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Revelation 3
New King James Version

### The Dead Church

3 “And to the [a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who (A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [b]God. 3 (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (C)repent. (D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 [c]You have (F)a few names [d]even in Sardis who have not (G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (H)in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes (I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (J)blot out his name from the (K)Book of Life; but (L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 (M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

### The Faithful Church

7 “And to the [e]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says (N)He who is holy, (O)He who is true, (P)“He who has the key of David, (Q)He who opens and no one shuts, and (R)shuts and no one opens”: 8 (S)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (T)an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make (U)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (V)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, (W)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (X)the whole world, to test those who dwell (Y)on the earth. 11 [h]Behold, (Z)I am coming quickly! (AA)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (AB)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (AC)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (AD)go out no more. (AE)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (AF)New Jerusalem, which (AG)comes down out of heaven from My God. (AH)And I will write on him My new name.

13 (AI)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

### The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the [i]angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write,

(AJ)‘These things says the Amen, (AK)the Faithful and True Witness, (AL)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (AM)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (AN)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (AO)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (AP)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (AQ)As many as I love, I rebuke and (AR)chasten.[l] Therefore be [m]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (AS)I stand at the door and knock. (AT)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (AU)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (AV)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 (AW)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

#### Footnotes

1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
2. Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
3. Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
4. Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
5. Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
6. Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
7. Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
8. Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
9. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
10. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
11. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
12. Revelation 3:19 discipline
13. Revelation 3:19 eager

#### Cross references

1. Revelation 3:1 : Rev. 1:4, 16
2. Revelation 3:3 : 1 Tim. 6:20
3. Revelation 3:3 : Rev. 3:19
4. Revelation 3:3 : Matt. 24:42, 43; Luke 12:39
5. Revelation 3:3 : 1 Thess. 5:2; [2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15]
6. Revelation 3:4 : Acts 1:15
7. Revelation 3:4 : [Jude 23]
8. Revelation 3:4 : Rev. 4:4; 6:11
9. Revelation 3:5 : [Rev. 19:8]
10. Revelation 3:5 : Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Luke 10:20; [Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27]
11. Revelation 3:5 : Phil. 4:3
12. Revelation 3:5 : Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8
13. Revelation 3:6 : Rev. 2:7
14. Revelation 3:7 : Acts 3:14
15. Revelation 3:7 : John 14:6; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 3:14; 19:11
16. Revelation 3:7 : Is. 9:7; 22:22; Jer. 23:5
17. Revelation 3:7 : [Matt. 16:19; Rev. 1:18]
18. Revelation 3:7 : Job 12:14
19. Revelation 3:8 : Rev. 3:1
20. Revelation 3:8 : 1 Cor. 16:9
21. Revelation 3:9 : Rev. 2:9
22. Revelation 3:9 : Is. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14
23. Revelation 3:10 : 2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Pet. 2:9
24. Revelation 3:10 : Luke 2:1
25. Revelation 3:10 : Is. 24:17
26. Revelation 3:11 : Phil. 4:5
27. Revelation 3:11 : Rev. 2:25
28. Revelation 3:11 : [Rev. 2:10]
29. Revelation 3:12 : 1 Kin. 7:21; Jer. 1:18; Gal. 2:9
30. Revelation 3:12 : Ps. 23:6
31. Revelation 3:12 : [Rev. 14:1; 22:4]
32. Revelation 3:12 : [Heb. 12:22]
33. Revelation 3:12 : Rev. 21:2
34. Revelation 3:12 : [Rev. 2:17; 22:4]
35. Revelation 3:13 : Rev. 2:7
36. Revelation 3:14 : Is. 65:16; 2 Cor. 1:20
37. Revelation 3:14 : Rev. 1:5; 3:7; 19:11
38. Revelation 3:14 : [Col. 1:15]
39. Revelation 3:15 : Rev. 3:1
40. Revelation 3:17 : Hos. 12:8; Zech. 11:5; [Matt. 5:3]; 1 Cor. 4:8
41. Revelation 3:18 : Is. 55:1; Matt. 13:44
42. Revelation 3:18 : 2 Cor. 5:3
43. Revelation 3:19 : Job 5:17
44. Revelation 3:19 : Prov. 3:12; [2 Cor. 11:32]; Heb. 12:6
45. Revelation 3:20 : Song 5:2
46. Revelation 3:20 : Luke 12:36, 37; John 10:3
47. Revelation 3:20 : [John 14:23]
48. Revelation 3:21 : Matt. 19:28; 2 Tim. 2:12; [Rev. 2:26; 20:4]
49. Revelation 3:22 : Rev. 2:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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