Revelation 3-5

What I Noticed Today (Revelation 3-5)

Revelation 3

In verses 1-6, the letter to the angel of the church in Sardis.

• The One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says:
• I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.

• Be alert and strengthen what remains that is about to die for your works are incomplete.
• Remember what you received and heard, keep it, and repent.
• Otherwise, I will come like a thief in the night (suddenly, unexpectedly) to judge you.
• But there a few people who have not defiled themselves and walk with Me in white.

• In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge him before My Father and the angels.
• Anyone who has an ear should listen to the Spirit.

In verses 7-13, the letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

• The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one closes, and closes and no one opens says (see Isaiah 22:22):
• I know your works. You have limited strength but have kept My Word and have not denied My name.

• I have opened a door for you that no one can close.
• I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who claims to be Jews but is lying come and bow down at your feet.
• Then they will know that I loved you because you kept my command to endure.
• I will also keep you from the hour of testing (the great tribulation).

• I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.
• I will make the victor a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God, the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem), and My new name.
• Anyone who has an ear should listen to the Spirit.

In verses 14-22, the letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea.

• The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Originator of God’s creation says:
• I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot.
• I wish that you were cold or hot.

• Because you are lukewarm, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.
• Because you say you are rich and need nothing, and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
• Buy from Me gold refined in a fire (pure) so that you may be rich (spiritually rich).
• White clothes so you will not be naked (spiritually naked), and
• Ointment for your eyes so you may see (spiritual sight).

• Those I love I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent!
• Listen! I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and have dinner with him, and he with Me.
• I will give the victor the right to sit with Me on My throne.
• Anyone who has an ear should listen to the Spirit.

Revelation 4-22

These chapters describe what will happen in the future, leading up to the second coming of Christ, the Millennial kingdom, the New Jerusalem, and the new heaven and earth.

Revelation 4

In verse 1, John describes an open door in heaven and a voice that spoke, telling him to come up here to see what must take place after this (later).

In verses 2-11, John describes what happened and what he saw:

• Immediately I was in the Spirit in heaven.
• One was seated on the throne has the appearance of jasper and carnelian.

• A rainbow resembling an emerald surrounded the throne.
• Around that throne were 24 thrones with 24 elders dressed in white wearing gold crowns.
• Flashes of lightning and thunder came from the throne.
• Seven torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
• Four living creatures covered with eyes were all around the throne.
• The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each had six wings and was covered with eyes.
• Day and night, they never stopped praising the Lord.
• Whenever the living creatures praise the Lord, the 24 elders fell down before the One and worship Him, and cast their crowns before Him saying all glory, honor, and power belong to Him because He created all things through His will.

Revelation 5

All of Revelation 4 serves as an introduction to the seven-sealed scroll. Based on the description of the scroll as it was unrolled, the seals would be broken one-by-one.

In verses 1-7, the Lamb of God takes the scroll:

• The One seated on the throne had a scroll in His right hand. (The right hand of God is the symbol of power and authority.)
• The scroll had writing on the front and the back (Ezekiel 2:9-10) and was sealed with seven seals.
• A mighty angel asked who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?
• No one in heaven or earth was worthy to open the scroll or even look in it.
• I (John) wept because no one was worthy to open the scroll.
• One of the 24 elders said to stop crying, behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David may open the scroll with its seven seals.
• Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the living creatures among the elders.
• He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth.

• He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

In verses 8-14, the Lamb is worthy of worship:

• When He took the scroll, the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down before the Lamb (Christ).
• Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
• They sang praise, you are worthy because you were slaughtered, and you redeemed (purchased) the people for God by your blood, from every tribe and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
• Thousands of angels joined the 24 elders and the four living creatures proclaiming in a loud voice the lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory, and blessing.
• Then every creature in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea and everything in them said blessing, honor, glory, and dominion to the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever.
• The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped.

Some thoughts for further consideration:

• How much of the difficulties seen in our churches today is due to the fact that as a body we are lukewarm? Pastors and congregations have become lukewarm afraid to speak the truth as they know it!
• The Lord stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. Do we listen and hear? Do we invite Him in? The door of heaven is open, but we must invite Jesus in!
• The Lord redeemed us at the cost of His precious blood. We should not wait until we stand before Him to worship Him.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Revelation 6-8