Rev 1-3

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." verses 3:19-20

The first chapter really sets the stage for both these chapters and the rest of the book of Apocalypse (aka the Revelation of John). Not only does it set up that this is a vision from God to John and the churches, but sets the imagery he saw of the one "like a son of man" who stands before the seven lampstands and holds the seven stars, which are explained to be the seven churches in Asia and the seven angels or messengers.

Chapters 2 and 3 are the seven letters to the churches. Each begins with an addressed church and a characteristic of the sender. The main portion of the letter varies from church to church, but begins with a statement of knowledge speaking of specific situations or actions or trials. At the end is the phrase "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." and then a promise to those who overcome.

Most often the thing He knows is their deeds: hard work and perseverance; love and faith, service and perseverance, doing more than at the beginning; kept my word, not denied my name. These are good, but other deeds are rebuked: "You have forsaken your first love", holding to false teachings, tolerating sin, "you are neither cold nor hot", "I have not found your deeds complete".

Their deeds were incomplete, but in each case He doesn't really tell them to do all that much but to hold on, persevere, be faithful, repent, wake up, endure patiently, open the door as we hear Him knock and allow Him to enter. Ultimately it isn't by our deeds that we "will walk with [Him] dressed in white". Only by going to Him are we made rich, pure, and can see clearly. Ultimately, only in Him can we overcome.Only He has overcome sin and death.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Each letter speaks to a different situation, to rebuke and correct that we may repent and be found in Him when the hour comes. But we are told to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, not just one.

The letter to the Church in Philadelphia is the one that has spoken to me the most (I won't go into it now), but they all to a degree speak to situations I am in now or in the past. And listening to the Spirit speak the idea to hold firm, pursue holiness, and endure to the end really speaks to me.

Tiens ferme. "Je viens bientôt; tiens ferme ce que tu as, afin que personne ne prenne ta couronne" v.3:11 (OST)