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CHAPTER 3He that overcomes shall retain his name in the book of life, reach godhood, and be with Jesus as he is with the Father. |
The states and conditions of the churches/people of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea are considered. They are to be considered and applied to the conditions of the world, it's people, particularly as applied to the church or people of the Lord. | The Seven Churches were/are real. They are used as they typify the various states and conditions of church members then and now. Mary are in various states from wickness and apostasy to enduring and righteously persuing the kingdom and taking the name of Christ upon them. They are to be thus applied to all. |
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1 aAnd unto the bangel
of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven
cSpirits of God, and the seven dstars; I
eknow thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest,
and art fdead.
2 aBe watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not awatch, I will come on thee as a bthief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. |
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4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not
adefiled their garments; and they shall
bwalk with me in cwhite: for they are
dworthy.
5 He that aovercometha, the same shall be clothed in bwhite craiment; and I will not dblot out his name out of the ebook of life, but I will fconfess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. |
5a He that overcometh This concept of 'he that overcometh' is referenced three times in this chapter, in verse 5, 12 and 21. The concept of 'overcoming' is quite the same as one who does 'prevail' and they both point to one who has come into the grace of God and into the House of Israel. In this chapter in verse 5 it states that he that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment, an allusion to the robes of the temple, and that his name will not be blotted out of the book of life. In verse 12, it states that he will be 'a pillar of the temple' and shall no more go out, and that upon him will be written the name of God and the name of God's city, the 'new Jerusalem'. And in verse 21 it states that him that overcometh will be granted to sit with Christ in his throne wherein he is set down with the Father in his throne. | |
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7 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
akey of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and
shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 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. |
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9 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 aworship before thy feet, and to know that I have
loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will akeep thee from the hour of btemptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. |
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11 Behold, I come aquickly: 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 aname of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is bnew 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. |
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14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write; These things saith the
Amena, the
afaithful and true
witness, the bbeginning of the
ccreation of God;
15 I know thy aworks, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art alukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will bspue thee out of my mouth. |
14a These things saith the Amen There are a number of implications when the Lord identifies himself as 'the Amen'. In one sense Jesus who is Jehovah is our Alpha, meaning that with his spirit birth began our ages of time who are of his generation. And he is also our Omega, meaning that all will come to an end in him as our great final judge, mediator, advocate before the Father, and intercessor; when he so presents those of his kingdom unto the Father for entrance back into the presence of the Father and into eternity and out of these ages of time. Thus with Christ who is Jesus and Jehovah, there is our beginning and our end. There is also the concept which is presented in this chapter that Christ has the power of 'sealing', opening and closing, that is placing his stamp of sanction or his 'Amen' upon that which he does approve. Then another concept is that which is associated with our prayers unto God the Father. They are all stated in the name and by the seal of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray unto the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ. And only in and by his name do we come unto the Father. There is no other name given under heaven whereby salvation does come. And in this he stands as the 'Amen' to every man and their presentation before and in God. Thus there are a number of concepts which are entailed by Jesus Christ stating that he is our Amen, and that does not even get into like names such as Ahman, which is God's name. | |
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17 Because thou sayest, I am arich,
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 acounsel thee to buy of me bgold 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 achasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. |
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20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and aopen the door, I will
bcome in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that aovercometh will I grant to bsit with me in my cthrone, 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. |
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