Bible Study

BOOK OF REVELATION UNCOVERED: Chapter 3

by: Dr. Dean Crosby

[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 3

1 This is what you must write to the angel (MINISTER) of the church in Sardis:

I have the seven spirits of God (REFERS TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) and the seven stars. (REFERS TO THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCHES THIS BOOK ADDRESSES WHOM JESUS STATES ARE HIS ) Listen to what I say. I know what you are doing. Everyone may think you are alive, but you are dead. (SPIRITUALLY) 2. Watch! (EXAMINE YOUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION) You have only a little strength (SPIRITUAL STRENGTH ) left, and it is almost gone. I have found that you are not completely obeying God. 3. Remember the teaching that you were given and that you heard. (SALVATION THROUGH FAITH, NOT WORKS) Hold firmly to it and turn from your sins. If you don't wake up, I will come when you least expect it, (TO DELIVER DIVINE PUNISHMENT) just as a thief does. 4. A few of you in Sardis are not wearing clothes stained with sin. You will walk with me in white clothes, (WILL RECEIVE SALVATION) because you are worthy. 5. Everyone who wins the victory (OVER SIN) will wear white clothes. Their names will not be erased (AS WILL HAPPEN TO SOME) from the book of life, (THE RECORD OF THE NAMES OF THE SAVED) and I will tell my Father and His angels that they are my followers. 6. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. (SALVATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR FAITH AND OVERCOME SIN)

7. This is what you must write to the angel (MINISTER) of the church in Philadelphia. I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. (JESUS NOW HAS AUTHORITY OVER WHAT USED TO BE DAVID'S KINGDOM) When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it. (JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN TOTAL AUTHORITY BY GOD) Listen to what I say. 8 I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. (REFERS TO THIS CHURCH'S ABILITY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL MESSAGE) You were not very strong, (THIS WAS A SMALL CHURCH) but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers. 9. Now you will see what I will do with those people who belong to Satan's group. They claim to be Jews, but they are liars. I will make them come and kneel down at your feet. (THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO WHAT WILL OCCUR DURING THE TIME OF JESUS' KINGDOM ON EARTH ) Then they will know that I love you. 10. You obeyed my message and endured. So I will keep you (SAVE THROUGH THE RAPTURE) from the time of temptation (THIS WILL OCCUR IN THE LATTER PART OF THE TRIBULATION) that everyone (LEFT BEHIND) in all the world must go through. 11. I am coming soon. So hold firmly to what you have, (FAITH) so that no one will take away the crown (EVEN THE SAVED CAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION) that you will be given as your reward. 12. Everyone who wins the victory (THROUGH FAITH) will be made into a pillar (THOUGHT TO REFER TO A SUPPORT POSITION) in the temple of my God, and they will stay there forever. (THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD) I will write on each of them the name of my God and the name of His city. It is the new Jerusalem that my God will send down from heaven. (TO EARTH) I will also write on them my own new name. 13 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. (THOSE WHO MAINTAIN A TRUE FAITH WILL BE RESCUED THROUGH THE RAPTURE AND GIVEN SIGNIFICANT SERVICE POSITIONS IN HEAVEN)

14. This is what you must write to the angel (MINISTER) of the church in Laodicea: I am the one called trustworthy. I am the faithful and true witness and the beginning of God's creation. (GOD CREATED JESUS BEFORE THE UNIVERSE) Listen to what I say. 15. I know everything you have done, and that you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. (THOSE WHO HAVE A LUKEWARM FAITH HAVE ONLY PARTIAL BELIEF IN GOD'S MIND; A LUKEWARM FAITH IS IN ESSENCE A REJECTION OF HIM) 16 But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17. You claim to be rich and successful (THIS CHURCH BOASTED ABOUT THEIR WEALTH) and to have everything you need. (THIS CHURCH BELIEVED THAT THEIR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY WAS A SIGN OF GOD'S BLESSINGS) But you don't know how bad off you are. You are pitiful, poor, (SPIRITUALLY POOR) blind, and naked. 18 Buy your gold from me. It has been refined in a fire, and it will make you rich. ( ACQUIRE THE REDEMPTION JESUS OFFERS THROUGH FAITH IN HIM) Buy white clothes (OBTAIN SPIRITUAL PURITY) from me. Wear them and you can cover up your shameful nakedness. (CAUSED BY A LACK OF FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS) Buy medicine for your eyes, so that you will be able to see. (THIS CHURCH WAS SPIRITUALLY BLIND) 19. I correct and punish everyone I love. (THIS BOOK MORE THAN THE OTHER NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS SHOWS THE COMPLETE AND COMPLEX NATURE OF JESUS) So make up your minds to turn away from your sins.

20 Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. (JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE OUTSIDE THIS CHURCH) If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (JESUS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE DOOR BUT HERE HE IS REFERRING TO A HUMAN SPIRITUAL BARRIER) I will come in and I will eat with him. (JESUS HAS NOW STOPPED GIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO THIS CHURCH AND IS NOW COMMUNICATING WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE CHURCH) 21. Everyone who overcomes ( OBTAINS SALVATION) will sit with me on my throne, just as I won the victory (HERE JESUS IS REFERRING TO HOW HE ACTED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR US ON THE CROSS AND THEREBY MADE A WAY FOR OUR SALVATION) and sat with my Father (THIS CHAPTER REPEATEDLY CONFIRMS THE TEACHING THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, NOT GOD) on His throne. 22. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. (JESUS CONDEMNS CHURCHES THAT ARE FILLED WITH LITTLE FAITH AND FALSE BELIEFS BUT HE OFFERS SALVATION TO INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE CHURCHES WHO REMOVE THEIR SPIRITUAL BARRIERS TO LET HIM THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT ENTER INTO THEIR LIVES)

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