e]deeds. Behold, I have put before you (Y)an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and (Z)have not denied My name. Behold, I [f]will make those of (AA)the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them (AB)come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that (AC)I have loved you. 10 Because you have (AD)kept (AE)My [g]word of perseverance, (AF)I also will keep you from the hour of the [h](AG)testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole [i](AH)world, to [j]test (AI)those who live on the earth. 11 (AJ)I am coming quickly; (AK)hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your (AL)crown. 12 (AM)The one who overcomes, I will make him a (AN)pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the (AO)name of My God, and (AP)the name of the city of My God, (AQ)the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My (AR)new name. 13 (AS)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in (AT)Laodicea write:

(AU)The Amen, (AV)the faithful and true Witness, (AW)the [k]Origin of the creation of God, says this:

15 (AX)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; (AY)I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “(AZ)I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to (BA)buy from Me (BB)gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and (BC)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and (BD)the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 (BE)Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and (BF)repent. 20 Behold, I stand (BG)at the door and (BH)knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (BI)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 (BJ)The one who overcomes, I will grant to him (BK)to sit with Me on My throne, as (BL)I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 (BM)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  2. Revelation 3:3 Lit how
  3. Revelation 3:3 Or follow
  4. Revelation 3:4 Lit names
  5. Revelation 3:8 Or deeds (behold...shut), that you have
  6. Revelation 3:9 Lit give
  7. Revelation 3:10 Or instruction
  8. Revelation 3:10 Or temptation
  9. Revelation 3:10 Lit inhabited earth
  10. Revelation 3:10 Or tempt
  11. Revelation 3:14 Or Beginning; i.e., Originator