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The Seven Churches of Revelation Lesson 6
Revelation 3:1-6 – The Church at Sardis
(Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson)
Introduction
Hello everyone and happy New Year. Barry and I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family and friends and looking forward to what God is going to continue doing in your life in 2022. This is lesson six of our study on the Seven Churches of Revelations and today we will be examining what Jesus said to the Church at Sardis. As always we recommend that you print off the notes taking page and with the additional Scriptures that we will be referencing in this lesson. Before we get into the lesson, let us pause for a word of prayer.
Sardis was a city in Asia Minor located about fifty miles east of Smyrna. Gold, which was discovered in the city’s sandy bed, was used for coinage. The church in Sardis is condemned more completely than any other church except Laodicea, which we will cover in the last lesson of this series. This church had a name for being alive but had declined into a sham of outward show. It’s interesting that decades prior to the writing of these words, the original city of Sardis had failed to maintain an active sentry duty and paid a heavy price for its neglect – Barry will tell you more about that shortly. What was assumed to be an impenetrable fortress was overrun thanks to complacency and arrogance. The church, likewise, was negligent and complacent but thankfully, some of the faithful Christians among the church of Sardis had not fallen into the same error. Remember what Peter tells us in First Peter 5:8? He writes, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” We are to always be on guard and watchful – never becoming complacent.
Among all the messages to the Churches there is no other which is appalling as this one to the Church of Sardis. The condemnation and the judgment are emphatic. Please note that this church’s partial opinion of itself; in its own and others’ esteem, it was alive.
It had a reputation as an excellent church which caused many to think and speak well of them. However, Christ’s impartial judgment concerning them, as the One Who knew them better than they knew themselves, was that they were dead. We will see with this Church that no religious pretenses can possibly hide a church’s or a person’s hypocrisy from God's eye. As we go through this lesson today, pay close attention to what you hear as it relates to how the Church envisioned themselves versus how Jesus saw them. The difference is striking. Barry, I will turn it over to you.
Verses 1-3
“1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you will not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” (Revelation 3:1-3)
Rodney, I want to begin by looking at the last part of verse 3 which says “If therefore you will not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” What Jesus says does not have the same impact or meaning for us today as it did for those who heard it. The church at Sardis knew exactly what Jesus meant when He made that statement. It reminded them of the history of King Croesus, who ruled the region and was, at that time, the wealthiest king in the world. To protect his wealth and keep himself safe, the king built a massive fortified city much like the city of Jericho that we read about in Joshua 6. He knew that no army would be able to take it and he was right. When Cyrus realized that he couldn’t take the city he isolated it by camping soldiers all around it. One night one of Cyrus’ soldiers noticed a soldier on the wall looking over the wall and, as he did, his helmet dropped to the ground. A little while later, he saw a door open and the soldier who had dropped his helmet, rush out, retrieve it, go back inside and then close the door.
Now this is what’s interesting about this: the door was not visible from the outside. It had gone unnoticed by Cyrus’ men until the soldier opened it to retrieve his helmet. Now Cyrus had the key for overtaking the city. He sent his armies to the other side of the city and began an attack. All of Croesus’ army went to that side of the city and that’s when Cyrus’ Special Forces went through the little secret door on the other side and took the city. Just when King Croesus thought he was safe, he found out that he was not. So, Jesus reaches back into Sardis’ history and reminds the Church that King Croesus had built his fortress and thought he was safe when, in reality, he was not. So, in this last part of verse 3, Jesus says “In an hour when you are not expecting Me, I will come against you.” I thought it was important to start here because Jesus is doing everything He can to keep us, the Body of Christ, from going to hell and the lake of fire.
Barry, isn’t this story so much like our spiritual lives? Satan is always looking for a way in, but he can’t enter until we show him the right door to use. That struck me.
And Rodney, to add on to your thought, if we, as a Church, are not watching for Jesus’ return, anticipating His return, ready for His return – He says His coming will be like that of the thief who comes in unexpectedly. Do you remember what Jesus said in the first part of John 10:10 about the thief? “The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.….” (John 10:10) Jesus’ warning has to do with the church at Sardis “not watching.” Now let’s go back to verse one and see what it is that the church, and some in the Body of Christ today, are not watching.
“I know your works that you have a name that you live, and are dead.” As we have seen in previous lessons, Jesus says that He knows what Sardis is doing in His name. Like the other churches, Sardis was doing a lot of good things that brought them praise and recognition from the community and, I’m sure, from other churches. And when Jesus says “you have a name that you are live,” He’s saying they have a name based on who they are and what they are doing and not because of their relationship with Him. We can do things we think we should do for Jesus and not know that’s what He really wants.
We see a lot of that in the Church today – people giving their time and energy in this activity or that activity, which are all good things. But many are doing them without taking the time to ask Jesus if this is what they should be doing. We have been trained to believe we must do something if we are going to have an impact for Jesus and we see this playing out in the church at Sardis. They believed what they were doing was the right thing and, for the members and the community, they were a Church on fire – alive for Jesus. But Jesus saw them differently. Jesus says “you are dead.” Why would He say this? They were not standing on His teachings or sharing them. He’s addressing the compromise in their lives. It was a subtle form of compromise that killed the message of Jesus and His saving grace as the only way to God by not sharing it. The church of Sardis wanted to be embraced by those who didn’t know Jesus and so they became willing collaborators with other religions and other gods. So Jesus says, “You look alive because of what you are doing, but I know your works – I see your heart – and you are so busy fitting in that to Me, you are dead.” If what we are doing for Jesus makes us feel good or brings us “Atta boys” because we’re doing what the world thinks Christians should do, then is it possible that maybe we should reexamine our lives and compare them to what the Bible says?
Barry, can you imagine what Jesus might be thinking now when He looks at His Churches? The popular thing for Churches to do today is entertain their congregations and communities. There are more Church “sponsored” plays and community projects versus the actual teaching of the Word – teaching truth which calls for repentance versus a word that tells you that you are fine and all you have to do is believe.
Rodney I agree. And the sad truth is this: there are churches more focused on addressing societal issues for a human standpoint rather than addressing them through the lens of the Word of truth. Now, let’s look at the first part of verse 2. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” The word watchful “denotes attention to God’s revelation or to the knowledge of salvation.”
We must understand that, as with the other churches, Jesus is talking about Sardis in relation to His teachings and His doctrine and whether or not what they are doing lines up with them. By using this word, Jesus lets us know that Sardis knew the teachings – what He expected of them. The angel (the pastor) knew them and the people also knew them. What we are seeing here is pride and that pride has led to a willingness to compromise because they believed Jesus was in agreement with them. Remember, they have a name! You can’t be watchful if you don’t know what it is you are supposed to be watching. And Jesus drives this point home when He says “strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” Jesus says “Be watchful, pay attention to, My teachings and My doctrine, especially the ones that you have not forsaken and establish them firmly in you (strengthen) so that you won’t lose them too.” The message to the church at Sardis – Jesus is giving to us today. If we are only reading our Bibles occasionally, we are not establishing it’s truth in our hearts. And Jesus says, that when the Bible is not established in our hearts, what we do know will also die. And unless we repent, that could lead to an eternity in the lake of fire.
The church at Sardis believed they were alive because of the praise and recognition they received from the community for their works. But, Jesus closes this verse by bringing the issue full circle and putting the church on front street – “for I have not found your works perfect before God.” The word perfect means “to satisfy”. Jesus says “I have looked at your works and none of it satisfies My Father.” Wow! What we read here Jesus amplifies in Matthew 7:21-23. “Not everyone that says unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out demons? And in Your name done many wonderful works?’ 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) The people Jesus addresses here in Matthew will not spend an eternity with Him. Neither will the folks in Sardis who follow in their footsteps. And neither will those in the body of Christ today who follow in their footsteps.
Barry I cannot tell you how many times I have meditated on this Scripture. There are so many ministers, evangelists, so-called prophets, bishops, and many others who will miss heaven because, in their hearts, they are not aligned with Christ. And the problem is, everyone who is following them do not know this unless they are in the Word and comparing that person’s lifestyle, teachings and actions to the Word. We look at the outer man, but God sees the truth in all of our hearts!
Rodney, all of us – and I mean all of us – truly need to remember that Jesus said they had done mighty works for Him. He acknowledged that. But He also said they will not make it into heaven. I don’t know of any passage that more clearly says “works will not get you into heaven.” Now, after all of this, Jesus says “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you will not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” Jesus says, “I want you to think about what I have taught you, what you have heard and I want you to hold fast to those things and, in those areas where you have not obeyed, I want you to repent.” These are the things that you need to watch, Jesus says, and if you don’t, I will be like the thief that crept into King Croesus’ fortress unawares and ruined it. And if that happens, you will be in ruin too. You will spend an eternity in the lake of fire. Rodney, what a stern warning to us today. I look forward to your examination of the next three verses.
Verses 4-6
“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. 5He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white clothing; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:4-6)
Jesus said in verse four that “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.” Even though the greater part in Sardis were dead or dying, (that is, declining or decaying in their faith) there were some that kept their faith – had not allowed themselves to fall into decay. They had preserved themselves from the error of false worship, from wrong principles and wicked practices. They had, in all practicality, resisted the tendency that many had to follow the crowd. Can you imagine what a standout (sore thumb) they were to the leaders of this Church, who had allowed themselves to fall in such a manner? Can you imagine them constantly telling the other members that their worship was not genuine and that Jesus was not pleased with their current state? I am sure that this group of Christians was not very popular there.
The phrase, “who have not defiled their garments”, is a symbolic phrase in the Hebrew, arising from the pollutions contracted upon the garments, which rendered men defiled under the Mosaic Law. If the priest’s garments became defiled, they were incapable of appearing before God in His temple and to do so would mean immediate death. So here it signifies that the general state of the church was one that was corrupt and passive and these had not polluted themselves with the abominations by which so many in the church had. Think about it. In the Old Testament, if a priest’s garments were defiled they could not enter into the temple – into God’s presence. Jesus was saying this Church was full of people with filthy garments – from the leadership on down – and they thought that they were entering God’s presence whenever they came to worship. For the few who were pure, because they have kept themselves pure, Jesus said that they would walk with Him dressed in white as they were worthy. The reward promised to those in Sardis who kept themselves pure from what the Church had lapsed into – not walking with Christ. They would walk with Christ dressed in white like someone being honored. But Jesus did not stop there. While He spoke of what would happen to those who have kept themselves pure, He also spoke to those who had not and what would happen if they chose not to repent. He said those who overcame would be clothed in white and He would not blot their names out of the Book of Life, meaning that those who didn’t repent – their names would be blotted out. There is it again – the stressing of the importance of repenting.
Rodney, as you were walking us through this portion, I kept hearing the word “sacrifice” over and over. Jesus is dressing them in white and honoring them because of the sacrifices that they made for Him. They sacrificed their standing in the community and their relationships with families and friends because they refused to compromise when it came to Jesus and His gospel of salvation. Talking about a testimony!
Barry, that leads perfectly into what Jesus says in verse five about living in victory now and receiving white clothing on our Day of Judgment. “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white clothing; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Whosoever he or she may be that overcomes sin and the temptations of this world, shall be admitted to this glorious reward. The promise is made not only to those in Sardis who should be victorious, but to all in every age and every land. The hope that is thus held out before us is that of appearing with the Redeemer in his kingdom, clad in robes expressive of holiness and joy.
“And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.” Historically, when someone died, their names were blotted out of the genealogical tables of the Jews. Jesus was letting them know that for those who overcame, He would never blot out a victor’s name! Now this phrase speaks of many things comforting to the Christian. Remember, the Book of Life contains the names of those who are to live with Him forever. The names of His people are thus represented as enrolled in a book which He keeps, a register of those who are to live forever. The expression “I will not blot out” means that the names would be found there on the great day of final account, and would be found there forever. No one can have access to that book but He who keeps it. So we have the full assurance that our names will remain there if we are victorious in this life. Another thing to remember: the period is coming when it will be a higher honor to have the name enrolled in that book versus any other book that exists on earth today. It does not matter how many books on earth our names appear in – if it does not appear in His book, then everything else is useless. Don’t forget what was captured in Hebrews 6:4-6; it says “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit. 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come. 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
Rodney, do you know what struck me as you were reading Hebrews? When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the first thing that happens is our names are written in the Book of Life. But, Jesus said “I will not blot out your name from that book.” I want us to think about what Jesus is also saying without directly saying it. Although He will not blot our names out of the Book of Life, Jesus is letting us know that if that should happen, it’s because we, you and I, have blotted our names out of the Book of Life. And we will have done that if we have not been watchful to hold on to and receive the Word of truth that we had been taught, and if we didn’t repent when we had not done these things.
Barry, it is my prayer that those who are watching this lesson or listening to it will be among those to whom Jesus says, “But I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.” Not only will our names not be blotted out, Jesus said He will confess our names before His Father in heaven and before His angels. It is noteworthy to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33. “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” There are many ways we can deny Christ, but the primary way is in how we live. Our lifestyles will either testify of Him or it will be a proclamation denying Him. Remember, the church of Sardis had a reputation of being alive, but Jesus said that they were dead.
Finally He concludes by saying, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.” As I shared with you in the lesson on the church of Ephesus, Dr. J Vernon McGee referred to “he that has an ear…” as “the blood-tipped ear” which was a requirement for the Old Testament priests. When Moses anointed Aaron and his sons, he placed a tip of blood on their ears. “And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 24And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood upon the tip of their right ears, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.” (Leviticus 8:23-24) Not everyone can hear the Word of God. We can hear it with our physical ears, but not everyone can hear it spiritually because they are not aligned with Him. We learned from the gospels that our Lord Jesus often uses the phrase to alert dull ears. He said that individuals had ears to hear but they hear not. Now He speaks to those with spiritual perception. He said those who had an ear to hear should listen to what the Holy Spirit was saying to the Churches. Remember, every word from God deserves attention from us and what is seemly directed to one body of people has something instructive in it for all. Barry, why don’t you close us out with any final thoughts and prayer.
Closeout & Prayer
Rodney, the thing that’s encouraging to me, as we have gone through the churches thus far, is Jesus always gives us an opportunity to repent – to make things right with Him. And when we choose to do that, we are keeping our names in the Book of Life! Praise God! Any final thoughts before I pray?
