To the Church in Sardis 3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Church in Sardis was the first place where modern day minting first occurred. It was place known for luxury, but it was also filled with apathy and immorality. The temple of the Mother Goddess Cybele was located there. It has the distinction of being conquered by both Cyrus and Antiochus III. It was great trade center and one of the wealthiest in the region.
Address: Found in 3:1
Introduction (1): He introduces Himself as the one who is in union with the Holy Spirit. The one who has the 7-fold spirit of God. 7 equals complete. They need the complete Holy Spirit in their lives.
Condition: (1). Reputation for life and vitality. The church in Sardis is busy. They focused nt he procedures (tasks) in the church without a foundation in substance.
Verdict: (2). Christ sees death here. They are no challenge to Satan. They are a busy church but rotting from the inside. Their deeds are unfinished in the sight of the Lord; they haven’t completed what they have set out to do. They have missed the mark.
Command: (3-4). Hold fast to your faith. Repent. If you don’t repent, judgment will immediately come. Yet, there are a few people worthy in Sardis (remnant).
Exhortation: (6) There is a call to listen and obey.
Promise: (4-5) For those who are victorious (overcome) apathy, they will be clothed in white. There will be an assurance of heavenly citizenship. Apathy leads to spiritual death. But there is still hope. In verse 5, there is a possibility that a name in the book of life can be blotted out/ erased. This s one of many warning contained in this book.
To the Church in Philadelphia 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Church in Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven churches. Philadelphia was a city built as a missionary city to spread the Greek culture (Hellenism). It was called “Little Athens” and had a degree of culture and sophistication. It resided on a volcanic plateau which grew grapes and prospered int he wine industry. It was also very prosperous. It was a conduit from Europe to the east.
Address: Found in 3:7
Introduction (7): Jesus introduces himself a Holy and True.; the one true God. He holds the key of David (power and authority).
Condition: (8). Christ has placed an open door before them that no one can shut. This refers to the obedient and spiritual heart of the people there. They have kept Christ’s word and have not denied Him. They have “little strength”, which refers to their dependence on God.
Verdict: (8). This is the only church that Jesus does not issue a verdict. He is pleased with Philadelphia. They have met their evangelistic opportunities, they have shown reliance on God and their faithfulness.
Command: (9-10). Because of their persecution (namely the Jews of the region who were persecuting the church), God will turn them around to a true understanding of the church. In time those opposed will come to worship the true God (not the church). He says that he will keep the church in the hour of trial (protection).
Exhortation: (13). There is a call to listen and obey.
Promise: (26-28) . For those who are victorious (overcome) anything, you must stand firm. Pillars are examples of strength and stability; they support the entire church. The people of Philadelphia will become a foundation in the temple of God.
To the Church in Laodicea 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The Church in Laodicea was located in a very wealthy city. This was the center of worship for both he god Askelopis and for the Roman Emperor Caesar. There was a large medical school there and a commercial center. Laodicea was perhaps most famous for their water situation. They had to get their water from a nearby hot spring, so it arrived in the city lukewarm.
Address: Found in 3:14
Introduction (14): He is the Amen, faithful and true witness, and the ruler of God’s creation. The promise of truth.
Condition: (15-16). The church is neither hot nor cold. They are locked into indifference brought on by compromise. There is apathy brought on by self- reliance. Independence.
Verdict: (17-18). There is a hypocritical nature to the Laodiceans. They think they are rich, but really poor. Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Jesus wishes they were one or the other. Since they are lukewarm (like their water) they have not taken a definitive stand on truly following. So Christ will spit them out of His mouth because of their apathy. In today’s world, this can look like a church that is not firemen its belief of what the word says.
Command: (9-10). Jesus rebukes those he loves. Be earnest (honest). Repent. If you answer my call, I’ll come in and dwell in you. But you must reach out to Me.
Exhortation: (22). There is a call to listen and obey. They must change their attitude from self-reliance to dependency on God.
Promise: (26-28). Those who are victorious (overcomes) Indifference, compromise and self-reliance enjoy intimacy with Jesus.
How Jesus is described in these letters:
The Authority; the one true God Head of the angel (stars) and the lamp stands (churches);he is the head of the church (his bride) and He is also over the angels. His Eternal character /Resurrection; He is the first and last; dead but now alive; He has overcome. Sharp double-edged sword (Truth); He is authoritative Son of God (Deity); He is authentic, genuine. Eyes of fire (Judgment); Knowing all; cleansing Holy and true. Holds the key of David (power and authority). Amen: so be it, it is done; A promise of truth. Faithful and true witness; Christ knew the true status of their heart and intentions. Ruler of God’s creation.
SUMMARY
Ephesus - Lost first love- need to repent Smyrna - Rich in the Holy Spirit - Don’t be afraid to suffer Pergamum - Stay true - Repent from sin Thyatira - Doing more like you did at first - Repent or suffering will be intense Sardis - The church is near dead - Obey and repent then be reconciled Philadelphia - Endure patiently and keep my word Laodicea - Lukewarm - Understand your sins and repent
TRAITS JESUS WANTED TO SEE’
Faithfulness Non-tolerance to evil True and obedient Over-comer Repentance
TRAITS JESUS DISLIKED
Self-reliance Non-commital (lukewarm) Stagnant Tolerate sin Compromised Forsaken first love Gone astray with false teaching