Rev 3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 3:1-6: 3:1-6 The letter to the church in Sardis warns Christians who are reputed to be spiritually alive (when actually dead) that without genuine transformation they face God’s judgment. 3:1 Sardis , nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Smyrna on the southeast highway from Pergamum and Thyatira, was home to a large colony of prosperous Jews, called “Sephardic” after the city’s ancient name. Its fortified acropolis gave its inhabitants an overconfident sense of security. • a reputation for being alive—but you are dead: Other churches may have believed that the Sardian Christians comprised a dynamic church, but their secularism revealed their lack of spiritual life.

Summary for Rev 3:1-6: 3:1-6 ^a The letter to the church in Sardis warns Christians who are reputed to be spiritually alive (when actually dead) that without genuine transformation they face God’s judgment. 3:1 ^b Sardis, nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Smyrna on the southeast highway from Pergamum and Thyatira, was home to a large colony of prosperous Jews, called “Sephardic” after the city’s ancient name. Its fortified acropolis gave its inhabitants an overconfident sense of security.

• a reputation for being alive—but you are dead: Other churches may have believed that the Sardian Christians comprised a dynamic church, but their secularism revealed their lack of spiritual life.
Summary for Rev 3:2-3: 3:2-3 ^c The church of Sardis needed to wake up or it would suddenly fall. The city of Sardis had fallen when the forces of Cyrus (549/546 BC) and of Antiochus III (189 BC) made unexpected attacks through a secret tunnel and caught the watchmen off guard. The same would be true of the Christians there if they did not meet the requirements of . . . God (see 20:12 ^d; Eph 2:10 ^e; Jas 2:20 ^f).

• as a thief: Like the invaders in the city’s history, Christ would come suddenly (see Rev 16:15 ^g; Matt 24:43 ^h; 1 Thes 5:2 ⁱ; 2 Pet 3:10 ^j).
3:4 ^k Soiled ... clothes represent an impure life (Zech 3:4 ^l), while white clothes depict purity (see Rev 6:11 ^m; 7:13-14 ⁿ; 22:14 ^o).

• Walk expresses how a person lives (see Gen 17:1 ^p; Pss 81:13 ^q; 82:5 ^r; Rom 8:4 ^s; Gal 5:16 ^t).
3:5 ^u Having one’s name recorded in the Book of Life (see 20:12-15 ^v; Dan 7:10 ^w) symbolizes having assurance of God’s acceptance and eternal life (see Rev 17:8 ^x; 20:12 ^y; Phil 4:3 ^z; see also Luke 10:20 ^aa). For God to erase a name implies condemnation and eternal death (see Exod 32:32-33 ^ab; Ps 69:28 ^ac).
Summary for Rev 3:7-13: 3:7-13 ^ad The letter to the church in Philadelphia encourages Christians who seem to be weak and powerless to realize that their true strength is in Christ. This comforting message includes no words of disapproval. The Kingdom of God does not depend on human strength or wisdom but on God’s power and authority. 3:7 ^ae Philadelphia was situated in the foothills of the Timolus Mountains, open to fertile plains in the east. The city repeatedly experienced severe earthquakes that left it weak and impoverished.

• This verse quotes phrases from Isa 22:22 ^af.

• key of David: Jesus the Messiah is successor to David’s royal line. As the gatekeeper of heaven, Jesus has authority to open and close the way to heaven (cp. Matt 16:19 ^ag).
3:8 ^ah I know: See study note on 2:2-3.

• little strength: Like the city of Philadelphia itself (see study note on 3:7), the Christians there were not prosperous, and they lacked status and power. But Christ had opened a door for them (see 3:7 ^ai) to claim his status and authority. In spite of their weakness, the Philadelphia church obeyed Christ’s word and did not deny him under pressure.
3:9 ^aj those who belong to Satan’s synagogue: The Christians in Philadelphia had suffered maltreatment by anti-Christian Jews (see study note on 2:9).

• bow down at your feet: In the ancient world, captives were often forced to prostrate themselves before their conquerors (see Isa 49:23 ^ak; 60:14 ^al). The church’s human enemies will ultimately acknowledge that Christians are the ones God loves.
3:10 ^am Jesus will protect Christians who persevere through trials (cp. Isa 43:2-4 ^an; John 10:27-28 ^ao; 1 Cor 10:13 ^ap; Heb 6:18-19 ^aq).

• The great time of testing refers to the end times, when the world experiences tribulation.
3:11 ^ar Christians must hold on; they must persevere in difficulty so they will not lose their crown, their expected reward.
3:12 ^as Victorious Christians are secure in God’s household since, like pillars, ... they will never have to leave it.

• The name of ... God that is inscribed on them portrays God’s ownership and the security Christians thus enjoy (see 7:4 ^at; 14:1 ^au).

• The new Jerusalem is not a realm constructed by humans, but is God’s gift from heaven (21:2-10 ^av).

• A new name was a sign of God’s blessing (see also 2:17 ^aw); Abram, Jacob, Simon, and others were given new names (Gen 17:5 ^ax; 32:28 ^ay; John 1:42 ^az).
Summary for Rev 3:14-22: 3:14-22 ^ba The letter to the church in Laodicea castigates lukewarm Christians whose inconsistent lives stand for nothing but themselves. They sicken Christ to the point of his spitting them from his mouth. 3:14 ^bb Laodicea, situated 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, was the economic and judicial center of a metropolitan region that included Colosse and Hierapolis. The citizens of Laodicea were very proud of their self-sufficiency. After a severe earthquake (AD 60), Laodicea refused aid from Rome and rebuilt their city themselves (Tacitus, Annals 14.27), making it very beautiful.

• the Amen: Used as an oath, “Amen” is a promise of truth (Isa 65:16 ^bc). Jesus is the truth (John 8:32 ^bd; 14:6 ^be), and his message is authenticated by the truthfulness and reliability of his word.

• The description of Christ as the faithful and true witness declares that he knew them as they really were: Though wealthy and proud of their status and accomplishments, they were not measuring up to God’s expectations.
Summary for Rev 3:15-16: 3:15-16 ^bf neither hot nor cold: The hot springs in Hierapolis were famous for their healing qualities. Colosse was equally famous for its cold, refreshing springs. In contrast, the water available in Laodicea was smelly and lukewarm. Such water is distasteful; Jesus was saying that the church’s indecisive commitment to him was revolting.
3:17 ^bg Although Christians in Laodicea felt prosperous and self-sufficient (see study note on 3:14), Jesus accurately saw their wretched and miserable and poor spiritual condition.
3:18 ^bh Jesus’ prescription for Laodicea required a complete change of attitude from self-reliance to dependence on God.

• buy gold from me: Materially, they could buy whatever they wanted, but they needed to acquire the treasures of heaven so they would have spiritual riches through faith in Christ.

• purified by fire: While material wealth will not withstand God’s purging by fire (cp. 1 Cor 3:12-15 ^bi), spiritual wealth has eternal value.

• White garments represent spiritual purity. Black wool cloth and garments were prized exports of the city of Laodicea. This famous black wool cloth was a source of Laodicea’s material wealth; it probably represents the Laodiceans’ proud and unredeemed spiritual condition.

• Laodicea’s material prosperity was also due to their well-known Phrygian eye ointment, which may have been used there in the eye clinic associated with the famed physician Demosthenes Philalethes. The Laodiceans needed to buy ointment from Christ through faith. Only his eye salve would enable them to see their sin and repent.
3:19 ^bj Christ will correct and discipline those whom he loves (Prov 3:11-12 ^bk; Heb 12:5-6 ^bl), rather than rejecting them. His faithfulness extends even to the unfaithful (2 Tim 2:13 ^bm).
3:20 ^bn A person or a church must hear Jesus knocking and open the door to him. Christ provides a pattern of revival for a church that has grown spiritually weak and fallen out of fellowship with him. Simply opening the door can renew their former bond.

• we will share a meal: A shared meal symbolizes acceptance, deep friendship, and a covenant relationship (19:9 ^bo; see Gen 18:1-5 ^bp, 16-19 ^bq; Exod 12:1-31 ^br; 18:12 ^bs; Matt 26:26-30 ^bt).
3:21 ^bu The reward for victorious and obedient faith is to sit with Christ on his throne. Christians do not become divine, but they share in Christ’s victorious reign (20:4 ^bv, 6 ^bw; 22:5 ^bx; Col 3:1-4 ^by; 2 Tim 2:12 ^bz).