Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

The Revelation to John - Chapter 3

Revised 2013

1 Sardis: 30 miles SE of Thyatira, once capital of Lydia which was wealthy at time of Croesus, C6th BC. Its citadel reputed unassailable, captured twice by surprise: church must be ever vigilant. Powerful Jewish community - C 3rd synagogue for 1,000. No praise for the church of Sardis - only a few have remained faithful. They must, watch, repent, and support each other. Like the rebuilt city, the church here appears to be alive, but really it is dead. Original fervour has disappeared. Christ will come unexpectedly, like the city’s surprise captures in its past. The most critical of the 7 letters.
2 No suggestion of problems. Perhaps Christians here had accommodated themselves to life with pagan & Jewish neighbours, and so become too relaxed, almost dead. Initial zeal gone, only facade remained - like Europe now?
3 Warning of imminent reckoning: Christ is coming as judge - and will come when least expected, like capture of this city by surprise. So wake up! Problem here is complacency. 2 sayings of Jesus (thief, confess name ... angels) similar to synoptic (vv 3, 5) - but not same, suggesting from same oral tradition.
4 A few have not soiled their garments - presumably they have refused to worship the emperor and the goddess Roma. Might be general sinfulness (Zech 3:3-5). Or only a few have kept their white baptismal garments clean.
5 The few who keep the faith will be clothed in white - glorified bodies, sign of victory, and enrolled in the roll containing names of the redeemed who will enter the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:27). And acknowledged by Christ in heaven. If not, name in book of life (Exod 32:32-33; Ps 69:29) will be blotted out.
6 Again identifies the Spirit with Christ who is instructing the writer.
7 Philadelphia, now Alasehir, 30 miles SE of Sardis. Destroyed by major earthquake AD17, rebuilt with money from Tiberius and renamed several times, including Neo-Caesarea. Hence reference to new name in v 12. Church here not criticised but praised for remaining faithful, and promised to be kept safe in great trial to come. Victors will become pillars of the heavenly temple. Triad title: “holy one”, “True one”, “has the key of David”. Only Christ opens and shuts, he has key of David - supreme authority over David’s city - the new Jerusalem. Jesus is the only mediator between God & humanity.
8 Philadelphia was founded C2 BC by Attalus II of Pergamum to be an “open door” for Greek culture to spread into interior of Asia. Christ has the key (Isa 22:22), and provides an “open door” - opportunities for them to share & proclaim the faith. No one can deprive Christians of access to God through Jesus. Even though they are few. Christianity spreads best by the example of Christians.
9 Church here seems not to have relaxed, but is under pressure from the “synagogue (=assembly) of Satan” - hypocritical Jews, termed not real Jews. Christians believe themselves to be now the true Israel. But Christ promises they will join the church (cf Isa 45:14; 49:23; 60:14).
10 “word of endurance” - not something Christ said, but Christ’s patient endurance. “Inhabitants of the earth”, literally “those who live on the earth”, but always means the pagan world. As in the Our Father, we must pray to be spared from the hour of trial - at individual death and at the end of the world. But also local trials for individual churches, which are signs of the final trial. We need saving from both. Christ does not promise to rescue the Philadelphians from the last trial, but that he will support them through their sufferings, so that they will persevere.
11 Only this church and Smyrna not required to repent. On contrary they are promised unfailing permanent welcome (key; knocking v 20). Again & again insists Christ “is coming soon”. “Soon” many meanings: end of world; destruction of Jerusalem, which destroyed the Jews’ world. “Parousia” also means “presence”: Jesus is indeed present now in the world, through his church, and in the Eucharist. The Mass is Jesus’ ongoing presence in the world - the church is the kingdom on earth already begun, and the parousia comes in every Mass - wedding feast of Lamb (chap 19) - covenant = wedding, Messiah with Church
12 “Pillar” may refer to re-building of the city after AD17 - pillars in new Jerusalem will stand firm for ever - contrasts to effects of the earthquake on the city. This community is promised an anticipation of the coming “New Jerusalem” described in chaps 21-22, where no temple will be needed. They will have a direct relationship & dwell together with God (21:22; 22:3-4). Christ’s “new name” after he rose to heaven is “Lord”. And the faithful will have Jesus’ own name written on them.
13 As with the other letters, it is not too late, their fate is not sealed, there is time to repent - but not much!
14 Laodicea 40 miles SE of Philadelphia, 80 miles East of Ephesus, wealthy industrial, commercial & medical centre. Rebuilt without outside help after earthquake AD60. “The Amen” - a divine Hebrew title, here applied to Christ. Christ is the “Amen” to God’s work (2 Cor 1:19-20). “Amen” also means “in truth”: Christ is the true witness. Christ is the “origin” - literally “beginning “ - of God’s creation (also in Prov 8:22-31; Wis 9:1-2; Heb 1:2, John 1:3). Alludes to hymn in Col (1:15-20) - Christ is first-born of creation & from dead. Col exchanged letters with Laodiceans (Col 4:16). Christ brings fulfilment of the promises made by God to Abraham and since.
15 This is the only one of the 7 churches that has nothing good to be said about it. Half-hearted commitment to Christ not acceptable (Cf Rom 12:11; John: crypto-Christians not good enough).
16 And so rejected. A drink should be either hot or cold, not lukewarm, which is spat out. Hot springs of Hierapolis across the river would be lukewarm when reached Laodicea. Colossae, 12 miles away, famed for crystal cold waters. Water in Laodicea lukewarm, emetic.
17 Economic prosperity led to spiritual degradation. Cannot do it “my way”! Church here deluded themselves, thinking they are spiritually ok - they are not! They are poor, in spite of wealthy banks, and blind, in spite of eye ointment they export, and naked in spite of fame for cloth made there. Reverses view of Smyrna, where economically poor are rich. Echo’s self-satisfaction of Europe/USA?
18 Gold = God’s grace, purification bought through suffering. Good will be separated from bad by “refining them like gold” (Zech 13:9). White garments to symbolise upright life. Laodicea noted for purple cloth - white is better! Their woollen clothes not good enough to clothe their spiritual nakedness - they need baptism’s white garments. Laodicea exported eye ointment - should apply to themselves to remove spiritual blindness. God will strip his enemies & expose his people - his ‘bride’ to their shameful nakedness, (47:1-3). Ezek also describes Israel as God’s faithless bride (Ezek 16:8-14). Here this is reversed & new Jerusalem will be true bride of Lamb.
19 Christ loves them - and therefore disciplines them - and us - to strengthen character! But if you are not suffering, suggests something wrong - God is not bothering with you. Comfortable church here sign of dangerous inertia. So - urgent - repent!
20 All are invited to the messianic banquet in heaven - like a lover (Song 5:2), he come knocking with our invitations. And he already eats with us - in Communion at Mass. Supper is ready - the door is open to the wedding supper of the Lamb, heaven touches earth, Christ opens the door and awaits us. He eats with us.
21 Those who keep the faith will share Christ’s throne in heaven with him. A striking image of Christians as equal brothers of Christ! And sharing Christ’s rule over the new creation (2:26-27; 5:10; 22:5).