‘These things says He who 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."'"[7]
I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close.[12]
Verse 9
Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.[13]
Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.[15]
Verse 11
Look, I am coming soon! Hold tightly to the little strength you have—so that no one will take away your crown.[16]
Verse 12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
"Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches".[18]
The message to Laodicea (verses 14–22)
Verse 14
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:'[19]
In Isaiah 65:16 - he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth - the literal translation refers to the God of Amen.[20] The Common English Bible gives the translation as "the God called Amen".[21]
Verse 15
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.[22]
According to the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, "cold" must mean "more than negatively cold", i.e. not warm: it must mean "positively, icy cold: never warmed", while "hot" literally means "boiling" or "fervent". They comment that "the lukewarm state (verse 16), if it be the transitional stage to a warmer, is a desirable state (for a little religion, if real, is better than none); but most fatal when, as here, an abiding condition, for it is mistaken for a safe state."[23]
Verse 18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire,
that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
The vision of Christ "standing at the door" may be expressive of the near approach, or sudden coming of Christ to judgment (see James 5:9), and his knocking may signify the notice that will be given of it, by some of the immediate forerunners and signs of his coming; which yet will be observed but by a few, such a general sleepiness will have seized all professors of religion; and particularly may intend the midnight cry, which will, in its issue, rouse them all.[26]
↑ Elliott, J. K. "Revelations from the apparatus criticus of the Book of Revelation: How Textual Criticism Can Help Historians", Union Seminary Quarterly Review 63, no. 3-4 (2012): 1-23.
↑ Claremont Coptic Encyclopaedia, Codex Vaticanus, accessed 29 September 2018
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