Revelation 3
Letter to Sardis
1“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.
3Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.
4Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
5He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Letter to Philadelphia
7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.
9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.
12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. 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 my own new name.
13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Letter to Laodicea
14“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:
15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.
16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.
21He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
Christ delivers His final three letters to the churches, addressing spiritual complacency, faithful endurance, and lukewarm commitment. The church in Sardis receives a stern warning about their spiritual deadness despite their reputation, while Philadelphia is commended for their faithfulness and promised protection. Laodicea faces the harshest rebuke for their self-satisfied lukewarmness, though Christ still offers restoration to those who respond to His call.
Context
These final three letters complete Christ's assessment of the seven churches, transitioning from local church concerns to the cosmic visions that will dominate the remainder of Revelation.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6Letter to SardisChrist warns the spiritually dead church to wake up and repent, though some faithful remnant will be rewarded.
- 7-13Letter to PhiladelphiaThe faithful church receives commendation and promises of an open door, protection from testing, and eternal security.
- 14-22Letter to LaodiceaChrist rebukes the lukewarm, self-satisfied church for their spiritual poverty and calls them to repentance and fellowship.
Letter to Sardis
3:1–3:6Jesus rebukes the church in Sardis for having a reputation of being alive while actually being spiritually dead. He calls them to wake up and repent, promising white garments and eternal recognition to the faithful few who overcome.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines his divine authority ("seven Spirits of God and seven stars") with promises of eternal life and renewal, contrasting his typical judgment-focused appearances elsewhere in Revelation.
Letter to Philadelphia
3:7–3:13Jesus commends the church in Philadelphia for their faithfulness and promises to protect them from coming trials and make them pillars in God's temple. He warns them to hold fast to what they have so no one takes their crown.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely promises to make faithful believers "pillars in the temple of my God" and write God's name upon them—the only temple imagery applied to individuals in Revelation's letters.
Letter to Laodicea
3:14–3:22Jesus rebukes the lukewarm church in Laodicea for their spiritual complacency and material pride, calling them to repentance. He offers intimate fellowship to those who respond and promises to share his throne with overcomers.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines commercial imagery ("buy from me gold refined by fire") with intimate fellowship ("I will come in and dine"), merging marketplace and meal table metaphors found nowhere else in Revelation.
Revelation 3:1
Revelation 2:1lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the…
Revelation 2:8lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these th…
Revelation 1:11lexicalsaying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,…
Revelation 1:20lexicalThe mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars…
Revelation 2:18lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet ar…
Revelation 3:3
Matthew 24:43lexicalBut know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have…
Revelation 16:15lexical“Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they…
Luke 12:39lexicalBut know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and no…
Revelation 2:5lexicalRemember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, an…
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 4:4lexicalAround the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, w…
Revelation 2:17lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the…
Acts 12:8lexicalThe angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow m…
Philippians 4:3lexicalYes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and th…
Revelation 19:13lexicalHe is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”
Revelation 3:6
Revelation 2:7lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the…
Revelation 2:11lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second d…
Revelation 2:29lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Revelation 2:17lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the…
Acts 11:22lexicalThe report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far…
Revelation 3:7
Revelation 2:18lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet ar…
Revelation 2:8lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these th…
Revelation 2:12lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
Revelation 2:1lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the…
Revelation 1:11lexicalsaying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,…
Revelation 3:8
Acts 5:23lexical“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one…
Luke 11:7lexicaland he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I ca…
Revelation 7:9lexicalAfter these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could count, out of every nation and of all trib…
John 17:12lexicalWhile I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is…
Mark 9:39lexicalBut Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak…
Revelation 3:9
Revelation 2:9lexical“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, a…
Galatians 1:20lexicalNow about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
Luke 8:41lexicalBehold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come int…
Acts 13:25lexicalAs John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me,…
Luke 16:15lexicalHe said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is…
Revelation 3:10
Acts 11:28lexicalOne of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, wh…
Acts 19:27lexicalNot only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis…
Revelation 12:9lexicalThe great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…
Revelation 17:8lexicalThe beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who d…
Luke 23:44lexicalIt was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Revelation 3:12
Revelation 2:17lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the…
Revelation 21:2lexicalI saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:1lexicalI saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
Acts 21:5lexicalWhen those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way…
Mark 1:45lexicalBut he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter…
Revelation 3:13
Revelation 2:17lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the…
Revelation 2:7lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the…
Revelation 2:11lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second d…
Revelation 2:29lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Acts 11:22lexicalThe report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far…
Revelation 3:14
Revelation 2:18lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet ar…
Revelation 2:8lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these th…
Revelation 2:12lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
Revelation 2:1lexical“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the…
Revelation 22:6lexicalHe said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to…
Revelation 3:18
Revelation 4:4lexicalAround the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, w…
Revelation 1:14lexicalHis head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
Revelation 3:20
Revelation 4:1lexicalAfter these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking w…
Luke 13:25lexicalWhen once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the…
Revelation 10:8lexicalThe voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the a…
Acts 5:23lexical“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one…
James 5:9lexicalDon’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.
Revelation 3:21
Revelation 20:4lexicalI saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for…
Matthew 20:23lexicalHe said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on…
Luke 1:32lexicalHe will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Revelation 3:22
Revelation 2:29lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Revelation 2:11lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second d…
Revelation 2:17lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the…
Revelation 2:7lexicalHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the…
Acts 11:22lexicalThe report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter