Revelation 3 – The Church at Sardis & Philadelphia

Revelation 3 – The Church at Sardis

(Rev 1:19 NKJV) "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

(Rev 4:1 NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

As we study the seven churches, we are in the part described as “the things which are.”

That simply means that all these different conditions existed in the churches at that time.

It also suggest that all these conditions can exist in various churches throughout time.

Some have added another point which we may talk about more in our next lesson. That point is that each of these churches represent different periods of time as being the predominate church of that particular period in time.

(Rev 3:1-6 NKJV) ""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, but you are dead.

(Rev 1:4 NKJV) "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,"

We all know what happens when the spirit leaves the body. The same thing happens in a spiritual way as well: we die!

The Solution:

(Rev 3:2) "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

(Rev 3:3) "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

This puts them in the same class as those who are not saved.

(1 Th 5:4-6 NKJV) "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. {5} You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. {6} Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."

{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.

(Rev 3:5) "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.

(Mat 10:32 NKJV) ""Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."

But it is obvious from (Rev 3:5) that this can be reversed if we do not remain faithful to God.

The Encouragement that ends every letter!

{6} "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

The Church at Philadelphia The Faithful Church

(Rev 3:7-13 NKJV) ""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":

Most of the descriptions of Christ that are used in chapters 2 and 3 are from chapter 1. This is an exception to that. This is unique to this church.

(Rev 3:8) "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.

God is aware of all of our strengths and weaknesses.

(Rev 3:9) "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

When? How? We are not told.

Christ wants them to know they will be victorious over their enemies.

(Rom 2:28-29 NKJV) "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;

(Rom 2:29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

God knows His own, and how to deliver them!

(Rev 3:10) "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV) ""But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.""

(Rev 3:11) "Behold, I am coming quickly!¹ Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

(Luke 12:39-40 NKJV) ""But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. {40} "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.""

(Rev 3:12) "He who 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.

“the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.” -- Comes down to where?

This book indicates that God has plans for this earth different from what we sometimes understand.

(2 Pet 3:13 NKJV) "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

(Rev 21:1-3 NKJV) "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. {2} Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. {3} And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."

{13} "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

As in the case of the rest of the New Testament, it was written, for the most part, to particular churches, or individuals, but if we will listen, we can learn the lessons that are there for all of us.

(Rev 1:3 NKJV) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

May God bless us in the reading and study of His Word, especially as we study a book that has been surrounded by much controversy and confusion.