Ed Urzi

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”” (Revelation 3:7).

Revelation 3:7 marks a transition to the next message in a series of letters that Jesus sent to seven first-century churches in the book of Revelation. Our next letter was delivered to the church that met in the ancient city of Philadelphia.

In contrast to the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Thyatira mentioned earlier, the economic landscape in the ancient city of Philadelphia was primarily agricultural. Philadelphia reportedly featured some exceptional vineyards that likely benefited from the fertile soil produced by that region’s volcanic history. While this offered some definite advantages, it also came with a significant drawback: Philadelphia was situated in an area that was susceptible to earthquakes.

Much like the city of Sardis, Philadelphia was also devastated by the earthquake that took place in A.D. 17. Although the city was later rebuilt and repopulated, Philadelphia is said to have suffered from regional aftershocks for several years following that quake. That unfortunate reality may shed light on certain elements of Jesus’ letter to this church.

Yet even in the face of those adversities, the Christian community in Philadelphia remained faithful in their relationship with Christ. Of the seven churches addressed by Jesus in the Book of Revelation, only two received praise from Him without any negative feedback. The first was located in the city of Smyrna and the second was located here in Philadelphia.

There are many positive takeaways from Jesus’ letter to this church, but the first has nothing to do with the church itself. Instead, our first application concerns this letter’s Author. You see, Jesus opened His letter to this church with two important self-designations: holy and true.

The word “holy’ conveys the idea of something that is “set apart.” It also embodies the concept of absolute moral purity. So “holiness” tells us that Jesus is ethically spotless and completely devoid of anything that may be wrong, dirty, or impure. Next comes the word “true.” This word denotes something that is genuine and authentic, in contrast to anything that may be false, hypocritical, or insincere.

While there were many so-called “gods” in first-century era (as there are today), none of those alleged gods could accurately make such claims. So, truth and holiness are not simply attributes of Jesus’ character; they are who He is.

Image Credit: Philadelphia by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free

“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” (Revelation 3:5 NLT).

A cursory reading of this passage may leave us with the impression that Jesus sits before the Book of Life, eraser in hand, ready to omit the names of various individuals. However, the original recipients of this letter likely had a different view of this word-picture.

You see, first-century Roman cities typically utilized an official registry to document the names of those who lived within the city limits. Each of those inhabitants remained on the city register until they passed away or were found guilty of a criminal offense. Therefore, this verse offers great comfort and assurance, for it tells us that those who overcome will receive a permanent and secure place in the divine register of life.

Jesus offered a further explanation in the Gospel of Luke…

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill the body; they cannot do any more to you. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill people and then throw them into hell. What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God’s angels. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before God’s angels” (Luke 12:4-9 NLT).

Jesus then concluded His letter to the church at Sardis in the same way He ended His previous letters: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:6). So what can present-day audiences learn from Jesus’ message to this first-century church? First, this portion of Scripture encourages us to examine our spiritual lives to ensure that we live consistently with our external profession of faith. Next, we should recognize that there is hope for the spiritually lifeless, for Jesus specializes in reviving the dead.

Thus, we should carefully examine Jesus’ letters to the churches of Revelation chapters two and three and prayerfully assess any changes we may need to make in our lives.

“Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you” (Revelation 3:3 NET).

Historical accounts indicate that Sardis was invaded and conquered at least twice. One such invasion was spearheaded by a man named Cyrus, the leader of the Medio-Persian Empire. The second was led by Alexander the Great. Although Sardis was situated in a location that was difficult to invade, the city fell in both instances due to the negligence of those who were assigned to protect it.

Their lack of vigilance enabled the enemy to avoid detection and successfully infiltrate the city. A similar fate can befall those who neglect their relationship with God as well. Thus, Jesus’ letter to the church at Sardis presents us with a historical precedent to avoid.

“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” (Revelation 3:4).

Despite its reputation as a vibrant and active congregation, the church at Sardis was nearly devoid of spiritual life. This scenario was nearly the opposite of what we previously observed in churches like Pergamos and Thyatira. Those churches had some corrupt individuals in among the other members of their congregations. On the other hand, Sardis had a few honorable people among a majority of others who were spiritually dead.

So even though many within the church at Sardis were not what they appeared to be, that wasn’t true of everyone. That brings us to the color white that Jesus references in this passage. This color is widely recognized as a symbol of honor and purity, and here it serves to represent those who are spiritually pure and honorable.

However, it is important to note that Jesus drew a connection between the behavior of some in Sardis (those who “…soiled their clothes” [NIV]) and their resulting spiritual impurity. This underscores the impact of our choices on our spiritual well-being. When we engage in behaviors that are inconsistent with our profession of faith, we effectively stain our spiritual attire, much like a splatter of mud on a pristine white robe.

When faced with those situations, we can find spiritual cleansing by following the instructions outlined for us in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Image Attribution: “Person On Mud During Daytime” PickPik

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 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…” (Revelation 3:2-3).

This portion of Jesus’ message to the church at Sardis functions as a series of steps that lead us to an important destination. We can begin by considering Jesus’ counsel to “remember” in this passage. If Jesus told the ancient church at Sardis to “remember,” then it can only mean they had forgotten something. That leads us to a question that constitutes step two: what had they forgotten? Well, Jesus answered that question when He advised them to remember what they had “received and heard.”

So what had they received and heard? Well, this can only refer to Jesus and His teachings. You see, the church at Sardis outwardly appeared to be a thriving religious community. But inwardly, they were almost dead. That brings us to our destination: this church needed to re-establish a living relationship with Christ by getting to know Him again through His Word.

This also presents an object lesson for contemporary readers of this passage: it is important to remember what we have “received and heard” by spending time in God’s Word each day. This is a critical spiritual discipline, especially when we stop to consider that we live in a world that largely ignores its Creator and is filled with those who seek to live as if He didn’t exist. Because of this, Christians are always under pressure to adopt a similar perspective.

It is always easier to “go with the flow” of a world that dismisses God, and once we become untethered to the Biblical Scriptures, it is easy to drift off with the current of a world that is disinterested in Him. Nevertheless, the New Testament epistle of 1 John provides us with an important reminder in this regard: “…the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever” (1 John 2:17 HCSB).

If we fail to spend time in God’s Word each day, it will surely impact our internal relationship with Him. This may explain what happened to the church at Sardis. They possessed a good spiritual reputation, but they had forgotten what they had received and heard and eventually drifted away.

But staying close to God in this manner isn’t just a good idea; there’s a price to pay if we don’t. We’ll calculate that price next.

Image Attribution: Rickyukon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1 ESV).

Unlike Jesus’ other letters to the churches of Revelation chapters two and three, His message to the church at Sardis is noteworthy for what it doesn’t say.

In each of his previous letters, Jesus acknowledged at least one commendable activity in every church. For instance, Jesus praised the Ephesian church for it’s patience, labor, and perseverance. He commended the church at Smyrna for remaining strong in the midst of tribulation. Jesus recognized the church at Pergamum for it’s faithfulness, even when one of their members had been martyred. Finally, Jesus voiced His approval of the church at Thyatira in recognition of their love, faith, service, patience, and good works

But unlike those churches, Jesus had no message of approval for the Christian community in Sardis. Jesus’ opening remarks from Revelation 3:1 point to that unfortunate reality: “Everyone may think you are alive, but you are dead” (CEV). If the church at Sardis were active today, it would probably be known as an active, dynamic congregation with a schedule full of various activities. To use Jesus’ terminology, it would likely be the kind of church that maintained a “reputation of being alive” (NIV).

This portion of Scripture thus holds an important message for modern-day church fellowships. Jesus’ letter to church at Sardis tells us that a church may be engaged in a range of activities that appear to serve God, yet still be far from His desired path. In light of this, we should seek out church congregations where the leaders focus on fulfilling the commission given to us in Ephesians 4:12…

“Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (NLT).

A key attribute of a good church lies in its capacity to prepare its members to undertake the work God has called them to do. On the other hand, a church with a good reputation that fails to help its members understand and apply God’s Word will likely fail in it’s mission to help them fulfill God’s will in their lives.

Finally, this portion of Jesus’ message to the church at Sardis reminds us that Jesus saw these individuals for who they were, and not what they appeared to be. The same holds true of everyone today, especially those who self-identify as members of the Christian community.

Image Credit: Ryk Neethling Open Bible, CC BY 2.0

Our look at the second chapter of the book of Revelation encompassed four of the seven letters that Jesus addressed to various churches that were active during the latter part of the first century. Revelation 3:1 now begins the fifth of those messages, and one that marks a departure from the preceding letters in this series. Jesus directed this fifth letter to the church in Sardis, a city that was located approximately thirty miles (48 km) south of Thyatira, the site of the church community that received His previous message.

At one time, Sardis was reported to be one of the more prominent cities of the ancient world. The city was strategically positioned on an elevated ridge that was surrounded by mountainous cliffs that presented a formidable obstacle to any military force that might try to mount an invasion. Of course, “difficult to invade” is not the same as “impossible to invade,” but we’ll address that distinction in greater detail shortly.

Sardis had once been a city of wealth, affluence, and commercial activity. However, that all changed in a single night in the year A.D. 17 when a severe earthquake destroyed large portions of the city. The destructive force of that earthquake was so immense that one ancient writer later stated that it caused vast mountains to collapse and human beings to be swallowed up by the earth. ₍₁₎ Although the Roman government was said to have funded a substantial reconstruction effort, it appears that the city of Sardis never fully recovered from the devastating impact of that earthquake.

So what did that mean for the church in this city? Well, it meant that the members of the Christian community in Sardis were living in a place that had once been a thriving metropolitan area at the turn of the first century. But now with the dawn of the second century rapidly approaching, it was little more than a shadow of its former self.

This historical context adds meaning and significance to Jesus’ opening remarks in this letter…

“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'” (Revelation 3:1).

One of the distinguishing features of Jesus’ message to the Christians at Sardis lies not in what He says, but in what He omits. We consider what Jesus left unsaid in His letter to the church at Sardis in our next study.

Image Credit: Sardis – Rev. III, 1 Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) The Annals of Tacitus. (n.d.). [2.47] https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/annals.html

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27 ESV).

Acts 2:42 identifies four spiritual disciplines that characterized the ancient church at Jerusalem: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (NIV). With this in mind, we can highlight four key areas of focus in the early church: prayer, Bible study (the apostles’ teaching), communion (breaking of bread), and regular church attendance (the fellowship).

These four spiritual disciplines relate to our text from Revelation 2:26 in an important way. You see, these disciplines can help us overcome any spiritual obstacle and conquer the challenges that threaten to undermine our relationship with Christ. If we prayerfully seek God’s motivation in these four areas, we should be well equipped to avoid the spiritual trap that ensnared those who opted to follow a spiritual impostor in the church at Thyatira.

Jesus also ties His commands to a promise: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…” (NIV). This portion of Scripture points to a future where Jesus will exercise direct, personal authority over all things. When that time arrives, He will also establish positions of authority for those who are serious about following Him now. The knowledge that Jesus will entrust His followers with these responsibilities in the future should influence the way we live for Him in the present.

Nevertheless, there is a better reward waiting ahead: “I will also give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:28 NIV). This reference holds great significance, for Jesus will later refer to Himself as the “morning star” In Revelation 22:16. So Jesus will not only offer the gift of responsibility and authority; He will also give us the gift of Himself.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:29 NIV).

These messages aren’t restricted to a few churches from the distant past; they are intended for anyone who is willing to listen and learn from them. For instance, we should not allow our love for God to grow cold like the church at Ephesus. We should not fear the reprisals of those who challenge us for our commitment to Christ, as we saw in Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna.

We must ensure that we do not permit false teachers to flourish within the church, as was the case with the church at Pergamum. Finally, we should not compromise and call it “tolerance” like the congregation at Thyatira. Instead, we should prayerfully consider Jesus’ messages to these churches and apply these lessons in our lives.

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them–depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come” (Revelation 2:24-25 NLT).

Some members of the church at Thyatira had apparently embarked on a quest for “deeper spiritual truths.” However, Jesus identified where that excavation for truth was actually being performed: “…‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, really” (TLB). When our quest for spiritual truth seeks illumination from the “father of lies” (to use Jesus’ characterization from John 8:44), we can only expect darkness to follow.

On the other hand, God’s Word tells us that every Christian has God’s Holy Spirit living within them (see John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9 and 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His followers into all truth. Since the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4), and God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2), it is impossible for Him to lead us into error like the misguided followers of Jezebel in the church of Thyatira.

In addition, God has some deeper truths of His own to share…

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV).

God has many good things to share with us; things we never could have imagined unless He revealed them to us. Thus, we should ask God to illuminate our study of His Word, for real spiritual truth comes from God in accordance with His Word, as guided by His Spirit.

Since the Christians at Thyatira were already increasing in love, faith, service, and perseverance, Jesus had no negative admonitions for them. The only remaining necessities involved the need to avoid the influence of this so-called “prophet” and to continue to persevere in the good things they were already doing.

“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations– ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’– just as I have received authority from my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27 NIV).

A recurring theme in Jesus’ letters to these seven churches involves a promise that is reserved for those who prevail, conquer, or “overcome.” We’ll consider some ways to do so in our concluding study of this chapter.

“I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:23 NIV).

This reference to “her children” speaks of those in Thyatira who appeared to be church-going followers of Christ, but actually followed a morally compromised spiritual leader. That served to alienate those individuals from God’s family, for they were not His children, but her children. It also invited Jesus to exercise His prerogative to terminate their earthly lives as a result.

This presents an object lesson regarding those who seek to bring false teachings into Jesus’ church: “Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (NIV).

Now before we conclude our look at this passage, some may wonder what became of Jezebel’s Old Testament counterpart. Her demise is recorded in the Biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. But be forewarned- her downfall is exceedingly gruesome.

“Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come” (Revelation 2:24-25).

There are some secrets that are better left unknown. Consider this portion of Jesus’ message to the church at Thyatira, for example. Judging from what we read here in Revelation 2:24-25, it appears that some within the church were drawn by the attraction of “deeper spiritual truths” that had nothing to do with genuine Biblical truth. Then, as now, there are many who feel that the road to spiritual enlightenment involves a path that deviates from a study of God and His Word.

But those who seek to know Christ as He is revealed to us in the Biblical Scriptures have no need to pursue these “deeper truths.” The following excerpt from the New Testament book of 2 Peter brings an important perspective to this idea…

“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity” (2 Peter 1:3 GW  emphasis added).

The epistle to the Colossians adds the following regarding Christ…

“Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God’s Son, and everything was made for him” (Colossians 1:16 CEV).

This means that every human quest for truth will find its consummation in Christ. Apart from Him, any search for “deeper spiritual truths” will ultimately lead to a dead end.

Image Credit: Photo by Ben_White from Freerange Stock

“I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:21 ESV).

When God demonstrates patience towards those who engage in various forms of immoral conduct (as we see in our text from Revelation 2:21), those individuals may believe they have successfully evaded the consequences of their actions. However, God may be providing them with a gracious opportunity to repent from those behaviors and change their ways.

The Biblical book of Romans expands on this concept with a heartfelt expression of concern…

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:4-5 NLT).

You see, no one ever completely “gets away” with sinful activity. In this instance, Jesus provided Jezebel of Thyatira with an opportunity to repent of her behavior, but she declined to accept it. That unfortunate decision will lead to serious consequences…

“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds” (Revelation 2:22).

The idea is that this person will continue to spend time in bed, but there will be no further immoral activity taking place there. Instead, it would become a bed of illness and suffering. We should also note the broader impact of this statement. Much like a stone that produces a ripple effect upon the surface of the water, those repercussions would eventually reach anyone who was involved with her as well.

This underscores the need to identify and reject those who promote false doctrines today. Nevertheless, we should notice that Jesus also allowed for reconciliation, provided those individuals were willing to repent, or change their attitude and behavior. That brings us to the next portion of this letter, and a message that surely ranks among the most shocking things Jesus ever said…

“and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23 ESV).

When people align with those who promote immoral behaviors behind a façade of spirituality, that decision will inevitably lead to grave consequences. We’ll consider Jesus’ pledge to “strike her children dead” at greater length next.