Chapter 3

1“To the angel of the church in Sardis, write: Here's what the one says who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you've done. You have a reputation for being alive, but you're dead. Reputation for being alive. Actually dead. Low energy. Like a sleepy candidate.

2Wake up! Strengthen what's left and is about to die, because I haven't found your work complete in front of my God. Incomplete. Unfinished job. Finish the job.

3So remember what you got and heard. Hold on to it and turn around. If you don't wake up, I'll come like a thief, and you won't know what time I'll come to you. Surprise. Like a raid. Before dawn. You won't know.

4But you have a few people in Sardis who haven't dirtied their clothes. They'll walk with me, dressed in white, because they deserve it. A few good ones. Always a few.

5The winner will be dressed in white like them. I'll never erase that person's name from the book of life. I'll acknowledge that name in front of my Father and his angels. The list. Your name's on the list. Never erased. Never.

6Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write: Here's what the one says who's holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens nobody can shut, and what he shuts nobody can open. The keys. All the keys. Total control.

8I know what you've done. Look, I've put an open door in front of you that nobody can shut. I know you have little strength, but you've kept my message and haven't denied my name. Little strength. Big loyalty. Loyalty beats strength.

9I'll make the people from Satan's club, the ones who claim to be the real thing and aren't, the liars, come and bow down at your feet and admit that I love you. Bow down. At your feet. The liars. They'll have to admit it. On the record.

10Since you've kept my order to hang in there, I'll keep you from the hour of trial that's going to come on the whole world to test the people who live on the earth. Protected. You'll be protected.

11I'm coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so nobody takes your crown. Soon. Two weeks. Hold on to the crown.

12The winner I'll make a pillar in the temple of my God. He'll never leave it. I'll write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God. And I'll write on him my new name. My name. On you. In gold letters. Like a building. Big letters. Very big.

13Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

14To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write: Here's what the Amen says, the loyal and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Laodicea. Last review. Bad review. Very bad.

15I know what you've done. You're neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! Pick one. Pick a side. Lukewarm. Worst thing there is.

16So because you're lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spit you out of my mouth. Spit you out. Like a weak handshake. Lukewarm. Disgusting.

17You say, “I'm rich. I've gotten wealthy and don't need a thing.” Let me see the financials. You don't realize that you're miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Fake rich. Inflated numbers. I know fake rich when I see it.

18I'm advising you to buy gold from me, refined in the fire, so you can be really rich. Buy from me. My gold. The best gold. And white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness. And ointment to put on your eyes, so you can see. Buy from me. Gold, clothes, ointment. The full product line.

19I correct and discipline the people I love. So be serious and turn around. Tough love. Very tough.

20Look! I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anybody hears my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Dinner. I'll come to dinner. Steak. Well done. Ketchup.

21To the winner, I'll give the right to sit with me on my throne, just like I won and sat down with my Father on his throne. Sit on the throne. With me. Best seat in the universe.

22Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” End of reviews. Some passed. Some failed. That's how reviews work.