Chapter 3

"And to the angel of the church at Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know thy works; thou hast the name of being alive, and thou art dead.

Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, but which were ready to die. For I do not find thy works complete before my God.

Remember therefore what thou hast received and heard, and observe it and repent. Therefore, if thou wilt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee.

But thou hast a few persons at Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

He who overcomes shall be arrayed thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the Church at Philadelphia

"And to the angel of the church at Philadelphia write: Thus says the holy one, the true one, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and who shuts and no one opens:

I know thy works. Behold, I have caused a door to be opened before thee which no one can shut, for thou hast scanty strength, and thou hast kept my word and hast not disowned my name.

Behold, I will bring some of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and are not, but are lying---behold, I will make them come and worship before thy feet. And they shall know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I too will keep thee from the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.

I come quickly; hold fast what thou hast, that no one receive thy crown.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and never more shall he go outside. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God---the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God---and my new name.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the Church of Laodicea

"And to the angel of the church at Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:

I know thy works; thou art neither cold nor hot. I would that thou wert cold or hot.

But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;

because thou sayest, 'I am rich and have grown wealthy and have need of nothing, ' and dost not know that thou art the wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked one.

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich, and mayest be clothed in white garments, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear, and to anoint thy eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see.

As for me, those whom I love I rebuke and chastise. Be earnest therefore and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man listens to my voice and opens the door to me, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.

He who overcomes, I will permit him to sit with me upon my throne; as I also have overcome and have sat with my Father on his throne.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."