1.
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
unto = to.
angel . . . church. See Revelation 1:20 .
Sardis. The ancient capital of Lydia. Its commercial activity attracted merchants from all parts of Asia. The remains of a vast temple to Cybele (the "mother of the gods") still exist.
seven Spirits. See Revelation 1:4 .
God. App-98 .
seven, &c. See Revelation 1:20 .
stars. See Revelation 1:16 .
a name, &c. Not suited for this dispensation of grace, for Christ's people now live "in Him". We who were dead are now alive in Christ.
livest. See App-170 .
dead. App-139 .
2.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Be = Become.
watchful. See Matthew 24:42 .
the . . . remain = the remaining (things). App-124 .
are = were, with the texts.
perfect. App-125 .
3.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
hold fast. Greek. tereo. Same as "keep" in Revelation 1:3 .
repent. See Revelation 2:5 .
on thee. The texts omit.
as, &c. See Revelation 16:15 . 1Th 5:2 . 2 Peter 3:10 .
know. App-132 . These words are not addressed to the members of the "church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 ). See 2 Thessalonians 2:1 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . We do not "watch" for the "thief", but "wait" for the Lord.
4.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Thou. The texts read "But thou".
even. The texts omit.
have, &c. = defiled not.
defiled. Greek. moluno. Only here; Rev 14:4 . 1 Corinthians 8:7 . The noun Occurs only in 2 Corinthians 7:1 .
garments. Greek. himation. First of seven occurances: (see App-197 ) in Rev.
worthy. See App-197 .
5.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
overcometh. See Revelation 2:7 .
the same. The texts read "thus".
blot out. Occurances: Revelation 7:17 ; Revelation 21:4 (wipe away). Acts 3:19 . Colossians 2:14 .
book, &c. See Philippians 4:3 .
life. App-170 .
but = and.
confess, &c. See Matthew 10:32 .
Father. App-98 .
6.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
He, &c. See Revelation 2:7 .
7.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Philadelphia. About thirty miles south-east of Sardis. Very little known of it beyond a few references in Pliny, but the Greek name indicates a Macedonian population.
Holy = The Holy One. See Revelation 4:8 . Compare Hosea 11:9 , &c. The Greek hagios occurs twenty-six times in Rev. See App-197 .
True. App-175 .
key of David. See Isaiah 22:22 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
8.
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
behold. App-133 .
set = given.
strength App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .
hast kept = didst keep. Same word as "hold fast", Revelation 3:3 .
word App-121 .
hast not denied = didst not deny.
My name. In opposition to confessing (See Revelation 2:13 ) the name of the beast, Revelation 13:17 ; Revelation 14:9 , Revelation 14:11 , Revelation 14:12 .
9.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
will make = give.
synagogue, &c. See Revelation 2:9 .
Satan. App-19 , and See Revelation 2:9 .
Jews. See Revelation 2:9 .
make. i.e. compel.
worship. Greek. proskuneo. App-137 . Occurs twenty-four times ( App-10 ) in Rev. Twelve times connected with worship of God, eleven times with worship of Satan and the beast, and here.
have. Omit.
loved. App-135 .
10.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
temptation = trial. Greek. peirasmos. Only occurrence in Rev.
shall = is about to.
world. App-129 .
try = test. Greek. peirazo. Here, and Revelation 2:2 , Revelation 2:10 .
earth. App-129 . Compare Zephaniah 1:14-18 .
11.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Behold. Omit.
hold . . . fast. Same Greek. word as Revelation 2:1 , Revelation 2:13 , Revelation 2:14 , Revelation 2:15 , Revelation 2:25 , not as Revelation 3:3 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
no rnan = no one. Greek. medeis. These words do not relate to such as through grace are perfect "in Him". See Romans 8:38 , Romans 8:39 .
12.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Temple = sanctuary. Greek. naos . See Matthew 23:16 and App-88 .
upon. App-104 .
new Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:3 , Revelation 21:10 . Compare Psalms 48:1 , Psalms 48:2 , Psalms 48:8 , Psalms 48:9 . Ezekiel 48:35 . See App-88 and App-197 .4.
new, new. Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 .
heaven. See Matthew 6:9 . Occurs fifty-two times in Rev., always in sing, save Revelation 12:12 .
new name. See Revelation 14:1 ; Revelation 22:4 .Isaiah 62:2 ; Isaiah 65:15 . Contrast the name branded on the worshippers of the beast, Revelation 13:16 ; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 19:20 ; Revelation 20:4 .
13.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
of, &c. = in (Greek. en) Laodicea (an important city of Phrygia, a few miles west of Colosse. Rebuilt by Antiochus II, and named after his wife, Laodice).
the Amen. A Hebrew word transliterated. See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and p. 1511.
faithful. App-150 .
Witness. See p. 1511.
beginning. App-172 . Compare 1 Chronicles 1:15-19; 1 Chronicles 1:15-19 .
15.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
lukewarm. Greek. chliaros. Only here.
will = am about to.
spue. Greek. emeo. Only here. Occurs: Isaiah 19:14 (Septuagint)
17.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
nothing. Greek. oudeis.
knowest. App-132 .
wretched = the wretched one. See Romans 7:24 , and compare Hosea 2:11 ; Hosea 5:15 .
poor. App-127 .
18.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
buy. The members of the church of this dispensation have nothing to buy and nothing to pay with; our salvation is the free-grace gift of God.
the. Omit.
fire. Compare Haggai 2:8 . Zechariah 13:9 . Malachi 3:3 .
be clothed = clothe thyself.
do not appear = be not ( App-105 ) made manifest ( App-106 ). Compare Revelation 16:15 .
see. App-133 .
19.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
love. App-135 . This is preceded by Greek. ean ( App-118 . a). Compare Isaiah 43:4 ; &c.
rebuke = convict. Greek. elencho. See John 16:8 .
20.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
stand. Literally have taken my station.
knock. The call to the wedding feast (Revelation 19:9 ), to which the parables pointed, e.g. Luke 12:35-38 "when He cometh and knocketh". The popular belief that the Lord is ever knocking at the hearts of sinners is a distortion of Scripture akin to blasphemy.
any man. App-123 .
sup, &c. A gracious promise to His servants (See Revelation 1:1 ). See Luke 12:37 .
21.
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
am set down = sat down. See Acts 2:33 , Acts 2:34 .Ephesians 1:20 , Ephesians 1:21 .Hebrews 1:8 ; Hebrews 8:1 . The Lord now stands (Revelation 1 ), and is about to come down in judgment.
22.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.