Letters To 7 Churches In The Book Of Revelation - Sardis -

In this series of Bible Study articles, Letters To 7 Churches In The Book Of Revelation, we are going to study the letters to 7 churches in the book of Revelation. These letters to 7 churches are in Revelation 2 and 3. These are letters and messages that Jesus told John to send to 7 actual churches located in Asia Minor. Asia Minor is Turkey in modern times.

Some of the letters to the 7 churches are important messages to us today, because there are many similarities to today’s modern churches, especially in America. Specifically the letters to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Laodicea.

John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his faithfulness to Jesus, and because of his witness to others about Jesus. Prior to his exile to Patmos John was the leader and pastor of the church in Ephesus.

In the first part of this series of Bible study articles about the Letters To 7 Churches In The Book of Revelation we studied Revelation 1. Specifically about how John was led to write the Book of Revelation. And how Jesus appeared to John when he was in exile on the island of Patmos, and Jesus’ appearance.

In Part 2 we studied the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7.

In Part 3 we studied the letter that Jesus had John write and send to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11

In Part 4 we studied Jesus’ letter to the church of Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17.

In Part 5 we studied the letter that Jesus sent through John to the church of Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29.

Now we will study Jesus’ letter to the 5th of 7 churches in the Book of revelation, the church of Sardis.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

The City of Sardis

Sardis was another ancient city located in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey, approximately 30 miles southeast of Thyratira. Sardis was founded approximately in 1200 BC, and became the capitol city of the Lydia kingdom. Being located 1500 feet above sea level, and surrounded on 3 sides by a large mountain range, Sardis was considered impenetrable and unconquerable.

Sardis was also a rich city. It was located near a gold rich river where gold was mined. It was rich in silver also, and was supposedly one of the first if not the first place where silver and gold coins were minted.

Even though it was considered impenetrable and unconquerable, Sardis was conquered by the Persians in 549 BC, and again by Alexander the Great in 334 BC. It remained in the Greek empire until 129BC, when Sardis was incorporated into the Roman empire.

In 17AD there was a great earthquake that destroyed the city of Sardis. Tiberius Caesar rebuilt the city, and thus there was a temple built and dedicated to Tiberius Casar.

The Spiritual Makeup of Sardis

Like the other cities of Asia Minor, there was considerable pagan worship and idolatry. There was a large temple dedicated to the worship of the pagan god Artemis in Sardis. It was one of the largest pagan temples built in all of the ancient cities. Artemis was the pagan god of hunting and wildlife.

Being a part of the Roman Empire, there was also considerable pressure and expectation to worship the Roman emperor. There was a temple dedicated to the worship of the Roman Tiberius Caesar in Sardis.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Background & History of the Church in Sardis

Like the churches of Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatire, there is no record of the official start of the church in Sardis in the Bible. Paul most likely played an important role in the founding of this church also.

When Paul was on his third missionary journey he stayed 3 years in Ephesus. The result shown in Acts 19:10 was that everyone in Asia (Asia Minor) heard the Gospel, both Jews and Greeks. The missions efforts of Paul and other disciples most likely resulted in the church being established in Sardis.

We know that the church of Sardis, like the other churches in Asia Minor, suffered a great deal of persecution and opposition from Satan. Idolatry, pagan worship, and immorality were very prevalent in the culture. And there was also great pressure from the Romans to deny Christ and bow down to and worship Caesar.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Letter to the Church in Sardis

Here is the letter to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6

The 7 Spirit of God

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Commendations from Jesus

There are no commendations from Jesus in His letter to the church in Sardis. He starts off right away in Revelation 3:1 with a condemnation of the church.

This church represents the final step in the cycle of decline in a church or individual follower of Jesus. Remember in the previous letters to the churches Jesus had commendations and then condemnations. This time Jesus has no commendations at all for the church in Sardis.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Only Condemnation From Jesus For the Church in Sardis

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”  – Revelation 3:1

Jesus tells the church in Sardis that even though they have a good reputation and have the appearance of being a good church, they are not. Not only that, but Jesus uses strong language and tells them they are dead. Spiritually dead.

Many churches today appear to be healthy and strong, but are dead. They may have a lot of people in them. And they may do some good things. But spiritually they are dead. Spiritually dead means they are not Spirit filled followers of Jesus. Or worse, it means that there are many lost people who do not know and follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Jesus is saying the church of Sardis is spiritually dead. Most likely the vast majority of the church members, and most likely even the leaders of the church, were lost. Not Spirit filled faithful followers of Jesus. But spiritually dead church members and even leaders.

A Destructive Pattern In The Churches in Revelation

You can see a destructive pattern emerging from Jesus’ letters to the churches in Ephesus, then Pergamum, and now Thyatira. The church in Ephesus had lost their First Love – Jesus. They were a very busy church and doing some good things still, much like many churches today in America and other parts of the world. But they left their love and passion for Jesus and God’s Kingdom. They “left their first love” means that they rejected Jesus as their First Love, and turned to other things as their first love.

Then in Pergamum Jesus condemned some of them for compromising their faith and relationship with Jesus. They started to compromise and then drift back into their old sinful life and ways, and back into idolatry. He warned them to repent or face the consequences.

The last part of the destructive pattern is what Jesus condemned the church in Thyatira for. They had left their First Love, then compromised and returned to the old sins of idolatry and immorality. And that lead to a life where sin, immorality, and idolatry and pagan worship was completely tolerated and accepted and practiced by people in the church. The church had totally returned to being like the world around them. Instead of changing the world around them.

The final result of this cycle of destruction is seen in the church of Sardis.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Leave Your First Love -> Compromise -> Tolerance of Sin & Idolatry -> Spiritual Death

“I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”  – Revelation 3:1

On the outside church members and churches can appear to be healthy, and strong, and doing good things. But Jesus knows and searches all heart. What is inside our hearts is what is most important.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”  – Matthew 5:8

“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  – Matthew 22:37-38

Pure in heart does not only mean morally pure. Pure in heart does not mean everything on the outside looks good and healthy and ok. Pure in hearts means it is not only what we do, but why we do what we do that matters. And how we do things matters. Pure in heart means that Jesus is our First Love, and that we need to love Him with all of our hearts and with our entire being. And that we need to love Jesus more than ourselves, and more than any other things or person.

We can check all of the boxes on the “What a good church member of Christian should do” checklist – Attend worship service, attend Bible study or small group, read the Bible some, pray some, give to the church, serve in the church… But our hearts can be far from God, even as we do all of the “right” things.

A perfect example of this is the people that gave Jesus the hardest time when He was here on earth. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, knew the Scriptures better than anyone else. And they not only prayed but they fasted and prayed, and they did all of the “right” things good church members do. But their hearts were so hard and so far from God, that they did not even recognized the promised Messiah and the Living God when Jesus was right before their own eyes.

God’s Commandments & Instructions

Right after God saved His chosen people out of Egypt He gave Moses the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). And He gave Moses many instructions about being pure and holy, or “set apart” from the rest of the world (book of Leviticus). And from the pagan false god worship and pagan immorality that they had begun to take part of while they were slaves in Egypt. You can read about the many pagan false gods of Egypt and how they tied in to the 10 plagues God sent upon Egypt here: The 10 Plagues of Egypt & The false Egyptian gods

Also, the people that possessed the Promised Land that God was sending them to also practiced the same pagan false god worship and immorality. To the point that some were sacrificing their children to the pagan god Molek.

And God also gave many instructions about worship and their covenant with God in the book of Leviticus. The main points of God’s commandments and instructions were:

• And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”  – Exodus 20:1-6

• In Leviticus 18 they are instructed to not participate in the pagan immorality that was in Egypt and also would be in the Promised Land. They were told not to have sexual relations with your mother. Or with your fathers wife, or with your daughter, and other types of incest. And not to have homosexual relations, or sexual relations with animals. And they were instructed to not sacrifice their children to Molek. These are the type of pagan practices and immorality that would be prevalent in the culture of the people that were living around them.
• In Leviticu 19 they are instructed to be holy. The Israelites were to be holy and set apart from all evil pagan worship and immorality. “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”  – Leviticus 19:1-2

In the New Testament the followers of Jesus are also told to be holy and set apart from the world. And warned to not compromise their faith and return to the practices of the world.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”  – 1 John 2:15-17

“ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  – Romans 12:1-2

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  – 1 Peter 2:9

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Jesus’ Command to the Church in Sardis

“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. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. ”  – Revelation 3:2-3

Jesus’ condemnation of the church in Sardis is followed by His command to wake up. The church had left their First Love, started to compromise their walk with Jesus with sin and idolatry, then completely tolerate, practice, and accept immorality and idolatry in the church, and that lead to spiritual death of the majority in the church.

The church in Sardis, only approximately 30 years after it was founded and only approximately 60+ years after Jesus was on earth, turned so far from God that it was filled with mostly spiritually dead people and lost leaders. There are incredibly many churches that are like this today.

So Jesus tells the church in Sardis to wake up! And to strengthen what little remains and is about to die. And even though the church had a good reputation in the community, and it was doing some good things, Jesus tells them that their works are found to be unfinished, or unfulfilled, or unacceptable in God’s eyes. They were probably doing some good things in the community, and helping the poor, and mostly focused on social assistance things. All of which are good things. But there are some things that should set apart God’s followers and church from other secular organizations and charities that also do good things.

“Remember therefore what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and Repent”

In Revelation 3:3 Jesus says “ Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.“

What is Jesus referring to when He says “ Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.“? 

Paul says something very similar in his letter to the church of Corinth:

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (the Gospel).”

Jesus is implying that the church in Sardis had initially received the Gospel of Jesus, believed and repented, and started to follow Jesus. And that their works or deeds were from then on to obey Jesus’ command to take the Gospel out to others (see Matthew 4:19, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20), and make disciples or true followers of Jesus.

Somewhere along the line they left their First Love, and then they stopped doing the things that are most important to Jesus. Reaching the lost and making true disciples and followers of Jesus who reach more lost and make more disciples. That is why their deeds were found to be incomplete and not satisfying to God. They left their First Love, and then they stopped being passionate about the things that Jesus is most passionate about.

Jesus tells them to remember and repent, and to turn back to when they started believing and following Jesus, and when their deeds were Gospel centered works. When they followed Jesus’ command in Matthe 6:33 to “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Jesus’ Chilling Warning to the Church in Sardis

“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.”  – Revelation 3:3

Jesus warns the church in Sardis that if they do not repent and wake up, then He will come like a thief. And He says that they will not know when He will come “against them”. Jesus is warning them that judgement is coming for them if they do not wake up and repent. And return to their First Love and their First Importance works.

” For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”  – 1 Thessalonians 5:2

In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Paul describes the “day of the Lord” as coming like a thief in the night. In Jesus’ letter to the church in Sardis, and to anyone who has left their First Love and their First Importance works, Jesus is saying the “day of the Lord” and judgement is coming for them.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

Encouragement For A Few In The Church of Sardis

“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. 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.”  – Revelation 3:4-5

Jesus wraps up His letter to the church in Sardis by saying that there were a few in the church that had not “soiled their garments”. A few that had not left their First Love, and who had not returned to the evil practices of the world around them.

Dressed In White

Jesus promises these few that they will walk with Him in white. And that they would be clothed in white garments.

The picture of faithful followers of Jesus walking around and dressed in shining white garments is used various times in the book of Revelation. This is symbolic of Jesus’ imparting His righteousness to those who had repented, put their faith in Jesus, and faithfully followed and obeyed Him as their Lord and Savior.

Daniel’s vision of Jesus in Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow…” – clothing as white as snow is symbolic of Jesus’ righteousness

Revelation 4:4 “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”

Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” – these are the people who were saved during the Great Tribulation and then killed for their witness for Jesus, and for not denying Him and taking the “mark of the beast”.

Revelation 19:11-15 “ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  – At the end of the 7 year Great Tribulation Jesus comes on a “white horse”, along with the “armies of heaven” dressed in fine linen, white and pure. This will be when Jesus throws the antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and when Jesus begins His 1000 year reign on earth. And Jesus’ faithful followers of all previous eras “dressed in white” will reign with Him.

Letters to 7 Churches In the Book of Revelation

The Final Message

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  – Revelation 3:6

As in the other letters to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus ends His letter to Sardis with the same word “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.

This means that Jesus is not only speaking to those in the church of Sardis or the other 6 churches, but that He is speaking to all people who will read the letters. The messages in the 7 letters are for everyone, especially for believers. Jewish believers and non-Jewish believers. Jesus is saying to anyone who reads His letters to pay attention and listen to what He has to say.

The word listen in the Bible is more than just hearing what Jesus has to say. The word listen in the Bible is to hear what Jesus says, and in your heart you are ready to do and obey whatever Jesus is saying to do. A good example is in 1 Samuel 3:10: “ And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening”.

We need to not only read and hear what Jesus says, but in our hearts, out of love and devotion for Jesus, we need to be ready to respond and follow and obey whatever Jesus says. When Jesus is truly our First Love, we will have a heart that is ready to do whatever Jesus says, even before we hear what He says.

Being A Good Church Member vs Being A True Disciple of Jesus

In our more than 20 years of missions ministry we have helped &/or preach in &/or trained more than 250 churches in 33 countries. And we have visited many more churches, and also have met with many more church leaders and pastors. In the US we have tried to help 58 churches, offering preaching, training, and help to reach the lost and make disciples. We never ask for support or offering, we only offer help. Only 3 have had any interest in receiving help in these “first importance” things.

There is a noticeable lack of “first love” passion for Jesus in many church leaders today. And there is a noticeable lack of passion in the leaders and in many people in churches today for the “first importance” things of taking the Gospel out to the lost and making true disciples of Jesus. Most of the churches in America and other places have replaced evangelism with social assistance and other ministry events and projects.

And most churches have replaced teaching believers how to be a true & passionate follower and disciple of Jesus with teaching people how to be a good church member. There is a big difference between being a good church member and being a true and passionate follower/disciple of Jesus. A good church member is taught that he or she needs to attend the worship service to worship God, and attend the Bible study on Wednesday night and a small group if they have them. And they need to serve somewhere in the church, and also give to the church.

So many people in churches end up having a “What a good Christian or church member should do list”. What is interesting (and sad) is to see that most churches do not teach the “First Importance” things anymore. Which again are having Jesus as your First Love and having close fellowship with Him. And our Kingdom building mission of 1) taking the Gospel everywhere and reaching the lost, and 2) teaching believers how to be passionate and true disciples/followers of Jesus.

And there are many people in many churches today that are beyond compromising their walk with Jesus. What started out as a small compromise is now full blown tolerance of sin and evil. And even openly practicing and boasting about things that are offensive to God. Things that God calls abominations in His word. Unless there is repentance God will be forced to deal with them, for the sake of His name and the integrity of His church and people.

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