Understanding Revelation 3: A Message of Warning and Hope

The church in Sardis is compared to modern Western churches, being dead or almost dead.

Faith without works is dead, and works without faith are useless.

Jesus warns the church to be watchful and strengthen the things that remain.

Even in a dying church, there is hope, and Jesus calls for the church to remember the faith once delivered to the saints.

As we study the last of the seven churches, let's notice how much they look like some modern churches. And to 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. This church is not indicted for corruption, nor harassed by persecution. It was far worse. It was dead, or almost dead, as are many modern Western churches. As faith without works is dead, so are works without faith. It's no use having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Spiritual death may also be a danger among those whose focus is physical buildings and man-made traditions, but don't worship in spirit and in truth. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Even here, in a church about to die, there's hope. Otherwise there'd be no hope in thousands of dead and dying churches across the Western world. Remember therefore how you've received and heard and hold fast and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I'll come on you as a thief and you'll not know what hour I'll come upon you. In a dying church it's tempting to abandon the faith of our ancestors and try a new thing. But Jesus' counsel is the exact opposite. To remember the faith once for all delivered to the saints and hold fast. Surprisingly, many young people are looking for the faith of the apostles, and churches that have returned to it are growing. Jesus is not a thief, but like a burglar in one way, he'll come when we don't expect him. So much for all our charts and diagrams detailing theoretical events before his return. They may all prove to be a waste of time. You have a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they'll walk with me in white, for they're worthy. Even in the most lifeless church in all Christendom, there are a few names. If we look long enough, we'll find them. It may be a quiet widow who prays ceaselessly, an elderly veteran who reads his Bible faithfully, a young man quietly meditating on the Proverbs or a tired mother faithfully teaching her children about God. Such gems are often found in a local church that otherwise dead and dying He that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I'll not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I'll confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Overcoming in a dying church can be discouraging, but a few non-conformists are very much alive and will wear white in resurrection. Would we feel quite alone in such a church? But we're not alone. There are thousands of faithful saints on earth and in heaven who join us, cheering us on. All heaven's with us. Who can be against us? He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Let all Christendom heed. Even in a dead church, salvation can be found among those who hear what the Spirit says. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says he that's holy, he that's true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens. There are various keys which the Bible refers to, keys of the kingdom which the apostles possessed, the key of knowledge, the key of death and Hades, the key to the house of God, the key of David, and the key to the abyss. In some way, all these descriptions are relevant. Christ alone opens where no man can shut, and shuts where no man can open. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. This church has an open door. access or entrance into the joy of the Lord and though little in strength its members confess the name of Christ. Behold I'll make them of the synagogue of Satan who say they're Jews and are not but do lie. Behold I'll make them to come and worship before your feet and to know that I've loved you. They're persecuted by Jews whom Jesus calls not true Jews who would do the works of Abraham and is a Jew inwardly. These persecuting Jews will be forced to acknowledge that Jesus loved the Christians. Because you've kept the word of my patience, I'll also keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Keeping these Christians from the hour of trial doesn't necessarily mean to be taken out of the world in a secret rapture, because Jesus prayed that the faithful would be kept from the evil one. The same Greek words. In the apocalyptic genre, this time of trial can be seen as a general description of many Christian experiences rather than a specific time yet future though it can be both Behold I come quickly Hold that fast which you have that no man take your crown The theory of once saved, always saved is contradicted by verses such as this. The full picture of salvation is that we're saved in a moment, are being saved, and will be saved. It's more of a process than a moment in isolation. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he'll go no more out, and I'll write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I'll write upon him my new name. The rewards to the churches are interesting. While salvation itself is a free gift, we're rewarded in salvation according to our works. Some will be rewarded with leadership over ten cities. Some will be rewarded with national and international leadership responsibilities. And Philadelphian overcomers will have great roles within the temple of God. Because they did not deny my name, I'll have new names, like one writes important names on a temple pillar. perhaps signifying adoption by God and of citizenship in New Jerusalem and God's name as a seal of consecration like the high priest's bore. He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Again, what the Spirit says to Philadelphia we're all to hear. And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write These things says the Amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Jesus is not a created being, but the origin or source of the creation of God. This is perhaps the last and worst of the seven churches. Only this church in Sardis lack any approval from Jesus. It's all bad news, except for the opportunity to be an overcomer, even here. I know your works, that you're neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. Laodicea was a very wealthy city with horrible water. Much like their water which came from hot springs via an aqueduct, arriving in town lukewarm and tasting awful, this church is neither cold like a refreshing glass of water, nor hot like a cup of soup. They're apathetic Christians. So then, because you're lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I'll spew you out of my mouth. Like their awful town water, Jesus is about to spit them out of his mouth. Because you say I rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing I know not that you wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Unlike poor Smyrna who God counted as rich Laodicea is the opposite Materially rich, yet spiritually poor. Much like Christianity in wealthy countries of Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, these folks are in reality wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. In this superlative description, Revelation also uncovers the deception of material wealth. I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, and white raiment that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness doesn't appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see. Luxury doesn't build character, but trials by fire do. This is the true wealth of spiritual standing before God. Though well-dressed by this world's standards, they were spiritually shamefully naked, and counseled to be clothed with the pure white garments of righteousness. Their world-renowned ISAV didn't give them spiritual vision. Like bribes from the devil, wealth can blind us. It can blind even spiritual leaders who must watch over God's flock, making them blind leaders of the blind. blind guides. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous, therefore, and repent. God chastens and disciplines those he loves. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I'll come in to him and will sup with him and he with me. In a figurative sense, Jesus is an outsider to this church, desiring to come in. Some few do invite him in, and he has true communion with them. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with my Father in his throne. To overcome the deception of wealth must indeed be exceptional. This is a remarkable reward to sit at the very throne of Christ, Whereas some will rule over cities or nations, and some will have high positions in the temple, these overcomers will be at the throne, perhaps as a part of Christ's inner cabinet. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Whether this is in part a historical sequence or not, it's also, at the same time, applicable in all times and cultures. Well, that's it for this time Next time, we'll get into chapter 4 Until then, God bless you

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