Letter # 5 – Letter to the Church at Sardis
Revelation 3:1 - “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.”
The Seven Spirits of God
Jesus begins this letter by introducing Himself as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. One look at this verse could raise the question, “Does God have seven Spirits?” Let’s take a closer look at what this could mean.
Rev.1:4 – “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”
Rev.4:5 – “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
Rev.5:6 - “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
We read in Rev.8:1,2 – “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” From these verses it appears that the seven spirits of God refers to the seven angels. After all, angels are also referred to as ministering spirits in Heb.1:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
It is these seven angels that sounded the seven trumpets that brought seven terrible woes on the earth in Rev. Chs.6,7,8,9 &11. Again in Rev. Chs.15 & 16 refers to the seven angels with the seven plagues of God’s wrath.
The Seven Stars
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. What is meant by this is not entirely clear – there are several interpretations to this. But firstly, let’s realise that the Lord was not talking to a particular local church in each of these cities, but was talking to the church at large in each of these cities. Thus, the angel or ‘messenger’ that is being referred to could not have been the local church Pastor, as some believe it refers to.
Some others believe that each church has a guardian angel to oversee its affairs, but neither Jesus nor did any of the New Testament writers ever mentioned that that churches had guardian angels.
Still others believe that these angels were the ones who would take the message from John to the seven churches. That would seem rather unlikely, because if Jesus wanted them to be the messengers to take the message to the churches, He would have passed it on directly to them, and not have done it through John.
Still others believe that the angels were the Bishops or overseers of a group of churches, but there’s no evidence that there were denominations like we have today, back then.
We’re not entirely sure what the seven angels refer to, so let’s just go with the text – the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Perhaps one day we will know the true meaning of what the seven angels were.
I know your works
The Lord then says the same thing He has said to the previous four churches, “I know your works.” The Lord knew everything about the church at Sardis – nothing was hidden from His sight. Like we heard in the last letter – He even knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts – not just the things we say and do, or the visible things.
You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead
While speaking to the previous four churches Jesus said He knew their works referring to them in a positive way, but in this letter His tone is different. Here He says, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but are dead.” This is not a good thing for a church to hear from her Master, the Head of the Church.
This church seemed to have a name or reputation that they were alive and well – perhaps they said and did all the right things – things that made people believe them to be something they were not. They seemed to be alive and vibrant in the eyes of people, but in the eyes of the Lord Jesus, they were anything but alive – they were dead.
What about us?
• Is there a disconnect between our opinion of ourselves and what we really are? Each of us knows ourselves, and we need to be careful that we don’t go with people’s opinions of us, even if it seems to give us a flattered image of ourselves.
Revelation 3:2 – “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”
Be Watchful
The Lord then tells this church to do two things – the first one being, to be watchful.
This is a reminder of the words of Jesus in to Peter, James and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, when they couldn’t keep awake and pray with him during His agony, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Mt.26:41.
Again we read in 1Cor.16:13 – “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.”
And we read in 1 Pet.5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.“
In all the above verses we’re being encouraged to be watchful or vigilant, because the enemy is out to try and destroy our faith, and therefore our lives as well. We need to keep a watch on the way we live our lives – our values, priorities, our choices, decisions, relationships, desires, thoughts, words, actions, reactions, etc. Sometimes we’re so busy watching other people’s lives, that we don’t take time to watch our own lives. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor.11:31 – “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”
It looks like they were so busy focusing on their image or reputation among the people around that they forgot who they really were. What they forgot was that God’s opinion of them was far more important than that of people. They were more watchful concerning people’s opinions about them than they were watchful about God’s knowledge of them.
What about us?
• Do we find ourselves focusing on all our achievements and accomplishments and missing out on what the Lord is asking of us?
• Are we so focused on gaining the approval of the people around us that we’re not able to notice God’s disapproval of us?
• Are we so blind to ourselves that we don’t realise we’re perhaps spiritually dead?
• Are we focusing on the Lord and seeking to please Him by the way we live our lives, even if it means displeasing some people in the process?
• If we’re not watching out for the right things, we’ll be focusing on the wrong things, to our own detriment.
Strengthen the things which remain and are ready to die
The second thing the Lord Jesus asks this church to do is to get strong – they’re virtually dead in their faith. This is similar to the words we read in Hebrews 12:12 – “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
The church was so sick, that it was close to death, and not only did they not realise it, but they had a deluded image of themselves – that they were alive and vibrant, and this, because they were prominent in the eyes of the people around them. The Lord is so gracious, that He encourages them to get strong in their faith and not die. There’s a verse that referred to how Jesus dealt with people, and this is something we can learn from as well.
Mt.12:20,21 – “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
For I have not found your works perfect before God
This church was busy doing a lot of things – good things perhaps – things that the world around was even appreciating. But the problem was that the Lord did not find their works perfect. They were good, but not perfect. The Lord seeks perfection, not mediocrity. Jesus said in Mt.5:48 – “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This church forgot or was not aware that the Lord looks far deeper than the surface – He knew why they did what they did. He was not like men around, who looked merely at things on the surface.
There’s a big difference between acting and living. Acting happens before an audience, whereas living happens every day we live. This church seemed to be focusing on the acting rather than on the living.
What about us?
• When was the last time we asked the Lord what He thought about us?
• We’re sometimes so busy wanting to know what people think about us, but are we more concerned about what God knows about us?
• Are we so weak in our faith that we don’t have the strength to carry on?
• Do we feel like quitting on our faith in the Lord?
• Are we seeking perfection in the way we live our lives, or are we satisfied with mediocrity?
Revelation 3:3a – “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.
Remember
The Lord then tells the church at Sardis to remember how they received and heard, referring to the Gospel that saved them. The call is not to remember what they received and heard, but rather how, they received and heard. It seems the Lord is calling them to remember the method that was used for them to receive and hear the gospel. Perhaps they had received the gospel accompanied by signs and wonders, and these authenticated the message they heard and believed. This is similar to what Paul said in his letter to the Thessalonians in 1 Thess.1:5 – “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”
The Lord seems to be telling them to not take the message they heard lightly, but rather seriously, as it was not a cheap gospel. Paul said of the gospel in Rom.1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” If this gospel has the power to save a soul from death, then one should not get entangled in sin once again.
Again we read in Heb.2:1-4 – “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…”
Hold fast
Jesus then tells them to hold fast, meaning to not let go of what they believe. When we distance ourselves from the Lord, and get entangled in sin, it’s only a matter of time before we quit on our faith as well. So Jesus encourages them to hold on to what they believe. There’s no room for quitters in the Kingdom of heaven.
Repent
Jesus then tells them to repent – to have a change of mind and to get back to God. They can’t afford to continue living life with a mere reputation of being godly people – they need to actually become godly people.
Repentance is not an automatic, easy process – it takes all of our resolve and will to turn from our sinful way of living, and get back to God. It calls for a setting right of our values and priorities, with God’s perspective, rather than our own or that of the world in mind.
The first thing one needs to do before one repents is to realise one is wrong. The church may have read this letter (or had it read to them), but if they did not realise their need for repentance, they would never take that decision to repent.
The second thing one needs to do when it comes to repenting is to make that decision immediately, and not wait until a more opportune time to do so.
What about us?
• Do we remember how we came to know Christ? Who led us to Christ? What were the circumstances under which we came to Christ? What wonders did the Lord do in our lives during that time to prove His power, love, mercy and grace to us?
• If we’re finding it hard to hold on, the Lord reminds us to not just hold on but to hold on tight to what we believe, because we have nothing else worthwhile to hold on to in life but our faith in the Lord.
• Do we see the need to repent? If so, let’s not wait until a more opportune time to do so. Let’s remember we may never get this opportunity to repent again, so let’s stop, turn around and get back to God today.
Revelation 3:3b – “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.”
Jesus then issues a stern warning to the church at Sardis. He says that if they do not watch, meaning if they are not constantly aware of their behaviour, and doing all they can to live right in God’s sight, then He would come upon them as a thief would come unannounced, and they would be taken unawares. This is similar to the words Jesus spoke Mt.24:42-44 – “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
The church at Sardis was in such a state that they were on the verge of death, ready to be destroyed at Jesus’ return, so Jesus warns them to make the best of what life they have in them lest they lose it all.
What about us?
• This warning is to those of us who are living life carelessly, as if the Lord’s return were never going to happen, or as if this gospel we believe is of no significance, and therefore has no bearing on our lives.
• The Lord warns us that He will return suddenly when we least expect it, and at that time there would be no more room for repentance.
• Let’s remember these words from Heb.3:7-15 – “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Revelation 3:4 – “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.”
Undefiled garments
Jesus then goes on to say that despite the deadness of the Church at Sardis there were a few people who had not defiled their garments. This means that there were a few faithful people who had not defiled their lives with sin and worldly living.
When the Church at Sardis was saved, as is the case with every believer, they received two garments – the garment of Salvation and the robe of righteousness, as we read in Isaiah 61:10: “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.”
This church of Sardis had lost their love for the Lord and had begun living lives just like they did before they were saved. They had taken God’s salvation so lightly that it did not mean anything to them anymore. They had forgotten that they had been made ‘the righteousness of God,’ and were living unrighteous lives all over again. 2 Cor.5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
But there were a few people in this city church that maintained their holy living, appreciating God’s loving work of Salvation and the gift of His righteousness. See what the Lord says about these people.
They shall walk with me in white
Jesus promises that these faithful few will walk with Him in white, meaning that He will give them white robes to demonstrate the holy lives they had lived here on earth. These people had made conscious decisions to stay faithful to the Lord despite all the temptation from both the world, to live ungodly lives. Therefore they would be rewarded by Jesus Himself.
For they are worthy
These few realised the blessings they had received from the Lord, they appreciated the Lord for who He was, and therefore lived in a manner that pleased Him. They counted the blood of Jesus as something worthy, and did not take their salvation lightly. Therefore Jesus counts them worthy as well. These people were not in danger of the warning the writer of the Hebrews gave to those who took their salvation lightly. Heb.10:28-31 – “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
What about us?
• Can the Lord say of us, that we are among the faithful few who have not defiled our garments with sin and rebellion against Him?
• Do we take the salvation that the Lord purchased for us with His precious blood lightly, or do we value it and live holy lives?
• Do we think it doesn’t matter how we live our lives and not remember that God watches and knows and will reward us accordingly?
• Or do we love the Lord so much that we choose to live holy lives, that are pleasing to Him, and therefore don’t have to fear His judgment?
Revelation 3:5 – “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.”
The Three Promise to the Overcomers
1. White Garments
Jesus reminds this city church that those who overcome will be clothed in white garments. Since they had kept their garments of salvation and righteousness spotless, the Lord will give them white garments in heaven.
We can’t afford to live life any way we like, and expect to spend eternity with a holy God – that just can’t happen.
2. Book of Life
The second reward the Lord promises, is that He will not blot out their names from the Book of Life. This is a sobering thought – that one’s name can be blotted out of the Book of Life, depending on whether or not we are overcomers here on earth.
For those who believe that it doesn’t matter how we live, as long as we claim to have faith in Christ, this comes as a shocker. Merely possessing faith in Christ is not sufficient to enter heaven. We should have lived the life the Lord called us to live after we came to know the Lord.
For those who believe that once we’re saved, there’s nothing that can change that – not even the way we live our lives, they’re so wrong. The Bible is filled with instances where people rebelled against God and lost out on the plans He had for their lives. So also, all those who choose to live life any way they like will lose out on the reward of eternal life the Lord has promised those who overcome to the very end. The Lord Jesus is categorical here when He says that the names of the overcomers will not be blotted out of the Book of Life.
3. I will confess his name
The Lord mentions a third reward to the overcomers. He says that He will confess their names to both His Heavenly Father and before the angels in heaven. What an amazing recognition for one to receive. This church seemed to want recognition in the eyes of people, but there are a select few who sought recognition from the Lord alone, and it’s to these that the Lord says that He will confess His name before His Father and before His angels.
These words of Jesus are similar to the words He said to His disciples while here on earth in Mt.10:32 - “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
From the above verse it’s obvious that the church at Sardis was not a witnessing church – not confessing Christ before people, and therefore Jesus was not going to confess their names before His Father, and His angels in heaven. But those faithful few must have been witnesses for Jesus here on earth, and so are going to be among the privileged whose names will be confessed before the Father and the angels in heaven.
What about us
• Are we living our lives as overcomers or are we being overcome by the world around us?
• Are we trying so hard to blend in with the world to gain a good name for ourselves at the cost of getting a good name from the Lord Himself?
• Are we living our lives in such a way that our names are going to remain in the Book of Life or are we in danger of having our names blotted out of it?
Revelation 3:6 - “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The letter ends with the same words of the other letters – a word of caution to those who have the ability to hear, to pay heed to what the Spirit says to the churches. We are called to live our lives being led by the Holy Spirit, and for this to happen, we need to pay heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives on a daily basis.
What about us?
• We make time to listen to all sorts of things in today’s world, but if there’s anyone we as the church need to stop and take a listen to today, it’s to the Holy Spirit in our lives.
• The early church was so sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and that’s why it saw such growth and had such an impact on the world around. Today, many of us have side-lined the Holy Spirit from our lives, and then we wonder why we’re not seeing the growth the early church saw, and why we’re not making any impact on the world around us.
