"To the Church in Sardis" Revelation 3.1-6

Revelation 3.1-6

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.’

Former capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia (7th-6th Century B.C.)

The Lydians are credited with the invention of metallic coins, which then spread through the Greek word.

Known to have had a great acropolis which was thought to be interpenetrate.

BUT, it was not.

The city was taken by surprise attack twice before the Revelation.

First - Cyrus the Great of Persia besieged the city. Captured by scaling the cliffs of the citadel by night.

Second - Antiochus III took Sardis the same way.

… they waited for a night on which there should be no moon just before daybreak. Such a night having arrived, on the day on which they intended to act, an hour before sunset, they selected from the whole army fifteen of the strongest and most courageous men to carry the ladders, and also to mount with them and share in the daring attempt. After these they selected thirty others, to remain in reserve at a certain distance; that, as soon as they had themselves climbed over the walls, and come to the nearest gate, the thirty might come up to it from the outside and try to knock off the hinges and fastenings, while they on the inside cut the cross bar and bolt pins.1 They also selected two thousand men to follow behind the thirty, who were to rush into the town with them and seize the area of the theatre, which was a favourable position to hold against those on the citadel, as well as those in the town.

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0234%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3D16

Sources

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

Britannica.com

ancient.eu

Sardis, by the time of the NT, had a large and prominent population of Jews.

These Jews had integrated Roman culture into their Jewish life.

Largest Known Synagogue at this time.

Interestingly, the Synagogue attached to the Roman Bath-Gymnasium.

It’s believed that public buildings were converted for Synagogue use.

Excavations show elements of Greco-Roman architecture recycled for the synagogue- Lion Statues, Eagle table.

Herod the Great put a Golden Eagle on the Temple in Jerusalem. Zealous Jews cut it to pieces.

All of this suggest that there were Jews in the upper class of Roman society in Sardis. It also suggests that these Jews were fine with religious/cultural compromise.

By the time of Revelation, Sardis is a place of “faded glory.” It has as a reputation of once being grand, but is not what it once was.

Rev. 3.1

Revelation 3:1 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.

“Of him who has the seven spirits and the seven stars”

Back to the Inaugural Vision!

In 1.4 we see the spirits, which probably refers to the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Remember the seven stars is a bit harder with a couple of options.

Seven stars (1.16), later known to be the seven angels of the churches (1.20).

Angels (angelos) in association to a particular church is unparalleled to in the NT.

Two options: 1) metaphorical of pastors 2) in reference to God’s divine beings who are sustaining the churches by their mediation.

If the latter, we must remember that Angels are created by God for his service and should not be worshipped.

It is Jesus who speaks to the church at Sardis with a call of repentance.

Rev. 3.2

Revelation 3:2 ESV

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.

“I know your works” - remember the fiery eyes and Ancient of Days imagery? Jesus knows their works.

These “believers” have a reputation for being alive.

that is, being faithful to Christ in testimony without compromise.

The truth, however is that they are dead.

Idolatry, greed and overall cultural comprise may be what is killing the witness of Sardis.

“Wake up!” - there is still a chance to avoid death (the second death).

Remember the context, Sardis in antiquity was caught by surprise twice leading to their capture.

Twice, Sardis was caught sleeping when they should have been diligent to defend against the enemy.

There is still an opportunity for the believers at Sardis to revive their dying body.

“strength what remains and is about to die” - imagery of returning back to health. Health is faithful witness to the Lord Jesus.

Jesus has found their works deficient. Their witness to Christ was less than faithful and probably distorted by compromise and Idolatry. The world’s pleasures are in conflict with the call of Jesus.

Rev. 3.3

Revelation 3:3 ESV

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.

“Remember what you received and heard” - the exhortation is to return to a life founded on the Gospel.

Perhaps they had received the Gospel in a way that we see in acts. A faithful evangelist may have come to their synagogue with the good news of the Messiah. And, perhaps this transformed their lives, but the allure of their former life of status was strong and now leads them to death.

“keep it and repent” - the call is to turn from sin and return to Jesus.

“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.” - another allusion to Sardis’ 2x demise by surprise attack. John is barrow from the “thief in the night” tradition of the Matthew 24.43.

So is this impending or eschatological for the church in Sardis?

probably both!

John writes with an urgency. Jesus calls for action immediately with repercussions for disobedience in that context. The removal of a lamp stand pertained to that church. At the same time we get that “second death” imagery. We have to remember that it would do no justice to the genre and context if Jesus was speaking of some far off tribulation and judgement.

Rev. 3.4

Revelation 3:4 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.

“… you have still a few names in Sardis...” there are still faithful Christians at Sardis.

They have not soiled their garments.

white clothing was worn in association with temples. The idea here is that these Christians had not compromised their faith by idolatry or sinful pursuit of life’s pleasures.

While judgement comes to the disobedient, their is glory for those who persevere. they will wear white. Perhaps their is a connection with temple clothing and the New Jerusalem, where the inhabitants dwell with God.

Rev. 3.5-6

Revelation 3:5–6 ESV

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.’

the reward is further detailed here.

those who persevere will: be clothed in white garments, have their name in the book of life and have a heavenly advocate.

We’ve talked about the white garments, but we also see a picture of those who conquer in Rev. 7.9-12

Revelation 7:9–12 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Book of life - Found in different places in the OT. Daniel 7 being one of them. John innovates and appropriates the book of life imagery to show the security and present/eschatological salvation for those who conquer.

Jesus will confess the names of the faithful. We have a great high priest representing us to our Holy God. Heb. 4.14-5.1

The address to Sardis then closes with that prophetic construction.

Application

1) We Should be Diligent in our Faithfulness to Jesus

We live between worlds.

In a world over come by darkness and the world of the Kingdom of God

The Jesus Kingdom is already here and also not yet here.

It’s coming into its fullness in the church as we await Christ’s return.

But, we still feel the allure of those things that are not Christ don’t we?

Many things can become idols. What a life in Christ does, is orders those things under Jesus Lordship. There is a spiritual taxonomy of life in Jesus.

2) We Have Greatness Awaiting Us Despite Present Tribulation

All kinds of terrible things plague believers from the natural evil to moral evil to spiritual evil.

But, the reminder from Jesus is that for his people, there is present security and ultimate salvation.

This becomes very practical in day to day life.

Whether Christians are on the business end of an AK47 or in the midst of a fierce struggle with depression, there is security in the ultimate truth that Jesus holds the believers life in his hands.

The statement, “Jesus is my advocate” dispels the lies we’ve believed including lies from the enemy.

The Satan is the accuser and attempts to accuse you, but Jesus as our advocate declares our pardon in his righteousness.