Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 3

Rev 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

angel [See also Rev 3:5, 7.]

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

hath the seven Spirits of God

Rev 1:4, 16; cf. Act 2:33.

thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead

Cf. Mat 13:24-26.

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

perfect

Scofield Matthew 5:48, note.

Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Remember

Rev 2:5; cf. 2Ti 1:13.

as a thief

Rev 16:15; cf. Mat 24:43; 1Th 5:2-5.

Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

a few names

Mat 7:14; 2Ti 4:9-11; cf. Jas 1:27.

they shall walk with me in white

Rev 6:11.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

I will not blot out his name out of the book of life

Life (eternal). Rev 13:8. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

I will confess his name

Luk 12:8.

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

he that is holy

Cf. Luk 1:35; Jhn 13:20.

he that is true

Jhn 14:6; 19:11.

the key of David

Isa 22:22.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

I know thy works

Cf. Rev 2:9.

Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Satan

Satan. Rev 12:9, 14-15. (Gen 3:1; Rev 20:10.)

worship before thy feet

Isa 49:23.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

I also will keep thee from the hour

Tribulation, (the great). Rev 7:13-14. (Psa 2:5; Rev 7:14).

of temptation

Temptation. Jas 1:2, 12-14. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

world

oikoumene = inhabited earth. (Luk 2:1).

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

crown

Rewards. Rev 11:18. (Dan 12:3; 1Co 3:14.)

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Him that overcometh

Rev 3:5; cf. Gal 2:9; 1Ki 7:21.

go no more out

Psa 23:6; contra, Heb 13:14.

I will write upon him the name of my God

Rev 22:4; cf. Exo 28:36.

I will write upon him my new name

Rev 2:17; 19:12.

Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

He that hath an ear, let him hear

Rev 3:22.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

of the Laodiceans

in Laodicea.

write

Inspiration. Rev 3:1, 7, 14; Rev 14:13. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Amen

2Co 1:20.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

because thou art lukewarm

Apostasy. 2Ti 3:1-8.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked

Cf. Hos 9:7; Jhn 9:39-41.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

anoint thine eyes with eyesalve

eyesalve to anoint thine eyes.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

repent

Repentance. Rev 3:3, 19; 9:20-21. (Mat 3:2; Act 17:30.)

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

throne

Kingdom (N.T.). Rev 5:1-10. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

am set down with my Father

This passage, in harmony with Luk 1:32-33; Mat 19:28; Act 2:30, 34-35; 15:14-16, is conclusive that Christ is not now seated upon His own throne. The Davidic Covenant, and the promises of God through the prophets and Angel Gabriel concerning the Messianic kingdom await fulfilment.

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Rev 3:1, 6, 13-22; Rev 4:2, 5. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

churches

Churches (local). Rev 22:16. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).