Revelation 3:1-4: "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says He who 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 God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."'"
After the longest, darkest night, morning always breaks again. People who must watch through the lonely hours of night watch for the cheering light of the morning star, herald of a soon-rising sun.
The Thyatira church was the church of the world's dark night. How glad they were for the new note of courage which the early Reformers brought! Many speak of John Wycliffe of England as the "Morning Star" of the Reformation. God found a man whom He could use. He lived in the thirteenth century.
A century later came Huss and Jerome, boldly lifting the torch of the gospel, though they were burned at the stake for their loyally to Christ.
Then came the church of Sardis, church of the Protestant Reformation.
After the darkness and persecution of the Thyatira period, one would expect the Reformation church to be full of spiritual life, united, joyful, faithful, zealous like the apostolic church. But such was not the case.
The Protestant Christians claimed to take the Bible and the Bible only as their rule of faith. But they were content to continue with certain Romanist errors, doctrines which had their origin in paganism long ago. In the place of following Christ in the acceptance of new truth, various Protestant bodies were content to build walls around them as "creeds," content to go no further than their leaders such as Luther and Wesley had taken them. This is one reason why Protestant churches are divided into many denominations and sects. Sardis professed to be "alive," but in reality was "dead" because the church would not accept more truth as the Lord brought it to them.
Among the "few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments" may be mentioned honest, godly men such as Luther, Count Zinzendorf, Wesley, Whitefield, and others. These men were used of God to awaken the religious life of the people of Europe, including the English-speaking people.
"In some respects the eighteenth century is the most ill-used period in English history. . . . Nobody has a good word to say about it. ... 'Soul extinct; stomach well alive.' At the point of its faith England was dying. . . .
"The true awakening of the religious life for the English-speaking race dates from Wesley. To say that he reshaped the conscience of England is true, but it is only half the truth. He recreated it! It was dead—twice dead; and through his lips God breathed into it the breath of life again." (W. H. Fitchett, Wesley and His Century, pages 11-15). How much the world needs "John Wesleys" today!
Revelation 3:5, 6: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Can you imagine a more thrilling honor than for Jesus Himself to take your name upon His lips, to confess you as His holy child before the Father in heaven and before the millions of loyal angels? In the Judgment which is now in session (see Revelation 14:6, 7), our text says there will be a time when all the assembled hosts of heaven will look at each of us alone and scrutinize our individual lives.
Will they see all our mistakes, all the shameful things that we hope will never come to light? Jesus knows that it was not our true purpose to do all those ugly things. We have been captives of sin. When we believe in Christ and begin to hate sin, "it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me" (Romans 7:17). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). He will cleanse them with His blood.
Remember that Jesus is seeking to save us. He is not seeking an excuse to condemn us. He wants us in His Kingdom, not out. At this moment, the Holy Spirit is drawing each one to Christ, and imparting to us His heavenly grace so that we may "overcome" if we will cease resisting Him and yield to His grace. He will draw us all the way. Our real battle is to trust God, to believe that He loves us—sinners, unthankful, impure, mean persons, that we know ourselves to be. "Overcoming" is overcoming doubt that God accepts us individually and personally. 'This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4).
If you believe Him, you will overcome. No one who appreciates the love of Jesus can possibly continue living in sin. "The love of Christ constrains us" (2 Corinthians 5:14).
It is well to think often about that moment soon to come (no one knows how soon) when Jesus will take our names on His lips and say, "Father, this is My true child; he trusts Me, and I cannot abandon him! I died for him, and I must have him in My kingdom!" And when Satan whispers to you that you are too great a sinner, that you must give up hope, remind him of what Jesus said of the greatest sinner on earth, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" John 6:37). Claim that promise, and come.
Revelation 3:7, 8: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”’”
The word "Philadelphia" means "brotherly love." This was indeed the spirit that pervaded the church at the beginning of the "time of the end," from about A.D. 1798-1844. Throughout the Christian world, the church enjoyed a marvellous awakening. The Bible societies were organized, and the Scriptures published in multiplied editions.
With open minds, people began seriously to study the books of Daniel and the Revelation. They became convinced that prophecy was fulfilling, and that the end of the world was near. Their hearts were set free from selfishness and love of earthly things. Convinced that Jesus was coming soon, many sold their houses and their farms, and brought the money to be used for the work of publishing the everlasting gospel to the world, "wrongs were made right, confessions were made, many tears were shed in repentance. Never since the days of the apostles was there such a loving spirit among God's people. The message of the "True Witness" to the church of Philadelphia contains no rebuke or censure.
"He who opens and no one shuts." What does this mean?
Let us visit the sanctuary that Moses built long ago. There we will see the "door" that the high priest opened, which no one could shut, a type or symbol of the greater "door" that Jesus, our true High Priest in heaven, opens for us.
Moses was told by God to make the sanctuary after the pattern of the heavenly temple (Hebrews 8:5). So he built two rooms, one to be the Holy apartment, and the other to be the Most Holy. The first room contained important pieces of furniture that represented Christ's work as Saviour—a lampstand of seven lamps ("I am the light of the world." John 8:12); a table for holy bread ("I am that bread of life." John 6:48); and an altar of incense standing as near as possible to the mercy-seat where God's presence dwelt ("Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13). Every day in the year the high priest went freely into this first room.
But there was a veil that barred the way, like a closed door, into the second room. Here was the ark containing God's holy law written on two tables of stone, with the mercy-seat—like the very throne of the infinite God—and angels of gold. No one except the high priest dared even peep behind that veil, lest he be destroyed in judgment, slain by Him whose presence "is a consuming fire to sin" (Hebrews 12:29).
And only once a year on the Day of Atonement did the high priest alone venture to enter the Most Holy apartment, to perform a work of reconciliation for the people of God. This was to them a type of their day of judgment.
It was to this same work of judgment performed in heaven itself that Jesus referred in His words to the Sardis church, "I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." This "Day of Atonement" began in heaven at the close of the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14. As our true High Priest, Christ entered the Most Holy apartment in A.D. 1844, and began His closing work of "cleansing the sanctuary," to make a people ready for His second coming. The "door" into the first apartment ministry was closed, and the "door" into the second phase of His ministry was opened. And no one can open what Christ has closed, nor close what He has opened. But this change is not to be misunderstood as merely one of physical place. There are spiritual realities involved.
"The end of the 2,300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis. But while it was true that the 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 Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time."
The "open door" is a door through which our prayers ascend to the Father. A thoughtful writer has encouraged us: "The simple prayers indited by the Holy Spirit will ascend through the gates ajar, the open door which Christ declared, 'I have opened, and no man can shut.' These prayers, mingled with the incense of the perfection of Christ, will ascend as fragrance to the Father, and answers will come."
The "open door" leads us to a new understanding of precious truth. The treasury of the jewels of truth is open to all. No sword guards the way through it. The "open door" is also a special opportunity to preach the gospel of Christ throughout the world (2 Corinthians 2:12). It was in the time of the Philadelphia church that the great work of preaching the gospel of Christ to the nations that knew Him not really began in earnest William Carey went to India from England in 1793, Adoniram Judson carried the gospel to Burma from America in 1813, Robert Moffat went to Africa to preach in 1817 and David Livingstone in 1840. The Church Missionary Society of the Anglican Church was founded in 1799, the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804, the American Bible Society in 1816. New missions were pioneered around the world. Truly the Philadelphia church had "a little strength, and has kept My word." A still more wonderful manifestation of the gospel message is to follow (see Revelation 14:6-12). But the Philadelphia church was to suffer persecution:
Revelation 3:9-13: "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on 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 I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Many who hated the preaching of the second coming of Christ in the time of the Philadelphia church from 1831 to 1844 lost their love for the Bible. A great change came over those churches that rejected the understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. They became confused in their religious experience, so that the words of Scripture were true of them, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city" (Revelation 14:8). Those who reject truth must always change into "the synagogue of Satan."
"Just before us is the 'hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.' All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome. . . . Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth, and striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defence."
The fact that Jesus says, "I am coming quickly," is evidence that the Philadelphia church was living near to the end of the world. The Thyatira church was told, "Hold fast... till I come," but nothing was said about Jesus coming "quickly.
"But as you read these words you can know that His coming is very soon indeed, because the time of both Thyatira and Philadelphia is past. God has given all who love the Book of Revelation a precious knowledge of His truth for these last days. For this reason, hold it fast, "that no one take your crown." Do not trust anyone so much that you will permit that person to induce you to deny the Lord Jesus. Though you may not see it yet, your crown is already "laid up" for you (2 Timothy 4:8).
Revelation 3:14-16: "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."'"
Just as the word "Amen" always comes at the end of a prayer, so this message is the closing appeal of Jesus' seven letters to His churches. This message applies to the church today, in the very last days of this world's history. There is no eighth church yet to come.
"Laodicea" is not of itself a bad word. It means "the judging of the people," or "the vindication of the people." This church lives on the earth during the time of the preaching of the three angels' message: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment has come" (see Revelation 14:6-12).
The time period of Laodicea is the same as the work of "judgment" or "cleansing of the sanctuary" which began in 1844 when Christ entered the Most Holy apartment for His final work (see Daniel 8:14). Thus the church of Laodicea covers the period from 1844 to the end of human history, when He will return the second time.
Although this message is one of severe reproof, there can be no mistake in it, for it comes from the "Faithful and True Witness." If one had a cancer in his body, it would be far better for the doctor to tell him the truth even though the news would be very disappointing. If one knew the truth soon enough, he could have surgery and be saved. To know the truth is always better than to be told a lie. Should we not thank our Lord because He loves us enough to rebuke us and to correct us?
What does it mean to be "hot"? One thinks of being intensely in earnest, full of burning zeal, moved with love for God and for His truth and for those who are in darkness around us. To be "cold" is to feel exactly the opposite, to be shivering, and to realize one's dangerous condition, and to have a strong desire to come to the fire to be warmed.
But Laodicea is neither hot nor cold: she does not have a burning zeal for God's work nor a love for His truth and His righteousness; and neither does she understand and feel her terrible need. Truly, of all the seven churches, Laodicea is the one outstandingly sick and the most needy.
This description accurately reveals the spiritual condition of those who today profess to be looking for the soon coming of the Lord Jesus, yet who have lost their zeal. "The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal, fervor or devotion. . . . They dare not give up wholly, and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith."
To be "spued" out of Jesus' mouth means that Laodicea's prayers and worship are no longer acceptable to Him. However, Jesus did not say that Laodicea's doom is final. The Greek words that are in the original are, mello se emesai. The emesai means to vomit (our English word emetic comes from this Greek word); the se is the second person pronoun; the key word is mello.
This word means "on the point of," "about to" do something. It occurs in Revelation 10:4 where John says he was "about to write" what the "seven thunders uttered," but he did not write it. The little boy in John 4:47 was "at the point of death" (mello), but he did not die because Jesus healed him. The New International Version correctly renders this phrase, "I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In our modern language, what Jesus said is, "You make me so sick at My stomach that I feel like throwing up." His people give Him nausea.
But there is Good News in this message to Laodicea. Repentance is possible, and Christ can be healed of His nausea:
Revelation 3:17-19: "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and 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. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."
We do not know how to be a faithful and true witness to other people because we do not know how to judge their hearts. The human heart "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Christ's rebuke is right on target.
Our hearts may say something that our lips would never dare utter. God's people would never presume to claim openly that they are "rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," but Christ reads the language of the heart. He knows their secret pride and satisfaction with themselves. And He says "you do not know" your true condition.
Have you ever been before a crowd of people and did not know that you were improperly dressed or that your face was dirty? How embarrassed you were when you discovered the truth.
God's church in these last days stands before all heaven in pathetic shame. Of all the seven churches, says the Greek, Laodicea is "the one" who is outstandingly, conspicuously "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Why?
Because, living in these last days, we are like students who imagine they are nearly ready to graduate from high school when they lack the knowledge that kindergarten students should have. We do not even possess the "first love" that the church of the apostles had! (see Revelation 2:4.) And yet our position is more favored in that we should profit from the instruction to all the other six churches of past history. Truly, this message from Jesus is the most serious His people have ever received.
How long must Christ suffer such shame and pain?
If we will accept the remedy He offers, we shall "overcome," and Jesus will again be happy with His people's spiritual condition.
What is the "gold tried in the fire"? Peter says that it is faith which is developed and tested in the fire of trials and troubles endured for Christ's sake (1 Peter 1:6-8). Have you had trials? Perhaps you thought they meant that God had turned away from you. No, He is seeking to give you this "gold" that will make you truly rich. Faith is strengthened by experience in trials, and love is thereby deepened.
What are the "white garments"? Clearly, something that covers our "nakedness." We can never appreciate what the "white garments" are until we sense what that spiritual "nakedness" implies.
Every healthy person feels a deep shame if he is seen naked. The Bible likens this deep-rooted physical shame to our inborn love of self, and our spiritual enmity against God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). By nature, we all have such a mind. We may try to deny it, but when we are not watching, our selfishness takes over, and our enmity toward others comes out in the open.
Enmity or resentment toward our fellow men is really directed toward Christ, because He says that "inasmuch" as we have treated others unkindly, we have done it unto Him (see Matthew 25:41-45). How ashamed will the people on His "left hand" be in the judgment, when they finally realize that all their lives they have been unkind to the Lord Himself! Then when it is too late they will feel the full shame of their "nakedness." To realize the truth now, while we can still ask for the "garments," is a blessing!
No one can "buy" of Jesus the "white garments" until he has come to sense his own inner rebellion against God, and felt ashamed of himself for what he is in his natural unconverted condition. Paul says "all the world" has become "guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). Since Christ is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), every sinner on earth from Adam's day to ours has taken part in crucifying Him. Those who feel the shame of this "nakedness" will want to be covered.
We ask again, What are the "white garments"? He who sees Christ crucified and believes, is he who understands that he himself took part in crucifying Him. Peter's listeners at Pentecost received the Holy Spirit when they believed his words, "God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). They felt convicted and broken in soul as they saw the shame and horror of their guilt Thus they repented (verse 38).
The "white garments" are the forgiveness of Jesus that covers with His own perfect love the shame of our nakedness of soul. Thus, we see that Jesus prayed for us when He prayed for those who crucified Him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
The only deep forgiveness that anyone can receive is that ultimate forgiveness. Do you feel your need of it? Do you want it? If so, your nakedness of soul is covered with the garment of Christ's righteousness.
"When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in 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 garment of His righteousness."
What is the "eye salve"? The eye is the inner light of the heart. "Man's conscience is the lamp of the Eternal, flashing into his inmost soul" (Proverbs 20:27, Moffatt). "The word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). The "eye salve," the enlightenment provided by the Word of God, makes the conscience prick and hurt like a needle, because it convicts of sin. But the smarting is necessary, in order that the healing will help us detect sin in all its deceptive disguises. He who has bought the eye salve begins to see himself as God sees him.
He now feels a conviction of sin. Let him be happy, because Christ is now saving him "to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25). While the High Priest in this heavenly Day of Atonement goes on saving him completely, the Spirit of God goes on working ever more deeply in his heart. This is how we may overcome.
Revelation 3:20, 21: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
The purpose of this message is not to condemn, but to save. And it will do its work in the hearts of God's people in all the world.
It is not wrong to be a Laodicean, for Christ makes the same promise "to him who overcomes" in Laodicea as to the overcomer in any of the other churches. No one who believes in Christ will want to leave Laodicea, for it is at the door of Laodicea's heart that Jesus is knocking. If you leave through the back door while a visitor knocks at the front door, you will miss seeing the visitor.
What is wrong is to be content to remain lukewarm, to be satisfied to be "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." It is a tremendous surprise to many good people to learn that Christ had the same battle to overcome that they have. It is Satan who wants us to believe that Jesus is so far distant from us that He knows little or nothing by first-hand experience of our struggles to overcome our natural selfishness. Christ is near us, knocking at the door of our heart. God sent "his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 8:3,4). Christ was ever pure and holy, but He was "in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Christ's promise to the overcomer in Laodicea assures you that whoever you are and wherever you are in your battle with sin, Jesus has taken your full burden on Himself and has overcome in your flesh, suffering all the disadvantages you suffer. You cannot wander so far from Him but that there remains a bond of contact between Christ and your soul, so long as you are willing to believe His promise.
When tempted to discouragement, remember that promise, "even as I also overcame."
In verse 20 the Lord quotes the exact words of the LXX (Greek) version of the Song of Solomon 5:2. That inspired drama shows the selfish girl unwilling to let her lover come in, unwilling to surrender to him fully. Thus Christ sets His seal of approval on this book and shows that He Himself is its true hero, and that His Bride-to-be is His church on earth. As yet she has been unwilling to surrender to Him completely, but she can learn repentance. May it be soon!
A Prayer: Loving Lord, we thank You that Your love is so faithful that it rebukes us and chastens us. Those who do not love us flatter us and praise us insincerely. Now, Lord, we come to You to buy what you have to sell without money and without price. What shall we pay? We have nothing to give except ourselves—let us be Your willing servants.
Thank You Lord, for becoming one with us, fighting our battle. You ask us merely to overcome even as You also overcame. What glorious companionship we have in our overcoming! We choose to bear Jesus' cross with Him day by day, and to follow His footsteps. In His name we pray, Amen.