1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Lu 15:24; 1Ti 5:6; Re 1:4; Re 1:16)2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. (Ac 14:26)3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. (Mt 24:43; 1Th 5:2; 1Th 5:4; 2Ti 1:13; 2Pe 3:10; Re 2:5; Re 16:15)4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (Ec 9:8; Lu 20:35; Jud 1:23; Re 6:11; Re 7:9)5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (Ex 32:32; Mt 10:32; Lu 12:8; Php 4:3; Re 2:7; Re 13:8; Re 17:8; Re 20:12; Re 20:15; Re 21:27)6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Re 2:7)
To the Church in Philadelphia
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. (Job 12:14; Isa 22:22; Mt 16:19; Lu 1:32; 1Jo 5:20; Re 3:14; Re 6:10; Re 19:11)8“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (Ac 14:27; 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3)9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. (Isa 43:4; Isa 45:14; Isa 49:23; Isa 60:14; Re 2:9)10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. (2Pe 2:9; Re 1:9; Re 6:10; Re 8:13; Re 11:10; Re 13:8; Re 13:14; Re 17:8)11I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. (Re 2:10; Re 2:25; Re 22:7; Re 22:12; Re 22:20)12The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (1Ki 7:21; 2Ch 3:17; Ps 23:6; Ps 27:4; Jer 1:18; Eze 48:35; Ga 2:9; Ga 4:26; Heb 12:22; Re 2:7; Re 2:17; Re 14:1; Re 21:2; Re 21:10; Re 22:4)13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Re 2:7)
To the Church in Laodicea
14“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. (Pr 8:22; 2Co 1:20; Col 1:15; Col 1:18; Re 1:5; Re 3:7; Re 19:11; Re 21:6; Re 22:6; Re 22:13)15“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! (2Pe 2:21)16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Ho 12:8; Zec 11:5; Joh 9:39; 1Co 4:8; Eph 1:18)18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (Pr 8:19; Isa 55:1; Mt 13:44; Mt 25:9; Re 3:4; Re 3:17; Re 16:15; Re 19:8)19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Heb 12:6)20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (So 5:2; Lu 12:36; Lu 24:29; Joh 14:23)21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Mt 19:28; Joh 12:26; Joh 16:33; 2Ti 2:12; Re 2:7; Re 2:26; Re 5:5; Re 6:2; Re 17:14; Re 20:4)22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Re 2:7)
Revelation 3
New International Version
To the church in Sardis
1‘To the angel[1] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[2] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.5The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.6Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Philadelphia
7‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no-one will take your crown.12The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.13Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Laodicea
14‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.17You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.21To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 3
King James Version
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;8I 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.9Behold, 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 worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.12Him 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 name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold 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.19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3
New International Reader’s Version
The letter to the church in Sardis
1‘Here is what I command you to write to the church in Sardis. Here are the words of Jesus, who holds the seven spirits of God. He has the seven stars in his hand. He says, “I know what you are doing. People think you are alive, but you are dead.2Wake up! Strengthen what is left, or it will die. You have not done all that my God wants you to do.3So remember what you have been taught and have heard. Hold firmly to it. Turn away from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief. You won’t know when I will come to you.4“But you have a few people in Sardis who are pure. They aren’t covered with evil like dirty clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, because they are worthy.5Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will dress that person in white like those worthy people. I will never erase their names from the book of life. I will speak of them by name to my Father and his angels.6Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.”
The letter to the church in Philadelphia
7‘Here is what I command you to write to the church in Philadelphia. Here are the words of Jesus, who is holy and true. He holds the key of David. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts. He says,8“I know what you are doing. Look! I have put an open door in front of you. No one can shut it. I know that you don’t have much strength. But you have obeyed my word. You have not said no to me.9Some people claim they are Jews but are not. They are liars. Their worship comes from Satan. I will make them come and fall down at your feet. I will make them say in public that I have loved you.10You have kept my command to remain strong in the faith no matter what happens. So I will keep you from the time of suffering. That time is going to come to the whole world. It will test those who live on the earth.11“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have. Then no one will take away your crown.12Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will make that person a pillar in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write the name of my God on them. I will write the name of the city of my God on them. This is the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my new name on them.13Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.”
The letter to the church in Laodicea
14‘Here is what I command you to write to the church in Laodicea. Here are the words of Jesus, who is the Amen. What he speaks is faithful and true. He rules over what God has created. He says,15“I know what you are doing. I know you aren’t cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16But you are lukewarm. You aren’t hot or cold. So I am going to spit you out of my mouth.17You say, ‘I am rich. I’ve become wealthy and don’t need anything.’ But you don’t realise how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked.18So here’s my advice. Buy from me gold made pure by fire. Then you will become rich. Buy from me white clothes to wear. Then you will be able to cover the shame of your naked bodies. And buy from me healing lotion to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.19“I warn and correct those I love. So be sincere, and turn away from your sins.20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. I will eat with that person, and they will eat with me.21“Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will give that person the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I had victory. Then I sat down with my Father on his throne.22Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.” ’