Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 3:1-6”
Categories: Revelation“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. 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. 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. 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. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
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Robert Harkrider writes that the city of Sardis was a great trading center of the ancient world, and “is best remembered as the birthplace of modern money because here the first coins were minted.” It seems that Jesus played into the city’s notorious history with His warnings to the Christians living in the midst of this center for material luxury and fleshly pleasure. Sardis was perfectly positioned as an “impenetrable” military stronghold being strategically built upon a 1500 foot tall precipice that was inaccessible on three sides. Homer Hailey wrote: “Cyrus, king of the Persians, took the city…in 549 B.C. Tradition says that a soldier found a crevice in the rock hill up which he led a band of soldiers to the summit, taking the city by surprise. About 330 years later (218 B.C.), Antiochus the Great took the city in the same way; thus the city had twice been surprised and taken as ‘a thief in the night.’”
The church in Sardis had “a name” that they were alive, and yet they were “dead” (verse 1). Evidently the brethren there had grown overconfident, complacent and unwatchful, much like the ancient city had become before its overthrow, because of the “peace” that they “enjoyed”. There is no indication from the Lord’s warnings that they were suffering trials or persecutions, therefore they were not pressured into idolatry or doctrinal error. They had just grown mentally lethargic and gone to sleep spiritually. They maintained a good reputation with the outside world because, from all appearances, they looked successful and vibrant. But on the inside, which is hidden from the sight of men, but completely visible and open to the eyes of the Lord, they had deceased. They were “somewhat like a well organized, peaceful cemetery where only death reigns.” (Harkrider)
There are numerous churches that have a “name” that they are exploding with life, but are actually “dead” spiritually because they are not recognized or fellowshipped by God. Hundreds of congregations engage in rousing “worship” services where exciting bands pump out stimulating melodies and stirring lyrics, but they only please and entertain themselves and not the Lord. Myriad churches employ dynamic speakers that preach with impressive words and extraordinary illustrations, but only to tickle the ears of their listeners, and not convict them of sin and lead them to repentance. There are hundreds of impressive buildings and elaborate campuses meant to amaze the masses and fill the pews and collection plates, but are devoid of love for God and enthusiasm for His truth. The things that astonish and electrify human beings do not impress the Creator of the entire Universe the slightest bit. His desire for us is to love Him with all our heart, mind and strength, and to dedicate our lives to doing His will.
The remedy that the Lord prescribed for spiritual lethargy and apathy was five-fold in nature. He ordered them to “wake up” (verse 2) to the eternal dangers of spiritual sleepwalking. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The Lord also told them to “strengthen the things that remain.” They needed to build upon the few aspects of faith and truth that had survived their long-lived slumber. Jesus urged them to “remember what you have received and heard” (verse 3). When the prodigal son remembered how good his father had been to him and all his family and servants, “he came to his senses” and returned home (Luke 15:17-21). Finally Jesus admonished them to “keep” the good things that the Lord had given and taught them, and to “repent” of their wicked ways.
The reward for spiritual vigilance, strength and gratitude, and clinging to the Lord while turning from sin is to walk with Him while “clothed in white garments” (verses 4-5). “Only the living walk; the dead are inert. Walking with the Lord indicates fellowship, oneness, mutual agreement; for, ‘shall two walk together, except they have agreed?’ (Amos 3:3). These walk with him in a victory procession as Paul points out, ‘But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ’ (II Cor. 3:14)… To walk with him in white is to walk with Him in purity and holiness (which are put on in baptism), which make for a joyous heavenly relationship.” (Hailey) We will also avoid the horrid predicament of having our name erased from the Lamb’s “book of life”. This obviously implies that it is possible to be alive in Christ Jesus, and then to die spiritually, loose our salvation, and have our name expunged from God’s eternal register. So, in the immortal words of Christ our Savior, let us all “WAKE UP!”
Please read Revelation 3:7-13 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
