The Dead Church of Sardis

Out of all the churches mentioned in Revelation, I think (for me personally) that Sardis is perhaps the saddest story. Ephesus had left its first love, Laodicea was lukewarm, Thyatira and Pergamos struggled with false teachers, but Sardis is called a dead church. Perhaps we have all at one time or another, made reference to a particular organization or denomination and made the remark "that's a dead church." By saying that, we imply that there is no enthusiasm within the congregation, little passion for the work of evangelism, and meager praise offerings at best. It's one thing to have another human being deem a church as "dead", but it's completely another to hear the words from the Head of the Church...the Lord Jesus Christ! Let us look today at the church at Sardis and hopefully learn from her example .

Rev 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead

As with the other letters, we see that Jesus addresses the church in a unique manner. He says that he has the seven stars in his hand (refer to the initial revelation to John in Rev. 1:20) which represent His ministers. It is comforting to know that Christ holds His ministers in the palm of His hand. The seven Spirits of God are mentioned throughout the book of Revelation. We must be careful not to come away with the impression that there are 7 Holy Spirits in the bible, but rather we understand this to be different operations of the one and selfsame Spirit. The number 7 in the bible often represents fulfillment or completion (i.e. the seven churches). Also He says "I know thy works", except what follows is anything but encouraging. He says that they "have a name" that they are alive, but they are dead. I think it's important for us to realize that there are many out there who "have a name", but that is no guarantee of spiritual vitality. There are many churches which are viewed as the most influential. There are many ministers who are viewed by the world as dynamic orators with tremendous leadership ability. But what really matters is not what people say about you, but what God says about you! Jesus was not impressed with the name they had made for themselves- he told them they were dead!

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God

If there is a glimmer of hope in this verse, it does seem that there is a "flicker" of a flame which has yet to expire. Jesus does say that some are "ready to die" which indicates they may not be dead yet. What a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of a living God. He has examined the works and the people of this church, and He has not found them "perfect." (remember Jesus instructed in the sermon on the mount to "be ye perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect").

Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

The remedy or means of escape from spiritual death is similar to the formula Jesus gave the church at Ephesus. First there has to be a rememberance of the former things. The church and its minister must go back to that first love experience and remember how they received and head the message. The writer of Hebrews warned the Christians there to remember the former days of their conversion and how they joyfully overcame the trials of life (Heb 10:32-39). They were warned not to cast away their confidence or to shrink bank into destruction. In the parable of the sower/soils, Jesus explained that there are some who would receive the Word with joy, but would only believe "for a while and in time of temptation fall away." (Luke 8:13). This may seem off-topic, but this is one reason I think that the church should observe the ordinance of Communion on a regular basis. In doing so, there is a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and an expectation of His coming kingdom.

The church is also told to hold fast and repent. Repentance is more than mere confession. Repentance involves the will, the heart, and the mind. It is a forsaking of the sin, not just an admission of guilt. There are many who are willing to admit guilt, but very few who are willing to repent. Repentance also includes restitution where and whenever possible. Just as Paul told the Ephesians "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (Eph 4:28)." Something that should be noted about each church in Revelation that was rebuked is that God asked them to repent. There are typically two responses to this appeal from the Lord. Some will get angry and go further away, while others will take the opportunity to get closer to God and have fellowship with Him restored. We are warned in numerous places not to "despise the chastening of the Lord" nor to "faint when thou art rebuked by Him." Just as a father corrects the children he so dearly loves, our Heavenly Father does so, in order that we might have eternal life and become partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). We should never ever take the opportunity of repentance for granted. The scriptures are very clear that God is the one who grants repentance- man does not determine his own repentance (Acts 11:18, Romans 2:4, II Timothy 2:25). That's why we read over and over that "today if you will hear His voice..." "today is the day of salvation." There is no promise of future repentance....if God is calling you to repent now then NOW is the time to respond. There may never be a tomorrow for repentance!

Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy

Here again we learn a vital lesson- we should never look at the majority as our basis for truth. History (especially biblical history) tells us that the majority has never been the basis of righteousness and truth. Remember the days of Noah? Only eight souls were saved by water. Remember the days of Lot? Only a handful escaped fire and brimstone. What about the spies who went to spy out the promised land? Only two came back with a good report. I could go on and on, but even Jesus said that strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and "few" there be that find it. Of course I'm not suggesting that only me and my family are the heirs of salvation- the book of Revelation indicates that they will come from every tribe, tongue, and nation to sing the praises of God in heaven (Rev 5:9). But what I am saying is that there has always been a "remnant" people who have served God and been faithful. Sardis is no different, and I would suggest that today's church is very similar. There are millions and millions of people who profess to be Christians and claim that they know they will go to heaven when they die. And yet Jesus asked the question "when the Son of man returns, shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, 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

This leads us into one of the more controversial passages of the New Testament and the book of Revelation in particular. Here we are introduced into the possibility of one having his/her name "blotted out" of the book of life. There is also the promise of white clothing (which we read later in Revelation represents "the righteousness of saints" [Rev 19:8] rendered in the NASB as the "righteous acts" of the saints ). White is a color which is worn ceremonially at a special event (such as a wedding). The resurrection/rapture is viewed as a "marriage supper" of the Lamb as well. These clothed in white linen are in stark contrast with those in verse 4 who had "defiled their garments" (or soiled them) . I think a discussion of the book of life is in order right now as well. There are numerous references to the book of life and several in Revelation. I'll post a few of them and offer some thoughts:

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

These verses also present difficulties in interpretation because we see this phrase "from the foundation of the world" in both of them. I believe we must be careful to reject an interpretation which suggests that all of our actions are pretermined by God and that we have no responsiblity or choice. The letters to the churches indicate that Christ is holding them personally responsible for their actions, thus commanding them to "repent...or else." It would be an unreasonable request if they didn't have the ability to respond in repentance. Many Greek scholars also believe that it is the book itself that exists from the foundation of the world rather than the name in the book- they see the book being the object from the sentence structure in Greek. This may be true, and certainly appeals to me because of my position on Calvinism and other such doctrines-however we don't have to accept this interpretation to maintain a theology of human responsibility. As with terms like election and predestination (I encourage you to read the article I wrote here Election and Predestination for further commentary on these terms), they must be understood through the paradigm of foreknowledge. God is not bound by time and space- He is eternal. All events past, present, and future are presently known to Him. So when the text states that something happens "before the foundation of the world" we must view this through the prism of God's omniscience. He knows the end from the beginning- but that doesn't mean that He forces human beings to do anything- He sets before us a choice- Life or death- and tells us to "choose life." God knows what we will choose ultimately, but in His Sovereignty, He has chosen to allow us freedom to choose. I also would point to the urgency in Christ's appeal to the church at Sardis. He is telling them to "wake up!" (3:2) In no way, shape, form, or fashion do you see Christ endorsing a passive approach to their repentance- the situation is dire. He does not tell them to rest in the assurance of their past conversion. (Rev 3:3) This in itself should refute the notion that God pre-ordains who will be saved.

The idea of a name "blotted out of the book" is not just mentioned here to the church at Sardis. A similar admonition takes place in the book of Exodus.

Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Again this pre-dates New Testament Christianity and so that is consistant with a book that exists "from the foundation of the world." The threat of removal from the book of life is directly related to sin and rebellion. There are some who try to make a distinction between the book of life as it relates to salvation, and a book relating to physical life/death. They must do this in order to get around the straightforward meaning of the text. Rather than believing a person can forfeit eternal life, they would much rather believe it's only physical. The only problem with that rationale is that everyone who lives will eventually die (unless they go in the rapture). Hebrews says it is "appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Are the names of the righteous "blotted out" when they die? That makes no sense whatsoever. Having one's name "blotted out" in the bible always is a reference to sin and disobedience. To suggest that when a Christian dies his name is "blotted out" of the book seems incredibly outlandish and irresponsible. In each instance (especially in these Revelation passages) the blotting out of a name has eternal consequences -not temporal. In the Psalms, the writer links the book of life with righteous living and being "blotted out" as relating to sin/iniquity :

Psalm 69:27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

At the end of the book, a similar warning is given to those who would take away words from the book of the prophecy.

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Though the possiblity of having one's name blotted out is raised in Revelation chapter 3, this verse leaves little room for doubt that one can have his/her name removed from the book of life. A sobering thought indeed!

Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

As always, Christ makes an appeal to those who have spiritual ears to respond to his message. We would all do very well to listen to what Christ said to this church lest we follow after their terrible example. Let us all strive to have living churches and to be spiritually alive ourselves. The only way to ensure this is to abide in the Living Christ!

Next: The "Open Door" Church of Philadelphia