Revelation 2:1-3:22; Jesus’ Words To His Church pt 3

Sermon in a sentence: Jesus’ words are for his Church.

Sardis (3:1-6)

The City

Schreiner

Hebrews–Revelation Section Overview

The city of Sardis believed it was invincible from attacks—its fortress was on cliffs thought to be unscalable, but twice in its history the cliffs were scaled and the city defeated. The church in Sardis was repeating the history of its city.

The city was home to impressive architecture. The three most prominent for our purposes are the temple to Artemis, the gymnasium, and synagogue.

The city was also known for its wool and textile production.

The Church

Schreiner

Hebrews–Revelation Section Overview

The risen Jesus addresses the church as the one who has the Holy Spirit and the seven angels. Every church up to this point has received a commendation, but Sardis receives none. The church may appear to be alive, but it is actually dead, or at least near death. They are summoned, therefore, to wake up and act. The matter is urgent. The church is summoned to remember and repent, for if they continue to degenerate, Jesus will come as a thief and judge them. The criticism of the church isn’t universal, for there are some who are worthy and live in a way pleasing to God. Only those who overcome will receive white garments, have their names inscribed in the book of life, and be acknowledged before the Father and the angels. This is the message from the Spirit for all the churches.

Jesus

He holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

He walks in white garments.

He holds the book of life.

He will not blot out the names of those that overcome.

Robert Mounce

The Book of Revelation E. Sardis (3:1–6)

Thus, in the OT, the book of life was a register of all those who held citizenship in the theocratic community of Israel.28 The idea was common in the secular world as well. “When a criminal’s name was removed from the civic register of an Asiatic town, he lost his citizenship.”29

The Book of Revelation E. Sardis (3:1–6)

It is hermeneutically unsound to base theological doctrine solely on either parables or apocalyptic imagery. Better to allow the text, even when theologically awkward, to present its own picture.

He calls the church to awaken, be alert, and repent.

Philadelphia (3:7-13)

The City

Mounce

The Book of Revelation F. Philadelphia (3:7–13)

With an economy based on agriculture and industry, Philadelphia enjoyed considerable prosperity. Its one major drawback was that it was subject to earthquakes. The devastating earthquake of A.D. 17 that leveled twelve cities of Asia overnight2 had been particularly severe on Philadelphia, perhaps because it was nearer the fault line and also suffered a long series of tremors that followed.

Following the great earthquake of A.D. 17 it took the name of Neocaesarea for a time in appreciation for the imperial help received for rebuilding. At a later date, under Vespasian (A.D. 69–79), the name Flavia began to appear on coins. Philadelphia was remarkable for its many temples and religious festivals. For this reason, in the fifth century A.D. it was called “little Athens.” Because it was located in a vine-growing district, the worship of Dionysus was its chief pagan cult. After Tiberius’s help, it founded a cult of Germanicus, the adopted son and heir of the emperor. Between A.D. 211 and 217 a provincial temple to the imperial cult was built, and Philadelphia was honored with the title Neocoros, warden of the temple.

The Church

Mounce

Attention has often been called to the similarities between the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia. Kiddle, for example, points out that both are designed to strengthen the faithful and, in fact, point by point cover the same ground.6 They are the two churches that receive unqualified praise from the Lord.

Schreiner

Hebrews–Revelation Comment

Jesus commends the church for its works, and, quite surprisingly, there is no corresponding rebuke. The words about open and shut doors (v. 7) are now applied to the Philadelphian church. Jesus has opened a door for them that no one can shut. It may be that the open door refers to an opportunity for mission and evangelism, since elsewhere the NT speaks of an open door with this meaning (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3). It seems more likely, however, that the reference here is to entry into God’s presence (cf. Rev. 4:1).

Hebrews–Revelation Comment

They have the open door to God’s presence and access to the heavenly city. The Jewish synagogue did not represent those favored by God; rather, the promises of end-time blessing were given to believers (both Jews and Gentiles) who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the true and faithful son of God. Now in him, the church is the true people of God that Israel was supposed to be. That is why Jesus calls these Jews a synagogue of Satan. The true Jews are those that put their faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, Schreiner says, “Astonishingly, the Jewish synagogue had assumed the role the Gentiles played under the old covenant. In Psalm 86:9 the Lord predicts the Gentile nations would come and bow before Israel (cs. Isa 45:14, Zech. 8:20-23). The prophecy was fulfilled in a shocking way, for the church of Jesus Christ is now the true Israel. Jewish members of the synagogue will ‘bow down’ before the believers in Christ and will acknowledge that Christians are ‘loved’ by the Lord. The love of the Lord for Israel, communicated in text such as Isaaiah 43:4, is applied not to Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus… Those whom the Lord loves, he elects to be his people, for God’s love manifests itself in election, and thus the church of Jesus Christ (not ethnic Jews who refuse to believe in Jesus) are the elect people of God.”

Jesus

He is the holy One who is true and has the keys of David.

He opens and shuts.

He will grant new names.