Chapter 3
Letter to the Church in Sardis
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Jesus identifies Himself as the one who possesses the seven spirits of God and the seven stars John saw and reported in chapter one (see Revelation 1:4, 16). He then tells them that He knows their works, and that they are known by others as being alive, but they are in reality dead.
The church is actively doing something that they must believe that they are doing it for God. How can a church get to the point where they are no longer (or if ever) serving God? Jude told us that evil influences have entered the church and have begun to deteriorate the church from within (see Jude 1:4). When a church no longer is listening to the Holy Spirit, that church is no longer useful in God’s kingdom. In some churches, adhering to tradition can become more important than following Jesus. These churches, especially when viewed by non-believers, may appear active with well-attended Sunday morning worship services, but are only serving themselves, not God. Once a person gets involved and becomes comfortable with the protocols, it is very difficult to change.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Jesus calls for them to wake up! To become aware of their condition and strengthen (Greek ‘stērison’,[1] to permanently fix) what they have, otherwise it, the church, will die. He further explains that He has not found the efforts of the church “complete in the sight” of God. The phrase, “I have not found your works complete,” implies a hollowness not filled. Everyone is going through “the motions,” but not for God.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
How does one wake up and see that what they have been believing is not true and what they are doing for God is wrong? The only source of the truth is the Bible, not someone’s interpretation of Scripture, but the actual Word of God, it must be studied and understood by every Christian. Jesus instructs them to remember what they received and heard from their teachers and the Bible, and then do and follow the truth, to keep it as they repent of their wrongdoing. He warns them that if they do not wake up, He will come to them like a thief, at a time unaware to them. The context of this verse points to this being a hostile visitation, not a favorable one (which explains why several Bible versions read “against you” or similar).
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Not everyone in Sardis was Spiritually dead, those that were not persuaded to follow the church’s protocols and incorrect theology, but instead found the truth of His Word. Jesus describes them as having not soiled their garments (a metaphor for sin, see Zechariah 3:4, Jude 1:23). He notes that they will walk with Him in white, having been forgiven and cleansed by Him.
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Jesus promises white garments to those that see the truth and turn away from the deception and finds the true Jesus. He will then prevent their name from being blotted out of the book of life (a list of those that are saved, see also Exodus 32:32; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27) and will proclaim them innocent before His Father and His angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Being called ‘dead’ by Jesus is a somber warning to all churches, as well as sobering. For some churches a complete ‘overhaul’ may be necessary. Changing a church’s basic theological view, worship protocol, or traditional modus operandi, is no small matter. But if the resultant operation is considered dead by Jesus, then the church’s paradigm needs to change.
Considerations
Everyone has a worldview that has been uniquely fashioned by everything learned, observed, and imagined in their lives. This worldview would include what the individual thought about God and how they would respond to Him if they believed in His existence. If they were brought up in or was later exposed to a particular faith, that paradigm relating to God, which would include how to worship, what is expected from them, what is expected from God, etc., which can become ‘locked.’ The same response occurs whenever something that is considered an absolute belief is involved (such as the existence of gravity, oxygen, etc.)
Regarding any interaction with God, a rigid paradigm would be an excellent attribute, but only if it was a true paradigm. This was one of the problems the Pharisees had during Jesus’ time on earth. They saw Jesus healing and doing things on the Sabbath. This was unacceptable in their minds, they believed anyone from God would not ‘work’ on that day. Their paradigm of what they believed to be an absolute from God blinded them from the truth, prevented them from accepting Jesus as their Messiah.
After nearly two-thousand years of a wide variety of ‘Christian’ theologies from many theologians, the “Christian Community” has become very divided and, to a large degree, has become ineffective in outreach. The church in Sardis was actively doing something that appeared to be God pleasing but was not. Any church that becomes inwardly focused, by serving only their own people (be it worship, Sunday School, etc.) and choose not to evangelize or equip their people to be witnesses for Jesus, they run the risk of becoming a dead church just like Sardis.
Can a paradigm be changed? Yes, but it will require time and effort. The first step in any Christian endeavor is to pray for guidance and discernment from the Holy Spirit. Next, go back to the Bible, rediscover His truth. Then compare what you are doing to what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you. Changing a paradigm is never easy, it will require a humble heart, a willingness to learn and a willingness to embrace new ideas, and perhaps the hardest part, to step outside your comfort zone.
Letter to the Church in Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Jesus identifies Himself in this letter as the “Holy One,” and the “True One” who has the key of David. The reference to the “key of David” goes back to the story of Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, having the key to the king’s treasures (see Isaiah 22:22). Remember Jesus will reign during the Millennium on David’s throne (see Luke 1:32, see also 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 22:51, Micah 4:1-5; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 14:1-21). Here Jesus notes that when He opens the door to His treasury, namely heaven, no one can close it. In the same manner, if He shuts the door, no one can open it (see also Revelation 1:18). Access to heaven is through Him and Him alone.
The word Philadelphia means “brotherly love” and is found six other times in the New Testament (see Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7, twice). A ‘close’ relationship type of love, but not a romantic or an unconditional type of love. This is the seventh and last appearance, but it is the only one that refers to this city.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
This is the second of two letters dictated by Jesus to John that doesn’t have any admonishments. Nothing negative is presented. Jesus tells them that He knows their works and that He has opened a door in front of them that no one can shut. He is promising them salvation and entry to heaven. He acknowledges that they have little strength, in context implying they have limited ability. But even with that handicap He notes that they have kept His Word and have not denied His name. They have remained faithful to God.
In John’s gospel account he records Jesus calling Himself “the Door” (see John 10:7-18). If anyone enters through Him, they will be saved. Other doors that led to redemption include the door on the ark that Noah built (see Genesis 7:16), the door in Jesus’ parable about the wedding feast (see Matthew 25:1-10), the door Jesus is knocking on as noted in His letter to the church in Laodicea (see verse 20), and the door to heaven (see Revelation 4:1). Paul also wrote about open doors leading to deliverance (see 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Jesus for the third time refers to Satan’s influence in these seven churches (see Revelation 2:9, 13). Here, like the church in Smyrna, the synagogue of Satan is mentioned, except no form of opposition is listed, just that Jesus will make them, this group of self-deceived group of individuals, come and bow down before church’s feet. At that time they will see and learn that He loves them.
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Due to their diligence and willingness to patiently endure life while complying to His Word, Jesus promises to keep them out of the time of trial that will be coming on earth. He specifically states that this period of trial will include everyone dwelling on the whole world. This coming “hour of trial” is likely a reference to the coming Tribulation. While the Greek word ‘hōra’[2] generally refers to a fixed time period, it can also refer to a season, part of a day, or even a period of several years of trial, such as the Tribulation period.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Jesus further promises to come soon. Now, after nearly two-thousand years, one may wonder what Jesus meant by coming soon. The Greek word ‘tachy’[3] does carry the meaning of something being prompt or swift, but it also conveys the idea that some ‘process’ can be quickly accomplished. When the time of His return has come, there will be no delay in His appearance. Jesus instructs them to hold fast to what they have (their faith in Him, their keeping of His Word, their patient endurance, etc.), so that no one can take their crown. This would not be the “crown of life” (see James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) or the “crown of righteousness” (see 2 Timothy 4:8), as they would be given irrevocably to believers. This crown is likely one of those rewards given to believers for their work in the kingdom (see Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:5-15; 4:5; 2 John 8).
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
To the person who endures, Jesus will make him a pillar in His Father’s Temple. A figure of speech used to reassure them of being secure and safe in the presence of God while the world crumbles and falls. They will never leave the security of the Father, no more worldly temptations, trials, etc. Jesus will write on them the name of the Father, the name of the new Jerusalem, and His own new name, clearly identifying them as children of God.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The promises given to this church are also available to all churches. Every believer who patiently endures keeping God’s Word while following Jesus will also experience these blessings.
Letter to the Church in Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
In this seventh and final letter to the churches, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Amen.” The word “amen” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word ‘āmēn’,[4] meaning ‘truly’, which is often spoken to confirm something to be reliable and true. Jesus, by calling Himself “the Amen,” is confirming that He is indeed the faithful and true witness, His offer of salvation is true, His Words are true, He can be trusted to fulfill His promises. He set everything into motion as the Creator and will see it through eternity.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Jesus knows the people of the church in Laodicea and their works. They are neither cold (indifferent, apathetic, or otherwise disinterested unbelievers) nor are they hot (believers involved in outreach, serving others, growing in the Word, and actively following Jesus). Jesus says it would be better to be cold or hot, not in between. From Jesus’ perspective being cold is better than lukewarm because the person may at some point in their life be willing to accept Jesus. Being hot is what every believer strives for, the willingness and ability to evangelize, learn from the Bible, to serve others, and follow Jesus to their best ability. Being lukewarm indicates being satisfied with routine, nothing new desired in their relationship with Jesus, believing they already know what they need to know about God and His Word, and are comfortable in their walk with God.
Jesus warns that because they are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, He will spit them out of His mouth (Greek implies vomiting them out). For example, if someone thinks that they have learned everything they need to know about God, believe they are serving God by just attending weekly worship services, or perhaps have become an ‘undercover’ Christian where no one knows your beliefs, they may be lukewarm in Jesus. Consider the fact that the greatest barrier (obstacle) to knowing the truth about something is thinking you already know what you need to know. If a person becomes self-assured they stop seeking more information. As Christians we will never graduate from learning God’s Word until we are with Jesus in heaven.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Jesus notes that the people of this church believe they are rich, and that they have prospered and need nothing. But Jesus tells them that they are none of these. That in reality they are miserable, worthy of pity, destitute, unable to see clearly, and have no clothes to wear. Truly a staggering contrast! From being people who think they have everything they need for their relationship with Jesus, to being assessed by Him as having nothing. Putting any arrogance, pride, or possible misunderstanding aside (which each seems to be in abundance), how does one become so indoctrinated to follow such a perversion of God’s Word and still have the audacity to call themselves a Christian or a church? The quick answer is ignorance, primarily due to false teaching and poor preaching. This kind of negative influence comes from years of internal deterioration without the Holy Spirit’s oversight. Just in the last 20-30 years many denominations have gradually turned from God to embrace worldly thinking (remember the two don’t mix).
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Jesus advises them to buy from Him pure gold, white garments, and salve for their eyes, so that they may reverse their situation. This is not to be interpreted as Jesus selling any physical gold, clothing, or salve, He is contrasting their perceived ‘wealth’ with their actual Spiritual poverty. What He offers requires no price to pay (see Isaiah 55:1), the Spiritual gold of salvation is freely available through faith alone (see 1 Peter 1:7). White garments in the Bible represent the sin-free purity as a result of being cleansed (see Revelation 19:8), here we see that they are naked. The salve for their eyes points to their need to clear out the corruption of their view of God and His Word. They may be rich from a worldly perspective, but are Spiritually poor, having little to no faith in Jesus. Perhaps able to be fully clothed physically, they have no righteous garments to enter heaven. They may have Bibles, but are not seeing that what they are doing and believing is contrary to to Him and His Word. Jesus is essentially saying that they may be using the title ‘Christian’ and have the word ‘church’ on their sign, but He doesn’t know them (see Matthew 7:21-23, see below), nor is the church His as He is not present there!
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus will discipline and chastise those that He loves (see Hebrews 12:6). Who does Jesus love? In the previous verse it seems clear that would not include these pseudo-Christians, or would it? We need to remember that God loves all people equally (see John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 John 4:7-12). Jesus promises to correct disobedience just as any good parent would do, so He asks them to be filled with the desire to repent. Jesus is saying He wants to be in their lives and in their church. He is saying He is on the outside, knocking on the door to come in. What kind of Christian church has Jesus on the outside? If anyone hears the gospel message and opens the door of their heart, He will come in and they will enjoy fellowship with Him. The same applies to the church, if someone hears Jesus knocking and opens the door for truthful teaching, the church collectively can become followers of the true Christ.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
To the person who sees that they have been pursuing a false understanding of Jesus and finds the true Jesus, will be granted a place to sit with Him on His throne. Just as He conquered death and sits down with His Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
This somber warning regarding embracing the wrong Jesus is also a warning to all Christians and churches. There is no substitute to learning and knowing the Word of God for yourself. Everyone will be held accountable for their beliefs, no one can blame another for misinformation or bad theology. Remember, the Bible is the only book that counts.
Considerations
The Scariest Words in the Bible
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus illustrated what could happen if someone listened and adhered to false teaching. Even if they think Jesus is Lord, they run the risk of forfeiting their salvation for a lie. We read, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’“ (Matthew 7:21-23) Can there be anything more frightening than that? Jesus Himself saying that not everyone who calls Him, “Lord, Lord,” will be saved! He continues by saying that they might try to convince Him that they were wrongfully judged by pointing out that they had spoken prophesy in His name (see 1 Corinthians 14:1-5), casted out demons in His name (see Mark 9:38; 16:17; Luke 10:17), and did mighty things in His name. Only to hear in response from Jesus perhaps the most chilling words ever written, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.” (verse 23b, NLT) This lesson from Jesus helps us understand the people of the church in Laodicea, as they were deceived to believe that what they were doing was a legitimate form of Christianity. Which lead to a form of self-delusion that promoted arrogance and pride, a condition that is difficult to overcome and correct. Paul wrote in his second letter to the church in Corinth, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5) Jesus is saying that there really is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian, but in reality is actually a person who is pretending to be a Christian. For those people, He is knocking on the door of your life, let Him in today!
Comforting Words From Our Savior
Verse twenty is one of the more quoted and cited verses in the Bible because Jesus pictures Himself as the initiator. He is standing at the door and He is knocking to come in. Be it that He is knocking at the door of someone’s heart or the door of a church, it is a warm sentiment that He desires to come in, which of course He does want to do. He will not assert Himself or force His way into someone’s life or church. The door must be opened from the inside.
So, how does a church get so involved in doing things that they miss the primary point? They obviously know of Jesus, but do not know Him well enough to follow Him. They have apparently embraced a fraud. Jesus and all of the epistle writers addressed the serious issue of false teaching and false prophets. As pointed out earlier, the New Testament writer Jude warned that the church was already infiltrated. Now nearly 2,000 years later, the corruption is wide spread. The only solution is to rediscover the Bible and let the Holy Spirit lead you to the real Jesus.
Closing Notes Regarding the Seven Churches
The church in Ephesus was active in serving God, they were diligent in their work and endured much hardship. But they got so involved in what they were doing and how they were doing it, that they lost sight of why. They were no longer doing things for Jesus. Their motivation was not their love for Jesus, but to honor tradition, protocol, and procedure. Is the love of Jesus so important as long as the work is being done? Yes, doing something for ‘tradition’s sake’ is counterproductive for any church as they are then no longer being led by the Holy Spirit, who also provides the necessary resources to that church.
The church in Smyrna reminds us that to follow Jesus is not always easy. He never promised that life would be easier as a Christian, in fact He actually taught the opposite (see Matthew 5:10-12; 10:16-23; 24:9; John 15:18-20). The gospel message is often faced with opposition, and at times hostile opposition. The church in Smyrna was a church that faced a lot of hostility and due to that level of rejection they didn’t think they were doing that well. But they were one of the two churches out of the seven reported in Revelation that had nothing bad stated. Instead, they were told to “hang on,” just as Christians today are to patiently endure until He comes.
The church in Pergamum tried what is known today as being “politically correct.” A merging of worldly beliefs and God’s ways. Needless to say, that didn’t work out. God’s Word is not to be compromised, nor is it in any way to be corrupted. Whenever a church seeks man’s understanding or embraces any human-based value system, they are stepping onto a ‘slippery slope’ where it is nearly impossible to stop from falling further away from God. The ‘world’ needs to stay outside of the church.
The church in Thyatira was another church that allowed compromise. Sexual immorality was one issue, but they also allowed false teaching including some idolatry. Like the church in Pergamum, compromise of the Word of God is unacceptable to Jesus. This church was split, some followed the false teaching and others did not. Those who did not were told to hold fast until Jesus returns.
The church in Sardis, in Jesus’ assessment, was just plain dead! He acknowledged that they had a great reputation of being alive but did nothing to serve Him. Like the church in Ephesus, they had strayed away from their beginnings. Jesus instructed them to wake up and remember what they once received and heard. Then repent. They too had a faithful remnant that were not corrupt.
The church in Philadelphia was the second church where nothing bad was reported. The name of the city, which means “Brotherly Love,” offers a good starting point to describe this church. They were told that they have been diligent in keeping God’s Word. Even though they thought they were insignificant and weak, they never denied Jesus. And for their faith He promised them that they would be removed before the time of Tribulation.
The church in Laodicea was another church that thought highly of themselves and undoubtedly thought they had an excellent reputation. Jesus called them ‘lukewarm’, that they were neither cold nor hot for God. But what is worse is that Jesus was on the outside. What is a church that was planted for spreading the gospel and serving others in His name, doing it without Jesus? That, “I’ll take care of that for you Jesus” attitude, will always end up wrong. Christians and churches need to remain plugged into and follow God.
Now as we fast forward to our current day, we can still apply the same warnings and promises to churches today. There are few issues that seem to overlap in several of these churches. The first being the corruption of God’s Word, followed by the embracing of the world’s values. At the same time these churches seemed alive and well from man’s perspective (both from within the churches, as well as from those not Christian). But since these two chapters in the book of Revelation appear to apply to the “church age” or at least a period before Jesus’ return, Christians today need to take these lessons seriously. Corruption continues to affect churches and Christians alike, and the only solution is to read, understand, and apply the truths of the Bible. There are many so-called Christian movements that have penetrated several churches. These cult-like groups are often led by charismatic leaders that have either by delusion or ignorance taken the real Jesus out of the equation. Sin is a serious problem that only the real Jesus can fix. Don’t be fooled by an imposter. Besides teaching from the Bible, every Christian church should minimally: 1) teach that we are all sinners; 2) proclaim the serious nature of sin and its horrific consequences leading to hell; and 3) offer full redemption and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
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[1] Strong’s Greek 4741.
[2] Strong’s Greek 5610.
[3] Strong’s Greek 5035.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew 543.