Revelation 3

To the Church in Sardis

1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him i who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation j of being alive, k but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works l complete in the sight of my God. 3 m Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, n I will come o like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not p soiled their garments, and they will walk with me q in white, for they are r worthy. 5 s The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never t blot his name out of u the book of life. v I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 p He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of w the holy one, x the true one, y who has the key of David, z who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8 "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you a an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of b the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, c I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that d I have loved you. 10 e Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try f those who dwell on the earth. 11 g I am coming soon. h Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize i your crown. 12 j The one who conquers, I will make him k a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him l the name of my God, and m the name of the city of my God, m the new Jerusalem, n which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own o new name. 13 p He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

To the Church in Laodicea

14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the p Amen, q the faithful and true witness, r the beginning of God's creation.

15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. s Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 t For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, u blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you v to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and w white garments so that you may clothe yourself and x the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, u so that you may see. 19 y Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and z knock. a If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, b I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 c The one who conquers, d I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as e I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 p He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

  1. Cross References
    Revelation 1:4
    John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
    Revelation 1:16
    In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
  2. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:6
    But she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 15:24
    For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 14:26
    And from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
  5. Cross References
    2 Timothy 1:13
    Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
  6. Cross References
    Revelation 2:5
    Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
  7. Cross References
    Revelation 16:15
    ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")
    Matthew 24:43
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
    1 Thessalonians 5:2
    For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
    1 Thessalonians 5:4
    But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
    2 Peter 3:10
    But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
  8. Cross References
    Jude 1:23
    Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 6:11
    Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
    Revelation 7:9
    After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
    Ecclesiastes 9:8
    Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 20:35
    But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
  11. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 32:32
    But now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.
  13. Cross References
    Revelation 13:8
    And all who dwell on earth will worship it, eve...
    Revelation 17:8
    The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is ...
    Revelation 20:12
    And I saw the dead, great and small, standing b...
    Revelation 20:15
    And if anyone's name was not found written in t...
    Revelation 21:27
    But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor any...
    Philippians 4:3
    Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these...
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 10:32
    So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.
    Luke 12:8
    And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.
  15. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
  16. Cross References
    Revelation 6:10
    They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
  17. Cross References
    Revelation 3:14
    And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
    Revelation 19:11
    Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
    1 John 5:20
    And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 22:22
    And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
    Luke 1:32
    He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
  19. Cross References
    Job 12:14
    If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
    Matthew 16:19
    I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 14:27
    And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
    1 Corinthians 16:9
    For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
    2 Corinthians 2:12
    When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord.
    Colossians 4:3
    At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison -
  21. Cross References
    Revelation 2:9
    'I know your tribulation and your poverty ( but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 45:14
    Thus says the Lord : "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: 'Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.'
    Isaiah 49:23
    Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord ; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.
    Isaiah 60:14
    The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
  23. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:4
    Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
  24. Cross References
    Revelation 1:9
    I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
    2 Peter 2:9
    Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.
  25. Cross References
    Revelation 6:10
    They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign ...
    Revelation 8:13
    Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with...
    Revelation 11:10
    And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice o...
    Revelation 13:8
    And all who dwell on earth will worship it, eve...
    Revelation 13:14
    And by the signs that it is allowed to work in ...
    Revelation 17:8
    The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is ...
  26. Cross References
    Revelation 22:7
    "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
    Revelation 22:12
    Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.
    Revelation 22:20
    He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
  27. Cross References
    Revelation 2:25
    Only hold fast what you have until I come.
  28. Cross References
    Revelation 2:10
    Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  29. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
  30. Cross References
    1 Kings 7:21
    He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the t...
    2 Chronicles 3:17
    He set up the pillars in front of the temple, o...
    Jeremiah 1:18
    And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified ...
    Galatians 2:9
    And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed ...
    Psalms 23:6
    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all t...
    Psalms 27:4
    One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I...
  31. Cross References
    Revelation 14:1
    Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
    Revelation 22:4
    They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
  32. Cross References
    Revelation 21:2
    And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
    Ezekiel 48:35
    The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.
    Galatians 4:26
    But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
    Hebrews 12:22
    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering.
  33. Cross References
    Revelation 21:2
    And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
    Ezekiel 48:35
    The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.
    Galatians 4:26
    But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
    Hebrews 12:22
    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering.
  34. Cross References
    Revelation 21:10
    And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
  35. Cross References
    Revelation 2:17
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.
  36. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
  37. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:20
    For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
  38. Cross References
    Revelation 3:7
    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
    Revelation 1:5
    And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
    Revelation 19:11
    Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
    Revelation 22:6
    And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.
  39. Cross References
    Colossians 1:15
    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
    Colossians 1:18
    And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
    Revelation 21:6
    And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
    Revelation 22:13
    I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
    Proverbs 8:22
    The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
  40. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:21
    For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
  41. Cross References
    Hosea 12:8
    Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.
    Zechariah 11:5
    Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,' and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
    1 Corinthians 4:8
    Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
  42. Cross References
    John 9:39 - 41
    Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.
    Ephesians 1:18
    Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
  43. Cross References
    Isaiah 55:1
    Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
    Matthew 13:44
    The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
    Matthew 25:9
    But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.
    Proverbs 8:19
    My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
  44. Cross References
    Revelation 19:8
    It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
    Revelation 3:4
    Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
  45. Cross References
    Revelation 16:15
    ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")
  46. Cross References
    Revelation 3:17
    For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
  47. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:6
    For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.
  48. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 5:2
    I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.
  49. Cross References
    Luke 12:36
    And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
  50. Cross References
    John 14:23
    Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
    Luke 24:29 - 30
    But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
  51. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
  52. Cross References
    Revelation 20:4
    Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
    Revelation 2:26
    The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
    John 12:26
    If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
    2 Timothy 2:12
    If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.
    Matthew 19:28
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  53. Cross References
    Revelation 5:5
    And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.
    Revelation 6:2
    And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
    Revelation 17:14
    They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
    John 16:33
    I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
  54. Cross References
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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