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Revelation Chapter Three

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The things which are (II)

IV. The church in Sardis------it typifies the Protestant Church (v.1-6)

V. The church in Philadelphia------it typifies the church in which brothers love one another (v.7-13)

VI. The church of the Laodiceans------it typifies the church which is neither cold nor hot (v.14-22)

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Rev. 3:1And 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.

   YLT: “And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write: These things saith he who is having the Seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I have known thy works, and that thou hast the name that thou dost live, and thou art dead;”

   Meaning of Words: “Sardis”: remnant, remainder, restoration.

   Spiritual Meaning: “‘And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,” the original meaning of “Sardis” is “remnant”. “The church in Sardis” typifies the Protestant Church which exists up to now after the rise of the reformation in the sixth century. Her feature is recovering “the justification” and making the Bible known to public.

“‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:” “the seven Spirits of God” symbolizes the Holy Spirit of the perfect light (See 4:5, “Seven lamps”), power and wisdom (See 5:6 “seven horns and seven eyes”), i.e. the omniscient, omnipotent and all-wise Holy Spirit. “The seven stars” symbolizes the angels of all churches (See 1:20), i.e. believers who stand on the heavenly positions, shine for the Lord and bear witness to Him in various places.

“‘I know your works,” “your works” symbolizes the spiritual state of the whole church before the Lord.

“That you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” “Having a name” symbolizes the features which the church boasts outwardly. “Are alive” symbolizes that the church no longer relies on the dead letters but the living Spirit (See 2Cor. 3:6). “But you are dead” it symbolizes that the real conditions of the church are short of the living Spirit.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Protestant Church reformed aiming at the shortage of the Roman Catholic Church that they stressed on letters, however, she had only reformed half and had not arrived at the complete level. And therefore the perfect Spirit (the seven Spirits) and the perfect spiritual witnesses (the seven stars) are needed to help the church.

2) Today many churches and groups know that death is blamed by the Lord. And therefore they try their best to “be alive”, however, the ways that they carry out are almost “having a name that they are alive, but they are dead”.

3) In order to “be alive”, some churches use the “man-made” charismatic gifts, some use “lively” music, some use activities that “rouse” men, some even hold spiritual revivals and some make the phenomenon that everyone can perform his function through “calling out and praying-reading” in the meeting. Actually these ways are alive apparently but are dead inwardly in the sight of the Lord.

 

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.

   YLT: “become watching, and strengthen the rest of the things that are about to die, for I have not found thy works fulfilled before God.”

   Meaning of Words: “strengthen”: enhance, establish; “perfect”: fulfilled.

   Literal Meaning: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,” “The things which remain” refers to the things that were lost and had been restored by the Reformation. “That are ready to die” refers to existing in name only (See v.1) and they are alive apparently and do not have the spiritual reality inwardly. And therefore they are described as being ready to “die”.

“For I have not found your works perfect before God” “before God” refers to not before men and being different from what common ones think. “Having not found your works perfect” indicates that all the works of reformation failed and were given up halfway.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though the Lord admitted that the Protestant Church had done some works, all the works were done half and “the things which remain” had not been done. If they do not hold fast to reformation continually, all of them will be in danger of death “(die”).

2) We estimate all the spiritual works not according to men’s sight and opinions but seeking the judgment of God (“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.

   YLT: “`Remember, then, how thou hast received, and heard, and be keeping, and reform: if, then, thou mayest not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou mayest not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

   Meaning of Words: “remember”: be mindful; “hold fast”: keep, guard; “what hour”: how.

   Literal Meaning: “Remember therefore how you have received and heard;” “remember” means that the Lord’s guidance in the beginning is correct, however, men changed the guidance of the Lord according to their own opinions. “How you have received” refers to restoring to the original conditions. “How you have heard” refers to fully according to the word of God instead of men’s explanations and deductions.

 “Hold fast and repent.” “Holding fast” refers to in accordance with the Lord’s guidance and God’s word. “Repenting” indicates that one, aiming at men’s opinions and the changed conditions, changes his view.

Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,” “I will come upon you” refers to the Lord’s hidden coming. “As a thief” means: 1) it is unknown when He will come. 2) He will take the precious things especially when He comes, i.e. rapturing overcomers.

Please note that the “come” here is different from “come”s in the church of Ephesus and the church in Pergamos (See 2:5, 16) in the meaning because the two churches had passed by in the history and no longer existed. And therefore it should not refer to the second coming of the Lord but refer to the coming of the Lord’s judgment.

“And you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” This sentence again proves that no one knows the day of the Lord’s second coming (See Matt. 24:36).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The church history makes us see again and again that, the conditions of the works of restoration that the Lord has done from ages and from generations were right in the beginning because they were of the Lord’s guidance and God’s words. However, it is unfortunate that they were changed by men later.

2) If we want to work with the Lord together, we have to recall and remember the Lord’s guidance in the beginning in the churches from ages and from generations, lay hold upon God’s words single-mindedly----not be specially influenced by any spiritual one, “repent” from the wrong conditions and “hold fast” to the Lord’s guidance in the beginning.

3) No one knows when the Lord comes again. And therefore if some people in the church figure out the time of the Lord’s coming, we should never listen to them, lest we be deceived and it will be too late to regret.

 

Rev. 3:4 “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.

   YLT: “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis who did not defile their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy.”

   Meaning of Words: “defile”: soil; “walk”: walk about.

   Spiritual Meaning: “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments;” “in Sardis” refers to in the Protestant Church. “Have a few names” means that God has reserved to Himself a group of people who did not follow the whole conditions of the church (See Rom. 11:4). “Their garments” refers to the behavior of each one. “Defile their garments” has two meanings: 1) sin; 2) the spiritual death.

“And they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” “White” refers to the fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (See 19:8). “Worthy” refers to matching.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Christians have two white garments: a) Christ that we have put on when we were saved (See Gal. 3:27) and here it indicates that Christ is our righteousness (See 1Cor. 1:30); b) the white garment that overcomers wear and it is the righteousness of saints (See 19:8).

2) What believers sin against God most is the spiritual death because in the sight of God, death is the dirtiest and death shall be cast into the lake of fire in future (See 20:14).

3) Overcomers are the minority who have the different states from the whole sates of the church (there are only “a few”): all the people are in a dream and I am awake alone; all the people slip away and I am a pillar rock in the midstream alone; all the people are defiled and I keep myself clean alone.

4) Overcomers are lonely in this life, however, they shall not be lonely in the coming because the Lord walks with them. Overcomers are lonely according to men’s sight, however, they are not lonely in the spiritual sight.

 

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.

   YLT: “He who is overcoming -- this one -- shall be arrayed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the scroll of the life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before His messengers.”

   Meaning of Words: “overcome”: prevail, conquer; “clothe”: clothe by oneself; “blot out”: wipe away.

   Literal Meaning: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,” “He who overcomes” refers to overcoming the dead state of the Protestant Church. “Be clothed in white garments” indicates that they shall be confessed by the Lord and be able to be clothed in white garments in future for their works of righteousness today, testifying their bright and white states (See v.4).

“And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;” “The Book of Life” refers to the book of life of the Lamb (See 13:8). The names of all those who have received grace, been saved and have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (See Col. 1:13) are recorded in the Book of Life (See Luke. 10:20). On the contrary, the names of all those who are of the power of darkness are not recorded in the Book of Life (See 13:8; 17:8). “Blotting out his name” means that his name is not on the list of reward, however, his status of life eternity will not change (See John. 10:28). And therefore the “blotting out” here should be temporary and it is not everlasting.

“But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” “My Father” refers to God the Father. “His angles” refers to all angles. “Confess his name” refers to admitting the status of overcomers.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers’ states today are closely related to their status in the kingdom in future. Though Christians’ “being saved” is assured, their “being overcomers” is uncertain. Though our names on the Book of Life will not be blotted out forever, they may be blotted out temporarily.

2) Whether we confess the Lord before men today determines whether the Lord will confess us before God and His angels in future (See Luke. 12:8-9). Whether we show the states worthy of the knowledge of the Lord today in our walkings determines His approval and praise to us in future.

 

Rev. 3:6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

   YLT: “He who is having an ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.”

   Literal Meaning: please see the notes in 2:7, 29.

 

Rev. 3:7And 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:

   YLT: “`And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith he who is holy, he who is true, he who is having the key of David, he who is opening and no one doth shut, and he shutteth and no one doth open!”

   Meaning of Words: Philadelphia”: brotherly love.

   Spiritual Meaning: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,” the original meaning of “Philadelphia” is “brothers love one another”. “Philadelphia” typifies the nonsectarian free groups that exist up to now from the rise of the Brethren movement in the eighteenth century.

He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David” “He who is holy, He who is true” symbolizes that He is God because holiness and faithfulness are the two great features of God (See 2Cor. 1:12). “He who has the key of David” symbolizes that He is the king of the kingdom.

“‘These things says, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:” it symbolizes that the door of the kingdom is controlled by Him and the power of receipt or rejection fully lies in Him. Please note that the door does not refer to the door of the gospel but the door of the kingdom. The former is the door of grace and the latter, the door of righteousness.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The greatest feature of the church in Philadelphia is that brothers love one another. All those who are indifferent to believers who have received grace and been saved and only emphasize that they must have the same doctrines and opinions have fallen from the church in Philadelphia.

2) Without holiness and truth no man shall be acceptable to the Lord (See Heb. 12:14; John. 4:24) and therefore we should pursue holiness and truth.

3) All believers have entered the door of grace, however, only believers who conform to the requirement are able to enter the door of the kingdom. The requirement is not like what the leaders of some religious groups declare------as long as men enter their church, they will partake in the kingdom. In this statement, there isn’t any biblical basis.

 

Rev. 3:8I 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.

   YLT: “I have known thy works; lo, I have set before thee a door -- opened, and no one is able to shut it, because thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name;”

   Meaning of Words: “deny”: refuse, disavow.

   Literal Meaning: I know your works…for you have a little strength,” “you have a little strength” means that compared with other unions and sects, they seem to be weak, without enormous organizations. 

“Have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” “Have kept My word” the church inherited from the Brethren has a feature that they keep the sound word of the Lord more than other unions and sects and have less traditional opinions. “And have not denied My name.” means that they have not exalted the name of any group or any giant, except the name of the Lord. 

  See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;” “have set before you an open door” means that the door of works is opened by the Lord and the works go smoothly everywhere. “And no one can shut it” means that though works are opposed by men, they still bear fruits as usual.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The works of the church that are really of the Lord are not by might, nor by power, but by the spirit of God (Zech. 4:6).

2) What the Lord values is the word of the Lord and the name of the Lord and men should neither add any word of men to the word of the Lord nor add any name of men to the name of the Lord.

3) Every heretical or extreme church group declares that they respect and quote the word of God, however, they either garble a statement or distort the original meaning. And therefore they have not kept the word of the Lord. They also declare that they honor the name of the Lord, however, they have their special names besides the name of the Lord and set up another center besides Christ. And therefore they equally deny the name of the Lord.

4) If we want our works to be blessed by the Lord and be given an open door, we should keep the sound word of the Lord and only exalt the name of the Lord.

 

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.

   YLT: “lo, I make of the synagogue of the Adversary those saying themselves to be Jews, and are not, but do lie; lo, I will make them that they may come and bow before thy feet, and may know that I loved thee.”

   Literal Meaning: those of the synagogue of Satan,” it refers to the Jewish legalism’s organizations of the synagogue that were utilized by Satan.

“Who say they are Jews and are not,” it means that he is not a Jew who is according to the name and the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one who follows the Spirit inwardly (See Rom. 2:28-29).

“But lie” Since they are of Satan the devil and the devil is the father of liars and therefore they certainly are liars (See John. 8:44).

“Indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet,” It means that the true Christian church shall reign in future (See Is. 60:14).

“And to know that I have loved you.” It means that the Lord clears up the church through the praise to her (See 1Tim. 3:16).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If Satan cannot hinder us from believing in the Lord, it will seek the secondary way------utilizing our natural zealousness to divide the church. 

2) What the Lord values is not the appearance or items but the inner reality. It is not the one who declares that they represent the church that the Lord will restore but that the one who humbles himself in the Spirit and is afraid of losing the testimony of the church shall be praised and cleared up by the Lord. 

 

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.

   YLT: “`Because thou didst keep the word of my endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of the trial that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the earth.”

   Meaning of Words: “persevere”: endurance; “command”: word; “the whole world”: men that dwell on the earth, all the inhabitable land; “trial”: temptation, test.

   Literal Meaning: “Because you have kept My command to persevere,” “My command to persevere” it means that if believers want to keep the word of the Lord, they have to face Satan’s attack and persecution through men (See v.8-9). And therefore we will partake in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ (See 1:9).

“Which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” “The whole world” does not refer to the partial region but the worldwide region. “Test” refers to the period of the Great Tribulation (See Matt. 24:21).

I also will keep you from the hour of trial” in the original implies “keep you before the coming of the period of the Great Tribulation”. We can know that only those who are praised by the Lord shall be raptured by Him before the coming of the Great Tribulation and be kept from the trial. As for the failing believers, probably they won’t enjoy such promise.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We always need to pay price to keep the word of the Lord and therefore it is called “the command to persevere”. Everyone likes the keeping without price, however, he cannot receive the Lord’s reward.

2) The traditional opinion of Christianity is that the whole church will be raptured by the Lord before the Great Tribulation. If so, how did the Lord use “keeping you from the hour of trial” as a reward? Our Lord never makes meaningless promise, showing that we should watch and wait for the Lord and keep the Lord’s word to persevere willingly (See Luke. 21:35-36).

 

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

   YLT: “Lo, I come quickly, be holding fast that which thou hast, that no one may receive thy crown.”

   Meaning of Words: “quickly”: shortly; “hold fast”: seize.

   Literal Meaning: “Behold, I am coming quickly!” It means that we won’t “persevere” (See v.10) long because He will come quickly to receive those who keep His word.

Hold fast what you have,” “what you have” refers to keeping the word of the Lord and not denying the name of the Lord (See v.8).

“That no one may take your crown.” It means that in so far as the general condition is concerned, the church in Philadelphia has received the crown, however, if they do not hold fast their advantages, probably they will have the risk of losing the crown.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We have need of endurance, so that after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise: for yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry (See Heb. 10:37).

2) We always admire Paul the apostle, because there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness (See 2Tim. 4:8). However, the crown is also kept for all those who have kept the faith (See 2Tim. 4:7), showing that we will also partake in the crown as long as we have the patience to keep the faith.

 

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. 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.

   YLT: “He who is overcoming -- I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and without he may not go any more, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that doth come down out of the heaven from my God -- also my new name.”

   Meaning of Words: “Jerusalem”: foundation, the dwelling place of peace.

   Spiritual Meaning: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,” “the temple of My God” symbolizes the spiritual church that God is building, i.e. New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven in future (See 21:2; Heb. 12:22-23). “Making him a pillar” symbolizes the witness of God’s truth (See 1Tim. 3:15).

“And he shall go out no more.” It symbolizes that the testimony will last until eternity.

I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God,” “the name of My God” symbolizes the being of God. “The name of the city of My God” symbolizes the being of the city, New Jerusalem.

“The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.” The holy city, New Jerusalem symbolizes that all men of God today and all the spiritual and heavenly building are laid up in our God in heaven and on some day in future, the work shall be made manifest, i.e. the coming down of the holy city out of heaven (See 1Cor. 3:13-14; Rev. 21:2).

And I will write on him My new name.” “My new name” symbolizes all that Christ has been experienced by those who are of Him. “I will write on him” all our spiritual experiences of God and Christ in the church are laid up in God in heaven (See Matt. 6:20) and on our own accounts as our everlasting inheritance.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men’s weaknesses are our being easy to wave and change. However, through the dealing with of the cross, the result of our keeping the word of the Lord to persevere is that the truth will build us to be “pillars” which do not wave or change. It is the work that God is working upon us.

2) Our spiritual experiences today are the names written on us in future. We cannot have names which surpass our experiences.

 

Rev. 3:13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

   YLT: “He who is having an ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.”

   Literal Meaning: please see the notes in 2:7, 29.

 

Rev. 3:14And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

   YLT: “`And to the messenger of the assembly of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the witness -- the faithful and true -- the chief of the creation of God;”

   Meaning of Words: Laodiceans”: the opinion of all the people, the custom of the public, old castle, just people; “Beginning”: first.

   Spiritual Meaning: And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,” the original meaning of “Laodiceans” is “the people reign”. “The church of the Laodiceans” typifies the church that relies on the opinions of common believers up to now from the nineteenth century. 

“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,” “The Amen” refers to receiving the arrangement of God the Father with Amen (See Matt. 11:25-27). “The Faithful and True Witness” indicates that the Lord does everything for the sake of testifying to the faithfulness of God (See 19:11; 2Cor. 1:19-20).

“‘These things says the Beginning of the creation of God:” It means that Christ is the source through Him God creates all things (See Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The nature of the church is ruling by God instead of ruling by men. Whenever God’s sovereignty in the church falls into the hand of men, the church falls into “the church of the Laodiceans”. In the church in Pergamos, the hierarchy usurped the authority of God (See 2:15) and in the church of the Laodiceans, common believers usurped the authority of God. They change from one extreme to another.

2) The Lord Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). We, who are saved by the Lord, exalt ourselves and intend to reign. How irregular it is and we are unworthy to be the Lord’s witnesses.

3) The Lord Jesus is the beginning of all things. All things are created because of Him and for Him (See Col. 1:16). We should look upon the guidance of the Lord concerning everything in the church and never depend on the opinions of the majority presumptuously.

 

Rev. 3:15I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

   YLT: “I have known thy works, that neither cold art thou nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.”

   Meaning of Words: “hot”: boiled; “could wish”: would rather.

   Literal Meaning: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.” “You are neither cold nor hot” refers to being neither indifferent nor zealous, i.e. being lukewarm.

I could wish you were cold nor hot.” The real intention of the Lord is that He wishes us to be zealous. Being cold is better than being lukewarm because if one is cold, he will feel his wrong condition at lowest, and he will turn to the Lord so that the Lord will have chance to work upon him. However, if one is neither cold nor hot, he will be complacent about ease and have no interest in making progress.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord can do nothing to believers who are neither cold nor hot because our Lord never works alone and our cooperation is required. For example, God loves us, however, God cannot accomplish His salvation upon us one-sidedly if we do not repay His love with faith.

2) The Lord wishes us to be fervent in the Spirit, serving the Lord (See Rom. 12:11). We should ask the Lord to keep us from being neither cold nor hot and stir up us continually (See 2Tim. 1:6).

 

Rev. 3:16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

   YLT: “So -- because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;”

   Meaning of Words: “vomit”: spew, spurn with abomination.

   Literal Meaning: “because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,” the taste of the “lukewarm water” in the mouth is worse than the cold water and hot water and therefore it is less welcomed. In like manner, if our spiritual states are neither cold nor hot, we are not acceptable to the Lord.

So then, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” “Vomiting out” refers to being rejected by the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) On one hand, to believers, the Lord is the great enjoyment and on the other, to the Lord, we are also His enjoyment (See S. of Sol. 2:16; 6:3; 7:10).

2) The matter that believers are complacent about their present situations is abominated by the Lord. We should not be at a standstill in the spiritual way, just like a boat sailing against the current must forge ahead or it will be driven back.

 

Rev. 3:17 “Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

   YLT: “because thou sayest -- I am rich, and have grown rich, and have need of nothing, and hast not known that thou art the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,”

   Meaning of Words: “have become wealthy”: have become rich; “wretched”: miserable; “miserable”: pitiable; “poor”: impoverished.

   Literal Meaning: “Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'” “rich” mainly refers to being abundant in the knowledge. “Having become wealthy” probably also refers to the abundance in the physical aspect and money. Churches in the present generation always boast two things that they think that they know many inwardly and own many outwardly.

“And do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--” “Do not know that” refers to having no idea of the real spiritual states. “Wretched” refers to being at a loss to the present conditions. “Poor” refers to being in urgent need of the help of others. “Blind” refers to lacking the spiritual sight and not having the self-knowledge. “And naked” refers to not having testimony and being full of shame.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The true spiritual judgment does not lie in what “you say” but what “the Lord says”.

2) “Rich” is far from “poor”. The one who regards his poverty as rich must lack the right sight and his spiritual life is naïve at the same time and therefore he has to improve from the root (See v.18).

 

Rev. 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and 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.

   YLT: “I counsel thee to buy from me gold fired by fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white garments that thou mayest be arrayed, and the shame of thy nakedness may not be manifest, and with eye-salve anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.”

   Meaning of Words: “refined in the fire”: burn; “reveal”: tell, find out, be manifested, expose; “eye salve”: eye plaster; “anoint”: rub in.

   Literal Meaning: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;” “from Me” refers to towards the Lord and only Him is our salvation. “Buying” refers to paying price. “Refined in the fire” indicates that our faith is trailed through manifold temptations (See 1Pet. 1:6-7). “Gold” symbolizes the disposition of God and also the precious faith which has been trialed (See 1Pet. 1:7). “Rich” refers to the spiritual richness.

“And white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;” “white garments” refers to the righteousness of saints (See 19:8). They are our subjective justification instead of the objective justification by faith.

“And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” “Eye salve” refers to the anointment of the Spirit (See 1John. 2:27) and only the Spirit of wisdom and revelation can make us “have the true knowledge of Him” and “enlighten the eyes of our understanding” (See Eph. 1:17-18), that we will see.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Buy…” We must pay price in order to make progress in the spiritual life, however, we need to be careful and should not seek for the wrong object. Only the Lord Himself can provide us what our spiritual life needs.

2) All the spiritual abundance must be appropriated by faith and the faith must be perfected through the course of trials.

3) Christians’ most shameful thing is that we can say but cannot do----we have many doctrines but our behavior cannot be seen by others. And therefore “the unity of knowledge and actions” and “matching one’s words with deeds” are our urgent priority.

4) Christians’ another common fault is that we behold the mote that is in our brother's eye and have not observed the beam that is in our own eye (See Matt. 7:3-5). Our eyes of heart need to be enlightened by the Spirit indeed.

 

Rev. 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

   YLT: “`As many as I love, I do convict and chasten; be zealous, then, and reform;”

   Meaning of Words: “love”: like, have affection for.

   Literal Meaning: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” It means that the Lord chastens us because of His love towards us (See Heb. 12:5-6).

Therefore be zealous and repent.” “Being zealous” refers to making the motionless heart move. “Repenting” refers to making the moving heart change the direction.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God chastens us because we are whom He loves. Chastening is His arrangement of love. He arranges all the circumstances for us in love and He measures all the circumstances for us in love.

2) Out of the heart are the issues of life (See Prov. 4:23). If the direction of one’s heart is right, there is hope of his spiritual future.

 

Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

   YLT: “lo, I have stood at the door, and I knock; if any one may hear my voice, and may open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

   Meaning of Words: “knock”: rap; “dine”: supper, take food.

   Literal Meaning: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” “At the door and knock” This door is not the door of hearts that call the world to receive the gospel but the door of hearts that call believers to seek to be overcomers.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” “If anyone hears My voice” indicates that though the Lord’s knock is for the whole church, those who react are the individual believers. “Opening the door” refers to opening the door of hearts. “I will come in to him” refers to the Lord’s obvious presence. Though believers have received the Lord into us on the first day we believed in the Lord (See John. 1:12), we always cannot realize His presence (See S. of Sol. 3:1).

“And dine with him, and he with Me.” It refers to the intimate communion and enjoyment with the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though the Lord’s knock is to all believers, those who hear and react are individuals. And therefore our reward and punishment in future are individual (See Matt. 16:27).

2) The prerequisite condition that we dine with the Lord is letting the Lord take the thrones of our hearts and reign us. Obedience is before enjoyment and there won’t be enjoyment without obedience.

 

Rev. 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

   YLT: “He who is overcoming -- I will give to him to sit with me in my throne, as I also did overcome and did sit down with my Father in His throne.”

   Literal Meaning: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,” “Him who overcomes” refers to overcoming the corrupt states of the church of the Laodiceans. “Sitting with Me on My throne” refers to reigning with the Lord (See 2Tim. 2:12).

“As I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” “I also overcame” indicates that the Lord Jesus overcame the devil that had the power of death through death and resurrection (See Heb. 2:14).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The promise of dining with the Lord (See v.20) is before the promise of sitting with the Lord on His throne. The former is the close relation in the secret chamber and the latter is the relation of the public authorization. If we do not have the experience of dining with the Lord, probably we won’t have the realization of sitting with Him on His throne.

2) The spiritual states of the church of the Laodiceans are very bad, however, the promise that her overcomers have received is the best. Our states are bad in the beginning, however, if we can repent and try hard, the last shall be the first (See Matt. 19:30; 20:16).

 

Rev. 3:22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

   YLT: “He who is having an ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.'”

   Literal Meaning: please see the notes in 2:7, 29.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Being of the Lord vs. the Conditions of the Churches

I. The church in Sardis:

  A. He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars (v.1)

  B. I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. I have not found your works perfect before God (v.1-2)

II. The church in Philadelphia:

  A. 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 (v.7)

  B. you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name (v.8)

III. The church of the Laodiceans:

  A. the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (v.14)

  B. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (v.15, 17)

 

The Conditions and Reward of the Raptures

I. The church in Sardis:

  A. who have not defiled their garments (v.4)

  B. 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 (v.5)

II. The church in Philadelphia:

  A. keep My command to persevere. Hold fast what you have (v.10-11)

  B. he who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out 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 I will write on him My new name (v.12)

III. The church of the Laodiceans:

  A. be zealous. Hear My voice and open the door (v.19-20)

  B. to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne (v.21)

 

The Lord’s Exhortations to All the Churches

I. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die (v.2)

II. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent (v.3)

III. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (v.11)

IV. I could wish you were cold or hot (v.15)

V. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and 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 (v.18)

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren