Revelation 3

The Letter to Sardis

1 "Write to the angel* 3:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 7,14of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God* 3:1 Rv 1:4; 4:5; 5:6and the seven stars:* 3:1 Rv 1:16,20; 2:1I know your works;* 3:1 Rv 2:2,19; 3:8,15you have a reputation* 3:1 Or have a namefor being alive, but you are dead.* 3:1 Rm 6:112 Be alert* 3:2 Mt 25:13; 26:40–41; Ac 20:31; 1Co 16:13; 1Pt 5:8; 2Pt 3:10and strengthen* 3:2 Other mss read guardwhat remains, which is about to die,* 3:2 Or strengthen who remain, who are about to diefor I have not found your works complete before my God.3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come* 3:3 Other mss add upon youlike a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.* 3:3 Mt 24:42–44; Mk 13:32–37; Lk 12:35–40; 1Th 5:1–11; Rv 16:154 But you have a few people* 3:4 Lit few namesin Sardis who have not defiled* 3:4 Or soiledtheir clothes,* 3:4 Zch 3:3–4; 2Co 7:1; Rv 14:4and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

5 "In the same way, the one who conquers* 3:5 1Jn 2:13–14; 4:4; 5:4–5; Rv 2:7,11,17,26; 3:12,21will be dressed in white clothes,* 3:5 Mt 17:2; Rv 3:18; 4:4and I will never erase his name from the book of life* 3:5 Ex 32:32–33; Ps 69:28; Dn 12:1; Rv 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.* 3:5 Mt 10:32; Lk 12:8

6 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen* 3:6 Mt 11:15; 13:9,43; Lk 8:8; 14:35to what the Spirit says* 3:6 Ac 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 21:11; 28:25; 1Tm 4:1; Heb 3:7; 10:15; Rv 14:13; 22:17to the churches.

The Letter to Philadelphia

7 "Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one,* 3:7 1Jn 5:20; Rv 6:10; 19:11the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens:* 3:7 Is 22:22; Mt 16:198 I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.* 3:8 Ac 14:27; 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:39 Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet,* 3:9 Is 45:14; 49:23; 60:14; 1Co 14:25and they will know that I have loved you.* 3:9 Is 43:410 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing* 3:10 Lk 8:13; Heb 3:8; 1Pt 4:12that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.* 3:10 Rv 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8,14; 17:811 I am coming soon.* 3:11 Rv 22:7,12,20Hold on to what you have,* 3:11 Rv 2:25so that no one takes your crown.* 3:11 1Co 9:25; 1Th 2:19; 2Tm 4:8; Jms 1:12; 1Pt 5:4

12 "The one who conquers I will make a pillar* 3:12 1Kg 7:21; 2Ch 3:17; Jr 1:18; Gl 2:9in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God — the new Jerusalem,* 3:12 Ezk 48:35; Gl 4:26; Heb 12:22; Rv 21:2which comes down out of heaven from my God — and my new name.* 3:12 Rv 2:17; 7:3; 14:1; 22:4

13 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Letter to Laodicea

14 "Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen,* 3:14 2Co 1:20the faithful and true witness, the originator* 3:14 Or beginning, or ruler,* 3:14 Mk 10:6; 13:19; Jn 1:1–5; Col 1:18; 2Pt 3:4of God’s creation: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit* 3:16 Or spityou out of my mouth.17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’* 3:17 Hs 12:8; Zch 11:5; 1Co 4:8and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich,* 3:18 Zch 13:9; 1Pt 1:7white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed,* 3:18 Gn 2:25; Is 20:4; Ezk 23:29; Rv 16:15and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.* 3:19 Heb 12:26So be zealous and repent.20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.* 3:20 Lk 24:29–30

21 "To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,* 3:21 Mt 19:28; 2Tm 2:12; Rv 20:4just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."