College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Revelation 3:1-6
Strauss-' Comments
SECTION 8
Text Revelation 3:1-6
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that livest, and thou art dead. 2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
Initial Questions Revelation 3:1-6
1.
Is it possible to be a very active and successful congregation and yet be spiritually dead?
2.
What can you tell about a congregation who starts many worthy projects and finishes none of them - Revelation 3:2?
3.
Where in the Gospel records can we find the same warning as given here in Revelation 3:3 - in the earthly ministry of Christ?
4.
What do the white garments of Revelation 3:5 signify?
5.
What is the Book of Life - Revelation 3:5?
The Church in Sardis
Chp. Revelation 3:1-6
The Church in Sardis received the most complete condemnation from her Lord, of the seven Churches. They are in a very serious spiritual condition, and they are consequently in grave danger of the Lord's judgment. He might come to judge Sardis as a thief in the night (Thess. Revelation 5:2) unexpectedly. There is only a small remnant at Sardis who shall share in Christ's triumph.
Sardis was the capitol of ancient Lydia until 549 B.C. The ruins of her great temple to the goddess Cybele is still observable. A small village exists today near the site of ancient Sardis, its name is Sert. Ancient Sardis was wealthy from the gold and silver which she found in her rivers and hills.
The Lord addresses this congregation as He did the others. Christ told them that you have (echeis - sing. pres. ind. - you have at present) a name that you are alive (zçs sing. pres. ind. alive now) but you are dead (nekros - i.e., pres. ind. dead right now). How is it possible that a congregation can think that it is alive and in reality it is dead? Is it possible that a large active church can be actually spiritually dead?
Be thou (imperative - they were commanded to be watching) constantly watching and establish (sterison - 1st aor. act. imp. through one final act get the complete remaining things established) the remaining things that or which were about to die. Next, comes the most serious indictment of all to this very busy congregation. For I have not found any of your works having been fulfilled (peplç rômena - perf. Pass. participle means - you started a lot of things but you never finished a single thing) before my God (literally God of me).
What could Christ say to a congregation that never finished anything it started? He commanded them to remember (see Revelation 2:5) how you have received (eilçphas - perfect tense - means that they had permanently received) and did hear (çkousas - aor. tense - means the single act of hearing) and keep (tçrei - pres. imp. commanded to keep on keeping) and repent (metanoçson - 1st aor. imper. commanded to completely repent in a single final act). Christ told them that (literally) If therefore you do not watch, I will come as a thief, and you by no means know at what hour I will come on you.
The alla (but) is to contrast the general lack of spiritual concern and the few names in Sardis which did not defile their garments. They were very careful, like Bunyon (in Pilgrim's Progress) not to soil their white robes. They shall walk around with me in white (garments - not in text); because they are worthy. They are worthy, because of their close walk with Christ - not through any self-righteousness. Christ is their righteousness!
Who are going to receive the white garments of righteousness? Christ responds immediately - The one continually overcoming thus shall be clothed (to throw around) in white garments. These names alone will remain in the scroll of eternal life. I will confess (homologçsô - future ind. act.)
Same Conclusion as the other Churches.
Review Questions
1.
What did Christ mean by charging the Church of Sardis with being dead - Revelation 3:1?
2.
What are some of the spiritual implications of the charge?
3.
Had Sardis really received the Word of God - Revelation 3:3?
4.
What does Revelation 3:2 tell us about how the Word of God is to be handled by Christians - Revelation 3:3?
5.
What do we learn about the need for Christian growth-vs. 5?
Tomlinson's Comments
CHAPTER III
THE SALUTATION
THE SARDIS CHURCH
Text (Revelation 3:1-6)
3 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. 2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
Chapter s I & II
Chapter III
EPHESUS
SMYRNA
PERGAMOS
THYATIRA
SARDIS
PHILADELPHIA
LAODICEA
Verse
Verse
Verse
Verse
Verse
Verse
Verse
-
SALUTATION
-
DECLARATION OF WORKS
-
PRAISE OR CENSURE
REPROOF
Revelation 2:4; Revelation 2:6
None
None
-
EXHORTATION
-
ADMONITION
Promise Revelation 2:26-28
PROMISE
Admonition Revelation 2:29
APPROXIMATE TIME
Pentecost
A.D. 100
313 A.D. to
533 A.D. to
1517 A.D. to
1809 A.D. to
1909 to
OF CHURCH PERIODS
to A.D. 100
to 313 A.D.
533 A.D.
1517 AD.
1809 A.D.
1909 A.D.
End.
CHARACTERISTICS
Doctrinally Right
Persecuted
Compromised
Apostacized
Denominational
Restored
Lukewarm
CHURCH IN HISTORY
The First Church
Church of 2nd, 3rd. Centuries
Church of 4th, 5th Centuries
Catholic
Denominational
Church of Christ
Present Church
The character of the last three messages to the churches is definitely different from the four preceding.
In the first four church periods we are given the uncovering of the development of an abominable doctrine which progressed through the stages from the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, the synagogue of Satan, the seat of Satan, until it reached the depths of Satan in the fourth church period.
Beginning with Sardis we find, not the rise and progress of a system of satanic wickedness, but a state of decline and decay, dying out of spirituality and love for the truth.
While one church period blends into and intermingles with the preceding and succeeding periods, yet each epoch has an individual entity of its own.
Following the great, and longest period of Thyatira, or the Roman Catholic epoch, we know from history that there followed the weaker and declining period of denominationalism. The Sardis church ushers in the days of the Reformation. The preceding dark ages had left the church spiritually dead and decadent. After the reformation begun by Zwingli, Luther, Calvin and Knox, the church era was marked by multiple divisions, declining weakness and diminishing spirituality. This decline became so marked that the Wesleys spent their lives in an effort to restore some spirituality to a dying and decadent Christendom.
Revelation 3:1 Hitherto, Christ has begun each letter with words of commendation, but here he commences with words of condemnation.
He presents Himself as He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. As already pointed out the seven spirits symbolize the fullness of the One Spirit. Upon Christ, the divine spirit abides in all the perfection of his operation and power. The seven stars represent the entire sweep of the life of the church from Pentecost to the end of the age, He is asserting his complete authority over the church in all the Christian dispensation, He is able to impart spiritual lifethe life that was lacking in this church period addressed. I know thy works, says the Christ. The denominational period has had a reputation for feverish activity, Services well attended and carefully conducted, with working committees and many social activities, This period has been characterized by great financial drives, building programs and world-encirclng movements. Thou has a name that thou livest. How appropriate!
Perhaps nothing has so characterized the denominational epoch as the wearing and stressing of human names, Men have gloried in this name or thatnames that gave no honor to the Christ, or his church, but rather have divided the followers of Christ into competing sects.
Since an outstanding trait of this church was its weakness, it is altogether logical that denominational names should be worn.
The word comes from the same root from which we get the word denominator, which means fractional, or below par. The wearing of a denominational name is an unconscious confession of being fractional and below par excellence, It cannot be too well noted that God has never permitted a church, which did not take the Scripture for full and final authority for its rule of practice, to wear the Scriptural name. Proclaiming part truth, they ever wear an unscriptural and below par, fractional, or denominational name.
So it is looked upon, by Christ, as dead.
Revelation 3:2 But to this church period Christ makes a patient and gracious appeal. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.
The denominational period has thrown off much of the doctrine of Baalam and the overlordship of the Nicolaitanes. Pagan practices borrowed from heathenism by the Thyatira church, have been expunged.
But there are still traces of compromising with error, setting up of ecclesiastical establishments to govern the beliefs and practices of its adherents.
Yet over against this there has been an awakening after the passing of the dark ages and the spiritual Renaissance which followed. The Bible has been loosed from the cloister pale, and translated and printed in over a thousand languages and dialects. However, in spite of this noble endeavor, there has been a tendency to chain the Bible, not to a book shelf of the monastery, but to the prejudiced interpretation of denominational bias.
He declares, I have not found thy works perfect before God, but be watchful and strengthen the things that remain.
Revelation 3:3 To stimulate the church of this period to action, He makes an appeal to remember the better days. It shows that they had now heard His word, because they are to remember how thou hast received and heard.
Church history discloses how the church of the Sardis, or denominational period, has lost its fervor for the Word of God and has turned to humanism, modernism, skepticism, and even outright doubt and infidelity. If they do not watch He says, I will come on thee as a thief in the night.
While He is not announcing his immediate return, yet here seems to be the beginning of the calling to the church's attention that the return must be kept in mind. How significant! The denominational period of the church has throughout its days stressed, with increasing tempo, the return of Christ.
While a few misguided souls have set dates, Christ both in His ministry, through the voice of His apostles and here in his apocalypse, declared His coming would be as a thief in the night. (Matthew 24:36-51) (1 Thessalonians 5:2) (2 Peter 3:10) (Revelation 16:15) The coming of Christ is a blessed hope to the watchful and ready, but to the unprepared it will be an event of surprise and terror.
Revelation 3:4 But there were a few who had kept pure, both in faithfulness to God's Word and in life. Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments.
How true it is that throughout denominationalism there are to be found those who, though wearing a fractional name, are living beyond the teaching of their particular group. They have outstripped their church in a return to New Testament belief, practice and living.
There are fine folk who have thrown off human creedalism, infant baptism, papal sprinkling (a practice authorized by the pope in the Council of Revenna in A.D. 1311), closed communion, human ecclesiasticism and many other unscriptural practices in order to stand free in Christ. These things need to be strengthened.
A few have not defiled their garments, either doctrinally or spiritually. These shall be clothed in white because they walk with the Lord. Their belief and practice kept step with Christ's commands. How well did Amos write, Can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
White is often applied to divine and heavenly things. The garments of the bride are to be fine linen, clean and white.
On the earth, man is the only one of God's countless species of living creatures that has no natural clothing. Sin stripped him of his garments of glory and beauty, wherein he stood in the likeness of God. So he is the most shabbily dressed creature in the whole world.
But the worthy of Sardis are promised to one day walk with Him, dressed in the whiteness of the purity of His righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Revelation 3:5 I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life.
The book of Life is prominent in the last Chapter s of Revelation (Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:19). The mention of it in the letters to the Sardis period is very appropriate in view of the fact that life and death are the main theme of the letter.
Among all denominations of this period there have been rare souls, who have not defiled their garments either doctrinally, or ecclesiastically, having obeyed the gospel and by that obedience and subsequent faithfulness have their names upon the book of life.
The final clause of this verse of promise recalls Christ's promise recorded in (Matthew 10:32-33).
Revelation 3:6 Then comes the final admonition, as in all seven letters. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. This regularly repeated injunction emphasizes the truth that each message is addressed to more than an individual church, but to many churches, represented in successive periods of church history.