Revelation 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Write To Sardis: You Are Alive In Name Only. Remember What You Received. Repent
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis, write— These things says the One having the seven Spirits[a] of God and the seven stars. I know your works: that you have a name[b] that you are alive[c], and you are dead. 2 Be[d] keeping-watch, and establish[e] the remaining things which were-about-to die, for I have not found your works fulfilled[f] in the sight of My God. 3 Therefore be remembering how you have received and you heard, and be keeping it, and repent. Therefore if you do not keep-watch, I will come like a thief. And you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 But you have a few names[g] in Sardis who did not stain their garments. And they will walk with Me in white garments, because they are worthy. 5 The one overcoming will in-this-manner clothe himself in white garments. And I will never[h] wipe-out[i] his name from the book of life. And I will confess[j] his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 Let the one having an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Write To Philadelphia: You Have Kept My Word. I Am Giving You an Opened Door
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write— These things says the Holy One, the True One, the One having the key[k] of David, the One opening and no one will shut, and shutting and no one opens. 8 I know your works[l]. Behold— I have given before you an opened door[m] (which, no one is able to shut it). Because[n] you have a little[o] power[p], and you kept My word, and you did not deny My name, 9 behold— I am giving some[q] from the synagogue of Satan, the ones saying that they are Jews (and they are not), but they are lying. Behold— I will make them so that they will come and worship[r] before your feet, and they may know that I loved you. 10 Because you kept the word of My[s] endurance, I also will keep[t] you from[u] the hour of testing, the hour going-to come upon the whole world to test the ones dwelling upon the earth[v]. 11 I am coming quickly. Be holding-on-to what you have in order that no one may take your crown. 12 The one overcoming— I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never go outside again. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God— the new Jerusalem, the one coming down out of heaven from My God— and My new name. 13 Let the one having an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Write To Laodicea: You Are Lukewarm. Get What You Need From Me. Repent
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea, write— These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning[w] of the creation of God. 15 I know your works: that you are neither cold nor hot. O-that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about-to spew you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say that “I am a rich one, and I have become-rich, and I have a need for nothing”, and you do not know that you are the one wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold having been refined by fire in order that you may become-rich, and white garments in order that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye-salve to rub-in your eyes in order that you may see. 19 I rebuke and discipline[x] all whom I love. Therefore be zealous, and repent. 20 Behold— I stand at the door. And I am knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I also[y] will come-in to him. And I will have-dinner with him, and he with Me. 21 The one overcoming— I will give him authority to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 Let the one having an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches”.
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:1 See 1:4.
- Revelation 3:1 Or, reputation.
- Revelation 3:1 Or, are living (spiritually).
- Revelation 3:2 Or, Prove-to-be ones who are keeping watch.
- Revelation 3:2 Or, stabilize.
- Revelation 3:2 Or, completed. Jesus has not found their faith fulfilled in their actions.
- Revelation 3:4 That is, people.
- Revelation 3:5 Or, by no means.
- Revelation 3:5 Or, smear-out, blot-out, erase.
- Revelation 3:5 Or, declare, acknowledge.
- Revelation 3:7 That is, the authority to open David’s house, the Messiah’s kingdom, the New Jerusalem.
- Revelation 3:8 The content of their works are contained in the two ‘Because’ statements that follow.
- Revelation 3:8 That is, a door of service; or, a door of salvation, a door into Messiah’s city.
- Revelation 3:8 This gives the reason for giving them their enemies. Or, ‘shut it), because... name. Behold’, giving the reason for the open door. Or, ‘I know your works (Behold... shut it), that’, giving the content of their works.
- Revelation 3:8 a little power, and. That is, some power, which you are using effectively. Or, little power, yet; that is, hardly any power.
- Revelation 3:8 Or, strength. That is, spiritual power; or, number of people.
- Revelation 3:9 That is, some converts; or short of that, some who will submit to you as follows.
- Revelation 3:9 That is, worship Me. Or, prostrate-themselves [to you]; that is, in submission.
- Revelation 3:10 That is, the message proceeding from Christ’s endurance. Or, My word of endurance; that is, My command to endure.
- Revelation 3:10 Or, preserve, protect, guard.
- Revelation 3:10 Or, out-of, away-from. That is, preserve you through the hour; or, keep you out of the hour.
- Revelation 3:10 Or, land.
- Revelation 3:14 That is, origin, first cause (as in ‘the beginning and the end’, 22:13). Or, Ruler.
- Revelation 3:19 Or, train, correct.
- Revelation 3:20 Or, indeed.
Revelation 3
English Standard Version
To the Church in Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him (A)who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation (B)of being alive, (C)but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works (D)complete in the sight of my God. 3 (E)Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, (F)I will come (G)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 (H)soiled their garments, and they will walk with me (I)in white, for they are (J)worthy. 5 (K)The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never (L)blot his name out of (M)the book of life. (N)I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 (O)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 (P)the holy one, (Q)the true one, (R)who has the key of David, (S)who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you (T)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 (U)the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, (V)I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that (W)I have loved you. 10 (X)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 (Y)those who dwell on the earth. 11 (Z)I am coming soon. (AA)Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize (AB)your crown. 12 (AC)The one who conquers, I will make him (AD)a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him (AE)the name of my God, and (AF)the name of the city of my God, (AG)the new Jerusalem, (AH)which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own (AI)new name. 13 (AJ)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 (AK)Amen, (AL)the faithful and true witness, (AM)the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. (AN)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 (AO)For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, (AP)blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you (AQ)to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and (AR)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and (AS)the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, (AT)so that you may see. 19 (AU)Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and (AV)knock. (AW)If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (AX)I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 (AY)The one who conquers, (AZ)I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as (BA)I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 (BB)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.