Revelation 3 Bible study: I stand at the door and knock

The words of this chapter come from the one John saw, who said, "I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever." (1:17-18). The book greets its readers from "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead" (1:5), the word to Smyrna opens with "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life" (2:8), and near its end the book says, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies." (22:16). So these notes call the one who speaks here Jesus. Favor reads each of the three words in this chapter as the book gives it, to that assembly, and applies none of them to any church, denomination or time today; and it reads the words of 3:9 about "those who say they are Jews" as a verdict on no people, then or now. The first word begins, "And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." (3:1) "Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God." (3:2) (tap strengthen) "Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you." (3:3) "Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy." (3:4) (tap defile and worthy) "He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." (3:5) "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies." (3:6). These notes explain 3:3 no further than its words, say no more of "the book of life" (3:5) than its words, and name no one for "the seven Spirits of God" (3:1).

Exodus 32:32→leads toRevelation 3:5

This link is an interpretation. Moses prayed, "forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written" (32:32), and the LORD answered, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book" (32:33). Jesus told the seventy when they came back, "rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). In Revelation, the one who says, "I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever" (Revelation 1:18), tells the church in Sardis, "He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life" (Revelation 3:5). Neither passage names Moses or Exodus 32. Some hear in these words the same book Moses spoke of, now in the hands of Jesus; others read Moses' book as God's record of the living (see the honest question), a different thing from the book of life.

θύραthyrasay THOO-rah

Strong's: "a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively)". "behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut" (3:8), and "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door" (3:20): behind door each time is this noun, once in 3:8 and twice in 3:20 (in all eight editions TAGNT compares).