"The Secret of GOD," as revealed by John in the Revelation of Christ, chapters 3:1, with a renewed mind and our victory as foretold.

Jesus is dealing with the early Ekklesia, in seven city groups, as He showed John and spoke of them to him, now picking up with Sardis.


Revelation 3:1, 2-5, 6 "'And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; 'These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 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. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.'" (KJV)

Revelation 3:1, 2-5, 6 "'And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" (ESV)

Revelation 3:1, 2-5, 6 "'And to the Messenger of the Ekklesia in Sardis write: 'He who holds the seven Spirits of GOD and the seven stars in resonance says, I see your toil, but there is a big difference between dead works and vibrant life!
Remember therefore what it felt like when you first heard and [1]embraced the word as your own! It was like discovering a priceless [2]treasure! Now [3]make up your mind once and for all! [4]Why should I surprise you like a thief and break into your space while you are asleep and not even anticipating My [5]intimate intent; Not knowing the moment of My [5]visitation? (The word, [1] eilephas is from lambano , is in the perfect tense, meaning, what is received as a permanent deposit. The word [2, G5083] tereo, means to guard from loss, to treasure. The word wrongly translated, 'repent' is from the Latin, re-pennance is (G3340 from G3326 and G3539) metanoia - to think with me. Here [3] metanoesan, is in the Aorist imperative form - meaning, to "Engage your thoughts with my thoughts once and for all - get it over and done with!" From (G3341 from G3340 from G3326 and G3539) metanoia, (G3326) meta, together with and (G3539 from G3563) nous, mind, thought. The word [4, G1437 a compound of G1487 and G302] ean, suggests, if perhaps, in case you were not alert, you would not anticipate the intimacy of my presence. The word [5, G2240] hēkō,  means to be present - to approach one with intimate intent. The Hebrew idiom, like a thief in the night, refers to the surprise element; this is in reference to one of the traditions of the Jewish marriage practice as celebrated in the 1st century, where the Groom comes to "retrieve" his Bride at an unexpected moment. This is to be looked for with joyful expectation. See the extended thoughts Thoughts on "Thief in the Night" at the end of this chapter.) Yet you do have a few [1] individual names in Sardis who have not forgotten their true identity and [2] soiled their garments - they are those who walk with Me in [3] innocence and who mirror the reference of their [4] worth to be equal to My estimate of them. ([1] Individual name - see significance of a name in John 1:41, He immediately fetched his own brother Simon, telling him, "We've found the Messiah!" which in Greek means, "the Christ." (Aramaic was the spoken language and Greek the academic language in which the NT was written.) John 1:42, When he introduced him to Jesus, he gazed intently at him and said, you are Simon the son of Jonah; you will be known as Mr. Rock. (The Hebrew word (H3123) yona , means dove. The word kaleo, means to surname, to identify by name. Kefas is the Aramaic for Petros, a stone or chip of rock - a chip of the old block! Look at Matthew 16:13-18. This conversation beautifully reminds of the Song of Songs in 2:4, "Oh my dove [ yona ], in the clefts of the rock, in the crevice of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely. The crevice of the cliff is the address and home of the rock pigeon! The birds have nest!
The word [2, G3435 from G3189] moluno, to soil, is from (G3189) melas, black ink; to soil, suggests a garment soiled with the stains of their own attempts to define their own worth and identity through personal effort and religious disciplines. Isaiah 64:6, We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. The word, [3, G3022] leukos, means, light, bright, brilliant from which whiteness, dazzling white-a display of innocence. The word, [4, G514 from G71] axios, means having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much.) [See the extend notes on "Your GOD-identity" at the end of this chapter.] Everyone who sees their victory in Me, I will clothe in white [3]garments - and they will realize that I am not in the business of fulfilling their law and performance based fears by [1] blotting out their names from the Book of Life! Instead, I am the one who endorses their identity face to face before My Father and His [2]Shepherd-Messengers. (This language is taken from the [1]custom of registering the names of persons in a list, roll, or catalogue. In Jewish tradition there was a prevailing fear that your name might be blotted out of the Book of Life in your behavior did not please GOD. The word often translated, Messenger or Shpherd-Messenger, [2, G32 from G71 and G34] aggelos is from (G71) ago, to lead as a Shepherd leads and (G34) agele a herd of cattle or company of people.
[3]Garments: himation the upper garment, the cloak or mantle. See Extended Notes on the Lamb's Book of Life at the end of chapter 17. Also Extended Notes on our GOD-identity at the end of this chapter.)
Now listen up with your inner ears! hear with understanding what the Spirit is saying to the Ekklesia!'" (The Mirror, with editing.)

Until our next visit the LORD willing when we shall pick up at verse 7. may He increase our light of understanding.