Revelation 3

Sardis:

Well known for is luxury.

It had a reputation for apathy (lack of interest, or concern) and immorality.

There was a temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. Cybele was honored and worshipped with all kings of sexual immorality and impurity.

“The great characteristic of Sardis was that, even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt. Its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of the decadence.”

“The great characteristic of Sardis was that, even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt (beneath consideration, worthless). Its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of the decadence (decline of culture).”

Meaning: They didn’t care much about anything besides pleasure and luxury.

King Cyrus attacked Sardis. The Sardis soldiers thought they were protected because of the natural defense around them. The city was surround by steep cliff walls. So Cyrus attacked one night, and his soldiers found no one guarding the walls. These people are crazy.

V.1b

What a church is and what a church does is never hidden from Jesus.

Everything that happens in life, in your personal life, is not hidden from Christ. Jesus knows all things.

Jesus knew that this church had a name.. This church had a reputation, that they have life. On the outside, this church looked alive and exciting.

Jesus rebukes this church and tells them, “You are dead.”

There are a lot of dead churches… On the outside it looks good.. but there is no spiritual growth, there is no real Bible teaching going on. After you guys graduate and move on… Make sure you find a church that teaches the Bible… If the pastor gets up and never reads from the Bible, points to the Bible, then you’re in the wrong church.

When Jesus said, “dead,” he means that there is no true spiritual character.

Someone said, “Sardis was a perfect model of inoffensive Christianity.”

Christianity is offensive to those who are dead in sin. Our nature does not want to follow God, our nature doesn’t want to live by God’s rule. So, when we tell people we don’t agree with the way they’re living, they will be offended by it.

When you are a true christian, and stand up for righteousness, stand up for God, people aren’t going to like you. You will lose friends, you will lose family, that’s life. It is what it is.

When you say “I don’t agree with homosexuality.” People will come out against you.

When you say, “There are only 2 genders.” People will call you bigot.

When you stand up for truth, you will be hated by the world.

I’d much rather stand for righteousness, than to be praised by the world. B

V.2

Be Watchful:

Jesus is telling them to “WAKE UP.”

Wake up from your spiritual slumber and strengthen the few things you still have.

There was hope for the Sardis church. Jesus had not given up on them.

Even though they did works, they weren’t complete for God.

This church was pleasing men, not God.

If you are dead inside, and just going through the motions.. God is telling you to wake up.

God wants you to wake up from death, he hasn’t given up on you.

V.3

Remember:

Jesus is telling them to remember how they heard the gospel.

Do you guys remember the first time that God’s word had really spoken to you?

Obey:

Obedience is a sign of love and faith.

Repent:

Jesus is telling them to repent from how far they fallen.

What is repentance?

Warning:

If you don’t, He was going to judge...

What’s scary is that their fate was left undefined.

V.4

There were some writings in Asia Minor that show dirty clothing was held to dishonor the deity. These people were excluded from worshipping.

Basically, Jesus is promising that those few who are TRUE BELIEVERS will walk with Him. They are worthy, because they are made righteous by Jesus.

These people were walking in purity and victory.

Are you walking in purity? Or, are you allowing sin into your life? Are you a victor over sin? Or, are you defeated by sin, because you don’t care?

The greatest reward for us as followers of Jesus.. is to be able to walk with Him.

Do you want to walk with Jesus? Do you want to have greater intimacy with Him? Do you want to be closer to Him?

Repent of your sins. Stop being defeated. Obey His Word. Live purely.

V.5

Blot out his name from the Book of Life: Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day – their name is in the Book of Life – and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in . The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then rewritten. The focus here is not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.

i. There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgement. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.

There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgement. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ()

ii. There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important.

There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. ()

iii. There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy.

There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. ()

There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the book. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

iv. There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the book. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. ()

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” ()

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. ()

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ()

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. ()

Blot out his name from the Book of Life: Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day – their name is in the Book of Life – and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then rewritten. The focus here is not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.

Promise: If we are victorious, Jesus will confess our name to the Father.

i. There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgement. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.

V.6

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:12)

We have to hear what Jesus is saying here...

ii. There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important.

It’s easy to fall asleep spiritually when you are not aware.

We have to be aware of what is going on around us. We have to be ready for battle.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

iii. There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

iv. There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the book. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Exodus 32:32)

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33)

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19)

Revelation 3

The Dead Church