1 “Write this to the angel of the Sardis church: This is what the one who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know what you have accomplished, and that you give the appearance of being alive—but in reality you are dead. 2 Wake up, and try to revive what is left that's about to die! For I have discovered that from the perspective of my God, nothing you've done has been finished. 3 So remind yourselves of how this message came to you, and what you heard. Observe what you were told to do, and repent. If you don't watch out, I'll come unexpectedly like a thief, and you won't know at what time I'll come to you! 4 But there are some among you in Sardis who have not ruined their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, for they deserve to do so. 5 Those who are victorious will be dressed in white like this. Their names will not be removed from the book of life, and I will speak for them in the presence of my Father and his angels. 6 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. 7 Write this to the angel of the Philadelphia church: This is what the one says, the one who is holy and true, who has the key of David. He can open and nobody is able to shut, he can shut, and nobody is able to open: 8 I know what you have accomplished—look, I've opened a door for you that no one can shut. I know that you only have a little strength, but you did what I told you, and you did not deny me. 9 From Satan's synagogue I will bring those who say they are Jews (but are not, they are liars), making them come and worship at your feet, so that they will acknowledge that I love you. 10 Because you have persevered as I told you to, I will take care of you during the testing time that is coming on the whole world when those who live on the earth will be on trial. 11 I am coming soon! Keep a tight grasp on what you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12 Those who are victorious I will make into pillars in the Temple of my God. They won't ever have to leave. I will write on them the name of my God, the name of the city of my God called New Jerusalem which descends from heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. 14 Write this to the angel of the Laodicea church: This is what the Amen says, who is the faithful, true witness, highest ruler of God's creation: 15 I know what you have accomplished—you're neither hot nor cold. I wish you were hot or cold! 16 But because you're lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm going to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say to yourselves, ‘I'm rich, I have wealth, and don't need anything.’ But you don't know that you are miserable and pitiful and poor and blind and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so you may be rich; and have white clothes so you can be properly dressed and you won't reveal your nakedness and shame; and ointment to put on your eyes so you can see. 19 Those I love I correct and discipline. So be really sincere, and repent. 20 Look, I'm standing at the door, knocking. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. 21 I will have those who are victorious sit down with me beside my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down beside my Father on his throne. 22 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches.”
Revelation · Free Bible Version
Revelation 3 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)