The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 3 Series

The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 3

I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1

II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3

A. An Introduction To The Letters To The Churches

B. An Examination Of The Seven Letters To The Seven Churches

1. The Letter To The Church At Ephesus – Rev 2:1-7

2. The Letter To The Church At Smyrna – Rev 2:8-11

3. The Letter To The Church At Pergamos – Rev 2:12-17

4. The Letter To The Church At Thyatira – Rev 2:18-29

5. The Letter To The Church At Sardis – Rev 3:1-6

Rev 3:1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

a. The Author of the Letter – Jesus Christ – Rev. 3:1

(1) He that has the seven spirits of God – Isa. 11:2

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

-1 The spirit of the Lord

-2 The spirit of wisdom

-3 The spirit of understanding

-4 The spirit of counsel

-5 The spirit of strength (might)

-6 The spirit of knowledge

-7 The spirit of the fear of the Lord (reverence)

(2) He that has the seven stars – Rev. 1:16; 20

b. The Address of the Church – Sardis

(1) Located 30 miles South of Thyatira

(2) Very wealthy city

(3) Capital of Lydian kingdom

c. The Addressee – The angel of the Church in Sardis – Rev. 3:1

He has the angels – messengers – pastors of all the churches that are in his hands. The angel of this church is not going to like the message God is sends him.

d. The Awareness – Rev. 3:1

(1) I know your deeds

The only deeds listed here is that they have a name – but that name is not consistent with their character. What is their name? Alive – but they are dead.

1 John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

They had the name of the Son but I wonder if they really had the Son. It is one thing to call yourself a Christian – it is another thing to be one.

(2) I know you have a name that you are alive

(a) I know you are dead

(3) I have not found your deeds completed – Rev 3:2

Rev 3:2 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.’

e. The Admonishment – Rev 3:2

(1) Wake up

(2) Strengthen

(a) The things that remain

-1 Which are about to die

Rev 3:3 'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.’

f. The Appeal – Rev 3:3

(1) Remember

(a) What you have seen

(b) What you have heard

(2) Keep

(3) Repent

g. The Alternative – Rev 3:3

(1) If you do not wake up

(a) I will come like a thief – Matt 24:42-43; John 10:10

-1 You will not know the hour

Mat 24:42-43 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

*An Assessment – Rev 3:4

Rev 3:4 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.’

(1) A few unsoiled

(a) They will walk with me in white

(b) They are worthy

h. The Final Admonishment – Rev 3:5-6

Rev 3:5-6 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and 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.'

(1) Overcome

(2) Listen

(a) Rewards

-1 Clothed in white garments

-2 Name not erased from the book of life