Day 5

Revelation 3: 1- 6, Sardis

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Sardis or “Sardies” in Greek means, red or tearing away. Sardis corresponds to the Protestant reformation movement of Martin Luther in 1517, which “tear” the church away from Roman Catholicism. Red is symbolic of bloodshed due to counter-reformation by the Roman Catholics against the Protestants.

Christ partially revealed His identity to Sardis as “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars”. Sardis was a city on a hilltop. History informed us that enemies conquered and destroyed Sardis twice because the watchmen on the tower were not watchful and fell asleep on their job.

3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

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

Christ commanded the church in Sardis to repent, wake up, and be watchful or they would be caught unaware and miss His second coming.

Words of commendation: there were a few who walked with Christ, remained faithful, and worthy.

Words of rebuke: they had a name but were spiritually dead and their works were found wanting. They must repent, wake up from sleep, and be watchful.

Words of exaltation: those who remain righteous and overcome would be cleansed of sin, saved, and their names would not be removed from the book of life.

Personal application: be watchful and do not be a dead Christian because Christ’s second coming is imminent, like a thief in the night.

Church dispensation: Sardis corresponds to the Protestant reformation from 1517 to 1648. Martin Luther spearheaded the Protestant reformation movement in Germany in 1517 with his doctrine of justification by grace, through faith in Christ and the doctrine of scripture alone, “sola scriptura”. This was followed by Protestant reformation movements in France by John Calvin, Switzerland by Zwingli, England by John Wesley, Scotland by John Know and worldwide.