Revelation Chapter 3, Part 1 "The Dead Church"

[Pastor Dave Honey]

The Dead Church

Rev 3:1

"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…

The Church of Sardis represents a period of time beginning A.D. 1520 and lasts until the coming of the Kingdom.

The word Sardis means “remnant”. As we will see, there is a remnant in Sardis which will be counseled to strengthen what remains.

Here again we see that Jesus introduces Himself in descriptive terms. “He who has the seven Spirits…” refers to the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Isa 11:2
2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

“…and the seven stars” He reminds us that the pastors of the seven churches are continually in His Hands! Without His divine guidance and direction, the church will most certainly be lost.

“I know your works, that you have a name…” Jesus, with His penetrating stare, will see into the very heart of our works and see through the transparency of our name. Name here is translated from the Greek word, onoma, which is where we get the term or concept of denomination. The idea of denomination can lead us all over the chart relative to philosophical posture. We ought to understand a denomination before we become a card carrying member!

“…you are alive, but you are dead…” When Eve was in conversation with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, she had no real reference as to the concept of death. She only understood “alive”. When she was told by Satan that she would not surely die should she do that which God had commanded her not to do, he perverted the truth by telling her that she would not physically die, immediately. However, what she did not understand was that she would immediately die spiritually! Jesus simply says to Sardis, yes, you are warm, but you are dead.

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

When in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus rebuked His disciples when He found them sleeping. He admonished them to stay awake and watch lest they fall into temptation. Here He is saying; “Watch, and shore up what good you have, you remnant! You are about to spiritually fall off the face of the earth! Your works are of the world and not of the kingdom. I know they are wanting, and I can assure you that My Father sees them as anything but perfect!”

Rev 3:3
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.

You have received the completed works from my Father in heaven! You have received the perfect, unchanging, infallible Word of God! You have heard My Father’s Word from Me, and you have it to read and study. You should hang on every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord! But if you will not watch and wait with Me, even for one hour….I will come in judgment and you will not be ready! (Please read my post; “5 Wise, 5 Foolish...They All Slept!” http://www.christianpsychobabel.com )

Rev 3:4
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.

There is a “remnant”! And their garments are white with righteousness!

Rev 3:5
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.

He who is “born again”, “saved” are righteous! Otherwise, he is unrighteous. When you are cleansed in the life giving blood of Jesus, your name cannot be blotted out of the book of life. However, if there has never been a repentant heart then your name shall not appear in the book of life. (Watch for my upcoming post on the subject of “The Book of Life” at http://www.christianpsychobabel.com in the next week or two).

Rev 3:6
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Once again we hear; with a spiritually discerning ear, listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to you! It is a matter of life and death.

 

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