1. And to the Angel of the Church in Sardis write: These things says He Who has the seven spirits of GOD, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things remaining that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works full before GOD. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast accepted and heard, and observe and repent. If therefore thou dost not watch, I will come on thee like a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5. He who overcomes shall be clothed with white garments; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. 6. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. 7. And to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:

These things says the Holy True One, having the key of David, opening and no one shuts, and shutting and no one opens. 8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no one is able to shut it, because thou hast a little power, and hast observed My Word, and hast not denied My Name. 9. Behold, I will make (dabo) those of the synagogue of Satan, declaring themselves to be Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make (faciam) them to come and worship at thy feet, and to know that I have chosen thee. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep thee safe from the hour of temptation that is going to come upon the entire world (orbis) to try those dwelling upon the land. 11. Behold, I am coming quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no one may get thy crown. 12. Him who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out, 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. 13. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. 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 work of God. 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:

I would thou wert cold or hot. 16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am going to spew thee out of My mouth. 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and do not need anything, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 18. I counsel thee to buy from Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white garments that thou mayest be clothed, and the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20. Behold I stand at the door (janua) and knock: if any one hears My voice, and opens the door (ostium), I will enter in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me. 21. To him who overcomes will I grant to be seated with Me in My throne, as I have overcome, and am seated with the Father in His throne. 22. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER It treats of those in Christendom who are in dead worship that is without charity and faith; who are described by 'the Church in Sardis' (n. 154-171) Of those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord; who are described by 'the Church in Philadelphia' (n. 172-197).

Of those who have a belief derived alternately from themselves and from the Word, and who in this manner profane holy things; who are described by 'the Church in Laodicea' (n. 198-223).

Even the latter, as well as the former, are called to the Lord's New Church.

THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES

1. To the Angel of the Church in Sardis write signifies to and concerning those who are in dead worship, or in worship that is without the goods that are of charity and the truths that are of faith. These things says He Who has the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars signifies the Lord from Whom [come] all truths (veritas), and all the cognitions of good and truth. I know thy works signifies that the Lord sees all their interiors and exteriors at once. That thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead signifies that by themselves and by others it seems and is believed that they are spiritually alive, when yet they are spiritually dead. 2. Be watchful signifies so that they may be in truths and in a life in accordance with them. Strengthen the things remaining that are ready to die signifies so that the things that pertain to their worship may get life. For I have not found thy works full before God signifies that the interiors of their worship have not been conjoined with the Lord. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast accepted and heard signifies so that they may think about all worship being natural to begin with, and afterwards becoming spiritual by means of truths, besides many [other things]. And observe and repent signifies so that they may pay attention to those things, and vivify their dead worship. If therefore thou dost not watch signifies here [the same] as above. I will come on thee like a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee signifies that the things that pertain to worship shall be taken away, and that when and how this happens shall not be known. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis signifies that among them there are also those who do have life in their worship. Which have not defiled their garments signifies who are in truths, and have not polluted worship by evils of life and the untruths therefrom. And they shall walk with Me in white [for they are worthy] signifies that they are going to be living with the Lord, because they are in truths from Him. 5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments signifies that he who is reformed becomes spiritual. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life signifies that he shall be saved. And I will confess his name before the Father and before His angels signifies that they who are in Divine Good and in Divine truths from the Lord are to be received. 6. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here, as before. 7. And to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write signifies to and concerning those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord. These things says the Holy True One signifies the Lord as to Divine Truth. Having the key of David, and opening and no one shuts and shutting and no one opens signifies Who Only has the Omnipotence to save. 8. I know thy works signifies here, as above. Behold, I have set before thee an open door signifies that heaven has been opened to those who are in truths derived out of good from the Lord. And no one is able to shut it signifies that hell does not prevail against them. Because thou hast a little power signifies because they know that of themselves they are powerless. And hast observed My Word signifies because they are living in accordance with the precepts of the Lord in His Word. And hast not denied My Name signifies that they are in the worship of the Lord. 9. And I will make (dabo) those of the synagogue of Satan signifies those who as to doctrine are in untruths. Declaring themselves to be Jews, and are not, but do lie signifies who say that the Church is with them, and yet it is not. Behold I will make them to come and worship at thy feet signifies that many who as to doctrine are in untruths are going to receive the truths of the New Church. And to know that I have chosen thee signifies that they are going to see that they are loved and received into heaven by the Lord. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of My endurance signifies because they have fought against evils. I also will keep thee safe from the hour of temptation that is going to come upon the entire world (orbis), to try those dwelling upon the land signifies that they are to be protected and kept safe in the day of the last judgment. 11. Behold, I am coming quickly signifies the Lord's coming. Hold that fast which thou hast signifies so that in the meantime they should remain in their truths and goods. That no one may get thy crown signifies lest the wisdom out of which eternal happiness [comes] should perish. 12. He who overcomes signifies those who continue steadfastly in truths derived out of good. Him will I make a pillar in the temple of My God signifies that truths derived out of good from the Lord, with those who have them, sustain the Church. And he shall go no more out signifies that they are going to stay there to eternity. And I will write upon him the Name of My God signifies that Divine Truth shall be inscribed on their hearts. And the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem signifies that the doctrine of the New Church shall be inscribed on [their] hearts. Which comes down out of heaven from My God signifies which [doctrine] shall be out of the Lord's Divine truth, such as it is in heaven. And My new Name signifies the worship of the Only Lord with new things that have not been in the former Church. 13. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here, as before.

14. And to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write signifies to and concerning those in the Church who believe alternately out of themselves and out of the Word, and in this manner profane holy things. These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness signifies the Lord as to the Word, which is Divine Truth from Himself. The Beginning of the work of God signifies the Word. 15. I know thy works signifies here, as before. That thou art neither cold nor hot signifies that they who are such at one time deny that the Word is Divine and Holy, and at another time acknowledge it. I would thou wert cold or hot signifies that it is better that they should whole-heartedly deny the holy things of the Word and the Church, or whole-heartedly acknowledge them. 16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am going to spew thee out of My mouth signifies profanation, and separation from the Lord. 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods signifies that they believe themselves to possess the cognitions of good and truth that are of heaven and the Church in great abundance. And do not need anything signifies that they do not need to discern anything more. And knowest not that thou art wretched signifies that all the things that they know of those [cognitions] have no coherence at all. And miserable and poor signifies that they are without [truths and goods. And blind and naked signifies that they are without] an understanding of truth and a will of good. 18. I counsel thee to buy from Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich signifies an admonition to acquire for themselves the good of love from the Lord by means of the Word, so that they may be wise. And white garments that thou mayest be clothed signifies that they may acquire for themselves genuine truths of wisdom. And the shame of thy nakedness may not appear signifies so that the good of celestial love may not be profaned and adulterated. And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see signifies so that the understanding may be healed. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten signifies that because they are loved at that time, they cannot but be let into temptations. Be zealous therefore and repent signifies so that this [healing] may result from an affection of truth. 20. Behold I stand at the door (janua) and knock signifies that the Lord is present with every one in the Word, and draws nigh there to be received, and teaches how. If anyone hears My voice and opens [the door (ostium)] signifies he who believes in the Word and lives in accordance with it. I will enter in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me signifies that the Lord conjoins Himself with them and them with Himself. 21. To him who overcomes will I grant to be seated with Me in My throne signifies that they shall have conjunction with the Lord in heaven. As I have overcome and am seated with the Father in His throne signifies as He and the Father are one, and are heaven. 22. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here, as before.

THE EXPOSITION

[verse 1] 'And to the Angel of the Church in Sardis write' signifies to and concerning those who are in dead worship, or in worship that is without the goods that are of charity and the truths that are of faith. That those who are in this worship are understood by 'the Church in Sardis' is plain from the things written to it understood in the spiritual sense. By dead worship is understood worship alone, which is that they go to church, hear preachings, attend the Holy Supper, read the Word and books of piety, talk of God, of heaven and hell, of life after death, especially of piety, say prayers morning and evening, and yet do not desire to know the truths of faith nor wish to do the goods of charity, believing that they have salvation by means of worship alone. When in fact worship without truths, and without a life in accordance with them, is only the outward sign of charity and faith, within which there can lie hidden evils and untruths of every kind, unless charity and faith are within. Genuine worship is [the result] of these. Otherwise the worship is like the skin or surface of some fruit, within which the rotten worm-eaten flesh lies hidden; and such a fruit is dead. That such worship is reigning in the Church at this day, is known.