Next is the message to the church in Sardis, a city about 40 miles east of Smyrna (lesson 83), found in Revelation 3:1-6. Again, Christ identifies Himself as the One speaking to the church. Here, He has the “seven spirits” (the fullness of the Holy Spirit), and the “seven stars” (the seven messengers). Just to be clear, the seven stars are explained in Revelation 1:20 as the seven messengers of the seven churches. In reality, these were functioning elders or shepherds (see the explanation of Ephesians 4:11 in the article “Leadership in the early Church”).
The last part of verse 1 sets the tone for this message. “I know your works and that you have a reputation for being alive, but (in reality) you’re dead.” As in some of the previous messages, “works” is from ta erga, used to describe who a person is and what he does as a result. The meaning depends on the context. In the message to the church in Thyatira it described good works coming out of Godly character. Here, it is found in a negative context.
Their reputation was that they were “alive”, but Christ tells them they’re “dead”. Paul explains the difference between being alive and dead in Ephesians 2:1-10. Basically, you’re dead when you follow the world, the devil and your flesh (verses 2-3); you’re alive when you’re in union with Christ (verses 5-6) and doing the works that He has determined (verse 10).
In the next two verses of this message Christ tells them 5 things they must do. The first is “be watchful”. Translated from gregoreo, to be watchful or vigilant, it is used to illustrate spiritual alertness. Christ is telling them to wake up and pursue true spiritual reality. The second is to “strengthen the things which remain, that are about to die” (the next phrase says “I have not found anything that you’ve done that meets the requirements of God”). The third is to “remember the things they’ve received and heard”. The fourth is to “hold fast” (katecho, to keep or retain). Then the last thing is “repent”.
This church was obviously in trouble. In previous messages Christ commended the churches, here there is no commendation. This church had fallen asleep and
Christ is urging them to rouse themselves or face the consequences. This is the last part of verse 3, “If you don’t wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you”. Don’t confuse this with the Second Advent, where the same imagery is used. The context is clear, this refers to the church in Sardis and sudden judgment brought upon it by Christ, if they don’t repent.
At some point in time this church did cease to exist, as did the others. There are, of course, traditional sites purported to be these original churches; but that cannot be substantiated. All of them, including Sardis, have some traditional, religious history. I suspect none of them existed in their original faith and practice much past the 1st century.
The good news here is that there were “a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments” (verse 4), a metaphor used to describe those who had not polluted themselves with the idolatrous and immoral religious systems that dominated. They will walk with Christ in white, a picture of righteousness and acceptance. So, we see 3 promises made to those who overcome. And, again, let’s be clear. Those who overcome are the ones who do the 5 things listed above from verses 2 and 3 that Christ says they must do. This is not 2 out of 5, or 3 or 4 out of 5.
The first promise is that they will be clothed in white. If you remember Revelation 19:8 and the marriage supper of the Lamb, there the redeemed are “clothed in fine linen, clean and white; and the fine linen represents the righteousness (right standing with God) of the saints”. The second promise is “I will not erase his name from the Book of Life”. The fact that names can be erased from the book of Life is obvious from scripture (Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Revelation 22:18-19). This is yet another fact disproving the religious concept of eternal security (once saved, always saved). Those who hold to this belief are unwittingly accusing the Lord of making empty threats, something His character and nature cannot allow Him to do.
The last promise is the one I really like, “I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels”. “Confess” is translated from exomologeo, a verb made up from three distinct words: ek (out of); homou (together); and logeo (to speak intelligently). Here is means, to acknowledge as belonging to the one speaking. One day Christ will stand before the Father and His holy angels, will call His saints by name and say, “he (or she) belongs to Me” (compare Matthew 10:32-33).
The application here is that the church in Sardis had allowed religion to put them to sleep. They were going through the motions, and there was no true spiritual reality in what they were doing. They were dead in a spiritual sense. But, again, this illustrates the grace of God as He urges them to wake up and return to what they had in the beginning.