Apocalipse 3
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Apocalipse 3:1-6
3:1 "church" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (ekklēsia) ▣ "He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars" This phrase is another allusion to the glorified Christ (cf. Rev. 1:4,16,20). The seven stars refer to the churches and her leaders in Rev. 1:20; the seven spirits may be related imagery because in Rev. 4:5 they are related to the seven lampstands, which are also mentioned in Rev. 1:20 as referring to the churches. These seven spirits of God are also mentioned in Rev. 5:6 as part of the description of "the Lamb." SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SEVEN SPIRITS IN REVELATION ▣ "I know your deeds" Jesus was aware of the strengths and weaknesses of His churches (cf. Rev. 2:2,19; 3:1,8,15). NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "that you have a name that you are alive" "that you have a name of being alive" "that you have a reputation of being alive" "how you are reputed to be alive" "people say you are alive" This was a devastating revelation. They thought they were right with God, spiritually pleasing to Him (cf. Isa. 29:13; Rom. 2:19-20; Col. 2:16-23; 2 Tim. 3:5), but they were not! 3:2 NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB "Wake up" "Be watchful" "awake" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) IMPERATIVE (with a PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE), literally "be thou continually watching." It is the first of five PRESENT IMPERATIVES found in verses 2 and 3. Jesus commands His church to wake up and keep watching (i.e., Matt. 24:42; Mark 13:35,37; Phil. 2:12-16; 1 Pet. 5:8)! NASB, NKJV "strengthen the things that remain" "strengthen what remains" TEV, REB "strengthen what you still have" "put some resolve into what little vigor you have left" "hold fast to the things which remain" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. They were to act now and continue to act to preserve what remained of their dying faith. ▣ "for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God" The first VERB is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. They may have looked spiritual (cf. Isa. 29:13), but they were much like the religious people mentioned in Matt. 7:21-23 and Col. 2:16-23. The term "completed" is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE meaning "mature, perfect, equipped for the assigned task." They had not allowed God to complete what faith had started (cf. Phil. 1:6). 3:3 "remember what you have received and heard" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE followed by a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE and an AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE. This relates to the gospel which they heard and continued to receive. Christianity is not a decision only, but a lifestyle relationship. It involves believing a message and receiving a person. It results in a changed and changing life of repentance (AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, Rev. 3:3b) and obedience (PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, Rev. 3:3b). SPECIAL TOPIC: RECEIVE SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL ▣ "keep it" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE which is an ongoing command. SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP ▣ "repent" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE which implies a complete and immediate repentance. See note at Rev. 2:5. This is addressed to the church! SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (NT) ▣ "Therefore if you do not wake up" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE like 2:22. The action is potential, contingent on their response to Jesus' commands, but not assured. ▣ "I will come like a thief" This phrase is often thought of as referring to the Second Coming (cf. Matt. 24:43-44; Luke 12:39-40; 1 Thess. 5:2,4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). However, in this context (and possibly others) it seems to refer to a temporal judgment of this church. SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING 3:4 "a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments" The putting on and taking off of clothing was used as imagery of the Christian life (cf. Eph. 4:22,24,25,31; Col. 3:8,10,12,14; Heb. 12:1; James1:21; 1 Pet. 2:1). Some believers had not compromised with pagan culture. They had not followed the Nicolaitans, Balaamites, or Jezebel. ▣ "they will walk with Me in white" White clothing is used as a symbol of purity or victory in Rev. 3:4,5,18; 6:11; 7:9,13-14; 19:14. The term "walk" is often used as imagery of the Christian life (cf. Rev. 3:5; 21:24; 1 John 1:6,7; 2:6,11; 3 John 3-4). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY 3:5 "He who overcomes" Four wonderful things will be given to the ones who overcome. they will walk with the Messiah, Rev. 3:4 they will be clothed in white their names will never be blotted out of the book of life the Messiah will acknowledge them as His own in the presence of the Father and His angels Perseverance is a recurrent mandate in Revelation (cf. Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE ▣ "I will not erase his name from the book of life" This is a strong DOUBLE NEGATIVE. When citizens died, their names would be erased from the rolls of their city but God will never erase believers from His rolls. This phrase "the book of life" (i.e., scroll of zoē) is also found in Rev. 20:12-15, where two books are mentioned (cf. Dan. 7:10). the book of life which is made up of the names of God's faithful people Exod. 32:32-33; Ps. 69:28; Isa. 4:3; Dan. 12:1 Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:23; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27 the book of deeds or remembrances which records the deeds of both the wicked and righteous (cf. Ps. 56:8, 139:16; Isa. 65:6; Mal. 3:16) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY ▣ "I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" As believers confess Christ ("call on His name," cf. Rom. 10:9-13), He also confesses them before the Father (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8). "Confess" is the Greek term exomulogeō. It was used in three senses: to publically confess sins to God and others present (cf. Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5; Acts 19:18; James5:16) to publically confess faith in Christ (cf. Phil. 2:1; and possibly Rom. 14:11) to publically praise God (cf. Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; Rom. 14:11 [Isa. 45:23]; 15:9 [Ps. 18:49]) The related Greek word homologeō was used in similar ways: to acknowledge sin (cf. 1 John 1:9) to acknowledge faith in Christ (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 10:32; John 9:22 [negatively, John 1:20; 12:42]) to affirm a belief in something (cf. Acts 23:8; 24:14; Heb. 11:13) SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION SPECIAL TOPIC: The Name of the Lord (NT) 3:6 See note at Rev. 2:7.
Apocalipse 3:7-13
3:7 "He who is holy, who is true" Verse 7 is a series of four descriptive clauses describing Jesus with titles for YHWH. "Holy" was used 30 times in Isaiah to describe YHWH. John usually substituted the term "righteous" (cf. Rev. 15:3; 16:7; 19:2). "True" was often used of YHWH (cf. Isa. 65:16; Jer. 10:10; 1 John 5:20; 17:10; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 15:3; 16:7; 19:2), but here it refers to Jesus. The first two, "holy" and "true," are used again of God in Rev. 6:10. The term "true" in Greek meant "true as over against false," but in Hebrew it meant "faithful or trustworthy." Jesus is surely both (cf. Rev. 3:14; 19:11; 21:5; 22:6). SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE SPECIAL TOPIC: TRUE (the term in John's writings) ▣ "who has the key of David" This is an allusion to the royal Davidic Messiah of 2 Samuel 7, but particularly of Isa. 22:22, from where this exact imagery is drawn. Notice the mention of "keys" in Rev. 1:18. SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD TESTAMENT TITLES OF THE SPECIAL COMING ONE ▣ "who shuts and no one opens" This refers to the preaching of the gospel (see note at Rev. 3:8). The sovereignty of YHWH now passes to Jesus! SPECIAL TOPIC: USE OF "DOOR" IN THE NT 3:8 "I have put before you an open door which no one can shut" This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE and a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE. This refers to either preaching opportunities (keys, cf. Matt. 16:19) entrance into the Messianic banquet (clothed in white, cf. Rev. 3:4) a divine opportunity for service (cf. Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3) ▣ "because you have a little power" This is the first of three reasons why Jesus opened such a wonderful door of opportunity. There are only two (i.e., Smyrna and Philadelphia) of the seven churches to which Jesus had nothing negative to say. ▣ "and have kept My word" The VERB TENSE (AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE) implies a particular time of persecution a decisive act of obedience They had "little faith," but they used it well! ▣ "and have not denied My name" This may be a reference to the persecution caused by the demands of the Concilia, local supporters of the Emperor worship (cf. Rev. 2:13). Every year Roman citizens were required to offer incense to Caesar with the loyalty oath, "Caesar is Lord." The believers could not do this because the title "Lord" applied only to Jesus! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NAME OF THE LORD 3:9 "I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan" This may refer to Jewish opposition to the gospel. The Church, not unbelieving Jews, are the true people of God (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:7,9,29; 6:16; Eph. 2:11-3:13; Phil. 3:5). SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN ▣ "I will make them come and bow down at your feet" This is an allusion to Isa. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14, which initially spoke of the Gentiles coming into the Jewish nation, but because these so-called Jews rejected the Messiah they would come to bow to these Gentile believers to show God's love to them (cf. Isa. 43:4,9). This is a good example of how the NT in general, and John in particular, has modified the OT prophecies concerning Israel. John uses a text that originally saw the Gentiles coming to a restored Jerusalem to worship YHWH, but in the New Age of righteousness this geo-political image is expanded to include a believing world (Jew and Gentile) having unbelieving Jews come and bow down (this surely refers to Jesus on the Father's throne with His followers, cf. John 17:22-24)! This universalization of Israel and Jerusalem shows that Revelation, far from substantiating a literal fulfillment of OT prophecies to a Jewish nation, has transformed them (cf. Eph. 2:11-3:13). This is the "mystery of the gospel hidden from the ages"! 3:10 "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance" NKJV, NJB "Because you have kept My command to persevere" "Because you have kept my word of patient endurance" "Because you have kept my command to endure" "Because you have kept my command to stand firm" "Because you have kept the word of my patience" This may be a reference to John 8:51 or 17:6. Jesus is not promising to keep His church from persecution because in the letters to the seven churches persecution, even death, was occurring. Verse 10 refers to Roman Empire wide (cf. Luke 2:1) judgment on unbelievers and persecutors (possibly A.D. 68-69) a worldwide judgment of God on unbelievers. It is crucial to distinguish between the "tribulations" (thlipsis) believers endure by the hands of unbelievers and "the wrath of God" (urgē or thumus) that falls on an unbelieving world in Revelation God's people were not spared persecution and death during the first few centuries in a Greco-Roman culture or the continuing persecution and death as the gospel spread, nor will they be spared the end-time birth pains of the New Age (note John 17:15). Persecution has always purged and strengthened the church! The literary unit of chapters 2-3, in which the Church experiences persecution, is followed by the literary unit of heaven, in which the martyred Church prays for revenge. This "wrath of God" is given in stages of severity (seals‒1/4, trumpets‒1/3, bowls‒total destruction), each stage given for the purpose of calling the lost to salvation (i.e., Rev. 9:20,21; 16:9,11). God's ultimate wrath, the second death, the lake of fire (cf. Revelation 20), is no longer for redemption, but is totally punitive. The persecuted church becomes the victorious church and the persecuting unbelievers experience persecution! God is in control! SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE ▣ "to test those who dwell on the earth" This phrase is used repeatedly throughout Revelation to refer to a settled state of rebellion by unbelievers (cf. Rev. 6:10; 18:13; 1:10; 12:12; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:8). God wants them to repent and believe (cf. Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9,11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), but they will not, even amidst the expanding judgments of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. One of the purposes of Revelation is to show the mercy and justice of God. He tried and tried to get humans, made in His image, to repent and believe but they would not! Mercy spurned turns to judgment and separation. God is a fair Judge! 3:11 "I am coming quickly" This is a continuing emphasis upon the immediacy of the Lord's coming (cf. Rev. 1:1,3; 2:16; 22:7,12,20). The early church expected the immediate return of the Lord. This is the hope of every generation of Christians. I have come to believe that both the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17; 21, as well as the book of Revelation, refers to the "coming" of Christ in judgment using the Roman army to destroy Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70 (partial preterist position). See John Bray, Matthew 24 Fulfilled and Kenneth Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell. SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN ▣ "hold fast what you have" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, meaning "continue to hold fast" as the AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE of Rev. 2:25 focused on a decisive act of holding fast. As believers hold on to God, He will hold on to them (cf. Gal. 6:9). This is the covenant relationship of God's sovereignty (i.e., unconditional covenant) and mankind's mandated response (i.e., conditional covenant)! Salvation is an initial decision of repentance and faith (cf. Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16,19; 20:21) followed by lifestyle repentance and faith, obedience, service, and perseverance. All of these items are expected of mature Christians. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT ▣ "crown" This is another reference to the stephanos crown mentioned in Rev. 2:10. It was a reward for faithfulness. There are several "crowns" for believers mentioned in the NT. The meaning of this verse depends on which crown is being alluded to. one's salvation (cf. Rev. 2:10; 3:11) one's rewards (cf. Col. 2:18) Remember, John is drawing his imagery almost exclusively from the OT, therefore, this may refer to David's (i.e., Messiah's) royal crown which would denote the believers' affirmation of Jesus as the true Davidic Messiah of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 the imagery may be from Ps. 132:17-18, about faithfulness to King David being rewarded as "his crown shall shine" the name given him may allude to the miter of the High Priest (i.e., Exodus 25; 28:36; 37) Apocalyptic Literature is slippery! SPECIAL TOPIC: CROWNS FOR BELIEVERS (NT) 3:12 "He who overcomes" See note at Rev. 2.2. Notice the three things Jesus will do for His faithful followers! SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE ▣ "I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God" Philadelphia was in an earthquake area; the imagery of a pillar conveyed the concept of stability. Prominent citizens' names were inscribed on the pillars of the temples in Philadelphia. The term "temple" here is a term (naos) from the VERB "to dwell" and was used of the place where Deity's very presence dwelt. The overcoming believers will never have to leave God's presence (cf. Ps. 23:6; 27:4-6). This may be imagery because apparently there will be no temple in the New Age (cf. Rev. 21:22). ▣ "I will write on him the name of My God" Notice the five-fold repetitions of "My" in Rev. 3:12. This is a wonderful acknowledgment of intimacy with God. The name symbolized ownership (cf. Rev. 7:3; 14:1; 22:4). ▣ "the new Jerusalem. . .new name" Revelation picks up on the prophecies of Isaiah. new things, Isa. 42:9; 43:19; 48:6 (Rev. 21:5) new song, Isa. 42:10 (Rev. 5:9; 14:3) new name, Isa. 62:2; 65:15 (Rev. 2:17) new heaven and new earth, Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Ezek. 48:35 (Rev. 3:12; 21:1,10). The new heavenly city, Jerusalem, is also prophesied in Isaiah 40:2,9; 41:27; 44:20,28; 52:1,2,9; 62:1,6,7; 65:18,19; 66:10,13,20 (Rev. 21:2,10). It is the imagery for the presence of God among His people. The OT prophecies have been universalized. New Jerusalem is not a city in Palestine, but the promise of a New Age of righteousness. SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD THINGS. . .NEW THINGS 3:13 See note at Rev. 2:6.
Apocalipse 3:14-22
3:14 "The Amen" This is an allusion to a title of YHWH, "the God of the Amen," in Isa. 65:16. The term "Amen" is a form of the OT word for "believe" or "faith" (cf. Gen. 15:16; Hab. 2:4). It usually emphasized faithfulness or trustworthiness (cf. Rev. 1:6; 2 Cor. 1:20). SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN ▣ "the faithful and true Witness" This may be another phrase from chapter 1 (cf. Rev. 1:5). In the Septuagint both of these ADJECTIVES are used to refer to YHWH. It is possible that emeth, which is the Hebrew word for "faith," "believe" or "trust," was translated as pistos (faithful) and alētheia (truth). These two Greek terms are used often in Revelation for Jesus (cf. Rev. 3:14; 19:11; 21:5; 22:6). SPECIAL TOPIC: TRUTH/TRUE NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "the Beginning of the creation of God" "the origin of God's creation" "the origin of all that God has created" "the Principle of God's creation" "the source of God's creation" This is an allusion to both Gen. 1:1 and John 1:1. The terms "beginning" (Hebrew, bereshith) and "origin" (Greek, archē) have two connotations: (1) start or (2) origin, source. This phrase was used in the Arian/Athanasius (Trinitarian) controversy of the fourth century and is an allusion to Prov. 8:22-31. Wisdom was YHWH's first creation and through wisdom all else was created. This was probably the origin of John's use of "logos" in his Gospel (cf. John 1:1). This is one of the strongest passages on the pre-existence of Christ (cf. John 1:1; 8:57-58; 2 Cor. 8:4; Phil. 2:6-7; Col. 1:17). Christ was the Father's agent in creation (cf. John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:16; Col. 1:15,18; Heb. 1:2). He is the One who spoke everything into existence! SPECIAL TOPIC: ARCHĒ 3:15 "you are neither cold nor hot" This may be an allusion to the lukewarm water that the people of this city had to drink because of the local hot springs. A similar charge is made against the church of Sardis (cf. Rev. 3:1). 3:16 "I will spit you out of My mouth" The warnings of Rev. 2:5; 3:3,16,17 are shocking when it is realized that they are addressed to the visible churches of the first century. This is not the loss of salvation, but the loss of effective ministry (cf. Rev. 3:19; Heb. 12:5-13). These churches do not exist today! 3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'" Verses 17 and 18 are a historical allusion to Laodicea as a center of banking, a center for dyed wool, and a center for eye salve. The tragedy of their prosperity was that they thought they had so much when they had so little (cf. Rev. 3:1). SPECIAL TOPIC: WEALTH 3:18 "buy from Me" This may be an allusion to Isa. 55:1-3, where God's offer of salvation was free, but described as a cost. ▣ "white garments" See note at Rev. 3:4. ▣ "that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed" In the OT nakedness was a sign of defeat, judgment, and poverty (i.e., 2 Sam. 10:4; Isa. 20:4; 47:2,3; Ezek. 16:37). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME 3:19 "I reprove" This Greek term elegchō is used in the sense of "to expose and thereby to heal or correct" (cf. John 3:20; Eph. 5:11-14). ▣ "and discipline" Being disciplined by God is a sign that we are members of His family (cf. Job 5:17; Prov. 3:12; Ps. 94:12; Heb. 12:6). ▣ "be zealous" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. It is from the same word root as "hot" or "boiling" (zestos) used in Rev. 3:15-16. Knowing and serving God must be a flaming passion and lifestyle. ▣"and repent" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. There is a recurring insistence throughout these seven letters that Christians, not just unbelievers, must repent and return to Christ for maturity, stability, and joy (cf. Rev. 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19). Repentance is a lifestyle, not only an initial action! SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (NT) 3:20 "I stand at the door and knock" This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE, "I stand and continue to stand at the door" followed by a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE "and continue to knock." Although this church received no word of praise, it did receive a warm invitation. This is not the invitation to become a Christian, but rather an invitation for the church members to return to vital fellowship with Christ. This verse is often used out of context to refer to evangelism. The imagery of "a door" was used in the Gospels (cf. Mark 13:28-29; Luke 12:36) as a way of referring to the nearness of Christ's coming. SPECIAL TOPIC: "DOOR" IN THE NT ▣ "if anyone hears My voice and opens the door" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE implying potential but not certain action. In many parts of the world knocking is accompanied by a verbal greeting. Notice the volitional element; the person/church must respond and open the door. This is the covenantal aspect of all of God's relationships with humans. He takes the initiative, He sets the agenda, but humans must respond. Also, notice that the response is not just initial but continual. Salvation is not a product, but a lifestyle relationship. It has its ups and downs, but the existential fellowship is sure! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT ▣ "I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me" This is an allusion to the peace offering (cf. Leviticus 3; and 7), a time of fellowship where God symbolically ate with the offerer others see this as a reference to the eschatological Messianic banquet (cf. Mark 14:25; Rev. 19:79) The term used here for a meal is the one used for the meal at the end of the day, which was the major time of family fellowship and companionship. In the East eating has always been a sign of covenant, friendship, and fellowship. 3:21 "I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne," This is a powerful image of intimate fellowship and inclusion. There are many allusions in the NT to believers' reigning with Christ (cf. Rev. 2:26, 27; Luke 22:30; Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:2 ff; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev. 20:4). Revelation 22:5 implies Christians' eternal reign with Christ. SPECIAL TOPIC: REIGNING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ▣ "as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" It is wonderful to know that Jesus has already overcome the world (cf. John 16:33; Eph. 1:21-22) He is already seated at the Father's right hand (cf. Psalm 110; Acts 2:33-35; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22; 1 John 2:1 and Rev. 22:1) He wants us to join Him in His victory! 1 John is replete with "overcome" imagery (cf. 1 John 2:13,14; 4:4; 5:4-5). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD