Revelation 3

1 “To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly of believers] in Sardis [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words of the One who holds [possesses and controls] the seven Spirits of God [the divine Spirit, the source of life] and the seven stars. I know [am fully aware of] your deeds [works, actions]; you have a reputation [a name, a character] for being alive [spiritually vibrant, full of life], yet you are dead [spiritually lifeless, without vitality]. word study 2 Wake up [be watchful, become aware of your spiritual need] and strengthen [establish, set firmly in place] what remains [the rest, the remaining ones], which was about to die [ready to die, near to death]; for I have found [discovered, not found perfected] your deeds [works, acts] incomplete [not perfected, not fulfilled] in the sight of My God [before my God, in the presence of the one true deity]. word study 3 Remember [keep in mind, be mindful of], then, what you have received [taken, accepted] and heard [listened to, understood]. Keep [hold fast, observe] it and repent [change your mind, turn away from sin]. If you do not wake up [watch, be alert], I will come [arrive, be present] like a thief [unexpectedly, without warning], and you will not know [be unaware of, ignorant of] the hour [specific time, moment] when I will come [arrive, be present] upon [to, against] you. word study 4 But you do have a few [a small, yet significant number] people in Sardis [a city in Asia Minor, spiritually complacent] who have not soiled [defiled, spiritually stained] their garments [clothing], and because they are worthy [deserving, morally upright], they will walk [live, follow] with Me [in close fellowship, as a disciple] in white [pure, clean]. word study 5 Like them, he who overcomes [overcomes by faith, conquers] will be dressed [clothed, arrayed] in white [pure, clean]. And I will never [under any circumstances] blot out [erase, remove] his name [identity, character] from the Book of Life [the record of the redeemed], but I will confess [acknowledge, profess] his name [reputation, authority] before My Father [the heavenly Father, God] and His angels [messengers, heavenly beings]. word study 6 He who has [possesses, holds] an ear [the ability to hear and understand], let him hear [listen, obey] what the Spirit [the vital principle] says [speaks, declares] to the churches [assemblies, communities of believers]. word study 7 To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly of believers] in Philadelphia [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words of the One who is holy [set apart, sacred] and true [faithful, genuine], who holds the key [symbol of authority] of David [the king of Israel]. What He opens [makes accessible, unlocks] no one can shut [close, lock], and what He shuts [closes, locks] no one can open [make accessible, unlock]. word study 8 I know your deeds [works, accomplishments]. See, I have placed before you an open door [a door opened, a new opportunity], which no one [none, nobody] can shut [close, block]. For you have only a little strength [power, ability], yet you have kept My word [My message, My command] and have not denied [rejected, refused] My name [My character, My authority]. word study 9 Look at those who belong to the synagogue [gathering, assembly] of Satan [the Adversary, adversary], who claim to be Jews [descendants of Judah, Jewish by birth] but are liars [deceivers, false] instead. I will make them come and bow down [worship, prostrate themselves] at your feet, and they will know [understand, recognize] that I love [have affection for, esteem] you. word study 10 Because you have kept [observed, obeyed] My command [word, instruction] to persevere [endure patiently, remain faithful], I will also keep [protect, guard] you from the hour [time, season] of testing [trial, temptation] that is about to come [approach, arrive] upon the whole [entire, all] world [inhabited earth, creation], to test [examine, prove] those who dwell [reside, live] on the earth [land, ground]. word study 11 I am coming soon [quickly, without delay]. Hold fast [firmly, with strength] to what you have [possess, hold as a treasure], so that no one [nothing, no person] will take [receive, seize] your crown [wreath of honor, symbol of victory]. word study 12 The one who overcomes [conquers, is victorious] I will make a pillar [a support, a column] in the temple [the sacred place of worship] of My God [the one true deity], and he will never again leave [go out, depart] it. Upon him I will write the name [the character, authority] of My God, and the name of the city [the town, the community] of My God (the new [fresh, renewed] Jerusalem [the city of peace] that comes down [descends, falls] out of heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm] from My God), and My new [renewed, transformed] name. word study 13 He who [has the ability to understand] has an ear [the ability to hear and understand], let him hear [listen carefully and obey] what the Spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition of God] says [speaks and reveals] to the churches [assemblies, gatherings of believers]. word study 14 To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly, community of believers] in Laodicea [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words [testimonies, declarations] of the Amen [the faithful and trustworthy One], the faithful [reliable, trustworthy] and true [genuine, authentic] Witness [one who sees and testifies], the Originator [beginning, source] of God’s [the supreme Creator’s] creation [the act of bringing into existence, the thing created]. word study 15 I know [am intimately aware of] your deeds [works, actions]; you are neither [completely lacking] cold [spiritually apathetic] nor hot [zealously devoted]. How I wish [it would be best if] you were one or [either] the other [completely committed]! word study 16 So because you are [not one thing or the other] lukewarm—neither [extremely] hot [zealous, passionate] nor [spiritually] cold [apathetic, unresponsive]—I am about to [reject, spew out] vomit you out of My mouth! word study 17 You say, ‘I am [spiritually] rich; I have grown [increased with goods, become wealthy] wealthy and need [have requirement of] nothing.’ But you do not realize [perceive, see] that you are [truly, in reality] wretched [miserable], pitiful [miserable], poor [lacking], blind [without spiritual sight], and naked [without spiritual covering]. word study 18 I counsel [advise, guide] you to buy from Me gold [precious, refined metal] refined by fire [purified, tested] so that you may become rich [spiritually wealthy, prosperous], white garments [pure, spotless clothing] so that you may be clothed [covered, adorned] and your shameful nakedness [exposed, vulnerable state] not exposed, and salve [healing ointment, eye salve] to anoint your eyes [to rub in, to apply] so that you may see [perceive, understand]. word study 19 Those [as many as] I love [with strong affection], I rebuke [correct] and discipline [instruct]. Therefore [then] be earnest [zealous] and repent [change your mind, about sin]. word study 20 Behold [see, perceive, attend to], I stand [remain, am present] at the door [entrance, opportunity] and knock [rap, strike]. If anyone [a person, someone] hears [listens to, obeys] My voice [sound, utterance] and opens [makes accessible, unlocks] the door, I will come in [enter, go into] and dine [eat, share a meal] with him, and he with [together with, in fellowship with] Me. word study 21 To the one who overcomes [conquers, is victorious], I will grant [bestow, give] the right to sit [dwell, reside] with Me [in My presence, beside Me] on My throne [seat of authority, royal throne], just as I overcame [subdued, triumphed] and sat down [took My seat, was seated] with My Father [the heavenly Father, God] on His throne [throne of heaven, divine throne]. word study 22 He who has [possesses, is given] an ear [the ability to hear and understand], let him hear [listen carefully, obey] what the Spirit [the divine breath] says [speaks, declares] to the churches [assemblies, communities of believers].” word study