Revelation 3 - Introduction

More Letters To the Churches Revelation Three

Revelation chapter three contains the last three of the church letters. In Revelation two we studied the letters written to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira. Now we observe what was said to the church at Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These last three letters follow the same form as the first four.

Each letter begins with a greeting sent to the angel or the messenger of the church. There is, in each letter, an exaltation of some quality or qualities of the Savior. All the letters contain the assurance that Jesus knew their works. Jesus carefully explained what He saw as He observed each church. He never failed to give specific instructions to the members of those churches as to what they could do to help their situations. These changes often involved repentance. The most serious part of each letter was the warning that was given as to what would happen if the necessary changes were not made.

There were commendation to the churches concerning good that they had done and encouragement to do better. Each letter contained the promise of great reward to the faithful. What an impression it must have produced in the minds of all when they heard Jesus say, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."