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1Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Sardis, for these are the words of the one who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:[#3:1 Sardis can mean “those who have escaped” or “red ones” (jewels). How we need to escape every form of religious bondage on our journey into Christlikeness. By the blood of Christ, we are redeemed and set free to be his fiery (red) ones, like jewels before God. Twice in the history of Sardis it had fallen to its enemies because it was not alert and watching. It was conquered once in 549 BC by King Cyrus of Persia, and again in 214 BC by Antiochus the Great. For this reason, the people of Sardis were asleep and needed an awakening.; #3:1 Or “the seven-fold Spirit of God.” See 1:16.]
7Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia, for these are the solemn words of the Holy One, the true one, who has David’s key, who opens doors that none can shut and who closes doors that none can open:[#3:7 Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” A powerful earthquake nearly leveled the city in AD 17, so hearing these words of encouragement from Christ would have greatly helped them. To be made into “pillar[s]” of the temple (v. 12) would give them security in the world shaking around them.; #3:7 The key of David unlocks intimacy and prayer. David was a man who lived in grace centuries before the gospel of God’s grace was unveiled. In that sense, the key of David allowed him to view the future and live in the grace it would reveal.]
14Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea, for these are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation:[#3:14 Laodicea means “human rights” or “self-righteousness.”; #3:14 There is only one other place in the Bible that “the Amen” or “the God of Amen” is found. See Isa. 65:16.; #3:14 Or “the beginning [originator, source] of God’s creation.” The Greek Septuagint uses this word ( archē ) for ruler/authority in Gen. 40:13, 21; 41:13. See also A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature , 3rd ed.]