REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 3.1b
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
CHAPTER
3
LETTERS
TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
The
Letter to the Church at Sardis
(Continued)
OUTLINE
1. The
Addressee – To whom the
letter is addressed (3:1)
2. The
Address – To where the letter is
addressed (3:1)
3. The
Addresser – From whom the
letter is addressed (3:1)
4. The
Approval – The acclamation
of good qualities (3:4)
5. The
Accusation – The
presentation of bad qualities (3:1c, 2b)
6. The Appeal
– The application to change (3:2a, 3)
7. The Advice
– The recommendation to change (3:5-6)
(Verses 1-6)
And unto 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 art dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that
are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember
therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt
not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white:
for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white
raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will
confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Sardis
The last words of Jesus Christ are continued and
directed to the Church in Sardis, the fifth letter to the seven churches in Asia
Minor. As we read the record John records, we marvel at its historical
accuracy.
Background
A Great spiritual awakening occurred during the
fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries culminating in the Reformation Period.
Great missionary work started during the Age of Sardis that set the stage for a
rebirth in the next church – Philadelphia, the church of the open door.
Before the invention of the printing press,
Scripture was unknown to the common people. The printing press allowed the
unveiling of biblical truths:
1. There was a
hunger and desire for Bible study
2. There was a
rediscovery of lost truths
3. There was a detection of unbiblical errors
However, because of this reformation and
rediscovery, the church leaned toward liberalism. It became divided and its new
liberties and freedoms were abused. Replacing solidarity, denominations,
groups, and sects emerged throwing the church into disagreement and vast
confusion. Thus, the Sardis church and the Sardis Age were labeled lifeless.
By probing into the text, many truths regarding
Sardis will be exposed.
3. The
Addresser – From whom the
letter is addressed
(Verse 1a)
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and
the seven stars.
The correspondent partially identifies Himself, pertinent
to this letter, from the complete composite attributes of Christ found in Chapter
1.
Notice:
THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST
The Sevenfold Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
Revelation
1:4 – From the seven Spirits which
are before His throne.
Revelation
1:16a, 20c - And
He had in
His right hand seven stars…The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.
A. The seven
Spirits of God – The complete manifestation
of the Holy Spirit, that is the seven-fold operation of the Holy Spirit within
the church (cf. Isaiah 11:2).
B. The seven
stars – The elders, pastors,
light-bearers, or church leaders labeled messengers or angels of the local
assemblies - Jesus being in total control as all light emanates from Him. He
sent the Holy Spirit into the world and ordained the responsibility to His
ministers. Hence, they are to shine like the stars in the heavenlies.
In essence, Jesus is saying, “I Am the One who
promised and sent the power of the Holy Spirit upon the Church for its
leadership to operate through Me and by Me – ‘For
without Me ye can do nothing’
(cf. John 15:5).
This principle was prophesied in the Old Testament:
Zechariah
4:6 - This is the word of the LORD unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by
power, but
by My spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
4. The
Approval – The acclamation
of good qualities
(Verse 4a)
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not
defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.
Remnant (a few)
God always has a remnant (a spiritual kernel of
God’s people who survive His judgment and become the germ of the new people of
God (for example Noah, or Lot and his family). In the church, they are
representative of a leftover or remaining group of faithful believers who will
escape God’s judgment or Tribulation that did not defile their garments.
Garments
1. Garments – In Revelation, fine linen often represents a
character, specifically robes or clothing not tarnished by sin.
2. Defiled
Garments – [Greek: molumo
(G3435), a verb meaning to stain smear, pollute or defile], connoting
unrighteousness or impurity.
3. Undefiled
garments – Pure. A description of
righteousness, having a righteous character.
Isaiah
64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
2
Corinthians 6:17 - Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you.
Jude 23 - And others save
with fear, pulling them out of
the fire; hating even the garment
spotted by the flesh.
There were a few Christians in Sardis who did not
compromise with the Devil. Unlike filthy
rags, their character was clean, unspotted by the flesh. They had moral purity,
unsoiled garments, and were found worthy in the eyes of God.
Revelation
19:8 – And to
her (believers of
the church) was granted that she should be arrayed in
fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
linen is the righteousness of saints.
White
You recall, before the fall, Adam and Eve were
clothed in glory (white light). White is the clothing of righteousness. This is
the clothing found on the Bride of Christ, the Church (cf. Revelation 19:7-8).
Revelation
7:14 – These
are they (a
remnant) which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb
[the crucified Christ – the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29)].
As was a remnant in the church of Sardis, so was,
in the broader picture, the Age of Sardis – The Reformation. They came out not having
their garments stained or defiled. Possessing undefiled garments should be the
earmark of a Christian life (washed by the blood of the Lamb). A Christian must
walk in righteousness - having a righteous character.
Characteristics of White:
1. Purity
2. Victory
3. Worthiness
4. Righteousness
5. Brilliance of Glory
6. Resurrection bodies
7. Light
Characteristics of robes:
1. Victory
2. Festivity
3. Royalty
Next, notice how Christ applauds their character –
For they are worthy. In the sight of God, they were found worthy by
the color of the clothing they wore. They, along with the overcomers, will
receive three promises in part seven of our outline.
5. The
Accusation – The
presentation of bad qualities
(Verse 1c)
I know thy works, that thou
hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
(Verse 2b)
For I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Again, the Omniscient Christ heralds the
statement, “I know.” The actions and the activities of each individual, and the church in
totality is an open book before the all-knowing Lord. Nothing is hidden from
His sight. The thoughts and intents of their hearts reveal they are alive and
active in name only, but the inside of their hearts is barren to the precepts
of God. Their works are incomplete, i.e., dead.
Question
How did this church become deceased?
Answer
1. The Holy Spirit was missing
2. The love of Jesus Christ was missing
3. The joy of the Lord in their hearts was void
4. Their faith in the Lord was superficial
5. They had a form of
godliness but denied the power thereof (cf. 2 Timothy 3:5)
6. Their morals degenerated
7. Their garments were defiled
Question
What was the cause of death?
Answer
One word – SIN: Only by the grace of God can we
escape the death of sin.
To Sardis, Jesus writes:
Revelation 3: b - I have not found thy
works perfect before God.
God’s standard is perfection.
Matthew
5:48 - Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is
perfect.
6. The
Appeal – The application to change
(Verse 2a)
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die.
(Verse 3a)
Remember therefore how thou
hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
There are five directives from the Lord given in
this passage:
1. Be
watchful
Wake up and stay alert: Literally, keep on being
watchful of three things:
1. Sin
2. Satan
3. Second Coming of Jesus Christ
a. Matthew
24:42 - Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come.
b. 1 Thessalonians
5:6 -
Therefore let us not sleep, as do
others; but let us watch and be sober (discreet, sensible with a clear head).
c. Titus 2:13
- Looking for
that Blessed Hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Question
What is the message of Revelation?
Answer
Jesus Christ and His Second Coming
2. Strengthen
the remnant
There were a few Christians at the point of
exhaustion, ready to give up, who needed their spirituality revitalized. As
believers, we are urged to edify (build up) the saints who are on the verge of
losing faith.
1
Thessalonians 5:11 - Wherefore comfort (encourage) yourselves together, and
edify (lift, build up) one another, even as
also ye do.
3. Remember
what you received and heard
A. Remember what you have received.
1. Salvation through Jesus Christ
2. A new life (nature) in Christ
3. Your spiritual gifts
4. The gift of faith
5. The act of forgiveness
6. Wisdom from the Word
7. The love of God
B. Remember
what you have heard
1. The good news of the Gospel
2. The promise of the Second Coming
3. The promise of eternal life
4.
Hold Fast
Keep on holding onto and remain in the teachings
of sound doctrine you were originally taught in the Word. Stay on guard. Do not
be distracted by the false doctrines proposed by the world.
5.
Repent
If a Christian is seduced by the world,
backslides, and falls into sin, ask the Lord from the heart for forgiveness
(repentance). The tense of the verb means to take action in the present – Now!
Get yourself right with God and re-enter into His sheepfold.
The appeal, advice, or directives are judiciously
and clearly stated. However, there are always consequences for disobedience…
This will be discussed in the following lesson.
QUESTIONS:
1. Name two attributes of Jesus in this letter.
2. What are some good qualities of Sardis?
3. Define the term remnant.
4. What does white represent?
5. How does a church become a dead church?
6. Name some bad qualities of the church in Sardis.
7. What are some instructions to change?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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