5 □ The Church at Sardis... is the Denominational church... or the Reformation church... one preacher even calls It the Revived church...

 

◇ Brief historical background...

 

▪︎ Sardis means... "red ones."

▪︎ Sardis represents the Protestant church during the period between A.D. 1517 and approximately A.D. 1800.

▪︎ This era started with the Reformation. Martin Luther?

▪︎ Sardis was the capital of the great kingdom of Lydia.

▪︎ It is one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor.

▪︎ Sardis is also located inland.

▪︎ It was built on a small, elevated plateau which rises sharply above the Hermus valley.

▪︎ On all sides but one... the rock walls are smooth, nearly perpendicular and absolutely unscalable.

▪︎ The only access is on the southern side by a very steep and difficult path.

▪︎ As the civilization and the commerce grew more complex, the high plateau became too small, and a lower city was built chiefly on the west side of the original city. 

▪︎ The old city was used as a high, fortified city.

▪︎ The plain was well watered by the Pactolus River.

▪︎ Sardis was center of the carpet industry.

▪︎ It was noted for its wealth. 

▪︎ Coins were first minted there. 

▪︎ Sardis was ruled by the Persians... by Alexander... by Antiochus the Great and... finally by the Romans.

▪︎ It was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Tiberius.

▪︎ The temple of Cybele and temple of Apollo can still be seen.

▪︎ Cybele was known as Diana in Sardis and became a nature goddess.... goddess of the moon.

▪︎ Apollo was the god of the sun— Cybele and Apollo were brother and sister. 

▪︎ This was very corrupt worship.

▪︎ Extensive excavations have taken place at Sardis.

 

■ Christ's letter to the Church...

 

☆ Revelation 3:1-6...

"And unto 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.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.

You have 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 overcomes, 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 has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."

 

• "These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God..."

Jesus presents Himself as having the 7 Spirits of God. 

Interesting. A reference in Isaiah can help us understand this... 

☆ Isaiah 11:2... "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him (Jesus), the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." 

This term, "the 7 Spirits of God" appears 4 times in Revelation.

 

Some awesome "Spirit credentials" here upon Jesus. Jesus has every right to "say" what He does to the Church(es). 

 

• Sardis represents the Protestant Church. The church needs the Spirit of God to work in it... then... now... all time! 

The Church today seems to emphasize methods... Band-aid courses for believers to solve all their problems. 

We need a firm and real understanding of Christ and we need the help of the Holy Spirit for this... as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, "May God give... the Spirit of wisdom and revelation... in the knowledge of Him." 

 

• After the Dark Ages the Holy Ghost continued to move... using amazing men of God like... Luther, Knox, Wesley, Calvin etc.

 

• "I know your works"... the Reformation revived the doctrine of justification by faith. Read the book of Romans.

 

• "... that you have a name that you live, and are dead"...

Today Protestantism has a name of being alive but is really dead. Many have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof. Sundays, the Churches are full but the mid week meetings, if any, are poorly attended. This is a scary condemnation of the Church. 

 

• All truth has not been recovered from the Word of God. 

Eschatology, Prophecy, Gifts of the Spirit, Holiness, Baptism in the Holy Ghost... just to name just a few.

 

• "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die"... this is the second word of condemnation.

Remember Sardis was located high up on a mountain. It was impregnable. The only way in had to be watched 24/7. Twice Sardis was invaded... twice the sentry on duty fell asleep.

What the Lord says to this church is, "Stay awake and watch out! Don't fall asleep!" 

 

Protestantism has as a whole, turned away from looking to Jesus coming again. They have built up systems that certain things must be fulfilled before He comes again. Does He not "Come as a thief in the night"?

 

• Jesus' imminent (definite) return is what we should be looking for. The Rapture could happen any moment. The Church must be ever alert... the date and time we do not know. Only God does!

 

• "I have not found your works perfect before God"... the Reformation was not a return to the early Apostolic Church. Protestantism did recover the authority of God's Word but not all it's truths. The Holy Spirit will guide us into ALL truth... only if we give Him time, place and space. Sadly that's what is lacking... giving the Spirit of God free reign in Church.

 

• "Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent..."

Sardis was losing what it had gained... heard... received. Jesus warned them to hold fast what they had gained. The Protestant Church had gained... but lost the authority of the Word of God. 

The doctrine of the depravity of man has been replaced with improving and using "cosmetics" on the carnal nature, thinking that devising more rules and regulations will enable us to live a Christian life. 

 

What does God say in ☆ Romans 6, 7 and 8?

 

Sadly "justification by faith" has been all but abandoned. Much of the preaching today is on self esteem, self help, self improvement, self righteousness ... pandering me, myself and I... that is, pampering the flesh!

Isn't the flesh supposed to be crucified?

There are numerous Christian self help books out there... being read in place of the Word of God. We must come back to the Word... the Cross... the blood of Christ.

 

• "If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you."

Jesus repeats what He has already said. 

"Watch!" "I come as a thief!" "Be ready!"

It would be a travesty if those left behind after the Rapture were to say... "I wished we'd all been ready."

 

• "You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." In Israel it was always a remnant that remained true to God... and Protestantism today has its saints who are true to Him and stand solidly upon the Word of God. 

There are still "some" who do not engage in fleshy sin defiling activities. 

We are to walk after the Spirit... not after the flesh. 

☆ Galatians 5.

 

• Romanism and Protestantism have both revealed that they have drifted away from "the faith"... have departed from the doctrines of the Christian faith... and are organizations that will usher in the apostate church.

 

• "He that overcomes"... can only be done by the blood of the Lamb... not by self effort or strength... 

"will be clothed in white raiment"... that is, will be clothed with Christ's righteousness. 

 

• "I will not blot out his name out of the book of life..."

This is an interesting word from the Lord.

In the Bible genealogies there are only 2 books mentioned. 

The book of the generations of Adam (☆ Genesis 5:1)... which is the book of death... and... 

The book of the generation of Christ (☆ Matthew 1:1)... which is the book of life...

To keep our name in this book we simply place our faith in Christ and the finished work of the Cross. 

 

So... is it possible to have your name blotted out of the book of Life? 

Can one lose their salvation?

 

Personally, I believe everyone's name is written in the book of life right from the beginning.

However, a person's lack of decision or total rejection of Christ causes his or her to be removed (blotted out) at the time of death. 

God foreknows who will be saved or not.

Even in Sardis some will be saved.