5. Message to the Church of Sardis (Verses 1 – 6)
The church of Sardis represents the Christian church from the end of the Reformation (approximately 1600 AD) to 1798. After the original reformers passed from the scene, their followers failed to continue advancing in the truth, and the Protestant churches soon needed reforming as much as the Church of Rome.
The name Sardis means “things which remain,” a reference to the few faithful followers of Christ during this time.
Verse 1
He who has the seven Spirits of God – It is the Spirit that brings life, and Jesus introduces Himself as the One having the Spirit in its fullness. The church of Sardis is dead because she lacks the Spirit, but Jesus stands ready to remedy her condition.
He who has…the seven stars – The seven stars symbolize the messengers to the seven churches. Here Jesus represents Himself as having a message for any spiritual condition, even death.
You have a name that you are alive – This name is Protestant. The Protestant churches claimed to have the truth, but they rejected further truth as it was given to them.
Verse 2
Jesus gives no commendation to the church of Sardis, only a warning to those who are ready to die. They have compromised and are ready to give in.
Verse 3
Remember…hold fast…repent – To those who have compromised and are ready to give in, Jesus counsels them to remember how they originally received the truth when it was presented. Hold fast to the truth and repent for your backsliding from it.
If you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief – This is a reference to the close of probation just before the Second Coming. See 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8, Matthew 24:42-44. (SOP 1)
Verse 4
This verse refers to the faithful few who had not compromised (Rev. 16:15).
They shall walk with Me in white – See Zechariah 3:3,4,6,7.
Verses 5,6
Jesus promises the overcomers white garments, symbolic of the righteousness of Christ (Rev. 19:7,8).
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 – This is a description of the work of the judgment (Daniel 7:22).
6. Message to the Church of Philadelphia (Verses 7 – 13)
The church of Philadelphia represents the Christian church from 1798 to 1844 AD. This was the time of the Great Advent Movement. The name Philadelphia means “brotherly love,” and it describes those who were looking for the Second Coming of Jesus during this time.
Verse 7
Jesus introduces Himself to the church of Philadelphia using three titles.
He who is holy, He who is true – Those who responded to the message that Jesus was coming soon, prepared for His return. It was these who discerned Jesus in the message, recognizing His holiness and truth.
He who has the key of David – This title comes from a prophecy in Isaiah.
Isaiah 22:22 - The key of David is laid on the Messiah’s shoulder.
Isaiah 9:6 – The government is laid on the Messiah’s shoulder.
In these verses, receiving the key of David and receiving the government are the same. So the key must be used to receive the government (kingdom).
Isaiah 9:7 - His kingdom is established with judgment.
Jesus establishes His kingdom by conducting the judgment. So the key must also be connected with the judgment. Jesus’ third title helps us put these ideas together.
He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens – Now we see the purpose of the key. Jesus uses it to open and shut doors (Rev. 3:8), in order to conduct the judgment and receive His kingdom.
In these titles, Jesus is using sign language to tell a story. He uses the key of David to open the door to the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary and conduct the judgment, so He can receive His kingdom. (He also uses the key to close the door to the Holy Place, where He had been ministering since 31 AD.) This took place on October 22, 1844. At the conclusion of the judgment, Jesus will receive His kingdom (Daniel 7:9,10,13,14).
Verse 8
Here Jesus is speaking to those who have just experienced the great disappointment in 1844.
I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it – His disappointed followers were to by faith enter the door into the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19-23). (SOP 2,3)
Verse 9
The synagogue of Satan represents the Christian churches that rejected the message that Jesus was coming again (Rev. 18:2). They will worship at the saints feet after the saints are delivered from the death decree at the very end of time (Isaiah 60:1,2,14). (SOP 4)
Verse 10
The members of the church of Philadelphia thought they would live to see Jesus come, but they went to their graves. This is how they are kept from the hour of trial (the great Time of Trouble).
Verses 11,12
Jesus assures these devoted followers that He is coming quickly, and He gives a special promise.
I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more – This promise is given in sign language. The temple is God’s Church, and God promises to make them pillars, supports that hold up the building.
God also promises to write three names on these followers:
The name of my God – this name signifies ownership.
The name of the city of my God – this name signifies their destination.
My new name – This name signifies their new character. God has fulfilled His New Covenant promise to write His law in their minds and hearts (Hebrews 10:16).
Rev. 3:13 – Notice again that this is spoken to all the churches. These promises apply personally to you and me.
7. Message to the Church of Laodicea (Verses 14 – 22)
Verse 14
The church of Laodicea represents the Christian Church beginning around 1844. The name Laodicea means “judged people” or “indicted people,” a reference to the judgment that began in Heaven in 1844. The meaning of their name is very significant considering the spiritual condition of Laodicea.
Judgment day in the Old Testament was called the Day of Atonement, when the Sanctuary was cleansed of sin. Actually, two sanctuaries were cleansed that day - the temple and the people (Malachi 3:1-5).
God required four things of His people on the Day of Atonement. They were to:
1. Afflict their souls (Leviticus 16:29-31)
2. Do no work at all
3. Gather together in a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:27)
4. Fast (Isaiah 58:5,2)
These requirements are a type for those living in the anti-typical Day of Atonement. They show us how we are to live our lives during the judgment.
Note: We cannot literally fast and do no work for our entire lives. These requirements are principles that illustrate how we are to live while we are being judged. Doing no work means that we are to let nothinginterfere with our work of afflicting the soul (heart searching). Fasting points to the health message, also an essential part of our preparation.
Verse 14
Jesus introduces Himself to Laodicea with three titles.
The Amen – Amen is an affirmation that literally means, “so be it.” Jesus is affirming that His message to Laodicea is absolutely true and trustworthy. This is significant because Laodicea doesn’t know that she is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17).
The Faithful and True Witness – Remember that Jesus is our Judge in the judgment. He’s testifying about our true condition - but not in court! He’s warning us before our case comes up, so that we can straighten things out beforehand.
The Beginning of the creation of God – Jesus created all things (Colossians 1:15-17, John 1:3). Is Jesus reminding the Laodiceans that they need to be re-created, born again?
Verses 15,16
Laodicea is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, and it makes God nauseous. Lukewarm is a mixture of hot and cold, and it represents a mixture of the things of God and the world. Notice how God feels about this in the following passages:
James 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1, 1 John 2:15
Verse 17
This verse describes how Laodicea sees herself. How can she be so deceived?
(SOP 5,6)
Verses 18,19
Jesus’ counsel for correcting the problem is to buy from Him three things.
Gold refined in the Fire – This represents faith that works by love and purifies the soul (1 Peter 1:7,22). (SOP 7)
White garments – This represents Christ’s righteousness imparted to us (Isaiah 61:10, Rev. 16:15, Rev. 19:7,8). (SOP 8)
Eyesalve – This represents spiritual discernment given by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17,18). (SOP 9)
How are we to “buy” these things? By repenting (Verse 19).
After giving this scathing rebuke, Jesus reminds Laodicea that He is doing it out of love.
Verse 20
Jesus is a gentleman. We must open our heart’s door to Him.
Sharing a meal is a means of forming a strong bond of affection and companionship, such as during courtship. In Old Testament times, a meal was shared after making a covenant (Genesis 31:44-55).
Verses 21,22
In this promise to the overcomer, Jesus promises to share everything with us, including His throne.
Verse 21 is a “bridge passage” that summarizes the next section of Revelation, the Seven Seals. Section II begins with Jesus sitting down on His Father’s throne, having overcome on the earth. The seals then show the process of His followers overcoming, so they can join Him at the throne.
Spirit of Prophecy Quotations
1 “What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, pages 190, 191.
2 “…while it was true that that door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found access to God, was closed, another door was opened, and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only to give place to another. There was still an “open door” to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf.
“Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: “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; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:7, 8.
“It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who receive the benefits of His mediation in their behalf, while those who reject the light which brings to view this work of ministration are not benefited thereby.” – The Great Controversy, pages 429, 430.
3 “Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their [the Adventist’s] faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in heaven; and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God’s law and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Men sought to close the door which God had opened, and to open the door which He had closed. But "He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth," had declared: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:7, 8. Christ had opened the door, or ministration, of the most holy place, light was shining from that open door of the sanctuary in heaven, and the fourth commandment was shown to be included in the law which is there enshrined; what God had established, no man could overthrow.” -- The Great Controversy, page 435.
4 “No language can express the longing which the disobedient and disloyal feel for that which they have lost forever – eternal life. Men whom the world has worshiped for their talents and eloquence now see these things in their true light. They realize what they have forfeited by transgression, and they fall at the feet of those whose fidelity they have despised and derided, and confess that God has loved them.” – The Great Controversy, page 655.
5 “If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord – those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, page 187.
6 “The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition. How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is wanting in their hearts, but it is this very fervor of love that makes God’s people the light of the world.” – The Review and Herald, July 23, 1889.
7 “The gold mentioned by Christ, the True Witness, which all must have, has been shown me to be faith and love combined, and love takes the precedence of faith. Satan is constantly at work to remove these precious gifts from the hearts of God’s people. All are engaged in playing the game of life.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, page 36.
8 “By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged with His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garments of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us, He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” – Christ’s Object Lessons, page 312.
9 “The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any disguise.” – Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 4, page 88.
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