Sardis. The ancient capital of Lydia. Its commercial activity attracted merchants from all parts of Asia. The remains of a vast temple to Cybele (the "mother of the gods") still exist.
seven Spirits. See Revelation 1:4 .
God. App-98 .
seven, &c. See Revelation 1:20 .
stars. See Revelation 1:16 .
a name, &c. Not suited for this dispensation of grace, for Christ's people now live "in Him". We who were dead are now alive in Christ.
hold fast. Greek. tereo. Same as "keep" in Revelation 1:3 .
repent. See Revelation 2:5 .
on thee. The texts omit.
as, &c. See Revelation 16:15 . 1Th 5:2 . 2 Peter 3:10 .
know. App-132 . These words are not addressed to the members of the "church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 ). See 2 Thessalonians 2:1 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . We do not "watch" for the "thief", but "wait" for the Lord.
Philadelphia. About thirty miles south-east of Sardis. Very little known of it beyond a few references in Pliny, but the Greek name indicates a Macedonian population.
Holy = The Holy One. See Revelation 4:8 . Compare Hosea 11:9 , &c. The Greek hagios occurs twenty-six times in Rev. See App-197 .
hast kept = didst keep. Same word as "hold fast", Revelation 3:3 .
word App-121 .
hast not denied = didst not deny.
My name. In opposition to confessing (See Revelation 2:13 ) the name of the beast, Revelation 13:17 ; Revelation 14:9 , Revelation 14:11 , Revelation 14:12 .
worship. Greek. proskuneo. App-137 . Occurs twenty-four times ( App-10 ) in Rev. Twelve times connected with worship of God, eleven times with worship of Satan and the beast, and here.
Temple = sanctuary. Greek. naos . See Matthew 23:16 and App-88 .
upon. App-104 .
new Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:3 , Revelation 21:10 . Compare Psalms 48:1 , Psalms 48:2 , Psalms 48:8 , Psalms 48:9 . Ezekiel 48:35 . See App-88 and App-197 .4.
new, new. Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 .
heaven. See Matthew 6:9 . Occurs fifty-two times in Rev., always in sing, save Revelation 12:12 .
new name. See Revelation 14:1 ; Revelation 22:4 .Isaiah 62:2 ; Isaiah 65:15 . Contrast the name branded on the worshippers of the beast, Revelation 13:16 ; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 19:20 ; Revelation 20:4 .
of, &c. = in (Greek. en) Laodicea (an important city of Phrygia, a few miles west of Colosse. Rebuilt by Antiochus II, and named after his wife, Laodice).
the Amen. A Hebrew word transliterated. See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and p. 1511.
knock. The call to the wedding feast (Revelation 19:9 ), to which the parables pointed, e.g. Luke 12:35-38 "when He cometh and knocketh". The popular belief that the Lord is ever knocking at the hearts of sinners is a distortion of Scripture akin to blasphemy.
any man. App-123 .
sup, &c. A gracious promise to His servants (See Revelation 1:1 ). See Luke 12:37 .
am set down = sat down. See Acts 2:33 , Acts 2:34 .Ephesians 1:20 , Ephesians 1:21 .Hebrews 1:8 ; Hebrews 8:1 . The Lord now stands (Revelation 1:0 ), and is about to come down in judgment.
Verse 1
unto = to.
angel . . . church. See Revelation 1:20 .
Sardis. The ancient capital of Lydia. Its commercial activity attracted merchants from all parts of Asia. The remains of a vast temple to Cybele (the "mother of the gods") still exist.
seven Spirits. See Revelation 1:4 .
God. App-98 .
seven, &c. See Revelation 1:20 .
stars. See Revelation 1:16 .
a name, &c. Not suited for this dispensation of grace, for Christ's people now live "in Him". We who were dead are now alive in Christ.
livest. See App-170 .
dead. App-139 .
Verse 2
Be = Become.
watchful. See Matthew 24:42 .
the . . . remain = the remaining (things). App-124 .
are = were, with the texts.
perfect. App-125 .
Verse 3
hold fast. Greek. tereo. Same as "keep" in Revelation 1:3 .
repent. See Revelation 2:5 .
on thee. The texts omit.
as, &c. See Revelation 16:15 . 1Th 5:2 . 2 Peter 3:10 .
know. App-132 . These words are not addressed to the members of the "church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 ). See 2 Thessalonians 2:1 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . We do not "watch" for the "thief", but "wait" for the Lord.
Verse 4
Thou. The texts read "But thou".
even. The texts omit.
have, &c. = defiled not.
defiled. Greek. moluno. Only here; Rev 14:4 . 1 Corinthians 8:7 . The noun Occurs only in 2 Corinthians 7:1 .
garments. Greek. himation. First of seven occurances: (see App-197 ) in Rev.
worthy. See App-197 .
Verse 5
overcometh. See Revelation 2:7 .
the same. The texts read "thus".
blot out. Occurances: Revelation 7:17 ; Revelation 21:4 (wipe away). Acts 3:19 . Colossians 2:14 .
book, &c. See Philippians 4:3 .
life. App-170 .
but = and.
confess, &c. See Matthew 10:32 .
Father. App-98 .
Verse 6
He, &c. See Revelation 2:7 .
Verse 7
Philadelphia. About thirty miles south-east of Sardis. Very little known of it beyond a few references in Pliny, but the Greek name indicates a Macedonian population.
Holy = The Holy One. See Revelation 4:8 . Compare Hosea 11:9 , &c. The Greek hagios occurs twenty-six times in Rev. See App-197 .
True. App-175 .
key of David. See Isaiah 22:22 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
Verse 8
behold. App-133 .
set = given.
strength App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .
hast kept = didst keep. Same word as "hold fast", Revelation 3:3 .
word App-121 .
hast not denied = didst not deny.
My name. In opposition to confessing (See Revelation 2:13 ) the name of the beast, Revelation 13:17 ; Revelation 14:9 , Revelation 14:11 , Revelation 14:12 .
Verse 9
will make = give.
synagogue, &c. See Revelation 2:9 .
Satan. App-19 , and See Revelation 2:9 .
Jews. See Revelation 2:9 .
make. i.e. compel.
worship. Greek. proskuneo. App-137 . Occurs twenty-four times ( App-10 ) in Rev. Twelve times connected with worship of God, eleven times with worship of Satan and the beast, and here.
have. Omit.
loved. App-135 .
Verse 10
temptation = trial. Greek. peirasmos. Only occurrence in Rev.
shall = is about to.
world. App-129 .
try = test. Greek. peirazo. Here, and Revelation 2:2 , Revelation 2:10 .
earth. App-129 . Compare Zephaniah 1:14-18 .
Verse 11
Behold. Omit.
hold . . . fast. Same Greek. word as Revelation 2:1 , Revelation 2:13 , Revelation 2:14 , Revelation 2:15 , Revelation 2:25 , not as Revelation 3:3 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
no rnan = no one. Greek. medeis. These words do not relate to such as through grace are perfect "in Him". See Romans 8:38 , Romans 8:39 .
Verse 12
Temple = sanctuary. Greek. naos . See Matthew 23:16 and App-88 .
upon. App-104 .
new Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:3 , Revelation 21:10 . Compare Psalms 48:1 , Psalms 48:2 , Psalms 48:8 , Psalms 48:9 . Ezekiel 48:35 . See App-88 and App-197 .4.
new, new. Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 .
heaven. See Matthew 6:9 . Occurs fifty-two times in Rev., always in sing, save Revelation 12:12 .
new name. See Revelation 14:1 ; Revelation 22:4 .Isaiah 62:2 ; Isaiah 65:15 . Contrast the name branded on the worshippers of the beast, Revelation 13:16 ; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 19:20 ; Revelation 20:4 .
Verse 14
of, &c. = in (Greek. en) Laodicea (an important city of Phrygia, a few miles west of Colosse. Rebuilt by Antiochus II, and named after his wife, Laodice).
the Amen. A Hebrew word transliterated. See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and p. 1511.
faithful. App-150 .
Witness. See p. 1511.
beginning. App-172 . Compare 1 Chronicles 1:15-19; 1 Chronicles 1:15-19 .
Verse 16
lukewarm. Greek. chliaros. Only here.
will = am about to.
spue. Greek. emeo. Only here. Occurs: Isaiah 19:14 (Septuagint)
Verse 17
nothing. Greek. oudeis.
knowest. App-132 .
wretched = the wretched one. See Romans 7:24 , and compare Hosea 2:11 ; Hosea 5:15 .
poor. App-127 .
Verse 18
buy. The members of the church of this dispensation have nothing to buy and nothing to pay with; our salvation is the free-grace gift of God.
the. Omit.
fire. Compare Haggai 2:8 . Zechariah 13:9 . Malachi 3:3 .
be clothed = clothe thyself.
do not appear = be not ( App-105 ) made manifest ( App-106 ). Compare Revelation 16:15 .
see. App-133 .
Verse 19
love. App-135 . This is preceded by Greek. ean ( App-118 . a). Compare Isaiah 43:4 ; &c.
rebuke = convict. Greek. elencho. See John 16:8 .
Verse 20
stand. Literally have taken my station.
knock. The call to the wedding feast (Revelation 19:9 ), to which the parables pointed, e.g. Luke 12:35-38 "when He cometh and knocketh". The popular belief that the Lord is ever knocking at the hearts of sinners is a distortion of Scripture akin to blasphemy.
any man. App-123 .
sup, &c. A gracious promise to His servants (See Revelation 1:1 ). See Luke 12:37 .
Verse 21
am set down = sat down. See Acts 2:33 , Acts 2:34 .Ephesians 1:20 , Ephesians 1:21 .Hebrews 1:8 ; Hebrews 8:1 . The Lord now stands (Revelation 1:0 ), and is about to come down in judgment.