Revelation 3 Study Notes

3:12 The one who conquers (see note at 2:7) is promised a permanent place in the temple in God’s eternal city, the new Jerusalem. This “temple” is actually the Lord himself and the Lamb (21:2,22). Christ’s new name may refer to “a name . . . that no one knows except himself” (19:12).

3:13 On let anyone who has ears to hear listen, see note at 2:7.

3:14 On the angel of the church, see note at 1:20. Laodicea, forty-five miles southeast of Philadelphia and ninety miles east of Ephesus, was an important trade center. Like Philadelphia, it lay in a region prone to earthquakes. The city had to bring in its water supply through an aqueduct. This made it vulnerable to drought and disruption by enemies. The Laodicean church was probably planted by Epaphras (Col 1:7), along with the churches of Hierapolis and Colossae, during Paul’s three-year ministry at Ephesus (Ac 19:8-10; 20:31). Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “truth.” Being the originator of God’s creation means Jesus was the person of the Trinity who was the agent of creation (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16).

ArchÄ“ indicates the chief position, either in time (beginning, commencement), rank/position (ruler, governor, originator), or location (corner, Ac 10:11). It can also refer to the domain of someone’s authority (i.e., their rule, Lk 20:20; 1Co 15:24). Other related terms include the verb archo (to rule, begin) and the noun archon (ruler). In John’s writings, archÄ“ always refers to sequential priority, such as the beginning of the world (Jn 1:1-2; 1Jn 1:1; 2:13-14), of some aspect of Jesus’s ministry (Jn 2:11; 6:64; 8:25; 15:27; 16:4), of Satan’s rebellion against God (Jn 8:44; 1Jn 3:8), and of Christian witness (1Jn 2:7,24; 3:11; 2Jn 5-6). In Revelation, Jesus is called the “originator of God’s creation” (3:14) as well as “the beginning and the end” (Rv 22:13), a title shared by God the Father (Rv 21:6), indicating that God started everything and will end everything.

3:15-16 Because the water in Laodicea was piped in, it was neither cold and refreshing nor hot and therapeutic. The lukewarm water was thus not useful. The spiritual worthlessness of the church in Laodicea was nauseating to Christ (I am going to vomit you out of my mouth).

3:17-19 Because many believers in the Laodicean church were rich and arrogant, they were completely blind to the fact that they were spiritually wretched and naked. The only way Christ would give them spiritual sight and make them spiritually rich and properly dressed was for them to repent (see note at 2:5) and be zealous to him, no longer going through the motions spiritually (i.e., being lukewarm). As many as I love, I . . . discipline echoes Pr 3:11-12, which is cited in Heb 12:6.

3:20 The Lord had been pushed to the outside of the church at Laodicea, and he was now seeking to reenter through their repentance (opens the door).

3:21 On the one who conquers, see note at 2:7. The right to sit with Christ on his throne goes beyond his promise to the apostles in Mt 19:28 and looks to his reign on earth in Rv 20:4-6. The phrase sat down with my Father on his throne looks ahead to the heavenly throne room in chaps. 4-5.

3:22 On let anyone who has ears to hear listen, see note at 2:7.