Book of Revelation Part 7 Revelation 3:1-6 The Church in Sardis Sardis: - A city in Asia Minor - South of Thyatira - On the river Pactolus - The ancient capital of Lydia (- The Lydians destroyed Smyrna in 560BC (just to the West of Sardis)) - Flourished in 500BC - Conquered by Cyrus of Persia - Then conquered by Alexander the Great - Reduced to ruins by the conquerors but rebuilt - AD17; a great earthquake destroyed it again - Emperor Tiberius of Rome invested in it - When Revelation was written it was The Kingdom of wealthy Croesus - Worshipped the goddess Cybele - Today it is a ruin called Sert-Kalessi Revelation 3:1-6, To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The Description of Jesus Vs. 1, These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God The fullness of the Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2, The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord Also mentioned in the book of Zechariah: Zechariah 4:10, Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel? The mention of the Holy Spirit also indicates the power to convict sin Vs. 1, and the 7 stars Revelation 1:19, The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches - Some interpret angels as messengers or pastors - Regardless, by mentioning them, Jesus is saying, I know you have received these words because I am intimately connected with the messengers - So now that you know, you are accountable James 1:22, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Romans 3:20, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Note: A function of the Trinity (Father, Son Holy Spirit): Vs.1 These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God Commendation This Letter doesn t start with a Commendation. Jesus gets right into the Rebuke and then Commends them in His Exhortation to them (vs 4)
Rebuke Vs. 1, I know your deeds He has said this in one way or another to all of the churches so far: - I know your deeds (3x s) - I know where you live - I know your afflictions - I KNOW! - Brings Peace, Comfort and Caution all at the same time! Vs. 1, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Reputation and Integrity are important 2 Corinthians 5:20, We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. However, if the public you is not the private you, you are living a lie - God is everywhere at all times: Jeremiah 23:24, Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? declares the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. Psalm 139 (The whole Psalm is dedicated to this topic) - And God looks to the thoughts and intentions of the heart: 1 Samuel 16:7, The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - Therefore: Numbers 32:23, But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. - You may be able to fool others but it will eventually catch up to you - Ananias & Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11 - NOTE: New Testament! - Their sin was trying to look good in front of man, not considering that the Spirit knew better. - The problem with many Christians - mimicking, trying to look spiritual - Meanwhile, Satan, who loves things in the dark, keeps people trapped - If I confess this, I will be embarrassed or rejected or punished - True, Christians often shoot there wounded. Galatians 6:1, Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. - But Spiritual Law says that confession brings Healing! James 5:16, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Vs. 2, Wake up! Spiritually Awake = Be Self Aware - Deception is Deceiving! Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, My vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. James 1:22, Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Vs. 2, Strengthen what remains and is about to die Bad News: Once sin starts to take hold, it will continue to death James 1:14-15, each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. There needs to be a decision to Turn Away from the Deception or Distraction - That s called Repentance: - I don t want to be that way. I want to be like Jesus - It s a 180 degree turn around - It means picking up where you left off - continuing to choose forgiveness - getting back into ministry - engaging in witnessing again - Pursuing Jesus - Seeking the Filling of the Holy Spirit - Getting back into the Word Vs. 2, for I have found your deeds unfinished It s not how you start, it s how you finish Galatians 5:7, You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? - An ongoing message in these letters: Overcome to the end! Since Deeds without Love are Worthless (1 Corinthians 13), perhaps the Finished Deed is the one motivated by Love Vs. 2, in the sight of God reputation of being alive because of what others see but dead because of what God sees - Others may look at what you have done and be impressed at: - who you were - what you have achieved for Jesus in the past - What people think doesn t matter. God isn t impressed by you giving up, falling short, not persevering to the end Vs. 3, Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard The progression of the Gospel in a believer: - What you have heard - What you have received - Hold it fast - Repent Vs. 3, hold it fast Like the monkey trap - Like taking candy from a child - You have heard 100 s, maybe 1000 s of sermons. Hold it Fast! C.S.Lewis - It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. Vs. 3, and repent This is how you Strengthen what remains - Good News: As long as there is still life, there is hope - Life = The Conscience Conscience = Repentance Therefore: Repentance = Life Read: Romans 7:14-25 - It s not the fact that we sin (ongoing, continuously) - It s how you respond to your sin: - Vs. 15 - What I want to do I do not do - Vs. 15 - What I hate I do - Vs. 18 - I have the desire to do what is good - Vs. 20 - For I do not do the good I want to do - Vs. 21 - Although I want to do good - Vs. 22 - I delight in God s law
- Continual sin and refusal to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit will eventually be detrimental to you: (Throughout these letters, Jesus says, repent. Always giving the escape ramp but following it up with, but if you don t death ) - Romans 1:18-28, - Vs. 20 - His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. - Vs. 21 - For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Vs. 24 - Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity - Vs. 26 - God gave them over to shameful lusts - Vs. 28 - God gave them over to a depraved mind Hebrews 6:4-6, It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. - How do you know if you are there? You won t. - You won t care when you sin - You will justify your sin (God understands ) - You will continually go back to the same thing without any remorse - You have no desire to change - Chances are, those people aren t doing this study. Vs. 3, But if you don t wake up Where is the onus for change? With each individual - Jesus gives us EVERYTHING we need for Salvation 2 Peter 1:3, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. God doesn t send people to hell; They choose it when they reject Him 2 Peter 3:9, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Vs. 3, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what time I will come to you Jesus is referring to His Return for His church - the Rapture 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Jesus gives the parable of the 10 virgins who were told to keep their lamps filled with oil - Matthew 25:1-13 - The oil represents the Holy Spirit (relationship & conviction) - 5 Virgins were ready when the Bridegroom came - 5 Virgins were not - Fair Warning - Augustine: The last day is hidden from us, that every day may be observed by us This passage sums up a lot of Jesus letters: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9, Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Exhortation Vs. 4, Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. Clothing is very symbolic in the book of Revelations - Note: - Clothing wasn t the first choice for Adam & Eve - Clothing came into effect after sin came into the garden
Genesis 3:11, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? - It was their clothing that gave away their sin Clothing is now symbolic of whether you are CLEAN or SINFUL - White = Clean (Jesus, the elders (Rev 4) - Soiled = Unclean Vs. 4, They will walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy Jesus is the only one who can take us from Soiled to White - Jesus is the only one who can make us worthy - Jesus is the administrator of your cleansing and the one who declares you clean - walk with me - like the garden of Eden - the original Plan! - Full of Relationship - Again, the motivation of the Revelation is Love Promise Vs. 5, The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white Reinforces, yet again, perseverance; endurance, to the end - Winning battles does not win the War. - Winning battle after battle after battle sins the War! Only then can you claim Victory Here, Jesus speaks to the guilty, To the one who is victorious (speaking of those who Wake Up!...Repent!) and says they will be like those who didn t soil their clothes at all Note: Dressed in White is to be preferred, not because of colour preference, but for what it symbolizes: - White = Righteousness which means Jesus can be with us. White speaks of Right Relationship. Vs. 5, I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of Life The Book of Life: Revelation 20:12 & 15, Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. - When a person acknowledges that they are a sinner and turns to Jesus for the forgiveness of that sin believing that He paid the penalty for that sin on the cross, your name is written in the Book of Life! Eternal Security: Once saved, always saved - A huge debate over the centuries. Certain denominations believe this. - However, Jesus indicates here that there is a possibility of a name being blotted out of the Book of Life - We already looked at Hebrews 6: Hebrews 6:4-6, It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. - Enlightened; tasted the heavenly gift; shared in the Holy Spirit; tasted the Word of God; tasted the powers of the coming age all indicate in detail a Salvation Experience - Subsequently, that salvation experience is lost never to recover - The parable of the Ten Virgins also indicates that the relationship with the Bridegroom can be lost - The letters in Revelation: - To the churches indicates believers - All have a call to Persevere, to Overcome - All have a contingent, If you do not Repent - All include warning of the loss of Connection and/or Relationship with Jesus Hebrews 10:36-39, You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. - Written to Believers - Some shrink back and are destroyed - Some persevere and are saved
Vs. 5, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and His angels. - Matthew 10:32-36, Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law 36 a man s enemies will be the members of his own household. NOTE: Jesus says this in the context of conflict. Things will get uncomfortable when it come to following Jesus. Jesus is telling us not to shrink back from the tough conversations. i.e. - A friend of mine just heard that his niece is a lesbian. - Some family members who claim to be Christian are embracing the life style. - We can love the sinner but hate the sin. But our tolerant society hates us for it. - I hate that you got divorced but I still love you and wish you were still married - In fact, true love is acknowledging Jesus and what He thinks! Vs. 6, Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. These words follow every letter - These words are for us! - What unfinished deeds are in your life? What is the Spirit saying to you? - Repent and Unlock your Victory! Revelations 1:3, Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.