The Promise - Revelation 3:20-22

The Promise - Revelation 3:20-22

THE PROMISE

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).

I stand at the door and knock – The invitation is a personal one, since salvation is individual, but it is much broader than that.  The door on which Christ is knocking is not the door to a single human heart, but to the Laodicean church. Christ was outside of this apostate church and wanted to come in, something that could only happen if the people repented.

There are four ways in which Christ knocks:

1.  Through His Word (John 5:24).

2. Through His people (Romans 10:14).

3. Through His Holy Spirit (John 16:8).

4. Through providence (1 John 1:3).

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door – Christ is knocking on the door of the church, calling the many to saving faith, so that He may enter the church. If one person opened the door by repentance and faith, Christ would enter that church through that individual.

The picture of Christ outside the Laodicean church seeking entrance strongly implies that there were no believers there at all – John MacArthur.

Dine with him – Christ’s offer to dine with the repentant church speaks of fellowship, communion, and intimacy. Believers will dine with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) and in the Millennial Kingdom (Luke 22:16, 29-30). Dine (δειπνέω deipnéō, Gk.) refers to the evening meal, the last meal of the day (Luke 17:8, 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) which is rendered “supper.” Christ urged them to repent and have fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and it was too late forever. This is the fourth and last reference in the 7 epistles to the return of Christ, meaning that there will be Laodicean-like churches in the world when He does return.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Revelation 3:21)

Him who overcomes – A believer overcomes by receiving eternal life (1 John 5:4-5). This victory is made on an individual basis, and not all Christians attain it.

Sit with me on my throne – Christ offers to seat believers on the throne He shares with the Father (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). This symbolizes truth that we will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10, 20:6; 1 Corinthians 6:3).

I also overcame and sat down with my Father – Overcomers are promised:

1. The privilege of eating from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7).

2. The crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

3. Protection from the second death (Revelation 2:11).

4. The hidden manna (Revelation 2:17).

5. A white stone with a new name written on it (Revelation 2:17).

6. Authority to rule the nations (Revelation 2:26-27).

7. The morning star (Revelation 2:28).

8. White garments, symbolizing purity and holiness (Revelation 3:5).

9. The honor of having Christ confess their names before God the Father and the holy angels in heaven (Revelation 3:5).

10. To be made a pillar in God’s temple (Revelation 3:12).

11. To have written on them the name of God, of the New Jerusalem, and of Christ (Revelation 3:12).

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” ’ ” (Revelation 3:22).

What the Spirit says to the churches – The message to the apostate church is: repent, and open up to Christ before the night of judgment falls.