Sardis: Wake Up
Now is the time for dead Christians to wake up so that the Kingdom of God might be established on the earth!
REVELATION 3:1-6
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. [Revelation 1:4,20 & Isaiah 11:1-3] I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. [Jeremiah 32:27 & Philippians 2:6-11] 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. [Matthew 24:42-44]
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. [Acts 13:46 & Colossians 1:9-14] 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. [Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1, & Revelation 22:16] 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
JESUS’ OPENING DECLARATION
- Jesus holds the seven spirits and seven stars
REBUKE
- They have a reputation of being alive but they are really dead spiritually because their works are unfinished
INSTRUCTION
- Wake up and strengthen what remains
- Hold fast to the teachings of Jesus
- Repent for not being alive
WARNING
- If they do not wake up Jesus will come like a thief
PRAISE FOR THE CHURCH
- They have some people who have not soiled their clothes (lived unholy)
JESUS’ CLOSING DECLARATION
- The unsoiled and victorious will be dressed in white
- They will never have their name blotted out from the book of life
- Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches