[Revelation 3]

SARDIS – the dead church

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. ³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ⁴ You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ 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.

⁶ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

With Rome ruling, Sardis was the centre of the wool trade. After a destructive earthquake in 17AD, the city lost its luster, life and energy. It became symbolic of lost enthusiasm,lacking a sense of duty.

Jesus holds the seven spirits (the fullness of the Holy Spirit) and seven stars (the seven angels supporting all the churches). He is the symbol of the comprehensive anointing of the Spirit of the Lord according to Isaiah 11:2. Not one will be snatched from His hand.  Jesus holds on to them and will not let go.

NO commendation is given to the church.  Although the church receives no formal commendation, the Spirit mentions the remnant, the ones with undefiled garments, in 3:4. They are found worthy to walk with Jesus, clothed in white.

CRITICISM:

Jesus informs them of their reputation of deadness and urges them to repent and change their ways. An accusation of pretense is serious. The church should be the answer to the world. It might pretend to be, but it is dead inside and no solution to the need of the unbelievers.

INSTRUCTION:

Hear the call of God – wake up. There is still time to do the work necessary. Isaiah called for Jerusalem to wake up.  Jesus will come as a thief illustrates the unexpectedness of trial.  Earthquakes, plagues, wildfires, floods – name it.  It is almost impossible to prepare for all this – even with advanced weather forecast and emergency services.  Not only great disasters are implied here, but also the personal tragedies and brokenness that can come very unexpectedly.

Unfortunate events overwhelm and overcome us.  We need to be equipped and prepared for any sudden disaster or great trial. (Parable of the ten virgins)  We, the church, heed the call:

Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise…(Isaiah 52)

Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while she stilllives. (1 Timothy 5:6)

Timothy warns against pretense as a form of godliness but denying the power of the true Gospel.  (2 Timothy 3:5) The sinful church is weak and ineffective. We are called to make a difference and live as God’s love-solution to the wickedness around us.

The words of the father of the prodigal son rings true:

 … for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate...(Luke 15:24) 

And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:13)

Jesus challenges the church to remember the truth that they have received and repent.

Come as a thief – in judgment, but always also in support – not his final return.  Jesus is waking his Church to be what it should be.  The judgment is here and now, to repent.

To strengthen what remains, is a commendation of the beginning.  Sardis started out very well but the good is about to die out completely.

The problem is their name, reputation.  Do they truly carry the NAME of Jesus?  Name is mentioned four times in this letter.  In the Bible a name depicted the character of a person.

Christ appears as holding the seven stars, thus angelic support when they ask.  The seven spirits represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit that convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment.  He will renew their obedience to become alive again, to be powerful and effective witnesses.  Sardis is in danger to die spiritually – the second death.

PROMISE:

The promise (3:5) illustrates the eternity of glory in the presence of Christ by the Father, when we are clothed for the wedding feast, our names are written in the Book of Life, which is the record of the redeemed to be announced in the Throne room of heaven. 

Moses speaks of the book God has written – Exodus 32:32.

Writing in a book in the Presence of God is mentioned in Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1, Malachi 3:16, Luke 10:20, Philippians 4:3.

The Book of Life appears five times in Revelation. (13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21: 27)  It is the names of the believers written from the foundation of the earth.  The Book is the contrast to the record of the sin of the unbelievers to be judged. (20:12-13)

Daniel 12:1 – the book of the saved and Daniel 7:9-10 in the context of heavenly judgement.

I will not erase – assurance that they are safe, no matter what the circumstances of evil and persecution.  They are saved from the second death.

Jesus will confess their name before the Father (Matthew 10:32) and before the angels (Luke 12:8).  If they repent their reputation will be restored.

In the ancient church white clothes were put on after baptism to symbolize festivity, purity and victory. Jesus will clothe us in the robe of righteousness. 

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful 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 with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

In our beautiful garment our name is announced, not by the footman or doorkeeper, but by Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, before the Father and the angels.

A few in the church have not “soiled their garments” (Revelation 14:8 – fornication with Babylon).  In this regard is does not literally mean sexual immorality, but rather and involvement with pagan and idolatrous activity.

The remnant is powerful and invited into the Presence. They will walk with Jesus for they are worthy.  They refer to the ones coming out of great tribulation (7:14) who have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb.  Compare 6: 9-11 – those who had been slain because of the Word of God, has been rewarded with white clothes.

The philosophy of the ancient world also encouraged evil to be destroyed.  The greats, the likes of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle thought that the world is so evil that it should be annihilated and replaced.  Jesus came with a message of restoration.  The good news, the Gospel is that evil can be overcome.  No mess is too big for our Redeemer.  He can turn the curse into a blessing. (Nehemiah 13:2) 

PHILADELPHIA – the faithful church

⁷ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: ⁸ “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.⁹ Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. ¹² He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

¹³ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This is the youngest of the cities called by a name derived from the Greek word philadelphosthat means one who loves his brother.

The city was founded for a specific reason: to spread Greek culture, language and philosophy by peaceful means. It has been given an open door by history to pave the way and to know the manner in which to spread the Gospel.

The earthquake of 17 AD in the region also hits Philadelphia. The city felt tremors for years after, causing daily panic when cracks appeared. The residents were too afraid to live inside the city. They lived outside city limits in huts. Those who remained inside often fled for their lives.

The inhabitants of Philadelphia could appreciate the promise: – they will go out no more, (3:12). The city was also familiar with new names. It was given a new name after the ruins were rebuilt by Tiberius [Neocaesarea – new city of Caesar] and again Flavia after the family name of Vespasian. Later, the name Philadelphia, was restored. 

The city was situated on the edge of a great volcanic plain, which made it very fertile, especially for grape-growing.  It became famous for good wine.

COMMENDATION:

Christ is described as Holy, which means different and separate, a confirmation of the description in Isaiah 6:3, 40:25,43:15.

Christ is described as True. There are two words for true. Alethes – which contrasts true as opposed to false and alethinos, which expresses real as opposed to unreal. Christ is declared real. The key of David depicts authority to admit into the New Jerusalem. (Isaiah 22:22) Jesus is the door:

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9. 

The church receives no criticism or instruction, only warning and comfort.

PROMISE:

A long list of promises is made.

An open door is a symbol of revelation knowledge.  The only revelation that is relevant in all of the book, Revelation, is the revelation of Jesus Christ.  He is the sum of all revelation.  This He made clear himself to Peter in Matthew 16.  Revelation comes from the Father only.  The Father shows us Jesus.  He is the KEY to all solutions to the churches and their functioning on earth. 

Knowing Jesus gives us the open door to the world – an opportunity to receive and spread the Gospel.  Jesus opens the door into the Presence of the Father through our prayer and worship. No one can shut the door. Christ gives entrance to the church, which He commends for faithfulness in difficult circumstances.

The prophecy came to Isaiah who brings the message of the mighty omnipotence of the Messiah, who has the authority over salvation and judgment.

The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.  (Isaiah 22:22)

Christ who comes quickly depicts times of trouble where we learn to know Him in the fullness of His redemptive power. If we do not need His miracles and salvation, we will never know what He can do and how He works His righteousness in our lives to transform us into His likeness and build our character to be the true church.

It is in times of trouble that Christ is revealed in His church. It is for this present life, just like the parable of the ten virgins illustrates. Only His wisdom and His Spirit will reveal the deception in the church of those who lie about their identity and are called the synagogue of Satan. Note that the warning is about the falseness IN the church.

The church will receive recognition from within and a secure place in tribulation. Those who dwell on earth are those opposed to the Gospel.  The whole world is a phrase used in Luke 2:1 referring to Palestine only and in Acts 11:28 referring to a wider region than Judea.  In Revelation it is used in a much wider sense – 12:9 and 16:14.

A pillar in the Temple of God depicts a place of honour and dignity.  In ancient times citizens were often honored by engraving their name on a pillar in some Temple.  

The name of God and the name of the church, the New Jerusalem, which is written on us, will serve as a branding of love, marked by God’s honour and victory. We will enjoy the privilege of heaven with a new name.  The New Jerusalem is the invisible body of believers in this world whose hearts are “stayed on Christ” (Isaiah 26:3)

So, they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:27)

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” (Ezekiel 48:35)

This is heaven – the Lord is there. In the words of Jesus:

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21)

To be faithful to the end, to keep the faith and to share in Jesus’ happiness. What more can we ever want?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

The new name makes us different from the rest of the world.  We are believers. (Malachi 3:16-18)  The city of God has walls of salvation and gates of praise.  The New Jerusalem has gates of pearls – pearls are formed by irritation.  Our praise in times of trouble opens the gates to the unbelievers – they see that we handle the brokenness of this world differently.

Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise.  (Isaiah 60:18)

LAODICEA – the lukewarm church

¹⁴ “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²² “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Nothing good is said about this church – a grim distinction from the others. The ancient world had six cities called by this name.

BACKGROUND:

This particular city was important only because of its location. The trade route to the East went right through the city. Travelers entered by the Ephesian gate and exited by the Syrian gate.

It was a commercial and strategic centre for banking and finance. The citizens were so rich that they could rebuild the city after the earthquake with their own money. They argued that they did not need Rome or God. 

It was also a centre for manufacturing of clothing and well known for the soft, violet-black wool used for the making of outer garments called trimita.  The clothing industry was prosperous and proud of it. Spiritually they were naked in the sight of God.

The city was a medical centre famous for eye and ear ointment. Spiritually they did not recognize their blindness. 

CRITICISM:

The words of the risen Christ speak directly to the pride and wealth of the citizens. There was a large population of Jews who were wealthy and influential. 

Christ is the Amen.  Amen means so be it, it is true.   

So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; (Isaiah 65:16)

He is the faithful and true witness. In Hebrew a statement is often repeated for impact and confirmation.

Christ is the beginning of creation, creator of all things (John 1:3). 

In Him are all things (Colossians 1:16). He is more than just the beginning; He is the source of all. 

The word used for cold is psuchros which means to the point of freezing. Zestos is boiling hot. Tepid or lukewarm is chliaros in Greek. In the neighbouring town was mineral water. When you drink it hot, it had healing power, but lukewarm it made you vomit.

Laodicea was a rich city with a water problem.  The water came from two neighbours – Hierapolis and Colossae.  Hierapolis had hot spring water and Colossae cold.  When it got to Laodicea it was lukewarm and people knew lukewarm water made you vomit.  The ancient world knew hot water OR cold water and hot wine OR cold wine were good health-wise but nothing lukewarm was good.

Indifference is hard to break. It is only broken in a committed and loving church so that people are saved. Neutrality is impossible. Non-submission to Christ is resistance to the Gospel.

Meaningless Christianity is strongly condemned and emphasized by the gross description of nausea and vomiting.

The condemnation is fierce: wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. (3:17)

The city was physically rich, but spiritually poor.  The Laodiceans were fully aligned with the corrupt economic system of “Babylon”.  It implied moral failure.  The rich and wealthy merchants have intercourse with idolatrous Babylon in 18:3, 15, 19.

Gold was real in the city, but spiritually of no use. Money does not buy character.  Wealth has to be handled carefully – the warnings throughout Scripture is clear. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 6: 20-21, 25-26; 12:13-21; 16:1-15; Acts 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 17-19; James 2:1-9; 4:1-4; 5:1-6)

Ephraim regarded themselves as rich. (Hosea 12:8)  Hosea shows that Israel prospered through dishonesty and corruption, assuming idols brought their prosperity, not God.  (Hosea 2:5,8)  God found them worthless. (Hosea 12:11)

Poor, blind and naked refers to the strengths of Laodicea – the renowned banking system, the school of ophthalmology with its famous eye salve and the textile trade.  All of these areas were highly regarded and tied to idols – money, clothing, and health.  Today is no different.

INSTRUCTION:

The counsel to the church is to buy from Jesus. Salvation is free but not cheap as it was bought on the Cross.  Our character however, is bought in the refiner’s fire. Our testimonies of miracles and answer to prayer, our faith is gold in the eyes of heaven.

… that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, – (1 Peter 1:7).

Clothing is the remedy for the shame of nakedness, which causes humiliation: 

“Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts;

“I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. (Nahum 3:5). 

God honours his people by fine garments, like Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and the prodigal son.The beauty that only Christ can give is our white garments. It is soul fashion. The garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3) covers us when sin brings depression, shame, and failure. 

With our robe of righteousness, we are suitable for the Lord’s presence. It is such a beautiful scripture to be memorized. Here I quote it again:

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom puts on a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

The church knows what is suitable to God. The entire content of the letters to the Romans and the Galatians is aimed to purify and prepare the church. (Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:9). The Pharisees had fine garments and still they were naked before Christ.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13:14)  God will cover the shame of nakedness.  (Isaiah 47:3;  Ezekiel 16:36; 23:29; Nahum 3:5)

Next, the church is recommended to buy eye-salve.  Everything in life is dependent on vision. Can we see the lie? Can we see the outcome?  Hagar flees into the desert after the row with Sarah. (Genesis 16:14 and 21) She almost succumbs to thirst and put the child away from her to be far removed from the cruel death she expects. Her eyes do not see the well. The well was there, but her bitterness and self-pity made her blind. It is God who opens our eyes to see our answers.  Lahai-Roï = the well of Hagar.  She said: I see the One who sees me.

This is a super important spiritual principle. Let us together always pray the blind man’s prayer: Lord, that I can see.

Jesus states that He chastens those He loves. His love is described in Greek with the word agape, which expresses unconditional love. It is an unconquerable attitude of goodwill, which nothing can turn into hate or indifference. 

For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:12) 

The word used for rebuke is elegchein, which means that the receiver of the rebuke is compelled to see the error. It is not punishment, rather illumination and insight.

Ephesians 4:17-19 describes the darkness in the minds of the unbeliever. We receive correction and insight and rejoice in it. It is further explained in several scriptures to illustrate that the crushed grape makes the wine. (Psalm 94:12, Job 5:17, Hebrews 11:6-8,12)

PROMISE:

God is knocking at the door of this church. It is frightening to think of Christ outside the church. The remedy is to let Him in. He knocks as the lover of your soul and the lover of souls. The handle of your heart is on the inside and operated only by choice.  He knocks for a restoration of fellowship.  Song of Solomon 5:2:  A voice!  My beloved was knocking:  Open to me…

No other religion has the vision of a seeking God. 

The word for meal is deipnon.  It was the most important meal of the day in the evening with time to linger in fellowship. For most ordinary working people breakfast was light and fast and lunch mostly on the road or in the field. Jesus present at the evening meal pictures a time of complete fulfillment.

A throne in the east was more a couch than a single seat. A victorious throne is to be shared with Christ.

…and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6)

Just note the high reward to a disappointing church. God loves His church and will correct so that He can bless.

Thank you, Lord Jesus for never letting us go. No sin, shame and blindness can ever separate us from the love of God. 

This is the link to the Spotify Podcast:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/pebblesofperpetuity/episodes/Revelation-3-e34s90a