Apocalipsis 3:1-9

1 Y escribe al ángel de la Iglesia que está en Sardis: El que tiene los siete Espíritus de Dios, y las siete estrellas, dice estas cosas: Yo conozco tus obras; que tienes nombre de que vives, y estás muerto.

2 Sé vigilante, y confirma las otras cosas que están para morir; porque no he hallado tus obras perfectas delante de Dios.

3 Acuérdate pues de lo que has recibido y has oído; y guárdalo, y arrepiéntete. Y si no velares, vendré a ti como ladrón, y no sabrás a qué hora vendré a ti.

4 Mas tienes unas pocas personas también en Sardis que no han ensuciado sus vestiduras , y andarán conmigo en vestiduras blancas, porque son dignas.

5 El que venciere, será así vestido de vestiduras blancas; y no borraré su nombre del libro de la vida, y confesaré su nombre delante de mi Padre, y delante de sus ángeles.

6 El que tiene oído, oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las Iglesias.

7 Y escribe al ángel de la Iglesia que está en Filadelfia: El Santo y Verdadero, que tiene la llave de David; que abre y ninguno cierra; que cierra y ninguno abre, dice estas cosas:

8 Yo conozco tus obras: he aquí, he dado la puerta abierta delante de ti, y ninguno la puede cerrar; porque tienes algo de potencia, y has guardado mi Palabra, y no has negado mi Nombre.

9 He aquí, yo doy de la sinagoga de Satanás, a los que se dicen ser judíos, y no lo son, mas mienten; he aquí, yo los constreñiré a que vengan y adoren delante de tus pies, y sepan que yo te he amado.

Apocalipsis 3:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 3

This chapter contains the epistles to the churches at Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, and begins with that to Sardis; in which the sender describes himself by some things taken out of a former description of him; and gives an account of the state of this church; that her works were known by him, which were imperfect; and that she had the name of a living church, but was dead; wherefore she is exhorted to watchfulness and diligence, to remember how she had heard and received the Gospel, and to hold it fast, and repent of her sins: if not, he threatens to come as a thief unawares upon her, Re 3:1-3, but excepts some few persons from this general account, who were not defiled with the corruptions of the majority, and who therefore should be favoured with communion with him, Re 3:4, and then some gracious promises are made to persevering saints, and the epistle is concluded in the usual form, Re 3:5,6. Next follows the epistle to the church at Philadelphia; in which the sender assumes some peculiar titles not before mentioned, taken from his holiness, truth, and power, Re 3:7, signifies his approbation of her works; declares he had set before her an open door, which could not be shut; affirms she had a little strength, and commends her for keeping his word, Re 3:8, and, for her encouragement, promises that some persons, formerly of bad characters, should come and worship before her, and should know what an interest she had in his love; and that since she had kept his word, he would keep her from an hour of temptation, which will be a trying time to all the world, Re 3:9,10, and in consideration of his speedy coming, he exhorts her to hold fast what she had, that she might not lose her honour and glory; and promises the overcomer a fixed place and name in the house of God; and closes the epistle as the rest, Re 3:11-13, and then follows the last epistle of all, which is that to the church at Laodicea; in which the sender describes himself by some characters taken from his truth and faithfulness, and from his eternity, power, and dominion, Re 3:14, represents the members of this church as lukewarm, and very disagreeable to him, Re 3:15,16, and as having a vain opinion of themselves, being ignorant of their real state and case, Re 3:17, wherefore he gives them some wholesome counsel and advice, suitable to their condition, Re 3:18, and whereas there were some among them he loved, he lets them know that his rebukes and chastenings were from love, and with a view to stimulate them to zeal, and bring them to repentance, which became them, Re 3:19, and then he informs them where he was, what he expected from them, and what they might upon a suitable behaviour enjoy with him, Re 3:20, and next promises to the overcomer great honour and glory, such as he had with his Father; and concludes the epistle in his usual manner, Re 3:21,22.