Revelation3:1-13

The Message to Sardis and Philadelphia

Introduction
Revelation 3 is third chapter of the Book of Revelation. This chapter contains
messages to the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, three of the seven churches of
Asia located in modern-day. The original text was written in Koine Greek.

Historical Background
The city called Sardis was about 30 miles south east from Thyatira. Sardis was a
busy trade centre. Because they were so rich, the people became lazy. They had built the city
on the top of a hill. The hill was very steep. Each time there was no guard on duty. People had
thought that they were safe. They were too lazy to watch. There was a great earthquake in AD
17. However, they soon rebuilt the city. The Emperor Tiberius helped them. The people felt
safe. They lived easy lives. The letter to Sardis is one of the most of the letters.
Philadelphia became a city in about 140BC. Philadelphia was about 28 miles
south east from Sardis. The city was rich. It was in a good position for trade. Like Sardis they
suffered from earthquakes. There was a large one in AD 17. It was not as large as the one in
Sardis. The people built the city again. Rome helped them to do this. But many were afraid to
return to the city. They lived in the neighbourhood. The church was small but of good quality.
Its enemies did not come from inside the church. It was very much like Smyrna. Both suffered
from those who called themselves Jews. But they not true Jews. The Romans persecuted the
Christians in both churches. There are still Christians in the city today and they still have a
bishop.

Meaning of the text

The church at Sardis given a positive comment. This church has a good
repution. Jesus warns the church at Sardis to “wake up,” and stop resting on their laurels. This
church was too proud of their prior accomplishments to diligently work for the good of the
Kingdom of God. Still, there are those who have been faithful among the church at Sardis.
Philadelphia is one of only two churches, out of seven mentioned, that is not
given any particular rebuke from Jesus. Instead, they are praised for their perseverance in the
face of dire persecution. Philadelphia seems to have been attacked by a specific group of non-
believing Jews, referred to as a “synagogue of Satan”. In response to this hardship, Jesus
reassures them that His return will happen suddenly, and they will be rewarded for their faith.

NIV NRSV
1. To the angel of the church in Sardis 1. And to the angel of the church in
write: these are the words of him who Sardis write: these are the words of
holds the seven spirits of God and the him who has the seven spirits of God
seven stars. I know your deeds; you and the seven stars. I know your
 have a reputation of being alive, but works; you have a name for being
you are dead. alive, but you are dead.
2. Wake up! Strengthen what remains 2. Wake up, and strengthen what
and is about to die, for I have found remains and is at the point of death,
your deeds unfinished in the sight of for I have not found your works
my God. perfect in the sight of my God.

3. Remember, therefore, what you 3. Remember then what you received

have received and heard; hold it fast, and heard; obey it, and repent. If you
and repent. But if you do not wake do not wake up, I will come like a
up, I will come like a thief, and you thief, and you will not know at what
will not know at what time I will hour I will come to you.
come to you. 4. Yet you have still a few people in
4. Yet you have a few people in Sardis Sardis who have not soiled their
who have not soiled their clothes. clothes. They will walk with me,
They will walk with me, dressed in dressed in white, for they are worthy.
white, for they are worthy.
5. The one who is victorious will, like 5. If you conquer, you will be clothed
them, be dressed in white. I will like them in white robes, and I will
never blot out the name of that not blot your name out of the book
person from the book of life, but of life; I will confess your name
will acknowledge that name before before my father and before his
my Father and his angels. angels.
6. Whoever has ears, let them hear 6. Let anyone who has an ear listen to
what the Spirit says to the churches. what the spirit is saying to the
churches.
7. To the angel of the church in 7. And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write: these are the Philadelphia write: These are the
words of him who is holy and true, words of the holy one, the true one,
who holds the key of David. What who has the key of David, who
he opens no one can open. opens and no one will shut, who
8. I know your deeds. See, I have shuts and no one opens.
placed before you an open door that 8. I know your works. Look, I have set
no one can shut. I know that you before you an open door, which no
have little strength, yet you have one is able to shut. I know that you
kept my word and have not denied have but little power, and yet you
my name. have kept my word and have not
denied my name.
9. I will make those who are of the 9. I will make those of the synagogue of
synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Satan who say that they are Jews
Jews though they are not, but are and are not, but are lying-I will
liars-I will make them come and fall make them come and bow down
down at your feet and acknowledge before your feet, and they will learn
that I have loved you. that I have loved you.
10. Since you have kept my command 10. Because you have kept my word of
to endure patiently, I will also keep patient endurance, I will keep you
you from the hour of trial that is from the hour of trial that is coming
going to come on the whole world on the whole world to test the
to test the inhabitants of the earth. inhabitants of the earth.
 11. I am coming soon. Hold on to what 11. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what
you have, so that no one will take you have, so that no one may seize
your crown. your crown.
12. The one who is victorious I will 12. If you conquer, I will make you a
make a pillar in the temple of my pillar in the temple of my God, you
God. Never again will they leave it. will never go out of it. I will write on
I will write on them the name of my you the name of my God, and the
God and the name of the city of my name of the city of my God, the new
God, the new Jerusalem, which is Jerusalem that comes down from my
coming down out of heaven from my God out of heaven, and my own new
God, and I will also write on him name.
my new name.
13. Whoever has ears, let them hear 13. Let anyone who has an ear listen to
what the spirit says to the churches. what the spirit is saying to the
churches.

Word Study Meaning

Earthquake - a movement of the rocks of the earth that causes cracks to appear.
Emperor – a man who ruled many countries.
Satan – a name for the chief of the bad spirits that are against God; He is the enemy of God.
He has another name, the Devil.
Seven spirits of God- refers to the Holy spirit. He goes to the seven churches. The church
belongs to Jesus Christ. He is Lord of the seven stars. His holds them in his hand. He also
judges them.
Wake up – this means watch. It means be careful.
White clothes – white is the colour that means pure. We find this in all ages and in any country.
The white may be a reward. It is for those who have won the victory. ‘Blessed are the pure in
heart because they shall see God’ (Mat 5:8).
The Book of life – the Israelites were in the desert. They had sinned against God. Moses offered
to sacrifice for them. He hoped that this would save them. He was willing for God to remove
his Book. Exodus 32:33 ‘But the Lord said to Moses, “whoever has sinned against me I will
blot out of my book”. There is punishment for those whose names are not in the Book of life.
God will throw them into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15).
Lord Jesus holy and true – ‘Holy’ is the description of God himself. Holy means different.
God is holy because he is different. ‘True’ does not mean true rather than false. Jesus is the
only reality. (John 14:6)
The key of David – the key is the sign of authority. Jesus has authority to admit people to the
city of David. This is the new Jerusalem. He has the key that opens the door. The door admits
one into the kingdom of God. Christ opens the door into eternal life.
An open door – it is a description of Christ’s future action. The door is Jesus himself. Jesus
says that he is the door (John 10:7,9).
They will come to know that I loved you – ‘They’ refers to those who will not repent. They
are the false Jews. They are the synagogue of Satan. The real Jews would enter the kingdom.
Ten the false Jews will have to admit their mistake.
The hour of trouble will come to the whole world – these words are a warning. The Messiah
will come. He will then bring judgements on people. But here it is not about the judgements.
The word ‘hour’ related to the terribe tome when Jesus would die on the cross (Mark 14:35).
Troubles are to test those who live on the earth. See (Rev 6:10, 8:3). A similar thought is in
John17:15.
The city of my God - this means that the Christian is a citizen. He belongs in the new
Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26). there will be only God and the Lamb of God in that city. The
believer will be in his kingdom.

Application
If we did not become Christians by good works, we cannot become non-Christians by
bad works. God bases our salvation on the finished work of Christ, not on our works. If Jesus
opens a door for us to minister, that is a lost opportunity. We should walk through any door
that the Lord opens. We need to tune our spiritual ears to the message of Jesus. If we are not
vigilant, we will lose everything but out salvation.

Conclusion
The rest of this “revealing” will describe events which, at the time John wrote, were
still in the future. These catastrophic moments are what modern people would consider the ‘end
of the world’.
Naw Eh Thaw Wah
B.Th III