3 1"Write this to the angel of the churcha in Sardis: "Here is a message from the one who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. "I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. 2Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have left is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God. 3So don't forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. You will not know when I will come. 4"But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. 5Everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not remove their names from the book of life. I will say that they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. 6Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spiritb says to the churches. "Here is a message from the one who is holy and true, the one who holds the key of Davidc. When he opens something, it cannot be closed. And when he closes something, it cannot be opened. 8"I know what you do. I have put before you an open door that no one can close. I know you are weak, but you have followed my teaching. You were not afraid to speak my name. 9Listen! There is a groupd that belongs to Satane. They say they are Jews, but they are liars. They are not true Jews. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that you are the people I have loved. 10You followed my command to endure patiently. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the world - a time that will test everyone living on earth. 11"I am coming soon. Hold on to the faith you have, so that no one can take away your crownf. 12Those who win the victory will be pillarsg in the temple of my God. I will make that happen for them. They will never again have to leave God's temple. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God. That city is the new Jerusalemh. It is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my new name on them. 13Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spiritb says to the churches. "Here is a message from the Ameni, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of all that God has made. 15"I know what you do. You are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold! 16But you are only warm - not hot, not cold. So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don't need anything. But you don't know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18I advise you to buy gold from me - gold made pure in fire. Then you will be rich. I tell you this: Buy clothes that are white. Then you will be able to cover your shameful nakedness. I also tell you to buy medicine to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see. 19"I correct and punish the people I love. So show that nothing is more important to you than living right. Change your hearts and lives. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me. 21"I will let everyone who wins the victory sit with me on my throne. It was the same with me. I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spiritb says to the churches." achurch Literally, “assembly” or “community,” the people who have been brought together as God’s family through their common faith in Jesus Christ. The word often refers to a group of believers who meet together or who live in the same area, but it is also used to mean the worldwide community of all believers in Christ. bSpirit See “Holy Spirit.” cDavid Israel’s greatest king, who ruled about 1000 years before Christ. Besides being a great military and political leader, he was a deeply spiritual man and a gifted musician, who wrote many of the Psalms. He made plans and arrangements for the building of the first Temple in Jerusalem (“the city of David”), which was actually completed by his son Solomon. The Scriptures said that a descendant of David would be God’s chosen messiah (king), who would establish an eternal kingdom. For that reason, Jesus is sometimes called “the Son of David.” d3:9 group Literally, “synagogue.” eSatan A name for the devil meaning “the enemy,” or “the accuser.” fcrown Literally, “wreath,” a ring of leaves or branches that was placed on the head of the winners of athletic contests to honor them. It was a symbol of victory and reward. gpillar One of the tall, carved stones used to hold up the roof of a building. h3:12 new Jerusalem The spiritual city where God’s people live with him. i3:14 Amen Used here, as a name for Jesus, it means to agree strongly that something is true. |