Revelation 3

Haystack bible commentary

"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."

==revelation 3:1:

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

The church at Sardis had a name for being alive, but Christ told them they were dead. Christ told them that they needed to resurrected. They needed to repent and remember what they had received and heard. You have heard of people sleeping through church, they were dead. Preaching to this church would be like a fellow holding a sunrise service in a graveyard and no one shows up. He goes ahead and preaches to the dead. There were a few in this dead church that had not soiled their garments and to them he promised victory. - James R Davis

==revelation 3:2-3:

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

==revelation 3:4-6:

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

==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;

==revelation 3:8:

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.

Charles Spurgeon

This is a message to the angel of the church at Philadelphia, and it is full of instruction to churches and ministers at this present time "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The Philadelphian church was not great, but it was good: it was not powerful, but it was faithful. The Spirit says, "Thou hast a little strength." Every band of believers has some strength: weak as we are in ourselves, the very fact of our possessing faith proves that we have a portion of strength. Still that strength is a matter of degrees and certain churches have a little strength—but only a little. I suppose that the Philadelphian church had but little strength in the following respects:—the number of its members would be small, and it had therefore but little strength for undertaking any extensive enterprize which would call for numerous bands of workers. The brethren needed all their strength concentrated on their home work, for they were few, and the miss of one or two from home evangelization and edification would be greatly felt. A church may have a very short muster-roll, and yet it may be very dear to God, who thinks more of quality than of quantity, more of obedience than of numbers. They had also little strength in the direction of talent. They were not like that famous church at Corinth, where everybody could teach everybody, but where nobody cared to learn of any one. They had but small ability to speak with tongues, or work miracles, or teach the word; but they adhered faithfully to what they had been taught by the apostles of the Lord: they were not brilliant, but they were sound. Churches with few men of learning or eloquence in them may yet be greatly approved of the Lord, who cares more for grace than learning, more for faith than talent. In all probability they were, like most of the churches of that day, possessed of very little pecuniary strength. They could do but little where money would be required. They were a company of poor people with no man of means among them; and there are many such churches that are peculiarly precious to the heart of God, who cares nothing for gold, and everything for sincerity. Possibly they were little, too, in those things which go side by side with grace: I mean in knowledge, and in power to utter what they knew. This was a pity; but as it was their misfortune and not their fault, they were not blamed for it. The Lord does not blame us for having little strength, but for having little love, little faith, little zeal, little consecration. --Charles Spurgeon

Ray Stedman Files

You find these mystic cults arising in many of the movements of our day. The New Age Movement, for instance, intrigues people with revelations of powerful spirit beings who can impart information that ordinary people do not have. These are what Jesus calls "the deep things of Satan." In Paul's letter to the Corinthians he speaks of the "deep things of God," (1 Corinthians 2:10). Whenever God has something good, Satan imitates it. These dark and hidden matters are Satan's imitation of the wonderfully deep truths in the Word of God. Now to those who refuse these, Jesus says, "Hold fast what you have." Do not let it go. Do not accept these degrading moral standards. It may be difficult to live for Christ in a worldly church, but hang on to your moral standards at least. Do not go along with sexual immorality. Do not accept the idea that adultery is only a minor sin, that you need to have affairs now and then. Hold on," Jesus says, "until I come." --Ray Stedman

==revelation 3:9:

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.

Pope Leo in first major document: Love for the poor is not optional for Christians
The title of Leo’s first exhortation, “Dilexi Te,” is taken from the Book of Revelation 3:9, where “the Lord speaks these words to a Christian community that, unlike some others, had no influence of resources, and was treated instead with violence and contempt.” He makes clear that this exhortation is to be seen as a companion to “Dilexit Nos,” in which Pope Francis reflected on “the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ.” Leo recalls that the encyclical “showed how Jesus identified himself ‘with the lowest ranks of society’ and how, with his love poured out to the end, he confirms the dignity of every human being, especially when ‘they are weak, scorned, or suffering.’” In continuity with that encyclical,” the Augustinian pope recalls that Francis, “in the last months of his life,” was preparing “an Apostolic Exhortation on the Church’s care for the poor, to which he gave the title Dilexi Te, as if Christ speaks those words to each of them, saying: ‘You have but little power,’ yet ‘I have loved you’ (Rev 3:9).”
(America: The Jesuit View; 10/9/25) READMORE>>>>

==revelation 3:10:

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.

==revelation 3:11:

Behold, I come quickly: hold fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown

Crowns have been prepared for each of the finally redeemed. Every soul is a candidate in the race for eternal life, and hence for a crown. Faith in Jesus, and perseverance to the end, will hold it fast.

==revelation 3:12-13:

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.

==revelation 3:14:

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write

The name designates it as a church of mob rule, where everything was decided by popular opinion and majority votes, and not by prayer and fasting
The Laodicean Church was a Christian community established in the ancient city of Laodicea (on the river Lycus, in the Roman province of Asia, and one of the early centers of Christianity). The church was established in the Apostolic Age, the earliest period of Christianity,
The city is located in the Lycus River Valley together with Hierapolis and Colossae. This valley is a natural route of travel from east to west. The city was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II and named for his wife Laodice about 260 BC.

==revelation 3:15-16:

“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth”

There is no story in the Bible where God calls someone and offers to negotiate the terms of the call. There is no example in the Bible where God calls an individual on a trial basis. Jesus doesn’t say to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, “Follow me for sixty days and we will see how things work out and re-evaluate.” No, God calls and we have two choice—either we follow or we don’t.
And we cannot follow Jesus à la carte, as consumers who follow on our terms choosing only how we want to follow. The consumer approach to discipleship not only creates Christians focused mainly on themselves instead of others, cafeteria Christianity tends to produce, not followers of Jesus who “get in the game,” but spectators content to warm the bench while others tend to the hard and faithful and sacrificial work necessary in service to the kingdom of God. -Allan Bevere

I don’t want to push the analogy too far, but for the sake of illustration, let’s think of the membership model of church as similar to the membership model of the modern health club. One becomes a member of a health club by paying dues (in a church, the monthly or weekly offering). Having paid their dues, the members expect the services of the club to be at their disposal. Exercise equipment, weight room, aerobics classes, an indoor track, swimming pool—all there for them, with a trained staff to see that they benefit by them. Members may bring a guest on occasion, but only those who pay their dues have a right to the use of the facilities and the attention of the staff. There is no need to belabor the point. Many who sit in the pews on Sundays have come to think of church membership in ways analogous to how the fitness crowd views membership in a health club (Willi Williman).

==revelation 3:17:

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

These are the words of Jesus Christ to the church of Laodicea, which was self-sufficiently affluent. History tells us that after an earthquake damaged their town, the Roman government offered them funds to rebuild. They were so rich they declined. Although they possessed a veneer of success, inwardly they were dead and dying. The Laodiceans could not see themselves as they truly were: "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." They stupidly left their first love. They loved their precious wealth instead of the gospel. They served the wrong master, and they rested on the delusion that financial affluence insulated them from any need.
--Chris Cookston; Pastor at Prineville Community Church

==revelation 3:18-19:

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that
the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Steve Gallagher

Jesus preached that an entrance into the Kingdom of God required both repentance and faith. (Mark 1:15). Repentance was the first thing He preached (matt 4:17) and the last thing He commanded (Rev 3:19). In fact, in this second reference, He urged people to exercise zeal in their repentance. We might ask ourselves how zealous we are about seeing the need to continually turns away from sin and the ways f self and turn toward the Lord. There is a great need for repentance in the life of the believer because he still has a flesh nature which must be broken of its power and conquered by the Holy Spirit. True repentance then, is much more than aligning oneself with the Christian religion. The Greek word which we translate as repentance is metanoia. It is the combination of the two words meta (after, following) and noieo (think). Metanoia means to reconsider, or to experience a change in one's line of thinking. --Steve Gallagher; At The Altar of Sexual Idolatry

==revelation 3:20:

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

The first thing Jesus is saying is “Behold,” or open you eyes and give me your full and complete attention. Secondly, I am knocking; will you hear my voice calling you to Me? Thirdly, Will you open yourself to Me? If you’ll receive Me, I will come into you (your heart, you soul, your life), and we will sup, (commune together). And in Hebrews 13:5 “He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. And, Matt.28:20, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” -George Randall Jr; Rocky Ford Christian Church

To be honest, when I think of someone knocking, I can’t help but think of Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory”. Whenever he goes someplace and has to knock on a door, he compulsively has to say the person’s name. Knock, knock, knock, Penny. Knock, knock, knock, Penny. Knock, knock, knock, Penny. Sheldon is persistent at knocking at someone’s door, so much so that if they’re there, they are compelled to open the door. I picture God doing that to the door to my heart and mind. Knock, knock, knock, Jill. Knock, knock, knock, Jill. Knock, knock, knock, Jill. He wants me to pay attention, and He’s willing to be annoying when He does it. God does many things to get our attention and bring us back to focusing on Him. God has something to say to us, and He’s not going away until you’ve heard it. -My God is…Knocking Revelation 3:20

==revelation 3:21-22:

21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The promise to "him who overcomes": Jesus addresses the "lukewarm" Laodicean church in the verses preceding this passage. The promise is for those believers who heed his warning and overcome spiritual apathy and worldly attachments, instead pursuing a genuine, intimate relationship with him.
A seat on Christ's throne is the highest reward promised to believers in the letters to the seven churches. It signifies a future participation in Christ's authority and reign, not equality with him in his divine nature. The promise shows Jesus's desire to share his glory with his faithful followers. The phrase "as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" connects the believer's victory to Christ's. Jesus's victory was achieved through his obedience and sacrifice, and the believer's victory is also found by being faithful to him, even in the face of tribulation.
"He who has an ear, let him hear" concludes the letters to each of the seven churches, emphasizing that this message is for all who are willing to listen and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying. It is a direct challenge to the reader to take the message to heart and not be complacent.
To overcome means to remain faithful in your trust and love for Christ and to persevere against the spiritual dangers of lukewarmness and materialism. The offer to sit on Christ's throne is a figurative promise of sharing in his reign and authority during his kingdom, a reward for faithful endurance. Christ's own path to sitting on the throne with the Father serves as the ultimate example for believers. His victory through obedience is the pattern for our own.