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Rev. 3:1,2: "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God."
         How many churches, how many workers are there who are dead though they seem alive? And why are they dead? Because they have no strength or life. They are dead because all they do is not animated by the inner Spirit and by pure love. In all their actions they seek only a vain smoke of reputation.
         "He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars..." The seven Spirits of God is that divine light which discovers that which is most hidden. It is your Lord who discovers that you were dead though you seemed alive... alive to all... except to Him. "Be watchful" to come out of this death. How many gatherings of believers are there, like these. From them the wolf snatches the sheep! Ah, how many will be found with lukewarm works! There is more here. It seems some have become shepherds of the flock to eat the butter and drink the milk of their flock, to cover themselves with their wool, yet not to guard, defend and sustain that flock.
         We are not surprised, then, at such death.

Rev. 3:4,5: "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."
         There is no country, no city that is so corrupt but what we could find saintly persons there. Often the places with the most corruptions are those from which the greatest saints come. He that overcometh... is the one destroyed and dead,... he it is who is reinstated to the first grace, the state of innocence. God's grace in our redemption has brought man back to his first condition, with advantages that he did not even have previous to that redemption! Otherwise redemption would not equal creation, and thus redemption would not be abundant. We do not all enjoy the full extent of the benefit of redemption because we do not allow Jesus Christ to spread over us the graces of redemption and the result of all His merits. But those who overcome in Him, and by Him, partake of this fullness; that is why Revelation shows us that such ones are clothed in raiment that is white; they are clothed with the garments of redemptive innocence. Their name will never be blotted out of the book of life; Jesus Christ will confess them before the Father, recognizing them as His own. They will be received by Him as children of adoption, heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Rev. 3:6: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
         Oh God, in this age in which we now live, the greatest truths are considered errors and blasphemies. Those who speak of the deepest of Thy ways are the target of hatred and of men's opposition. Crimes, foolishness and filth are well thought of; those who speak of them and do them are said to be honest, while Your servants, oh Lord, are shamefully thought of. It seems, my God, that You are blind and do not see what is taking place. You see them, Lord, and protect these adversaries so as to try Your servants' patience and thereby refine them; You reserve the opposers for the day of Your wrath.

Rev. 3:7,8,9: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My Dame. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you."
         This gathering of believers is the only one to whom no rebuke is given. They have "a little strength." This is because God strengthened them, and, having no strength in themselves, they put their strength in God.
         What qualities does Jesus assume for them? They are "holy" and "true," completely brought to nought; their entire holiness is in God. Jesus is holy for them. They are called "true" because they have been placed in the truth; and though they do not receive as many praises as some others, these two qualities which Jesus has assumed for them contain all other graces. They are not blamed for anything, simply because, in weakness, they have found His strength. Having no self interest, their only interest is that of God. They only wish the extension of His kingdom and souls.
         "I will make them to come and worship at your feet." Others will discover, by experience, what they will receive by coming to these blessed believers. They will discover this, "that I have loved you!"
         This holy and true God tells His servant, "I have the key of David." "He opens and no one will shut and shuts and no one opens." What is this opening? It is that of His Father's bosom. If He does not open this bosom, no one will enter, for no one can open it but He Himself. But once it is opened, nothing in the world can close it again. This door-- He opened it to His servants to usher them in and hide them with Him. There, these servants will be made conquerors over and over again.

Rev. 3:10: "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance [patience], 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 upon the earth."
         To keep the Word of His patience means to suffer inwardly and outwardly in everything that comes, considering this the will of God. When we have suffered in this manner, there is still another way to keep the Word of His patience: to remain silent and keep still. To be still for along time after God has spoken to the soul, and after He has loaded that soul with blessings. The believer then keeps the Word of His patience, for just as God waited for that One a long time, the believer waits also for Him a long time; and persevering in patience, keeps His Word, doing His whole will. How well kept is a soul kept in this manner! When nearly all yield to temptation, he is kept from it.
         There are two temptations: that of pleasure and that of grief. Men have been so corrupted for centuries, that they do all to corrupt the saints. The temptation of pleasure has been used even against martyrs. Some can resist suffering but can not resist pleasure. God permits both, to test and purify those who belong to Him, allowing them to despise both! The lives of the holy believers who have come before us give many examples of these two temptations. Today we see God's servants persecuted, afflicted, despised of men. It seems they are as the dung of the earth. Alas, so few are those who are faithful in temptation. Everyone wants to please, to receive credit; all are full of ambition. Few worry about pleasing God or being esteemed by Him...it is only that they please men and are esteemed of men. They appreciate a virtue esteemed by the world, and do not want the virtue of Jesus Christ. However, God's true servants who suffer offences without complaining and slanders without justifying themselves are specially protected in the day of temptation...so says the Scripture.

Rev.3:11,12: "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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."
         What wonderful mysteries! Jesus Christ assures this church that He is coming soon.
       Today He calls out, to Himself, those fellow shipping with Him-- within-- drawing them from the world...which is unworthy of them.
         "Hold fast what you have." This can be understood in two ways: We should not, through our fault, come down from the state in which God has lifted us through His kindness, but we should persevere till the end. Secondly, we see the believer realizing his nothingness (for that is all he owns) and he must remain thus. We must remain in this state or the crown will be given to another, for the crown above all crowns is reserved for the state of nothingness.
         "He who overcomes" will have the advantage of being a "pillar" in the church, an unmovable pillar because of its steadiness. These overcomers uphold the church, though they are not known as such. A firm column preventing the tottering of the building, yet unseen, undiscovered. My God, sustain Your church, thusly.
         God places this believer in a divine stillness in Him, establishing him in Christ so that he will never leave. Oh blissful state for this soul, who will never more lose God. The name of God will be engraved on him, on his heart, as it was given the Bride in the Song of Songs when the Lord said to her: "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm." This name which is engraved on this person stands for an entire consecration without and within. Jesus Christ engraved also on him "the name of the city of her God." He does this in two ways, by joining him to the number of the holy believers and giving him all the features of holiness...the very name of the holy city in heaven. Second, by placing in this one all the features and character of the Church's purity. You could almost say the internal life of this believer is a miniature of the Church, a Church so purified and perfected that no inner or outward resemblance to Jesus Christ is left unexpressed in a group of such persons. All outward service for the overcomer is easy. These persons are kept, when they have become nothing, at the end of their days, to be the lights in the Church. All nations come to their fragrance to find their Lord.
         He adds that He will engrave "the name of the new Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven.
         What is this new Jerusalem? This can be nothing else except the Church. (Editors notes: The church which are the people; the out called or "ecclesia." Reference "The Mystery of the Church" by Ray and Doris Prinzing).  The Church is already formed and the Holy Spirit has come to fill her. Here we are told that this Spirit of the Church will be outpoured on all its members, and communicated to them. This Spirit is the Spirit of the divine moving which is the general Spirit of the Church. This Spirit is going to be outpoured very soon on all her members. As it is written: You will "all be taught of the Lord." How will they be taught? They will listen to the Lord, and hear Him. ..and become attentive to His voice. That is why the devil fights, with all his might, prayer and loving concentration to God.
         This Holy Spirit comes from God to be outpoured on the creatures and Joel's prophetic word will be completely fulfilled. Although it was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came on the whole Church through the assembled Apostles and the faithful, it was not however perfectly fulfilled, since this Holy Spirit was not outpoured on all flesh, though it came on men and women. But a time will come when this prophecy will have its full extension.
         Elsewhere Jesus Christ says He will give the overcomers a new name. But here He says He will give "His new name. " There is a wide difference between one expression and the other. The new name is given as soon as the believer loses his own identity through nothingness and is in God. But when Jesus Christ gives this one His. new name, He gives him the name of the Lord. He will use this person for the salvation of many souls and will impart to that one His sufferings by crucifying that one with Him.

Rev.3:13: "He who has an ear, let him hear with the Spirit says to the churches."
         A deep wisdom is needed to understand this. If there were only a natural meaning hidden in these words, they would not be repeated so often. "He who has an ear, let him hear." But there is a mystical (spiritual) sense, so pointed and so deep that we must not be surprised it is so often repeated. Oh deep words, who will understand you!

Rev. 3:14,15,16: "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: '1 know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."
         However unruly a group of believers may be, they are part of His Church. Jesus Christ here gives Himself marvelous qualities. I am, He says, the Amen, the true being. There is nothing besides Me. I am essence. All other beings exist in Me and by Me. I am; and what is not Myself is nothing. Why this Amen? Because there is nothing to be added, for when Jesus Christ says: "I am that I am," this is all that can be positively said of Him.
         He repeats He is the faithful and true witness and as He said it to him who did right, He says it to him who fails. For He is the faithful witness of righteousness. He is also the witness of evil, uncovering evil and recording it. That is why, being as exact as He is, it will be a terrible thing for us to fall in the hands of the living God. In order for this not to be so for us, we must put in His hands our whole life, acting only by His leadings and following His Spirit. Then all our works will be done with assurance; and He will be the faithful and true witness of them. He will not reject any of the works He has done Himself! Besides the literal sense that all creatures have been created by the Word and that all life springs from His, I say that all works, in order to come from God and be considered by Him as His works, must have this principle: that Jesus Christ must be the agent of them, that they are done under His Spirit, and done while in spirit. He must be the moving power of them.
         The rebuke of Jesus Christ through John to this gathering is frightful. It is certain that there are no persons more opposed to receiving the true Spirit of God, the inner Spirit, than lukewarm Christians. The reason for this is that the carelessness with which they do all that pertains to God is so great that the little warmth that is left appears to them to be a great fire. They do not understand they do evil, and the love they have for themselves makes them believe so strongly they are doing well, that they cannot doubt it!
         All that is said to them to get them out of that state offends them! Such words make them see in others a blindness which is their own! A blindness it is which they do not wish to recognize or admit.
         This evil is then is almost without remedy! Further, it is nourished and established by self-sufficiency and self-love. They prefer themselves to sinners (whom they look upon with disdain and scorn). They prefer themselves, and their views, to the greatest saints of all time. They are opposed to receiving an effecting portion of the Spirit of God more than the greatest sinner is. That is why Jesus Christ says concerning the one spoken of here: "I would that you were cold." If he were cold he would be easily converted! He would be convinced of his coldness, and he would receive with humility the advice given him.
         If not cold, then hot.
         But because "he is neither cold nor hot, I will vomit him out of my mouth."
         Oh, this is the most frightful word in the world! Once you are vomited, there is no more hope, for a thing you throw away can be picked up again, but a vomited thing is never again gathered. How these words should make any who are thus to tremble. Doing right only through routine is dangerous! Odd, is it not, that the lukewarm believe they are filled with warmth, while these filled with warmth, in some seasons, believe themselves to be lukewarm. (Editor's note: The reader can reflect upon "where sin abounds, GRACE much more abounds." Reference "The Mystery of the Gospel" by Ray and Doris Prinzing. God's grace is not limited by man's marginal mind and ability to love; "Love covers the multitude of sin. End of note").

Rev. 3:17: "Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,..."
        What is most strange about lukewarm people is, they believe they are richer in graces than anyone else, and filled with spiritual goods. It seems to them that they need no one, and they believe that everyone else needs them. They invariably oblige everybody to accept their advice and their view. They believe themselves to be in a place in which they can advise all. They do not wish to be advised by anyone! While another gathering of believers in Asia Minor was apparently poor yet immensely rich, this group thinks itself rich while very "poor" in God and in His graces. Loving themselves, they are very wretched. They cannot be really glad; they lack everything since they lack what is essential-- perfect love, abandonment to God, perfect giving up of each life, resignation, submission to God's Will, unselfishness, etc. They are "miserable" because though they appear outwardly glad, they are driven inwardly by the love of glory, the desire to be counted as somebody though they are nothing.
        Let one of these be touched by contempt or the least affliction... and he will be overwhelmed completely. They are "poor and naked." Why? Because they are stripped of all-- for being not clothed with Jesus Christ or animated by His Spirit, is to be poor and naked indeed. They are also blind, yet believing that they are all right.

Rev. 3:18: "I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eyesalve to anoint your eyes, that you may see."
         Oh Love, only You can impart the perfect love which is that "gold tried in the fire." Only You can place in our soul pure virtues. Only You can clothe us with this Spirit of faith which is a very pure gold. Only You can produce in us these works so perfect in love that fire cannot spoil them. To You then we must come "to buy this gold." But what do You want us to give You for its price? "Buy of Me, " He says, "without money and without price." He requires nothing as a payment because He knows too well that we have nothing. He just wants us to give ourselves to Him, to abandon ourselves to Him without reserve. It is He Who also gives us white raiment, the robe of innocence and truthfulness with which He clothes His servants. This robe of innocence must cover that nakedness of human nature. Do not think this is impossible, for the grace of redemption must exceed the grace of creation, and that repaired innocence must be more abundant than the original innocence. Moreover, Jesus Christ, inviting us to go to Him, speaks of love and innocence in terms of wine and milk. As for love, He imparts it  to us, by His Holy Spirit-- an advantage which Adam never had.
         He adds that He will put eyesalve on our eyes, so that we can see clearly. This eyesalve is simply the Spirit of faith which frees us from the blindness in which we are kept by our reasoning and our self love. We shall know then that we are poor, whereas we thought we were rich; that we are naked whereas we thought we were covered more than all.

Rev.3:19: "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent."
         The greatest proof of love that God can give us is that He warns us about our faults. An "inner" believer has, within, a director reproving unceasingly, a master correcting and chastening continuously; it seems that God has nothing else to do but reprove and correct this soul. This is the greatest proof of His love.

Rev. 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."
         Jesus Christ always stands at the door of our heart; He waits for us to open to Him. Oh Christians, whoever you may be, not opening your door to your Savior, are you not very ungrateful not to open your whole heart to God, He who opened His on the cross to receive you? At the very door of your heart He is knocking. There is not one of us, who paying attention to God within, would fail hearing His knock at the heart's door. But if you do not hear, it is because you do not pay attention. Get used to stilling your soul, they you will hear Him knocking at the door of your heart. As soon as you open, yielding yourself to Him unreservedly, He will enter. But how can we hear His voice if we do not listen?
         Oh Love, You speak to the heart which has no ear to hear You because he is attentive to the voices of creation, about him. He is not attentive to You; he does not discern Your voice. If he would react against himself just a little to listen to Your voice, he would unmistakably hear it, and no sooner would he have heard, than You would come within. He would then sense Your divine presence in an unspeakable way -a way that would surprise him so because he was not expecting such a unique grace. But Jesus Christ would not stop there. He admits you to His banquet. With you who listen He shares His feast and love. Jesus Christ is your food, and gives Himself to you. Your Lord would have you taste the most delicious of all nourishment...Jesus Christ-- within! Oh Christians, you who are born for such great wealth which you can have if you only wish, shall you deprive yourself of it? We wrongly have in mind that this is a grace reserved for very few people and that it is almost impossible to obtain; however, everlasting truth assures us that there is nothing easier to have. Is there anything easier than opening a door to a person who unceasingly stands by it, knocking continuously? And what is easier than hearing Him Who always speaks so as to be obeyed? There is nothing easier. However, He does ask for an opening. He asks to be heard so as to come in to us, to be unceasingly present. He asks us to accept admission to His feast, and He asks "to sup with us"-- that is, to share our troubles; and for us "to sup with Him"-- that is, to share in His divine delights. You only have to stretch out your hand! Ah, blindness today is so great, be not part of it.

Rev. 3:21,22: "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
       The throne of Jesus Christ is nothing less than the bosom of the Father. The throne is given Him eternally. His humanity has been favored by His divinity through His death, and through the victory He won over hell and self. The throne is His. "He who overcomes" through Jesus Christ, will be received in God with Him and will share this throne. "He who has an ear" to listen "let him hear" these things and understand the kindnesses and mercies of God for His dear creation.
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^{(1) Guyon, Mme. Jeanne, CHRIST OUR REVELATION, Gardiner, Main, Reprinted 1987 Christian Books Publishing House ( Book in now out of print)}

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