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DECEMBER 13
Revelation 3:1–22
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis
3 write, 3:16 lukewarm. I.e., tepid. Nearby Hierapolis
‘These things says He who has the seven was famous for its hot springs,and Colosse for its
Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your cold, refreshing mountain stream. But Laodicea
works, that you have a name that you are alive, had dirty, tepid water that flowed for miles
but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen through an underground aqueduct. Visitors,
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the things which remain, that are ready to die, unaccustomed to it,immediately spat it out.The
for I have not found your works perfect before church at Laodicea was neither cold, openly
God. Remember therefore how you have rejecting Christ,nor hot,filled with spiritual zeal.
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received and heard; hold fast and repent. There- Instead,its members were lukewarm,hypocrites
fore if you will not watch, I will come upon you professing to know Christ, but not truly belong-
as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will ing to Him (Matt.7:21ff.).I will vomit you out of
come upon you. You have a few names even in My mouth.Just like the tepid water of Laodicea,
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Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and these self-deceived hypocrites sickened Christ.
they shall walk with Me in white, for they are
worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in
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white garments, and I will not blot out his name of trial which shall come upon the whole
from the Book of Life; but I will confess his world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what
name before My Father and before His angels.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the
6 you have, that no one may take your crown.
Spirit says to the churches.” ’ 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar
“And to the angel of the church in
7 in the temple of My God, and he shall go out
Philadelphia write, no more. I will write on him the name of My
‘These things says He who is holy, He who God and the name of the city of My God, the
is true, “He who has the key of David, He who New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one heaven from My God. And I will write on him
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opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set My new name.
before you an open door, and no one can shut 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
it; for you have a little strength, have kept My Spirit says to the churches.” ’
word, and have not denied My name. Indeed 14 “And to the angel of the church of the
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I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, Laodiceans write,
who say they are Jews and are not, but lie— ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful
indeed I will make them come and worship and True Witness, the Beginning of the cre-
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before your feet, and to know that I have loved ation of God: “I know your works, that you
you. Because you have kept My command to are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were
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persevere, I also will keep you from the hour cold or hot. So then, because you are luke-
warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit
you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am
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rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing’—and do not know that you are
3:10 keep you from the hour of trial. Christ’s wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
description must refer to the time of tribulation, 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in
the 7-year period before Christ’s earthly king- the fire, that you may be rich; and white gar-
dom is consummated, featuring the unleashing ments, that you may be clothed, that the
of divine wrath in judgments expressed as seals, shame of your nakedness may not be
trumpets, and bowls.This period is described in revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve,
detail throughout chapters 6–19. The latter half that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke
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is called “the Great Tribulation”(7:14;Matt.24:21) and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
and is identified as to time in 11:2,3;12:6,14;13:5.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any-
The verb “to keep” is followed by a preposition
whose normal meaning is “from” or “out of”— one hears My voice and opens the door, I will
this phrase,“keep…from”supports the pretribu- come in to him and dine with him, and he with
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lational Rapture of the church.This period is the Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
same as Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:24–27) and with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and
“the time of Jacob’s trouble”(Jer.30:7). sat down with My Father on His throne.
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“He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
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