Revelation 3:7-22 Lesson 473

Revelation 3:7-22
Lesson 473

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Lessons 471 and 472 continue.

Philadelphia, the compliant church (3-13).

Laodicea, the lukewarm church (3:14-22).

Look for Jesus' praise and promise to Philadelphia, and a denunciation and warning to Laodicea.

Where was -

Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia was located in Natolia on the Cogamus River (in modern day Turkey) about twenty-five miles south-east of Sardis.  Meaning "brotherly love", the city was founded in 190 BC by Attalus Philadelphus, the King of Pergamon (220-138 BC). Originally Philadelphia was built by the people of Pergamos to block barbarians from migrating into the province and although small it became a wealthy business center. A large portion of the population were Jews who persecuted Christians.  The city has been destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries.

Laodicea

A wealthy city on the Lycus River located seven miles northwest of Colosse (just south of Hierapolis and fifty miles east of Ephesus) in the Roman province of Phrygia (western part of modern day Turkey).  Originally called Diospolis and then Rhoas, the city was renamed by King Antiochus II of Syria for his wife Laodice.  Laodicea was a center of trade and banking and so wealthy that it minted its own money.  The city was also famous throughout the Roman empire for its manufacture of fine linens, cloth, and carpets.  Laodicea was the richest of the famous "seven cities" and also had an excellent medical school that produced a popular eye ointment. However, the city was plagued with a poor water supply and had to bring water in via a manmade aqueduct. Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60 but rebuilt by its well to do citizens.  They had a growing Gnostic population which threatened Christianity and as we see in this passage (3:14-22), the church had a weak commitment to Christ.  This was an ongoing problem for the city, Paul also worried about the faith of the Laodiceans twenty-five years earlier (Colossians 2:1).  Even today the word Laodicean refers to anyone who lacks a strong religious or political commitment.

The way to salvation:

First, acknowledge that we are all sinners
and that the penalty for sin is eternal death.
Second, repent and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
and that He died for our sins and was resurrected.
Lastly, pray and make Jesus Christ a part of your life.

Forgiveness of sins and salvation comes through the Son of God.

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 3:7-22
Two messages

7And 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;

8I 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.

9Behold, 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.

10Because 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.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12Him 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.

13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

14And 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;

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17Because 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:

18I 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.

19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20Behold, 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.

21To 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.

22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Margin notes:

"The key of David." (3:7) - The key symbolizes Jesus' authority to unlock heavens door for those who accept His sacrifice on the cross.

"No man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." (3:7) - No man can shut heavens door, and once shut, no man can open it. Paraphrased from Isaiah 22:22.

"I have set before thee an open door." (3:8) - The door to heaven is open, walk through it to find salvation.

"I will make them to come and worship before thy feet." (3:9) - A reference to the Jews in Philadelphia who persecuted Christians.

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience." (3:10) - "Because you listened to me and patiently endured."

"I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." (3:10) - "I will protect you when the hour of tribulation comes." Some Christians interpret this to mean that Jesus will protect His church during any tough time. Others believe it means that Jesus will save His followers from the horrible period of "tribulation" scheduled to begin at some unknown future date.

"Try them." (3:10) - "Test them."

"Hold that fast which thou hast." (3:11) - "Hold fast to what (faith) you have." Why? Read Revelation 22:7 and 22:12.

"Him that overcometh." (3:12) - Means, all Christians.

"I will write upon him the name of my God." (3:12) - To write God's name on someone means they belong to God.

"New Jerusalem." (3:12) - Most Bible scholars believe this is an actual city and the forever home of Christians in the new world (Revelation 21:2-4; 21:10-27), but some say New Jerusalem merely represents God's church here on earth.

"These things saith the Amen." (3:14) - In the Old Testament, "Amen" referred to God the Father. Here it is a name given to Jesus.

"The faithful and true witness." (3:14) - A reference to Jesus who is "faithful and true", unlike the lukewarm church of Laodicea.

"The beginning of the creation of God." (3:14) - Jesus existed from the beginning of creation (Colossians 1:15-19).

"Thou art neither cold nor hot." (3:15) - "You don't believe or disbelieve."

"I would thou wert cold or hot." (3:15) - "I wish you were either hot or cold."

"Thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee our of my mouth." (3:16) - To underscore His point, Jesus is comparing the Laodicea's poor water quality (something they could understand) to their indifferent faith. Just as warm water isn't satisfying to drink and might be spit out, lukewarm faith isn't satisfying to the spirit.

"Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." (3:17) - "You say, because I am rich with many possessions I have no need for anything else." Also read the advice in Psalm 62:10 and Zechariah 11:5.

"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." (3:18) - The Laodicea's had worldly riches but Jesus advised them to buy the gold and garments that He offered. The "eyesalve" was a culturally relevant point at the time that referred to the medicinal eye ointment available at the medical school in Laodicea. Anointing your eyes with Jesus' truth is the surest way to see clearly.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." (3:19) - "I rebuke and discipline those I love." As any loving parent would do, not to punish but to teach.

"Be zealous." (3:19) - "Be excited."

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." (3:21) - Jesus made this same promise in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:29-30.

New Living Translation

Revelation 3:7-22
The Message to the Church in Philadelphia

7 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

  This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
      the one who has the key of David.
   What he opens, no one can close;
      and what he closes, no one can open:

8 "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue-those liars who say they are Jews but are not-to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10 "Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God-the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

The Message to the Church in Laodicea

14 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen-the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's new creation:

15 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

17 You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

18 So I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

20 "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

22 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches."

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Seven Ages of the Church

"Some people believe the seven letters not only describe seven first-century churches but also prophesy the history of the Church from John's time onward. This analysis does reflect a partisan view of history, but we offer it for you to evaluate.

    1. Ephesus represents the apostolic Church, about 30-100 AD. It grew cooler in its love for the Lord as
it grew stronger in doctrinal purity.

    2. Smyrna represents the persecuted Church, a maligned minority between 100 and 313 AD.

    3. Pergamum is the Church married to or compromising with the state. Emperor Constantine declared Christianity to be the state religion in 313 AD. From then on, the emperors had a strong say in what the
Church did, and pagan practices were Christianized.

    4. Thyatira is the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages, where love, faith, service, and perseverance were growing, but where falsehood was tolerated. Some people began to exalt the Queen of Heaven (Mary) above the Son of God. Also, the Inquisition confiscated people's lands by charging them with heresy (compare Jezebel in 1 kings 21:1-16).

    5. Sardis is the Reformation Church, which emphasized names (denominations) and doctrines but was spiritually dead, despite its reputation for vitality.

    6. Philadelphia is the missionary Church of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

    7. Laodicea is the rich, complacent Church of the western world in the twentieth century."

From "Revelation" in "The Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; pages 49-50.

Study the Bible every day, it has much to teach us.

Application thought for the day:

The church in Ephesus was short on love while in Smyrna they suffered persecution. In Pergamos they were tolerant of sin. In Thyatira the church was willing to compromise its faith but in Sardis their faith was already dead. Although the church in Laodicea still had faith, it was lukewarm (3:16). Each of these churches represent a different stage in the life of a Christian. At some point in their lives most believers will suffer persecution, treat those around them in a loveless fashion, or compromise their faith when it is needed most. For some Christians their faith may even become lukewarm for periods of time or die altogether.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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