1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him *See ch. 1:4,16who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

"‘I know your works. You have the reputation *1 Tim. 5:6of being alive, *See Luke 15:24but you are dead.2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works *Acts 14:26complete in the sight of my God.3 *[2 Tim. 1:13] Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, *ch. 2:5I will come *ch. 16:15;Matt. 24:43;1 Thess. 5:2,4;2 Pet. 3:10like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not *Jude 23soiled their garments, and they will walk with me *ch. 6:11;7:9;[Eccles. 9:8] in white, for they are *[Luke 20:35]worthy.5 *See ch. 2:7The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never *See Ex. 32:32blot his name out of *ch. 13:8;17:8;20:12,15;21:27;Phil. 4:3the book of life. *Matt. 10:32;Luke 12:8I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.6 *[See ch. 2:7above]He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of *ch. 6:10the holy one, *ver. 14;ch. 19:11;1 John 5:20the true one, *Isa. 22:22;[Luke 1:32] who has the key of David, *Job 12:14;[Matt. 16:19]who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8 "‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you *Acts 14:27;1 Cor. 16:9;2 Cor. 2:12;Col. 4:3an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.9 Behold, I will make those of *ch. 2:9the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, *[Isa. 45:14;49:23;60:14] I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that *Isa. 43:4I have loved you.10 *ch. 1:9;2 Pet. 2:9Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try *ch. 6:10;8:13;11:10;13:8,14;17:8those who dwell on the earth.11 *ch. 22:7,12,20I am coming soon. *ch. 2:25Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize *ch. 2:10your crown.12 *See ch. 2:7The one who conquers, I will make him *1 Kgs. 7:21;2 Chr. 3:17;Jer. 1:18;Gal. 2:9;[Ps. 23:6;27:4] a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him *ch. 14:1;22:4the name of my God, and *ch. 21:2;Ezek. 48:35;[Gal. 4:26;Heb. 12:22] the name of the city of my God, *ch. 21:2;Ezek. 48:35;[Gal. 4:26;Heb. 12:22] the new Jerusalem, *ch. 21:10which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own *ch. 2:17new name.13 *[See ch. 2:7above]He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the *2 Cor. 1:20Amen, *ver. 7;ch. 1:5;19:11;22:6the faithful and true witness, *Col. 1:15,18;[ch. 21:6; 22:13;Prov. 8:22]the beginning of God’s creation.

15 "‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. *[2 Pet. 2:21]Would that you were either cold or hot!16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17 *Hos. 12:8;Zech. 11:5;1 Cor. 4:8For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, *John 9:39-41;Eph. 1:18blind, and naked.18 I counsel you *Isa. 55:1;Matt. 13:44;25:9;[Prov. 8:19] to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and *[ch. 19:8]; See ver. 4white garments so that you may clothe yourself and *ch. 16:15the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, *[See ver. 17above]so that you may see.19 *See Heb. 12:6Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.20 Behold, I stand at the door and *[Song 5:2] knock. *Luke 12:36If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, *John 14:23;[Luke 24:29,30]I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.21 *See ch. 2:7The one who conquers, *ch. 20:4;[ch. 2:26;John 12:26;2 Tim. 2:12]; See Matt. 19:28I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as *ch. 5:5;6:2;17:14;John 16:33I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.22 *[See ch. 2:7above]He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"