The Dead Church

“And to the [a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who (A)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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [b]God. (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (C)repent. (D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. [c]You have (F)a few names [d]even in Sardis who have not (G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (H)in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes (I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (J)blot out his name from the (K)Book of Life; but (L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

(M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

“And to the [e]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says (N)He who is holy, (O)He who is true, (P)“He who has the key of David, (Q)He who opens and no one shuts, and (R)shuts and no one opens”: (S)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (T)an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make (U)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (V)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, (W)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (X)the whole world, to test those who dwell (Y)on the earth. 11 [h]Behold, (Z)I am coming quickly! (AA)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (AB)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (AC)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (AD)go out no more. (AE)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (AF)New Jerusalem, which (AG)comes down out of heaven from My God. (AH)And I will write on him My new name.

13 (AI)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the [i]angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write,

(AJ)‘These things says the Amen, (AK)the Faithful and True Witness, (AL)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (AM)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (AN)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (AO)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (AP)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 (AQ)As many as I love, I rebuke and (AR)chasten.[l] Therefore be [m]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (AS)I stand at the door and knock. (AT)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (AU)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (AV)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 (AW)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
  3. Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
  4. Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
  5. Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
  6. Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
  7. Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
  8. Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
  9. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
  10. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
  11. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
  12. Revelation 3:19 discipline
  13. Revelation 3:19 eager

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

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.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

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

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;

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

14 And 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;

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

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

17 Because 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:

18 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.

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

20 Behold, 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.

21 To 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.

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

And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: These things saith he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die, for I have not found thy works complete before my God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and keep [it] and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come [upon thee] as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee.

But thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

He that overcomes, *he* shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, and will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

And to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an opened door, which no one can shut, because thou hast a little power, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I make them of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie; behold, I will cause that they shall come and shall do homage before thy feet, and shall know that *I* have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, *I* also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 I come quickly: hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

12 He that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more at all out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, from my God, and my new name.

13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

14 And to the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

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

16 Thus because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and am grown rich, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that *thou* art the wretched and the miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold purified by fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white garments, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not be made manifest; and eye-salve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

19 I rebuke and discipline as many as I love; be zealous therefore and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and am knocking; if any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with me.

21 He that overcomes, to him will I give to sit with me in my throne; as *I* also have overcome, and have sat down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

A la Iglesia de Sardes: ¡Cambia de conducta!

Escribe al ángel de la iglesia de Sardes: Esto dice el que tiene los siete espíritus de Dios y las siete estrellas:

— Conozco tu comportamiento y, aunque alardeas de estar vivo, sé que estás muerto. Despierta, pues, y reaviva lo que aún no ha muerto del todo, porque ante los ojos de mi Dios, tu comportamiento está lejos de ser irreprochable. ¿No recuerdas aquella tu disposición para escuchar y recibir? Pues mantenla y, si es preciso, cambia de conducta. Porque, si no estás alerta, vendré a ti como un ladrón, sin que puedas saber a qué hora llegaré contra ti. Bien es verdad que ahí, en Sardes, viven contigo unos cuantos de conducta irreprochable; un día me acompañarán vestidos de blanco, porque así lo han merecido. El vencedor, pues, vestirá de blanco, y no borraré su nombre del libro de la vida, sino que responderé por él ante mi Padre y ante sus ángeles.

Quien tenga oídos, preste atención a lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias.

A la iglesia de Filadelfia: ¡Conserva lo que tienes!

Escribe al ángel de la iglesia de Filadelfia: Esto dice el Santo, el Veraz, el que tiene la llave de David, el que, cuando abre, nadie puede cerrar y, cuando cierra, nadie puede abrir:

— Conozco tu comportamiento y te he abierto una puerta que nadie podrá cerrar, porque, aunque eres débil, te has mantenido fiel tanto a mi mensaje como a mi persona. Por ello, voy a poner en tus manos a los de la sinagoga de Satanás, a esos que se precian de judíos, pero mienten, porque no lo son. Voy a hacer que se postren a tus pies, para que sepan que he puesto en ti mi amor. 10 Y ya que has sido fiel a mi consigna de aguantar con paciencia el sufrimiento, yo lo seré contigo en esta difícil hora que se avecina sobre el mundo entero, en la que serán puestos a prueba los habitantes de la tierra. 11 Estoy a punto de llegar. Conserva, pues, lo que tienes, para que nadie te arrebate la corona.

12 Al vencedor lo pondré de columna en el Templo de mi Dios, para que ya nunca salga de allí. Y grabaré sobre él el nombre de mi Dios, y grabaré también, junto a mi nombre nuevo, el nombre de la ciudad de mi Dios, la Jerusalén nueva, que desciende del trono celeste de mi Dios.

13 Quien tenga oídos, preste atención a lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias.

A la iglesia de Laodicea: ¡Estoy llamando a la puerta!

14 Escribe al ángel de la iglesia de Laodicea: Esto dice el Amén, el testigo fiel y veraz, el que está en el origen de la obra creadora de Dios:

15 — Conozco tu comportamiento; no eres ni frío ni caliente, y más te valiera ser una cosa o la otra. 16 ¡Pero sólo eres tibio! No eres ni frío ni caliente, y por eso voy a vomitarte de mi boca. 17 Sé también que vas pregonando: “Soy rico, estoy forrado de dinero y nada necesito”. ¡Pobre infeliz! ¿No sabes que eres miserable y pordiosero y ciego y que estás desnudo? 18 Si de veras quieres enriquecerte, harías bien en comprarme oro pasado por el crisol, vestidos blancos con que cubrir tu vergonzosa desnudez y colirio con que ungir tus ojos para que puedas ver.

19 Yo reprendo y castigo a los que amo. Esfuérzate, pues, y cambia de conducta. 20 ¿No ves que estoy llamando a la puerta? Si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré en su casa y cenaré en su compañía. 21 Al vencedor lo sentaré en mi trono, junto a mí, así como yo he vencido y me he sentado junto a mi Padre en su trono.

22 Quien tenga oídos, preste atención a lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias.