Revelation Chapter 3
In Revelation 2 we looked at 4 of the 7 churches that Jesus had a message for. In chapter 2 there were letters to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. In Revelation 3 we will look at the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. One main thing we can note is that Jesus continually reminds us that He sees all the works of these churches and He knows their true heart. Sadly, if Jesus were to write a description of many of the churches in America today, we would find that He would not be praising their ministries but rebuking them.
Sardis was “a city well known for its softness and luxury. It had a well-deserved reputation for apathy and immorality. In Sardis there was a large, stately temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. From the ruins of that temple we can see that its main columns were 60 feet high and more than 6 feet in diameter. This mother goddess was honored and worshipped with all kinds of sexual immorality and impurity.” [Guzik] When I read the description of the city it reminded me of Las Vegas.
The city of Sardis was a city built on top of an area with high cliffs surrounding it making it virtually impenetrable. Yet in the history of the city, despite their over-confidence of their strategic positioning, they had been attacked twice. History tells us they did not keep a watchful guard because of their confidence. And just like the city itself the church wavered in its over confidence. Jesus called the church “dead.” Jesus gave this church a warning that they needed to wake up and repent.
I Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Let's Reflect
1. What did Jesus say in verse 3 would happen if they did not repent? This was most likely a judgement that would come upon the dead church.
2. Those who in that church overcame, remained pure, will be given the opportunity to be robed in white and to walk with Jesus. Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. There is no greater joy than to walk with Jesus. That person is the person that Jesus says He will confess (or testify for) before whom?
Every believer in Jesus has the privilege of having their name written in the Book of Life. There is wording here that seems to indicate that some people’s names might be blotted out. This may seem confusing since the church teaches the doctrine that we can never lose our salvation. But when we look at the context of this phrase we find people in the church who Jesus said in verse 1, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” This would tell us that these people were never truly written in the book to begin with. They just had a reputation of “being a Christian.” But notice the key thing that must happen in order to be truly saved. Jesus said we must hear the Word, receive it, keep it in our heart and repent. Repentance of sin must happen in order to receive forgiveness. We cannot just say we believe in Jesus but not repent.
3. The church at Philadelphia, a name that meant “brotherly love,” was in the center of Greek thinking. This city had become a very wealthy city and was known as little Athens. There were many temples lining the streets of the city. While the people of Philadelphia sought to spread Greek culture, the church which had been started by a missionary effort also had an opportunity. Jesus said that they had an “open door” of evangelism. This door was opened by Jesus. Who could shut the door? Notice that Jesus did not say that the church had this reputation because they had a great preacher or evangelist. (They probably did have a good Pastor.) But the opportunity or the open door was because of Jesus.
4. Jesus said there was another synagogue in that city. It was the synagogue of whom? There are many churches and synagogues in our world today who also belong to him and not Jesus.
5. The church of Philadelphia will be honored in the New Jerusalem. How did Jesus say they will be honored for their perseverance?
6. The last church mentioned is of Laodicea and quite honestly Jesus did not have anything good to say about this church. Their ministry of the gospel was neither cold nor hot, it was lukewarm. What did Jesus say He would do regarding this church?
7. What did this church think of themselves as?
8. What did Jesus say that He does when we sin because He loves us?
9. When we repent of our sins what does Jesus then do?
