Questions from Strauss

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 that starts many worthy projects and finishes none of them___verse two?

3. Where in the Gospel records can we find the same warning as given in verse 3___in the earthly ministry of Christ?

4. What do the "white garments" of verse five signify?

5. What is the "Book of Life" ___verse five?


Web Site for Church of Sardis


Revelation 3

A. Message to Sardis

1"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
 2'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
 3'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
 5'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, andI will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'



Our beginning is nothing new as far as form. The church of Sardis received complete condemnation for her Lord. These people are in serious trouble. Jesus may come to judge Sardis like a "thief in the night" (1st Thess.5:2). There will only be a few who are saved.

Sardis was the capital of Lydia until 549 B.C. The ruins of the great temple to Cybele are still there today. Sardis was a wealthy city with gold and silver deposits nearby.

a. Verse 1___The address starts like all others (i.e. the angle of the church of Sardis). This is a congregation that thinks they are alive but in reality they are dead. In this case, it is because of their deeds.

b. Verse 2___"Wake Up" is the command for them to come alive. This congregation started a great many good works but followed through on none of them.

c. Verse 3___What can Christ say to a congregation that never finishes what they start? Thus, "remember" (perfect tense) what they received and heard. These people have strayed from their mission. "If you do not watch, I will come as a thief, and you by no means know what hour I will come."

d. Verse 4__But (alla) gives us a contrast. There are some in Sardis who are faithful. They are worthy because of their close walk with Christ.

e. Verse 5___Now we are told exactly who will receive those white garments and walk with Christ. Not those who believe in "Once saved always saved," but those who continually overcome will be with Jesus. These people alone will have their names in the "scroll of life." This only applies to those who remain faithful to the end.

Some initial Questions on 3:7-13

1. What is the relationship between God's purpose and will and human effort as found in verse 7?

2. What is the Synagogue of Satan in verse nine?

3. What is the relationship between our loyalty to God and the availability of His power in times of trials (verse 10).

4. What are the Spiritual results for those who overcome? (Verse 12)

 

B. Message to Philadelphia

Ancient Philadelphia


 7"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

 8'I know your deeds Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

  9'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.10'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.11'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.12'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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 out of heaven from My God, and My new name.13'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'


The Congregation of the Lord in the city of brotherly love was the only one of the seven congregations that was not condemned. Philadelphia was the 2nd most important city in Lydia. It was southeast of Sardis. Under heavy persecution this congregation remained loyal to the Lord. Hence the Lord "caused a door to be opened."

a. Verse 7___Christ is the holy one, the true one, the one having the key of David. Christ is the separated one and not a sinner. He is set apart by the will of the Father. The Key of David means Jesus has undisputed authority. Much of this imagery is from Isaiah 22:25 ff. In the larger context, these passages teach that the throne and the kingdom of David had its fulfillment in the church. (see verse 13).

b. Verse 8___ There is an old saying that for the faithful, the Lord will open and close doors. That is the case here. They have been faithful and Jesus knows their deeds. This door was opened by God and no one can shut it. They are under attack by the Jews.

c. Verse 9___Christ promises two things here.

1. Their persecutors will be humbled

2. There is a general persecution coming on the known earth and Jesus (God) will protect them.

d. Verse 10___Because they were consistent in keeping the word of God they will be protected (already mentioned).

e. Verse 11__Here Christ announces that He will come quickly to save them. Thus, the context is still the persecution by the Jews and later the Romans.

f. Verse 12___The imagery of this promise was certainly known to those in Philadelphia. The remains of the pagan Temples are still there today. There is a place for Christians in the Temple of God (see 1st Cor. 3:16 where the church is the Temple).


C. Message to Laodicea

Church of Laodicea Web Site


14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.16'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.17'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore 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 will dine with him, and he with Me.21'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.22'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"


a. Verse 14___If we remember of class on the book of Daniel, Antiochus II divorced Laodice to marry Bernice. Thus the name Laodicea. The name means "justice of the people." Laodicea was situated 40 miles from Philadelphia. It is here that Jesus refers to Himself and the "true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God." This is a favorite passage of the JWs. Notice, this does not say that Jesus was created. This does say that Jesus is God (of God and not by God).

b. Verse 15-16___Christ again asserts the spiritual condition of the congregation. They are nothing, just showing up on Sunday. Thus, being lukewarm and Christian are a contradiction in terms. Jesus does not approve of these people.

c. Verse 17-18__This is a self sufficient congregation. They have money__but___maybe that is why they are in such bad condition. They are a shame to Christ.

d. Verse 19__"As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Each individual here is commanded to repent.

e. Verse 20___The scorching denunciation of these Christians stops, and Jesus pleads for His children.

f. Verse 21-22__"To the one who is continually victorious. Once again, there is no once saved always saved here. Once again we have the same ending.
by Lane Rogers