The Door is Open

Revelation 3

​As we continue our understanding of 3 more of the 7 churches in Revelation, we see in chapter 3 that first, Sardis had a reputation for being alive. It was the kind of church in which people today might say, “They have great music and great preaching.” Yet, because Jesus knew their hearts and their works, He saw there was no true spiritual life there. They were “a mile wide and an inch deep.” They were merely playing church.

“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. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, 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. 4 Yet 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. 5 The 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. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:1–6 (ESV)

This church had a great reputation, but close examination showed that its ministry did not live up to its name. In fact, the church was ready to die! What was the cause? Many of the people were defiling themselves by compromise and sin.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:14–16 (ESV)

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 (ESV)

The “Book of Life” contains the names of all living persons; and when a person dies without Christ, the name is blotted out. Believers have their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life and can never be blotted out.

To the Christians in Philadelphia … Philadelphia was founded about 150 b.c. by Philadelphus, ruler of Pergamum, in an effort to bring Greek culture to his area. It was destroyed in 17 by the same earthquake that leveled Sardis, and like Sardis was rebuilt by Tiberius Caesar. Philadelphia had a large Jewish population and was known for its excellent wine.

“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. 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. 9 Behold, 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. 10 Because 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. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:7–13 (ESV)

The church of Philadelphia, though poor, small, and persecuted, had remained true to Christ. It was the only one of the seven churches with which he found no fault. Rather, he promised an “open door,” preservation through future persecution, and a place of honor in His coming Kingdom. As the final and eternal King in the line of David, Christ has the power to either admit people to His eternal Kingdom or to exclude them from it.

Philadelphia means “brotherly love,” and Jesus had a special love for these people. Weak as they were, they were given an open door of service; and the Lord urged them to take advantage of it. When God opens a door for you, nobody can shut it; but you can ignore or neglect it.

Verse 10 suggests a pre-tribulational rapture because it says, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world.

“Because 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.” Revelation 3:10 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “Jesus will not merely keep believers from the test but from the period of the test—that is, the tribulation period. In the end, everyone will know the spiritually serious person (i.e., pillar) is special to God because Jesus will publicly identify that person.”

“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. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, 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. 21 The 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Revelation 3:14–22 (ESV)

When reading of the church of Laodicea, the Everyday English Tony Evans Translation puts it this way: “Y’all make me want to throw up!” Nobody orders a lukewarm drink. They want iced tea or hot coffee. In the spiritual realm, God finds tepidness unappealing as well."

Dr. Evans continues, “The Laodiceans said, I have become wealthy and need nothing. But the external appearance of prosperity was not indicative of the condition of their hearts or their level of fellowship with God. They were spiritually uncommitted, carnal, and compromising. As Jesus put it, they were spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. The Laodicean Christians needed to acquire from Jesus true wealth—those character traits, behaviors, and beliefs that have eternal value. Then they truly would be rich.”

Know today that Jesus will not force himself into a church or into your life. But if any member of a congregation will open the door by submitting to His will, He will come in … and eat—that is, He will have intimate fellowship with believers who respond to His invitation.

Have you responded to Jesus’ invitation? Have you chosen to have a personal saving relationship with Jesus by repenting of your sin and believing in your heart that He is the Son of God? If not, will you turn from your own desires for your life and choose to follow His desires?

Will you trust Him as your personal Lord and Savior—believing that He died for your sin, allowing His blood to cover your sin?
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Will you believe that He rose from the tomb by which He was buried for 3 days, and walked before His disciples and crowds before ascending into Heaven where He sits on the right hand side of the Father pleading on your behalf? Will you believe today?

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