Introduction: 
Throughout our studies thus far we have gone through chapter 2.  We studied Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira.  We have found that Smyrna was the only congregation pleasing to the Lord to this point.  We have found that idolatry was a problem in each city.  We have found that our brethren in the 1st Century certainly had a lot working against them.  We have found that a congregation can be doing a lot of things right, but that one thing they are wrong in is enough for that congregation to be unfaithful in the sight of God.  Christ is in the midst His body the church and we are not going to do anything and get away with it. 

Text: Revelation 3:1-6 

I. Historical Facts of Sardis

A. Location

1. About 30 miles southeast of Thyatira and 50 miles east of Smyrna.
2. City was on Mt. Tmolus which was 1500 ft. high off the plain.

B. Some things about this city:

1. Capital city of Lydia.
2. Gold was mined here and money was first minted here.
3. The city was overtaken twice (549 BC by Cyrus and 218 BC by Antiochus the Great).

a. Because of only one way into the city, through the south, Cyrus the Persian King in 549 BC gave a reward offer to anyone who found a way to scale this seemingly impossible hillside to penetrate. 
b. One of Cyrus’s soldiers noted a Lydian guard drop a helmet down the side and then climb down a narrow crevice to retrieve it.
c. That soldier remembered that crevice and later that night lead a band of soldiers up that crevice to the unguarded side of what was thought to be a safe side of the mountain.  That night Cyrus’s army overtook the city.

4. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 17 and rebuilt with the help of a non-tax for five years by the Roman Empire through the Emperor Tiberius.

C. Idolatry

1. Sardis primarily worshipped Cybele who was “mother earth” or the goddess of nature. 

A. “…he that hath the seven Spirits of God…” v.1

1. The number seven shows a number of perfection or completion.   Notice the significance of the number seven in the Bible:

a. The # 3 is the numerical signature of God (Father, Son, and H.S.) – Matthew 28:19 and I John 5:7.  The # 4 is the numerical signature of nature (four corners of the earth – North, South, East, and West – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter – 7 colors in a rainbow).  3+4=7
b. There are 7 days in a week (Genesis 2:2).
c. Seven was the basis of the Levitical system. 
d. Sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice 7 times (Leviticus 4:17).
e. Seven Priests, trumpets, seven days, seven times, etc. in the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-6).
f. Naaman dipped 7 times (II Kings 5:1-14).
g. Seven in the book of Revelation – 7 churches, 7 stars, seven trumpets, 7 seals, 7 bowls of wrath, etc.  54 times in the Book of Revelation we find the number 7.

2. Revelation 1:4 identifies “the seven Spirits of God” as one who is directing this message along with Christ.  Christ has control of the Holy Spirit of whom He sent to reveal His perfect and complete will (the N.T.).

a. John 16:12-13
b. I Corinthians 2:12-13

3. The seven stars are the seven angels or literally messengers of the churches (Revelation 1:20).

B. Thou hast a name (a reputation with men) … and art dead

1. The church in Sardis existed and was known of, but they did nothing for the Lord.  They were spiritually dead.

a. James 2:26 
b. Similarly, Paul addressed widows who live in pleasure opposed to godliness (I Timothy 5:5-6).
c. We must always be pressing forward in our race: Philippians 3:14-15 
d. Reputation of being spiritual can be an outward showing, but false in meaning to God. Matthew 6:1-6

2. We cannot hide things from the Lord, he knows what men do not know. 

a. I Samuel 16:7 
b. Psalms 69:5 
c. Psalms 139:1-6 
d. Jeremiah 23:24 

 C. v. 2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

1. Watchful or vigilant: I Peter 5:8 
2. Strengthen the things which remain (those good qualities they still had), but are ready to die (close to gone): 

a. Philippians 4:13 
b. II Timothy 4:16-18
c. Romans 8:31 

3. Their works were not perfect before God:

a. We cannot hide our works: Hebrews 4:13 
b. The word of God furnishes us with the information we need to be complete (II Timothy 3:16-17). 

D. v. 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.”

1. Remember – Just like Christ said to the Ephesians (Revelation 2:5).
2. Repentance is more than sorrow it is change:

a. II Corinthians 7:9-10 
b. Acts 26:20 and Matthew 3:8

3. If you do not watch you will be caught by surprise (I Thessalonians 5:1-11).

A. V. 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.”

1. There are some who are still walking worthy among this congregation.  Just like Noah in the days prior to the flood (Genesis 6:6-10 and I Peter 3:20-21).
2. The Lord would have spared the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there would have been found ten righteous souls there (Genesis 18:32).
3. There is no shame in being among the few: 

a. Matthew 7:13-14 
b. Matthew 20:16 

4. Walk with the Lord in white.

a. Revelation 7:14 

2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.