Revelation · Bible in Basic English
Revelation 3 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis say: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I have knowledge of your works, that you seem to be living but are dead.
1 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Be on the watch, and make strong the rest of the things which are near to death; because as judged by me your works have not come up to God's measure.
2 Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.
3 Keep in mind, then, the teaching which was given to you, and be ruled by it and have a change of heart. If then you do not keep watch, I will come like a thief, and you will have no knowledge of the hour when I will come on you.
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.
4 But you have some names in Sardis who have kept clean their robes; and as a reward they will go in white with me.
4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes will be dressed in white, and I will not take his name from the book of life, and I will give witness to his name before my Father, and before his angels.
5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia say: These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, opening the door so that it may be shut by no one, and shutting it so that it may be open to no one.
7 “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8 I have knowledge of your works (see, I have put before you an open door which may be shut by no one), and that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have been true to my name.
8 “I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.
9 See, I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and are not, but say what is false; I will make them come and give worship before your feet, and see my love for you.
9 Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you from the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth.
10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 I come quickly: keep that which you have, so that no one may take your crown.
11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.
12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the house of my God, and he will go out no more: and I will put on him the name of my God, and the name of the town of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there 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 my own new name.
13 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea say: These things says the true and certain witness, the head of God's new order:
14 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:
15 I have knowledge of your works, that you are not cold or warm: it would be better if you were cold or warm.
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.
16 So because you are not one thing or the other, I will have no more to do with you.
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I have wealth, and have got together goods and land, and have need of nothing; and you are not conscious of your sad and unhappy condition, that you are poor and blind and without clothing.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
18 If you are wise you will get from me gold tested by fire, so that you may have true wealth; and white robes to put on, so that your shame may not be seen; and oil for your eyes, so that you may see.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
19 To all those who are dear to me, I give sharp words and punishment: then with all your heart have sorrow for your evil ways.
19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man's ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.
21 To him who overcomes I will give a place with me on my high seat, even as I overcame, and am seated with my Father on his high seat.
21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Timothy 5:6; James 2:26; Revelation 1:4; Colossians 2:13; Jude 12
- 2 Revelation 16:15; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:1–4; Isaiah 35:3
- 3 Revelation 2:5; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Matthew 24:42–43; Revelation 16:15
- 4 Revelation 3:5; Revelation 7:9; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:13–14
- 5 Matthew 10:32; Revelation 21:27; Luke 12:8; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:12
- 6 Revelation 2:7
- 7 Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18; Job 12:14; John 14:6
- 8 1 Corinthians 16:9; Colossians 4:3; Revelation 3:7; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 2:12
- 9 Isaiah 60:14; Revelation 2:9; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 43:4
- 10 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 14:12; Zechariah 13:9; Daniel 12:10; Revelation 2:10
- 11 James 1:12; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 2:25; 2 Timothy 4:8
- 12 Revelation 22:4; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 14:1; Jeremiah 1:18; Galatians 2:9
- 13 Revelation 2:7
- 14 Colossians 1:15; Revelation 1:5; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 3:7
- 15 Romans 12:11; Matthew 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21; James 1:8; Revelation 2:4
- 16 Revelation 2:5; Zechariah 11:8–9; Jeremiah 14:19; Jeremiah 15:1–4
- 17 Proverbs 13:7; Romans 7:24; Hosea 12:8; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 16:15
- 18 Revelation 16:15; 1 Peter 1:7; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 19:8; Malachi 3:3
- 19 Proverbs 3:11–12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:5–11; Job 5:17; Revelation 2:5
- 20 Luke 12:36–37; Revelation 19:9; John 14:21–23; Matthew 24:33; Song of Songs 5:2–4
- 21 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 2:26–27; John 16:33; Revelation 2:7
- 22 Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:13; Revelation 3:6
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… that not only what is equal and consubstantial with God is said to proceed out of His mouth, let them hear or read what God says: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." There is no ground, then, for our objecting, when the apostle so expressly distinguishes the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." And taste may be included, in accordance with which God hateth the bitter in temper, and spueth out of His mouth those who are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot: and Christ our God saith, "My meat is to do the will of Him that …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
When I spare, thou singest and praisest: when I chasten, thou murmurest: as though, when I spare, I am thy God: and, when I chasten, I am not thy God. "I rebuke and chasten those whom I love." "But thou hatest instruction: and hast thrown My sayings behind thee." The words that are said through thee, thou throwest behind thee.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)