Revelation Study 6 Sardis

The message to the Church in Sardis

Context

At one time Sardis was one of the most glorious cities in Asia, but at the writing of this letter, most of that glory had faded. It was a wealthy capital city at one time that boasted a huge acropolis, or hill/mountain. Sardis had an almost impregnable fortress on a 1500 feet cliff with a steep approach, making an invasion from that direction nearly impossible. Anytime an invasion happened the people would flee to the fortress and wait out their attackers. According to one commentary, on two separate occasions, separated by 3 to 400 years, one man from the enemy scaled the cliff, entered the fortress and was able to open the gate and let the enemy in and they were ransacked. The watchmen on the city walls became complacent, didn’t believe an attack could come from that direction, they weren’t diligent and keeping watch. According to another source on two separate occasions separated by 400 years, a secret passage was discovered into the fortress and as the people and guards slept, invading armies entered and destroyed the fortress.

The city of Sardis was also destroyed by a massive earthquake in AD 17, but the city was rebuilt by Caesar Augustus (the same Caesar that issued the decree for the census at the time of Jesus’ birth that “forced” Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem). This earthquake split the acropolis is thirds, front third collapsed onto the city and the people, back third fell backwards and the remaining third remained. Earthquake language will show up again in the letter of Revelation.

Artemis was the patron god of the city, the same god worshipped in Ephesus and the same god from Acts 19 where a riot broke out over Artemis worship and idols etc. There was a temple to Artemis, but it was an unfinished one, the construction was never completed.

Another goddess existed by the name of Kibala and part of the worship and devotion to her was a massive ceremony where men would castrate themselves. Their genetalia and blood was offering, some would obviously not participate in this but, if they were to get some of the blood on their garments, they would take part in the offering.

The religious life in Sardis centered around nature worship as well, focusing on the fertility cycle and achieving life after death. Next to the acropolis was a necropolis, a smaller hill/mountain on which was a burial ground.

In Sardis there was a large wealthy Jewish population, many of which attained Roman citizenship with all its privileges. This is much archeological evidence that shows a blending of Jewish culture with Greek culture with an adaptation to a Roman way of life. That being said, some believe the Jews and the Church were genuinely trying to be a light and their signs and symbols incorporated were to attract others.

Now the message to the Church in Sardis

Revelation 3:1–6 ESV

“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.’

How does Jesus present Himself in this message?

The words of Him who has the 7 spirits and the seven stars.

Does this sound familiar? Has it been used before?

Yes it has, or why would I ask, right.

Do you remember where?

Let’s look at the intro to the message to the Church in Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1 ESV

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

The seven stars, as Jesus told us in Revelation 1:20, are the angels of the seven churches.

So, here in 3:1, the message to Sardis, Jesus is reminding them that He has sent the angels as ministers of the Church. But also, and more importantly, the sevenfold Spirit, His Spirit, and He is also sent to the Church. Why? Well let’s read on.

Revelation 3:1b

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

It is no coincidence that Jesus starts His message to this Church the same way He started His message to the Church in Ephesus. I know your works, your deeds, what you do.

Can we remember what the problem was in Ephesus?

They had lost there first love. The were diligent in fighting against heresy and for doctrine, but were not loving of God and others. Their works were not what they once were.

So like the city of Sardis who once had glory and a great reputation, the Church in Sardis once had glory and a great reputation, but that glory has faded, the reputation no longer applies.

This is a dead church, for the most part, and one that has become like the culture in which it was living, they are not living counter-cultural.

So what is the call?

The call is to wake up, from their slumber, from their stupor, from the false reality they are living in.

We said above that they was archeological evidence of Jews taking on Greek culture and all adopting Roman ways of living, which would violate many of Gods laws and commands.

Is it possible this problem existed within the Church as well?

Of course, like the lone enemy who would scale the cliff or the army invade, and infiltrate the city, open the gate and allow the enemy to enter, this is what happened in the Church.

Now how does an enemy sneak into a city in these ancient times? How can he possibly get in?

The people weren’t keeping watch, protecting the Church and living according to the ways of Jesus, they assimilated.

What don’t we see here in Sardis? Persecution, not from the Jews, not from Rome. Why? They compromised, they became like the culture they were living in. They participated in the Caesar worship, the trade guilds

So Jesus says for them to wake up and strengthen what remains. There is a small group left who are faithful, they need to strengthen each other and work hard to rebuild the faith and reputation of the Church.

Jesus also says in verse 2 that He has not found there works complete, an allusion to the unfinished temple of Artemis, a clear example of an unfinished work right in their presence.

So what is the process to turn things around?

Remember, keep it, and repent.

We would think repent would come first, but just like the message to the Church in Ephesus, remembering comes first, as it does with the process of repentance.

Remember God, remember Jesus, remember your first love, remember what you did at first, return to your former love and ways.

Then keep it, don’t just think about it, do it. What good is it to hear but do nothing, does hearing then count for anything?

This is repentance- remember, then do, change, turn back because you remember.

So what is the warning? If you will not wake up...

I will come like a thief in the night, v3b. This is a clear reference to the lone enemy sneaking over the wall to open the gate. If they knew he was coming they would have stopped him, but because they weren’t prepared, he entered, opened the gate and the city was destroyed.

Jesus has issued this warning in the gospels as well, always as a warning on readiness, preparedness, and living right as we await His return.

Revelation 3:4–6 ESV

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.’

A Bible study technique is look for repeated words and ask why that word is being repeated. So, do you see any repeated words in this section?

1. Name or names 3—Biblically, a name indicates character, who you are. We as Christians bear the name of Christ, our character should resemble His. There were some “Christians” in Sardis who were true to Jesus, they have not soiled their garments or defiled themselves, they are pure. Therefore, their name is in the book of life and can never be erased.

2. garments 2—is clothes but a symbol of who we are, ie clothed in Christ or wearing our old worldly clothing.

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Colossians 3:9–12 ESV

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Romans 13:14 ESV

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Galatians 3:27 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Jesus even talks about wedding garments given to those admitted into the wedding celebration parable in Matthew 22 see verse 11-12

3. white 2—symbol of purity, having been cleansed, virtue, dedication, obedience, no compromise, faithfulness. These are the true followers of Jesus, not just by claim, but by how they live dedicated to him and this is also the reward, those clothed in white will walk with Jesus in Heaven.

The one who conquers, or perseveres, who remains true to the end.

I will never blot his name out of the book of life. This is not saying people whose names are written in the book of life can have their name erased, it is a confirmation of true salvation that cannot be taken away.

If we are a faithful witness, a martyr, if we obediently proclaim the name of Jesus in both word and deed, then Jesus will proclaim our name before God and His angels.

2 Timothy 2:11–13 ESV

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

You hear the themes of what we just talked about in this passage.