The Petrified Church-Revelation 3:1-6

In each of the letters we’ve looked at over the last several weeks we have heard a challenge issued to would-be overcomers—overcomers of inferior preoccupations, overcomers of political correctness, overcomers of persecution, overcomers of poisonous influences. In the letter we are going to read today, those who overcome are encouraged to rise above a new kind of threat—a threat that is, in most cases, personally inflicted and grows slowly over time. The fifth letter issued by Christ in Revelation is penned to the church in Sardis in chapter 3:1-6. Therein, Jesus writes to what might be referred to as a largely powerless and/or petrified congregation and calls them to wake up and make the most of the opportunity they have to make a difference. Let’s examine the seven components of this letter and learn how we can remain vigilant in our walk with Christ and committed to his mission.

1. COMMISSION-3:1a-“…To the angel of the church in Sardis write:,…”

The message sent at the beginning of chapter 3 is addressed to the church in Sardis—“to the angel of the church in Sardis write” (3:1a). This particular city, unlike the successful seaport of Ephesus, the seat of power in Pergamum, and the economic juggernaut of Thyatira was a town whose best and most prosperous days were behind it. Though at one point, Sardis served as the capital of the Lydian empire (680-547 BC), was known for its gold reserves found in the Pactolus River that runs through the city, and was made into the capital of the Seleucid empire (281-190BC), once the Romans assumed control of this locality, things took a turn for the worse. In AD 17 it was devastated by an earthquake and required a bailout from the empire to rebuild. 9 years later it lost a bid to become the home of the second imperial cult temple in Asia. A large temple to Artemis was to be constructed in Sardis and yet, it was never finished. By the end of the first century (when this was written) the glory days for the people of Sardis were behind them and, unfortunately, the same might have been said of its church.

An unfortunate contemporary parallel situation to Sardis might be Detroit. Once a huge and bustling city where the car industry was booming and people were thriving, this city now boasts vacant neighborhoods and an entirely different attitude.

2. CHARACTER-3:1b-“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this,…”

Next, Jesus introduces two elements of his character as he opens his message to this church—“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this…” (3:1b). It is interesting that (based on what we learned in Revelation 1), Jesus describes himself by means of the Holy Spirit—“seven spirits of God.” The Spirit brings life and power to those he indwells. This will become an apropos description given what we will learn about this church later. Also, Jesus is said to possess “the seven stars” which we learned in Revelation 1 represented the seven angels to the seven churches (see Revelation 1:20). Jesus’ possession of the angels in these passages illustrates his sovereign power over them and the spiritual realm they inhabit. Certainly if he is in control of the spiritual realm, he also holds power over the realm of the earth below—another important attribute to identify given what is needed in the congregation at Sardis. To the church of Sardis, Jesus introduces himself as the sovereign spiritual power-broker and life-giver.

3. COMMENDATION-3:1c, 4

The commendations/compliments that Jesus gives this church are slim and curious. First, of this church Jesus says “I know your deeds” (3:1c). Given that Christ doesn’t expound on the nature, character, or quality of these deeds, one should assume that the work of this church, although present, was really nothing special. For instance, in the letter to the poisoned church of Thyatira we heard Jesus identify their faithfulness in multiple areas (“I know your deeds and your love and faith and service and perseverance and that your deeds of late are greater than at first”-2:19). To the church that lost their first love (Ephesus) Jesus commends several specific activities—“I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance and that you cannot tolerate evil men and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles,…” (2:2ff). To the church he now addresses at Sardis Jesus simply says “I know your deeds” (3:1c).

This ominous commendation grows even more curious when verse 1 continues and says “that you have a name that you are alive” (3:1d). Other translations read “you have a reputation of being alive.” What a reputation to pride oneself on! Do you see that church over there in Sardis? They are alive! 😊 Many churches are and were known for different things (missions, outreach, preaching, etc.). On some occasions (see 1 Corinthians and some of these letters to the seven churches), churches were known for the wrong reasons (notoriously bad members, false doctrines, etc.). However, I cannot think of a more manila, mediocre, or mundane thing to be known for than having a pulse.

So far the church has two things (maybe) going for it—they do stuff and they have maintained a pulse.

A final commendation is made in verse 4 when Jesus reveals “but you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white for they are worthy” (3:4). Slightly better than the first two compliments already given, Jesus identifies a faithful few who, have kept themselves from getting dirty (compromising spiritually). Jesus promises that these will walk with him in white for they are worthy (highlighting a forever communion with God that they will enjoy in heaven).

4. CONDEMNATION-3:1e-“…but you are dead,…”

However, in spite of all that this church was doing (insignificant though it was) and the pulse they maintained (though it might be hovering barely above total flatline), Jesus gives them a short but severe indictment—“but you are dead” (3:1e). Like the city around them, their best days (at least so far) were behind them. Though a pulse is there, there is no brain activity and if a doctor were to describe the spiritual state of this congregation she couldn’t be more generous than saying that they were comatose.

The severity of this indictment is made more poignant when one recognizes that the presumed fate of this church is the exact reverse of what should be the case for any believer or congregation. In Revelation 1:18 Jesus is described as alive from the dead (I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore,…). Later in his letter to the church in Ephesus he repeats this idea—“who was dead and has come to life” (2:8). When the Spirit of God transforms a life, he brings them to renewed life when before they were dead in their sin. This phenomenon is illustrated in Jesus resurrection from the dead (as symbolized in baptism). Unfortunately, this church has somehow seen the reverse of this –once alive, this place had found itself on life support. The imagery of from death to life has somehow reversed itself in this congregation (Keener, IVPBBC, 735). YIKES!

5. CORRECTION-3:2-3

Perhaps this is why the correction begins with “Wake up!” (3:2). Typically when Jesus said something akin to “wake up,” amazing things happened. Lazarus rose from the dead (John 11), a girl who recently passed away was restored to life (Mark 5). Here, Jesus is hoping a similar miracle would transpire in the life of this church. However,  unlike Lazarus and the little girls who were risen at the sound of Jesus’ word, Jesus places the responsibility of vitality squarely on the church when he provides them with instructions on how to get out of the hospice bed they found themselves in—“and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die,…” (3:2). It is here where we learn that although this church was near death, it had not completely died. However, it was at risk of dying totally if it wasn’t going to put what it had to good use.

The old adage of “If you don’t use it you’ll lose it” couldn’t be more appropriate here. Sure the church wasn’t in the best context (Sardis,…whoopie right?). Sure it may not have had all of the aids that other churches like Thyatira, or Ephesus enjoyed. But it did have something and whatever that something was needed to be put to as much use as possible. Here is a ray of hope for this church—“ I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God,…” (3:2). God still had a plan for this church and her people. Things still needed to be accomplished and God’s sustaining grace had kept this church alive to be the ones to do it. To this church he says “Wake Up!” and “get to work with what you have!”

But he also says “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent” (3:3a). To wake up and get to work the church needed to remember all of the many blessings it had been given. What might these have included? Sardis wasn’t exactly the best context? This church certainly didn’t seem to have a lot going for it? THAT IS NOT WHERE TO LOOK! The Bible instructs believers to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). This church had been given the salvation of Jesus Christ and His Spirit of power dwelling within them! What is that worth? A LOT! “greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4). The reality of their salvation and the presence of the holy Spirit was enough to expect “far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,…” (Ephesians 3:20). It is easy to stagnate and suffer subsequent sepsis either as an individual believer or as a church body when these truths are forgotten. This is why Jesus instructs them to remember what they have in Christ, keep it (hold fast to it), and change their ways (which, in their case may have been as simple as getting out of the hospital bed and active again for God’s glory).

If this call and reminder wasn’t enough to motivate change, Jesus follows up in verse 3 with a threat—“Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will now know at what hour I will come to you” (3:3b). Jesus doesn’t spell out exactly what he would do to this church upon arriving, but it doesn’t sound good. One might assume that swift discipline or even judgment would come upon this church if they didn’t change their ways by waking up, getting to work, and remembering what God had given them in salvation. Jesus might just be tempted to take this church off life support and end their ministry altogether! 

6. CHALLENGE-3:5

As with his other letters, Jesus issues a challenge. The challenge is always issued to “he who overcomes” (nikaow) (3:5a). In this case, he is directly speaking to those who overcome stagnation and death (that is of one’s ministry). To those who make the most of what they have in Christ and the time that God has provided, Jesus offers three promises.

First, these overcomers “will thus be clothed in white garments” (3:5b). White clothes are a prolific symbol throughout the Scriptures. Almost always they symbolize moral and ritual purity. God is clad in white seated on his throne (Daniel 7:9), angels wear white clothing (Daniel 10:5; Acts 1:10), even Jesus himself appears in white garments at his transfiguration (Matt. 17:2). Earlier in verse 4 Jesus mentioned those who had not soiled their garments. These are those same who, having their attire washed by the blood of the lamb and having proven their transformation by overcoming death are given white garments to match their Lord and Savior.

Special clothes are often used to mark distinction (jerseys, letter jackets, etc.). I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive my graduation regalia after having completed my doctorate degree. The PhD in Theology and Apologetics graduates at Liberty University get to wear a bright red robe with navy stripes along the front and on the sleeves.  A dark hood is worn around the neck that flows behind with red, white and blue inlay. This is all topped off by an octagonal hat with silver tassel. It is a pretty striking look awarded to those who overcome all the hurdles necessary to complete this particular degree.  The garb promised the people of God is far more glorious and profound. Those who overcome will all be wearing the same bleach white vestiges that signify a relationship with God and life after death.

Not only are these clothes promised to the people of God, so too is a permanent name etched in the book of life—“and I will  not erase his name from the book of life” (3:5).  In the Old Testament the book of life represented a register of God’s covenant people (Exod. 32:32-33; Isa. 4:3; Daniel 12:1). Though this primarily concerned the Jewish people, Paul tells the Philippians church to rejoice always because their names are also written in the book of life (Phil. 4:3). Therefore this book is a register of all God’s people—spiritual Jew and saved Gentile. Special registers like the one envisioned in this message were used in the ancient world as a public account of citizens in a particular area. Interestingly, when someone committed a criminal act and was condemned for an especially egregious offense, he lost his citizenship and his name was then erased from the register.  Jesus tells the people of the church in Sardis that those who overcome never have to fear expulsion from God’s kingdom nor their name being removed from his most important register.

Finally, Jesus promises that not only will the overcomers' names be forever printed in his book, but they will be confessed before God the Father—“and I  will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (3:5d).  This promises is complimentary to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 10:32—“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

I’m sure we’ve all seen the movies where a hopeful young man or woman approaches an entrance to some occasion, party, or club and the guard or bouncer stops them at the door. A celebrity or powerful person walks right on by through the heavily guarded threshold and then sees the young person and says “He’s/She’s with me” and they are allowed in. This proves that it always helps to know somebody. A similar phenomenon is pictured here, only on a far greater and more glorious scale. Jesus knows my name, and says before God the Father: “Jeff’s with me.” ! What a promise extended to this struggling church and its members who overcome in Christ.

7. CALL-3:6-“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,…”

Finally (and somewhat out of order from the previous verses), Jesus provides the call—“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (3:6). If anyone can stand to learn from the principles in this message in John’s day or in our day then listen up and apply this correctly. 

So What?

Are you a Christian in name only (CHRINO)? Maybe, as the letter puts it “you have a name that you are alive/a believer” but you are dead. No works are going forth, no passion for Christ and his mission is exhibited, no excitement toward what the Spirit is able to do. Perhaps you have counted yourself out and have grown stagnant in your faith and have said to yourself “I’m too old; I can’t really do anything anyway” or even “my best days are behind me” or “my time to work is over.” Those who live with this attitude and subsequent inactivity have, spiritually speaking, relegated themselves to the hospice bed and are at very real risk of allowing inactivity to paralyze their joints, appendages, or organ systems (prayer lives, participation, service, demonstration of love, etc.). Folks, the church can’t afford to become a spiritual palliative/hospice care unit (quietly ushering saints into glory).

Wake up! 

Wake up to what pastor Jeff? Roanoke is too far gone. The city is changed now. South Roanoke is hard to reach. Our church is too small. The fellowship hall smells weird.

That is not where to look! Look not at the things which are seen but unseen and remember what we have been given. We have been made alive in Christ Jesus, have become sons or daughters of the King, have been indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God, are spiritually gifted, and have been left of this earth. Once more we have been called out as ambassadors, workers, witnesses, and citizens of the coming Kingdom of God! What more motivation do we to be about the business to which God has called us?

We must overcome any spiritual paralysis and stagnation by actively and urgently engaging in the mission of God with all that we have—looking ahead to when we will receive the glorious regalia of heaven, when we will see our name written in the book of life, and hear Jesus call for us before the throne of God the Father.