Revelation 3:1 "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
The Lord's message to the church in Sardis.
3:1 - This church period starts from 1,000 to 1,500 A.D. in the middle of the Dark Ages. This church is a spiritually dead church (Ephesians 5:14).
3:2-3 - These verses are doctrinally to the Tribulation (Revelation 16:15, Matthew 24-25), but can have spiritual application to the Church Age.
3:4 - White here symbolizes righteousness earned by works (Psalms 45, Revelation 3:18, 16:15). The robes here stand for good works(Revelation 19) by the Christian, who will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:1-10). These robes are different than the robes in Revelation 6 that are washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
3:5-6 - This is doctrinally to the Tribulation because the Christian has already overcame with Jesus Christ (1 John 4:4, 5:4). That being the case, for the Christian it is a promise that he will not be blotted out of the book of life. Two cross references for the book is Psalms 109:13 and Exodus 32:33.
Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
The Lord's message to the church at Philadelphia.
3:7 - This period is from 1500-1900 A.D. Philadelphia means brotherly love. This is the best church concerning history. This church is the only church that is not told to repent.
3:8 - This church has an open door, but the next church, which is the Laodicean church will have a closed door (Revelation 3:20). This is the only church that is said to of kept God's word. This is when the King James Bible of 1611 is published and also when the Reformation took place.
3:9 - Just like in Smyrna there are also people in this period who claim to be Jews. These people are usually Postmillennial in doctrine like the Catholic church.
3:10 - James 5:11 and Mark 14:38 are cross reference for this verse.
3:11 - Rewards and crowns can be lost by having fellowship, helping or cooperating with people in false doctrine or the lost, such as the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses (2 John 1:8).
3:12-13 - New Jerusalem is the home for the Church/Bride in Eternity (Revelation 21:2).
Revelation of John 3:14 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
The Lord's message to the church at Laodicea.
3:14 - Laodicea is that church period before the Rapture and means civil rights of the people, which matches perfectly for today. The period last from 1900 to the Rapture of the Church. In the verse creation is the object, not Jesus Christ because He is the beginning of everything God does.
3:15 - The Laodicean period professes to orthodox, but is also apostate and worldly.
3:16-17 - This church brags about its earthly riches, but is spiritually poor and not concerned about death. Historically, this church started off good according to Paul (Colossians 4:13).
3:18 - Cross references: Psalms 12:6, 1 Peter 1:7, Eccl. 9:8, Revelation 16:5, John 9:8 and 2 Cor. 5:3.
3:19-20 - This is the only church spoken of as a literal building. In this period, the door is just on Christ and it is the person's choice to open the door to have fellowship with God.
3:21-22 - The message to the seven churches is over. Remember that historically, these churches are seven churches in Asia Minor in John's time. Spiritually, these churches refer to history from the book of Acts to the Rapture. Doctrinally, these churches will be churches in the Tribulation.
