The Book of Revelation 

Chapter 3 presentsthe letters to the remaining three Asian churches. 

The first church addressed in chapter 3 is the church at Sardis.  Note the introduction and the title used concerning the seven spirits of God.  If you’ll remember from chapter 1, I gave my opinion concerning the 11th chapter of Isaiah.  Is this the correct opinion? It’s hard to say since there is only one place in the bible that any mention of seven spirits can be found (other than Revelation). 

Revelation 3:2 mentions “perfect works”.  I won’t spend the time on “perfection” (there will be a study on perfection in the near future added to the site), but allow me to give you a scripture.  Matthew 5:48:  “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Can it be done?  If it cannot be done, then you have found a lie in the bible!  It can be done!  Jesus isn’t talking about flesh though.  God is a SPIRIT.  If you are to be “perfect” as God is, then you must do it by the Spirit!   Enough said on this topic for now.  Let’s move on. 

Again, as with the other churches, we see the command to repent (verse 3), the results of a failure to repent (verse 3) and a promise to those who overcome (verse 5). 

I want to cover verse 5 in more detail.  “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.” 

Did you pay attention to those words in bold type?  Do you realize Jesus is telling us that there are some conditions upon which someone can have their name BLOTTED OUT of the book of Life?   Friend, if there is even ONE thing that you must learn from this verse it is this:  What many people have been taught about salvation in this present life is a farce and a sham.  We are not saved until the one who brings salvation comes (Jesus Christ). 

We have a hope of salvation and we have an expectation of salvation, but friend, if there is even the slightest chance that anyone’s name could be blotted out of the book of Life, then your belief in eternal salvation simply because you confessed something at one time or another is completely and utterly false.  Verse 5 leaves no doubt about it:  If you DO NOT “Overcome”, your name WILL BE BLOTTED OUT.  Matthew 24:13:  “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”   Enough said.   If you want to know more, there is a 20+ page teaching on this site concerning salvation. 

In Revelation 3:7, we learn of the only church that did not receive a rebuke from the Lord:  The church at Philadelphia.   There was nothing bad said about this church!  Note however, that Jesus DID tell them the same thing he did in all the other churches:  “I know thy works”.  After so many statements concerning works, we should begin to get the idea that works ARE important.  We are not saved by works, but if we’re truly saved, we will have good works! 

The Lord commended the church at Philadelphia and promised to protect them from the hour of temptation.  Jesus then reminds them that he is coming and exhorts them to “..hold fast…”  that which they had.  In other words (if I may paraphrase)  “Keep on doing what you’re doing”! 

If you’ve ever had a taste of lukewarm coffee or lukewarm “hot” chocolate, then you’ll be able to relate to this last church:  The church of the Laodiceans.  Every preacher today likes to talk about this church, but before we get on a high horse and begin to condemn the Laodecian church, we must remember that this was STILL one of the 7 golden candlesticks!!!  

It was still a church which the Lord loved (although one you might not want to attend)! 

Notice the greeting (verse 14):  The beginning of the CREATION of GOD…not the “BEGINNING OF GOD’S CREATION” as is taught by the  Jehovah’s Witnesses and other similar Christ denying churches. 

John 1:1-5:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” 

John 1:14:  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” 

Verse 15:  “I know thy works”!  You don’t really care one way or the other.  You’re wishy washy….. You’re not on fire, you’re not backslidden, you’re just indifferent…..you’re passive……etc.

It appeared that their attitude was that they weren’t losing souls, but they weren’t winning them either, but they had a problem...

Α Ω