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Revelation
Chapter Three
I.
Content of the Chapter
The things
which are (II)
IV. The
church in Sardis------it typifies the
Protestant Church (v.1-6)
V. The
church in Philadelphia------it typifies
the church in which brothers love one another (v.7-13)
VI. The
church of the Laodiceans------it typifies
the church which is neither cold nor hot (v.14-22)
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Rev. 3:1 “‘And
to the angel of the church in
YLT: “And to the
messenger of the assembly in Sardis write: These things saith he who is having
the Seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I have known thy works, and that
thou hast the name that thou dost live, and thou art dead;”
Meaning of Words: “Sardis”: remnant,
remainder, restoration.
Spiritual Meaning: “‘And to the angel of the
church in Sardis write,” the original
meaning of “Sardis” is “remnant”. “The church in Sardis” typifies the
Protestant Church which exists up to now after the rise of the reformation in
the sixth century. Her feature is recovering “the justification” and making the
Bible known to public.
“‘These
things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:” “the seven Spirits of God” symbolizes the Holy Spirit of the perfect light
(See 4:5, “Seven lamps”), power and wisdom (See 5:6 “seven horns and seven
eyes”), i.e. the omniscient, omnipotent and all-wise Holy Spirit. “The seven
stars” symbolizes the angels of all churches (See 1:20), i.e. believers who
stand on the heavenly positions, shine for the Lord and bear witness to Him in
various places.
“‘I
know your works,” “your works”
symbolizes the spiritual state of the whole church before the Lord.
“That
you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” “Having a name” symbolizes the features which the
church boasts outwardly. “Are alive” symbolizes that the church no longer
relies on the dead letters but the living Spirit (See 2Cor. 3:6). “But you are
dead” it symbolizes that the real conditions of the church are short of the
living Spirit.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Protestant Church reformed aiming at the
shortage of the Roman Catholic Church that they stressed on letters, however,
she had only reformed half and had not arrived at the complete level. And
therefore the perfect Spirit (the
seven Spirits) and the perfect
spiritual witnesses (the seven stars) are needed to help the church.
2) Today many churches and groups know that death
is blamed by the Lord. And therefore they try their best to “be alive”,
however, the ways that they carry out are almost “having a name that they are
alive, but they are dead”.
3) In order to “be alive”, some churches use the
“man-made” charismatic gifts, some use “lively” music, some use activities that
“rouse” men, some even hold spiritual revivals and some make the phenomenon
that everyone can perform his function through “calling out and
praying-reading” in the meeting. Actually these ways are alive apparently but
are dead inwardly in the sight of the Lord.
Rev. 3:2 “Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found
your works perfect before God.”
YLT: “become watching,
and strengthen the rest of the things that are about to die, for I have not
found thy works fulfilled before God.”
Meaning of Words: “strengthen”:
enhance, establish; “perfect”: fulfilled.
Literal Meaning: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die,” “The things which remain” refers to the things that were lost and
had been restored by the Reformation. “That are ready to die” refers to
existing in name only (See v.1) and they are alive apparently and do not have
the spiritual reality inwardly. And therefore they are described as being ready
to “die”.
“For
I have not found your works perfect before God” “before God” refers to not before men and being
different from what common ones think. “Having not found your works perfect”
indicates that all the works of reformation failed and were given up halfway.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though the Lord admitted that the Protestant
Church had done some works, all the works were done half and “the things which
remain” had not been done. If they do not hold fast to reformation continually,
all of them will be in danger of death “(die”).
2) We estimate all the spiritual works not
according to men’s sight and opinions but seeking the judgment of God (“before
God”).
Rev. 3:3 “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.”
YLT: “`Remember, then,
how thou hast received, and heard, and be keeping, and reform: if, then, thou
mayest not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou mayest not know
what hour I will come upon thee.”
Meaning of Words: “remember”: be
mindful; “hold fast”: keep, guard; “what hour”: how.
Literal Meaning: “Remember therefore how you have received and
heard;” “remember” means
that the Lord’s guidance in the beginning is correct, however, men changed the
guidance of the Lord according to their own opinions. “How you have received”
refers to restoring to the original conditions. “How you have heard” refers to
fully according to the word of God instead of men’s explanations and
deductions.
“Hold fast and repent.” “Holding fast” refers to in accordance
with the Lord’s guidance and God’s word. “Repenting” indicates that one, aiming
at men’s opinions and the changed conditions, changes his view.
“Therefore
if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,” “I will come upon you” refers to the Lord’s
hidden coming. “As a thief” means: 1) it is unknown when He will come. 2) He
will take the precious things especially when He comes, i.e. rapturing
overcomers.
Please note that the “come” here is different from
“come”s in the church of Ephesus and the church in Pergamos (See 2:5, 16) in
the meaning because the two churches had passed by in the history and no longer
existed. And therefore it should not refer to the second coming of the Lord but
refer to the coming of the Lord’s judgment.
“And
you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” This sentence again proves that no one knows the
day of the Lord’s second coming (See Matt. 24:36).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The church history makes us see again and again
that, the conditions of the works of restoration that the Lord has done from
ages and from generations were right in the beginning because they were of the
Lord’s guidance and God’s words. However, it is unfortunate that they were
changed by men later.
2) If we want to work with the Lord together, we
have to recall and remember the Lord’s guidance in the beginning in the
churches from ages and from generations, lay hold upon God’s words
single-mindedly----not be specially influenced by any spiritual one, “repent”
from the wrong conditions and “hold fast” to the Lord’s guidance in the
beginning.
3) No one knows when the Lord comes again. And
therefore if some people in the church figure out the time of the Lord’s
coming, we should never listen to them, lest we be deceived and it will be too
late to regret.
Rev. 3:4 “You have a few names even
in
YLT: “Thou hast a few
names even in Sardis who did not defile their garments, and they shall walk
with me in white, because they are worthy.”
Meaning of Words: “defile”: soil;
“walk”: walk about.
Spiritual Meaning: “You have a few names even in Sardis who have
not defiled their garments;” “in Sardis” refers to in the Protestant Church. “Have
a few names” means that God has reserved to Himself a group of people who did
not follow the whole conditions of the church (See Rom. 11:4). “Their garments”
refers to the behavior of each one. “Defile their garments” has two meanings:
1) sin; 2) the spiritual death.
“And
they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” “White” refers to the fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (See 19:8). “Worthy”
refers to matching.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians have two white garments: a) Christ
that we have put on when we were saved (See Gal. 3:27) and here it indicates
that Christ is our righteousness (See 1Cor. 1:30); b) the white garment that
overcomers wear and it is the righteousness of saints (See 19:8).
2) What believers sin against God most is the
spiritual death because in the sight of God, death is the dirtiest and death
shall be cast into the lake of fire in future (See 20:14).
3) Overcomers are the minority who have the
different states from the whole sates of the church (there are only “a few”):
all the people are in a dream and I am awake alone; all the people slip away
and I am a pillar rock in the midstream alone; all the people are defiled and I
keep myself clean alone.
4) Overcomers are lonely in this life, however,
they shall not be lonely in the coming because the Lord walks with them.
Overcomers are lonely according to men’s sight, however, they are not lonely in
the spiritual sight.
Rev. 3:5 “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.”
YLT: “He who is
overcoming -- this one -- shall be arrayed in white garments, and I will not
blot out his name from the scroll of the life, and I will confess his name
before my Father, and before His messengers.”
Meaning of Words: “overcome”: prevail,
conquer; “clothe”: clothe by oneself; “blot out”: wipe away.
Literal Meaning: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
garments,” “He who overcomes”
refers to overcoming the dead state of the Protestant Church. “Be clothed in
white garments” indicates that they shall be confessed by the Lord and be able
to be clothed in white garments in future for their works of righteousness
today, testifying their bright and white states (See v.4).
“And
I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;” “The Book of Life”
refers to the book of life of the Lamb (See 13:8). The names of all those who
have received grace, been saved and have been translated into the kingdom of
His dear Son (See Col. 1:13) are recorded in the Book of Life (See Luke.
10:20). On the contrary, the names of all those who are of the power of
darkness are not recorded in the Book of Life (See 13:8; 17:8). “Blotting out
his name” means that his name is not on the list of reward, however, his status
of life eternity will not change (See John. 10:28). And therefore the “blotting
out” here should be temporary and it is not everlasting.
“But
I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” “My Father” refers to God the Father. “His
angles” refers to all angles. “Confess his name” refers to admitting the status
of overcomers.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers’ states today are closely related to
their status in the kingdom in future. Though Christians’ “being saved” is assured,
their “being overcomers” is uncertain. Though our names on the Book of Life
will not be blotted out forever, they may be blotted out temporarily.
2) Whether we confess the Lord before men today
determines whether the Lord will confess us before God and His angels in future
(See Luke. 12:8-9). Whether we show the states worthy of the knowledge of the
Lord today in our walkings determines His approval and praise to us in future.
Rev. 3:6 “‘He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
YLT: “He who is having an
ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.”
Literal Meaning: please see the notes
in 2:7, 29.
Rev. 3:7 “‘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’:”
YLT: “`And to the
messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith he who is
holy, he who is true, he who is having the key of David, he who is opening and
no one doth shut, and he shutteth and no one doth open!”
Meaning of Words: “Philadelphia”: brotherly love.
Spiritual Meaning: “‘And to the angel of the
church in Philadelphia write,” the original
meaning of “Philadelphia” is “brothers love one another”. “Philadelphia” typifies the nonsectarian free groups
that exist up to now from the rise of the Brethren movement in the eighteenth
century.
“He
who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David” “He who is holy, He who is true” symbolizes that He is God because holiness and
faithfulness are the two great features of God (See 2Cor. 1:12). “He who has the key of David” symbolizes that He is the king of the
kingdom.
“‘These
things says, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’:” it symbolizes that
the door of the kingdom is controlled by Him and the power of receipt or
rejection fully lies in Him. Please note that the door does not refer to the
door of the gospel but the door of the kingdom. The former is the door of grace
and the latter, the door of righteousness.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The greatest feature of the church in Philadelphia is that brothers love one another. All
those who are indifferent to believers who have received grace and been saved
and only emphasize that they must have the same doctrines and opinions have
fallen from the church in Philadelphia.
2) Without holiness and truth no man shall be
acceptable to the Lord (See Heb. 12:14; John. 4:24) and therefore we should
pursue holiness and truth.
3) All believers have entered the door of grace,
however, only believers who conform to the requirement are able to enter the
door of the kingdom. The requirement is not like what the leaders of some
religious groups declare------as long as men enter their church, they will
partake in the kingdom. In this statement, there isn’t any biblical basis.
Rev. 3:8 “‘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.”
YLT: “I have known thy
works; lo, I have set before thee a door -- opened, and no one is able to shut
it, because thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not
deny my name;”
Meaning of Words: “deny”: refuse,
disavow.
Literal Meaning: “‘I know your works…for you
have a little strength,” “you have a little
strength” means that compared with other unions and sects, they seem to be
weak, without enormous organizations.
“Have
kept My word, and have not denied My name.” “Have kept My word”
the church inherited from the Brethren has a feature that they keep the sound
word of the Lord more than other unions and sects and have less traditional
opinions. “And
have not denied My name.” means that they
have not exalted the name of any group or any giant, except the name of the
Lord.
“See, I have set before you an open
door, and no one can shut it;” “have set before you an open
door” means that the door of works is opened by
the Lord and the works go smoothly everywhere. “And no one can shut it” means that though works are opposed by
men, they still bear fruits as usual.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The works of the church that are really of the
Lord are not by might, nor by power, but by the spirit of God (Zech. 4:6).
2) What the Lord values is the word of the Lord and
the name of the Lord and men should neither add any word of men to the word of
the Lord nor add any name of men to the name of the Lord.
3) Every heretical or extreme church group declares
that they respect and quote the word of God, however, they either garble a
statement or distort the original meaning. And therefore they have not kept the
word of the Lord. They also declare that they honor the name of the Lord,
however, they have their special names besides the name of the Lord and set up
another center besides Christ. And therefore they equally deny the name of the
Lord.
4) If we want our works to be blessed by the Lord
and be given an open door, we should keep the sound word of the Lord and only
exalt the name of the Lord.
Rev. 3:9 “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.”
YLT: “lo, I make of the
synagogue of the Adversary those saying themselves to be Jews, and are not, but
do lie; lo, I will make them that they may come and bow before thy feet, and
may know that I loved thee.”
Literal Meaning: “those of the synagogue of
Satan,” it refers to the
Jewish legalism’s organizations of the synagogue that were utilized by Satan.
“Who
say they are Jews and are not,” it means that he
is not a Jew who is according to the name and the flesh. But he is a Jew, which
is one who follows the Spirit inwardly (See Rom. 2:28-29).
“But
lie” Since they are of Satan the devil and the
devil is the father of liars and therefore they certainly are liars (See John.
8:44).
“Indeed
I will make them come and worship before your feet,” It means that the true Christian church shall
reign in future (See Is. 60:14).
“And
to know that I have loved you.” It means that the
Lord clears up the church through the praise to her (See 1Tim. 3:16).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If Satan cannot hinder us from believing in the
Lord, it will seek the secondary way------utilizing our natural zealousness to
divide the church.
2) What the Lord values is not the appearance or
items but the inner reality. It is not the one who declares that they represent
the church that the Lord will restore but that the one who humbles himself in
the Spirit and is afraid of losing the testimony of the church shall be praised
and cleared up by the Lord.
Rev. 3:10 “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.”
YLT: “`Because thou didst
keep the word of my endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of the trial
that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the
earth.”
Meaning of Words: “persevere”:
endurance; “command”: word; “the whole world”: men that dwell on the earth, all
the inhabitable land; “trial”: temptation, test.
Literal Meaning: “Because you have kept My command to persevere,” “My command to persevere” it means that if believers want to keep the word
of the Lord, they have to face Satan’s attack and persecution through men (See
v.8-9). And therefore we will partake in the tribulation and kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ (See 1:9).
“Which
shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” “The whole world” does not refer to the partial region but the
worldwide region. “Test” refers to the period of the Great Tribulation (See
Matt. 24:21).
“I
also will keep you from the hour of trial” in the original implies “keep you before the
coming of the period of the Great Tribulation”. We can know that only those who
are praised by the Lord shall be raptured by Him before the coming of the Great
Tribulation and be kept from the trial. As for the failing believers, probably
they won’t enjoy such promise.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We always need to pay price to keep the word of
the Lord and therefore it is called “the command to persevere”. Everyone likes
the keeping without price, however, he cannot receive the Lord’s reward.
2) The traditional opinion of Christianity is that
the whole church will be raptured by the Lord before the Great Tribulation. If
so, how did the Lord use “keeping you from the hour of trial” as a reward? Our
Lord never makes meaningless promise, showing that we should watch and wait for
the Lord and keep the Lord’s word to persevere willingly (See Luke. 21:35-36).
Rev. 3:11 “Behold, I am coming
quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
YLT: “Lo, I come quickly,
be holding fast that which thou hast, that no one may receive thy crown.”
Meaning of Words: “quickly”: shortly;
“hold fast”: seize.
Literal Meaning: “Behold, I am coming quickly!” It means that we won’t “persevere” (See v.10)
long because He will come quickly to receive those who keep His word.
“Hold
fast what you have,” “what you have”
refers to keeping the word of the Lord and not denying the name of the Lord
(See v.8).
“That
no one may take your crown.” It means that in
so far as the general condition is concerned, the church in Philadelphia has received the crown, however, if they do
not hold fast their advantages, probably they will have the risk of losing the
crown.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We have need of endurance, so that after we have
done the will of God, we may receive the promise: for yet a little while, And
He who is coming will come and will not tarry (See Heb. 10:37).
2) We always admire Paul the apostle, because there
is laid up for him a crown of righteousness (See 2Tim. 4:8). However, the crown
is also kept for all those who have kept the faith (See 2Tim. 4:7), showing
that we will also partake in the crown as long as we have the patience to keep
the faith.
Rev. 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will
make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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.”
YLT: “He who is
overcoming -- I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and without
he may not go any more, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the
name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that doth come down out of the
heaven from my God -- also my new name.”
Meaning of Words: “Jerusalem”:
foundation, the dwelling place of peace.
Spiritual Meaning: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in
the temple of My God,” “the temple of My
God” symbolizes the spiritual church that God is building, i.e. New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven in future (See 21:2; Heb. 12:22-23). “Making him a
pillar” symbolizes the witness of God’s truth (See 1Tim. 3:15).
“And
he shall go out no more.” It symbolizes that
the testimony will last until eternity.
“I
will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God,” “the name of My God” symbolizes the being of God. “The name of the city of My
God” symbolizes the being of the city, New
Jerusalem.
“The
New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.” The holy city, New Jerusalem symbolizes
that all men of God today and all the spiritual and heavenly building are laid
up in our God in heaven and on some day in future, the work shall be made
manifest, i.e. the coming down of the holy city out of heaven (See 1Cor.
3:13-14; Rev. 21:2).
“And
I will write on him My new name.”
“My new name” symbolizes all that Christ has been experienced by those who are
of Him. “I
will write on him” all our spiritual
experiences of God and Christ in the church are laid up in God in heaven (See
Matt. 6:20) and on our own accounts as our everlasting inheritance.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s weaknesses are our being easy to wave and
change. However, through the dealing with of the cross, the result of our
keeping the word of the Lord to persevere is that the truth will build us to be
“pillars” which do not wave or change. It is the work that God is working upon
us.
2) Our spiritual experiences today are the names
written on us in future. We cannot have names which surpass our experiences.
Rev. 3:13 “‘He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
YLT: “He who is having an
ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.”
Literal Meaning: please see the notes
in 2:7, 29.
Rev. 3:14 “‘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:”
YLT: “`And to the
messenger of the assembly of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen,
the witness -- the faithful and true -- the chief of the creation of God;”
Meaning of Words: “Laodiceans”: the opinion of all the people, the custom
of the public, old castle, just people; “Beginning”: first.
Spiritual Meaning: “‘And to the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans write,” the original
meaning of “Laodiceans” is “the people reign”. “The church of the Laodiceans” typifies the church that relies on the
opinions of common believers up to now from the nineteenth century.
“The
Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,”
“The Amen” refers to receiving the arrangement of God the Father with Amen (See
Matt. 11:25-27). “The Faithful and True Witness” indicates that the Lord does
everything for the sake of testifying to the faithfulness of God (See 19:11;
2Cor. 1:19-20).
“‘These
things says the Beginning of the creation of God:” It means that Christ is the source through Him
God creates all things (See Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The nature of the church is ruling by God
instead of ruling by men. Whenever God’s sovereignty in the church falls into
the hand of men, the church falls into “the church of the Laodiceans”. In the church in Pergamos, the hierarchy usurped
the authority of God (See 2:15) and in the church of the Laodiceans, common
believers usurped the authority of God. They change from one extreme to
another.
2) The Lord Jesus humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). We, who are saved
by the Lord, exalt ourselves and intend to reign. How irregular it is and we
are unworthy to be the Lord’s witnesses.
3) The Lord Jesus is the beginning of all things.
All things are created because of Him and for Him (See Col. 1:16). We should
look upon the guidance of the Lord concerning everything in the church and
never depend on the opinions of the majority presumptuously.
Rev. 3:15 “‘I
know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold
or hot.”
YLT: “I have known thy
works, that neither cold art thou nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.”
Meaning of Words: “hot”: boiled;
“could wish”: would rather.
Literal Meaning: “‘I know your works, that you
are neither cold nor hot.” “You are neither
cold nor hot” refers to being neither indifferent nor zealous, i.e. being
lukewarm.
“I
could wish you were cold nor hot.” The real intention of the Lord is that He
wishes us to be zealous. Being cold is better than being lukewarm because if
one is cold, he will feel his wrong condition at lowest, and he will turn to
the Lord so that the Lord will have chance to work upon him. However, if one is
neither cold nor hot, he will be complacent about ease and have no interest in
making progress.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord can do nothing to believers who are
neither cold nor hot because our Lord never works alone and our cooperation is
required. For example, God loves us, however, God cannot accomplish His
salvation upon us one-sidedly if we do not repay His love with faith.
2) The Lord wishes us to be fervent in the Spirit,
serving the Lord (See Rom. 12:11). We should ask the Lord to keep us from being
neither cold nor hot and stir up us continually (See 2Tim. 1:6).
Rev. 3:16 “So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
YLT: “So -- because thou
art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my
mouth;”
Meaning of Words: “vomit”: spew, spurn
with abomination.
Literal Meaning: “because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot,” the taste of the “lukewarm water” in the
mouth is worse than the cold water and hot water and therefore it is less
welcomed. In like manner, if our spiritual states are neither cold nor hot, we
are not acceptable to the Lord.
“So
then, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” “Vomiting out” refers to being rejected by the
Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) On one hand, to believers, the Lord is the great
enjoyment and on the other, to the Lord, we are also His enjoyment (See S. of
Sol. 2:16; 6:3; 7:10).
2) The matter that believers are complacent about
their present situations is abominated by the Lord. We should not be at a
standstill in the spiritual way, just like a boat sailing against the current
must forge ahead or it will be driven back.
Rev. 3:17 “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--”
YLT: “because thou sayest
-- I am rich, and have grown rich, and have need of nothing, and hast not known
that thou art the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,”
Meaning of Words: “have become
wealthy”: have become rich; “wretched”: miserable; “miserable”: pitiable;
“poor”: impoverished.
Literal Meaning: “Because you say, ‘I
am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'” “rich” mainly refers to being abundant in the
knowledge. “Having become wealthy” probably also refers to the abundance in the
physical aspect and money. Churches in the present generation always boast two
things that they think that they know many inwardly and own many outwardly.
“And
do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--” “Do not know that” refers to having no
idea of the real spiritual states. “Wretched” refers to being at a loss to the
present conditions. “Poor” refers to being in urgent need of the help of
others. “Blind” refers to lacking the spiritual sight and not having the
self-knowledge. “And naked” refers to not having testimony and being full of shame.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The true spiritual judgment does not lie in what
“you say” but what “the Lord says”.
2) “Rich” is far from “poor”. The one who regards
his poverty as rich must lack the right sight and his spiritual life is naïve
at the same time and therefore he has to improve from the root (See v.18).
Rev. 3:18 “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.”
YLT: “I counsel thee to
buy from me gold fired by fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white garments
that thou mayest be arrayed, and the shame of thy nakedness may not be
manifest, and with eye-salve anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.”
Meaning of Words: “refined in the
fire”: burn; “reveal”: tell, find out, be manifested, expose; “eye salve”: eye
plaster; “anoint”: rub in.
Literal Meaning: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the
fire, that you may be rich;” “from Me” refers
to towards the Lord and only Him is our salvation. “Buying” refers to paying
price. “Refined in the fire” indicates that our faith is trailed through
manifold temptations (See 1Pet. 1:6-7). “Gold” symbolizes the disposition of
God and also the precious faith which has been trialed (See 1Pet. 1:7). “Rich”
refers to the spiritual richness.
“And
white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may
not be revealed;” “white garments”
refers to the righteousness of saints (See 19:8). They are our subjective
justification instead of the objective justification by faith.
“And
anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” “Eye salve” refers to the anointment of the
Spirit (See 1John. 2:27) and only the Spirit of wisdom and revelation can make
us “have the true knowledge of Him” and “enlighten the eyes of our
understanding” (See Eph. 1:17-18), that we will see.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Buy…” We must pay price in order to make
progress in the spiritual life, however, we need to be careful and should not
seek for the wrong object. Only the Lord Himself can provide us what our
spiritual life needs.
2) All the spiritual abundance must be appropriated
by faith and the faith must be perfected through the course of trials.
3) Christians’ most shameful thing is that we can
say but cannot do----we have many doctrines but our behavior cannot be seen by
others. And therefore “the unity of knowledge and actions” and “matching one’s
words with deeds” are our urgent priority.
4) Christians’ another common fault is that we
behold the mote that is in our brother's eye and have not observed the beam
that is in our own eye (See Matt. 7:3-5). Our eyes of heart need to be
enlightened by the Spirit indeed.
Rev. 3:19 “As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
YLT: “`As many as I love,
I do convict and chasten; be zealous, then, and reform;”
Meaning of Words: “love”: like, have
affection for.
Literal Meaning: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” It means that the Lord chastens us because
of His love towards us (See Heb. 12:5-6).
“Therefore
be zealous and repent.” “Being zealous”
refers to making the motionless heart move. “Repenting” refers to making the
moving heart change the direction.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God chastens us because we are whom He loves.
Chastening is His arrangement of love. He arranges all the circumstances for us
in love and He measures all the circumstances for us in love.
2) Out of the heart are the issues of life (See
Prov. 4:23). If the direction of one’s heart is right, there is hope of his
spiritual future.
Rev. 3:20 “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.”
YLT: “lo, I have stood at
the door, and I knock; if any one may hear my voice, and may open the door, I
will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Meaning of Words: “knock”: rap;
“dine”: supper, take food.
Literal Meaning: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” “At the door and knock” This door is not
the door of hearts that call the world to receive the gospel but the door of
hearts that call believers to seek to be overcomers.
“If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” “If anyone hears My voice” indicates that though the Lord’s knock is for the
whole church, those who react are the individual believers. “Opening the door”
refers to opening the door of hearts. “I will come in to him” refers to the Lord’s obvious presence.
Though believers have received the Lord into us on the first day we believed in
the Lord (See John. 1:12), we always cannot realize His presence (See S. of
Sol. 3:1).
“And
dine with him, and he with Me.” It refers to the
intimate communion and enjoyment with the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though the Lord’s knock is to all believers,
those who hear and react are individuals. And therefore our reward and
punishment in future are individual (See Matt. 16:27).
2) The prerequisite condition that we dine with the
Lord is letting the Lord take the thrones of our hearts and reign us. Obedience
is before enjoyment and there won’t be enjoyment without obedience.
Rev. 3:21 “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.”
YLT: “He who is
overcoming -- I will give to him to sit with me in my throne, as I also did
overcome and did sit down with my Father in His throne.”
Literal Meaning: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me
on My throne,” “Him who
overcomes” refers to overcoming the corrupt states of the church of the Laodiceans. “Sitting with Me on My throne” refers to reigning with the Lord (See 2Tim.
2:12).
“As
I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” “I also overcame” indicates that the Lord
Jesus overcame the devil that had the power of death through death and
resurrection (See Heb. 2:14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The promise of dining with the Lord (See v.20)
is before the promise of sitting with the Lord on His throne. The former is the
close relation in the secret chamber and the latter is the relation of the
public authorization. If we do not have the experience of dining with the Lord,
probably we won’t have the realization of sitting with Him on His throne.
2) The spiritual states of the church of the
Laodiceans are very bad, however, the promise that her overcomers have received
is the best. Our states are bad in the beginning, however, if we can repent and
try hard, the last shall be the first (See Matt. 19:30; 20:16).
Rev. 3:22 “‘He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
YLT: “He who is having an
ear -- let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.'”
Literal Meaning: please see the notes
in 2:7, 29.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Being of the Lord vs. the Conditions of
the Churches
I. The church in Sardis:
A. He who has the seven Spirits of God
and the seven stars (v.1)
B. I know your works, that you have a
name that you are alive, but you are dead. I have not found your works perfect
before God (v.1-2)
II. The church in Philadelphia:
A. 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 (v.7)
B. you have a little strength, have kept
My word, and have not denied My name (v.8)
III. The church of the Laodiceans:
A. the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God (v.14)
B. I know your works, that you are
neither cold nor hot. You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
(v.15, 17)
The Conditions and Reward of the Raptures
I. The church in Sardis:
A. who have not defiled their garments
(v.4)
B. 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 (v.5)
II. The church in Philadelphia:
A. keep My command to persevere. Hold
fast what you have (v.10-11)
B. he who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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
(v.12)
III. The church of the Laodiceans:
A. be zealous. Hear My voice and open
the door (v.19-20)
B. to him who overcomes I will grant to
sit with Me on My throne (v.21)
The Lord’s Exhortations to All the Churches
I. Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die (v.2)
II. Remember
therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent (v.3)
III. Hold fast what
you have, that no one may take your crown (v.11)
IV. I could wish you
were cold or hot (v.15)
V. 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 (v.18)
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren