Revelation 3:10-22

The Prophetic Section

10 Endurance will be a cardinal virtue in that day of stress and distress. Seven times are we reminded of it (Rev_1:9; Rev_2:2-3; Rev_2:19; Rev_3:10; Rev_13:10; Rev_14:12). He that endures to the end shall be saved (Mat_10:22; Mat_24:13; Mar_13:13). In the present economy salvation depends entirely on faith in Christ.

10 The English idiom to keep out, conveys a false impression to many. Here it does not mean to keep from, but to keep those who are in the trial so that they come out victoriously.

12 The conqueror with but little power who hides in the temple during the hour of trial will be openly acknowledged in the kingdom by giving him a place of prominence and power like the great pillars, Jachin and Boaz. It may be that they will have a special place of authority over the vast crowd who serve Him day and night in His temple (Rev_7:15).

12 The 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads (Rev_7:3) which exempts them from the judgment of the locusts (Rev_9:4). This seal is probably the Father's name. In the new earth the slaves of the

Lambkin are thus sealed (Rev_22:4). On the other hand, the false prophet causes all to receive the emblem of the wild beast (Rev_13:16), marking them for God's indignation (Rev_14:9). Only those who refuse this symbol live and reign with Christ the thousand years (Rev_20:4).

LAODICEA

14 God's creative Original. See Col_1:15 note. He is called the Origin or Beginning three times in this scroll in the phrase "Origin and Consummation" (Rev_21:6; Rev_22:13).

16 To spew as the result of an emetic.

17 Naked in the sense of scantily clad, not necessarily nude.

21 The promises to the conquerors increase in proportion to the apostasy with which they contend. In Ephesus they are promised a place in the paradise of the new earth. This will doubtless be shared by all the other conquerors as well. In Laodicea, the nauseating ecclesia,

the conqueror is promised a place with Christ on His millennial throne. This is the highest place to which an Israelite could aspire (Mat_20:21). This is fulfilled when the wages are paid (Rev_11:18) and the saints reign with Him the thousand years (Rev_20:4).

22 A low state of spirituality is denoted by the hearing ear. Job said "I heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees Thee" (Job_42:5).

THE THRONE SECTION

CHRIST AS KING

This section deals with the establishment of the kingdom of Christ and His saints (Dan_7:14; Dan_7:18) over the whole earth, as the Temple Section (Rev_11:19; Rev_20:1 5) breaks down all opposition to the worship of Jehovah and the priesthood of Israel. There are three distinct divisions in this section: the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Thunders. Each of these is preceded by a preparatory vision, the Seals by the Throne, the Scroll and the Lambkin, the Trumpets by the 144,000 and the Vast Multitude, the Thunders by the Messenger and the Open Scroll.

1 The "openings" of this prophecy should be given careful consideration. They are like the rising curtain which reveals the next act in this great tragedy. There are four pairs of "openings", each of which should be studied together. They are as follows:

Heaven-A Door (41) Providential Judgements.

Heaven (Rev_19:11) Public Judgements

The Earth-A Well (Rev_9:2) The Terrible Cavalry.

Its Mouth (Rev_12:16) Swallows the Floor

The Scrolls-Seven Seals (Rev_5:2-5; Rev_5:9; Rev_6:1; Rev_6:3; Rev_6:5; Rev_6:7; Rev_6:9; Rev_6:12, Rev_8:1

The Scrolls (Rev_20:12) Individual Judgement.

The Temple- The Temple (Rev_11:19) Ark, Covenant.

Tent of Testimony (Rev_15:5) Law Exposed

3 The emerald rainbow assures us that God will remember His covenant with every living creature (Gen_9:9; Gen_9:17). There shall not be another deluge. These days will be like the days of Noah in many other respects (Mat_24:37; Luk_17:26).

4 Elder, or senior or presbyter, is a title of honor and respect implying authority rather than advanced age, as in our "alderman". These elders follow the living creatures in worshiping the Creator (Rev_4:10). An elder assures John that the Lion will break the seals (Rev_5:5) and when He takes the scroll they celebrate (Rev_5:8; Rev_5:11). They fall and worship in unison with all creation (Rev_5:14). They echo the worship of the vast crowd (Rev_7:11) and one of them tells John who they are (Rev_7:14).