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The Dead Church                                                  

John, the author of the Seven Letters to the churches (Rev. cs. 2 & 3), may have addressed each letter to their particular communities contemporaneously, but this is doubtful. A more likely scenario is that the Book of Revelation, or some early copies of it were circulated, eventually reaching every city one by one (Rev. 1:11).

In all the letters there is a brief phrase stating, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches." This indicates that each letter wasn't just a message to a particular church, but to all with an inclination to hear truths which aren't easily perceived. Naturally, then, the letters do pertain to the Church today.

The phrase "to him that overcometh" also appears in each letter, which more than conveys the idea that Christians can be victorious, putting aside "every sin that so easily besets us." It is for this reason that the Seven Letters need to be thoroughly analyzed, so that God's message may be biblically extrapolated for today's Church. To this end, John identified several hindrances to the faith in these letters, while prodding the convicted of the Spirit to overcome.

If we astutely look at the Seven Letters, a reference to Christ's return may be found in each of them, including Smyrna, though it may not appear on surface level. Therefore, this fact combined with the fact that none of the original churches exist today, tells us that these letters positively do speak to the end-time Church, and not just to the seven historical churches to which they were addressed.

Christ in prelude of these letters walks among the churches or candlesticks on the Lord's Day (Rev. 1:10), and this, as a High Priest in judgment (Rev. 1:12-18!). Then, and as already emphasized in this book, no longer will the Lord be sitting on His Father's Throne until all enemies become His footstool (Psa. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 1:13). 

Simply put, He will then walk (stand) in judgment of the Church as our saving High Priest. This, then, is further evidence that these letters speak to Christ's initial judgment of the Church in the Day of our Redemption, when He stands at the door hypothetical (James 5:9) of salvation (Matt. 24:33). Indeed, long before Christ returns as a triumphant High Priest and King of Kings at the Second Coming, He will return as our saving High Priest in a prior judgment of the Church.

The book of Revelation with its ingrained futurism also supports the above view. Still, one popular opinion is that these letters represent seven stages of Church history, and not spiritual segments of the Church today. Despite this trend, a simple but principled investigation uncovers the fact that Church stages aren't at all appropriate in understanding the Seven Letters. Now few have ever understood the letters in complete detail, but that shouldn't hinder us from promptly grasping many points.

 

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art DEAD. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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. 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. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev. 3:1-6)

 

The word Sardis means "Prince of Joy." Supposedly, Sardis' name doesn't suit her letter. But as we will shortly see, Sardis' name has much to do with the fabric of her message. Historical Sardis, to which this message also speaks, had the same attributes as spiritual Sardis of today. Sardis must watch, which, as already noted, tells us that this segment of the Church exists in the end-time. If this isn't an accurate deduction, then the Lord has forewarned in vain.

To refuse in the participation of genuine faith and love is to commit sin. Synonymously, to watch not is to commit sin (1 Thess. 5:6, 8). And so, if Sardis refuses to watch, or refuses to put on faith that works by love, the Lord will leave her behind to enter the Great Tribulation. Afterwards, if she still refuses to repent, her fate will be the loss of eternal life.

In Sardis' letter, the threat of blotting out names from the Book of Life ought to get her complete attention. Certainly no clearer language can describe the forfeiture of salvation. Indeed, when it comes to Jesus' reproof in these letters, Sardis' reproach may be equaled (Rev. 2:21-23), but not surpassed.

Contrary to the assumption that Christians who have rebelled from the Church by joining non-Christian cults, aren’t Christians, they still are. In fact, such comprises spiritual Sardis of today. For which reason, Sardis has a name that she lives, but Christ refers to her as being dead. Fittingly, Christians within Sardis have revolted from the Church, joining organizations whose so-called truths are contrary to that of the Bible.

To the undiscerning eye no sin can be pinpointed in Sardis' letter, yet Christ never tells anyone to repent while not telling them the how and the why of it. We see, then, that Christ is true to His affirmation of Sardis' needed repentance, by giving identifiable points to the one who divides the Word of Truth.

As noted earlier, the consensus of Scripture teaches that a person who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful in much (Luke 16:10). It stands to reason, therefore, that those who are alive in the faith, even in the least amount, are alive in much. It remains, however, that Sardis is dead.

Anyone who situates another god before the Lord is at risk of abrogating their faith. If God should so choose, He can blot out that person from "his book" (Exod. 32:31-33). Thus in the mention of the Book of Life, Christ is undeniably speaking to Sardis of His deity, coupled with the authenticity of today's Church.

In Sardis' Salutation, the possession of the seven stars or angels belong to Christ (Rev. 3:1, 1:20), but later in Sardis' message these same angels are "His Father's angels." Not at all to our surprise, Christ also possesses the seven Spirits of God, being that He has always shared the essence of God. And this further unveils His deity, since there is only ONE Spirit of whom we must deal with, not three (Eph. 2:18). And that Spirit just happens to be God (John 4:24); who is the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9); who is the Holy Spirit. Revealingly, then, the Holy Spirit, the third personage of the one triune God, also attests to the fact that the deity of Jesus Christ plays no small part in Sardis' letter.

 

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

 

Sardis has plenty of works, but they're not perfect or complete before God. Because the only works that can be complete before God are the works cultivated and nourished by the use of His indwelt love. With all certainty, God perfects His love in us when we love others (1 John 4:12). Nevertheless, if works aren't perfect before God, they're not "worked in God," or perfected by God's inner power to love. Thus, here lie the works that aren't "perfect before God" in Sardis' letter (1 John 4:17).

The works that aren't "perfect before God," are the works of wood, hay and stubble. Rightly so, these, which all derive from false teaching, burn so easily. By comparison, the biblical works of gold (faith: 1 Pet. 1:7), silver (righteousness: Jer. 6:29-30) and precious stones, withstand the fire. Being purified, these alone are the works "which will remain" through the fire on That Day. Paul, in writing of the Day of the Lord, wrote:

For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Cor. 3:11-13)

 

Christians, themselves, are the biblical jewels of Scripture, or the precious stones that the Lord will makeup in That Day (Mal. 3:17).In a strong sense, these precious stones also symbolize brotherly love, the bonding and building of a lively House (1 Pet. 2:5). Indeed, the lively house made of precious stones is a very bright facet of biblical "truth" representing the use of Christ’s inner agape love (Gal. 5:6-7; 1st John 2:10; John 3:21). Exactingly, then, Christ tells Sardis, "strengthen the things which remain," meaning, strengthen the priceless components that can withstand the fire in That Day: or strengthen brotherly love, genuine faith, and righteousness.

"The things which remain" are in jeopardy, because Sardis' Christians have sought "another Jesus," coupled with another church outside the living Church. And this, by accepting "another gospel" (Gal. 1:8) opposed to the Gospel of God's Word.

The fire tries every work for what sort it is, "for THE DAY shall declare it." Thus, the works of Sardis "that are ready to die," additionally attest to the existence of Sardis in the end-time, because exegetically, it is only the Day of the Lord that can declare their works ("the things which remain"). By all accounts, Sardis doesn't represent a Church stage, but a segment of the end-times' Church who desperately needs to exercise genuine faith and love in their walk.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.

 

John the Apostle fostered the Church at Sardis. Afterward, Sardis rebelled from the Church and its teachings. Historical Sardis, just like all Christian converts of today, received and heard from the living Church; who, biblically, alone, owns the Great Commission of the Gospel. In essence, then, Christians within the non-Christian cults of today, must remember how they received and heard the Gospel before breaking from the Church, of they will be left behind at the partial Rapture.

Sardis' mystery is unraveled: no believer can receive from the Church and justifiably turn their back. No believer can rightly surmise that the Church is apostate, and in turn join a non-Christian cult. Likewise, no believer can receive the foundation of Jesus Christ through the living Church, and successfully build another foundation upon it.

The Church is not apostate Babylon, but the dynamic and diversified growing Body of Jesus Christ. And, it is this same Church that non-Christian Cults "continued not with," by having itching ears that turned to fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4). And so, again, Sardis must remember how she "received and heard," which, again, can only be from the living Church. The same Church of which the cults went out of: "they went out from us" (1 John 2:19).

If therefore thou shalt not watch . . .

If Sardis doesn't watch, she will "not know what hour I will come upon thee," whereas Christians who are spiritually alive will discern the prior night of That Day as it approaches: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you" (1 Thess. 5:1). Thus it is crucial to watch (1 Thess. 5:6, 8). It is crucial to exercise genuine faith that works by love, for multitudes desire to pilfer away the faith once delivered to the saints.

Many of Sardis' Christians reside in the Church of Religious Science, the Unity School of Christianity, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the Bahai Faith, the Latter-Day Saints of Jesus Christ, the Church of Scientology, New Age, The Way Ministry, and a few radical segments of the Church of Christ.

All the above preach and teach "another Jesus" other than the historical Jesus of the New Testament. In addition to denying the deity of Christ, all these organizations and movements hold intimate ties to modern Gnosticism in teaching their so-called unique truths. Not so strangely, all the above have capitalized on these so-called truths which differ from that of the faith.

Hordes of sincere and decent people exist within these organizations, yet the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ, not by a form of goodness or morality, or by so-called special truths. Simply, the faithful are so because they have put their trust in the living Christ, and not the sects of religion.

Odd enough, some hold the unbiblical Doctrine of Reincarnation. Foiling the validity of that view is the fact that humanity is appointed once to live, and after that the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Actually, the premise of biblical judgment severely conflicts with that of the Doctrine of Reincarnation. Now there is nothing new about the very old teaching of reincarnation, which, by all rights, is a salvation by works doctrine originating from Hinduism.

In Eastern Thought, Karma is the ultimate fate in the next life determined by one's works in this life. By contrast, Christianity bases salvation upon a faith relationship with Jesus Christ (John 5:24). It is not of works, but grace: "He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life" (1 John 5:12). It is that simple!

In Christian Book Stores, splendid books and pamphlets can be found that thoroughly refute and expose the false teaching of reincarnation. Today, reincarnation masquerades in many movements, including the New Age, where it's especially prevalent.

Speaking of the New Age, this widespread ideology has penetrated many businesses, all under the cloak of self-help groups. Also, much of the time New Age cloaks itself in the garb of motivational and popular Human Potential movements.

Others in Sardis fully hold the philosophy of God in all, meaning, to them, that everyone is divine. In dissension to this New Age teaching, our sin nature flatly contradicts that idea (Rom. 7:20; 1 John 3:8-10).

For the sake of argument, true, Christians partake of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:3-4), being the representatives of Christ's Body here on Earth. Actually, we're even called "gods" (Psa. 82:6). However, this is so because we have received the living words of God within us (John 10:34-35), not that we are literally becoming God, or that we are miniature duplicates of God. It remains, therefore, that Christ, even our divine God who indwells us, will always be a distinct entity from us. He alone is the Lord worthy of our adulation (Psa. 18:1-3). For which reason, Christians are worshiping monotheists of the one-true God, not polytheists or pantheists.

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.

 

Looking for That Day, a few in Sardis will attend the Wedding Feast with the wise of the parable, for they haven't soiled their garments as others have in Sardis by spurning real faith and love. These are those who will be obedient in watching: ". . . Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments . . ." (Rev. 16:15).

All aren't dead in Sardis, and even the Lord, so it appears, is somewhat amazed: "even in Sardis." The few in Sardis who are spiritually alive esteem the love of God by extending it to others. These few have a precious faith in their Lord that works by love, while holding fast to His Lordship. Indeed, these are worthy, meaning their love works of exercising the love of inner an Christ by faith is acceptable and pleasing to God!

Although their membership may remain in one organization or another, for one reason or another (such as family), these "few" are genuinely alive Christians.

Sardis' Christians are to "hold fast and repent" in the framework of remembering how they originally heard and received; meaning, again, that Sardis is to repent and accept the living Church. In doing this, Sardis is to hold fast to genuine faith that works by love, a deposit that only generates from the veritable, indwelt, triune God.

Also eye-catching, is the fact that the words "hold fast" characterize Sardis' existence in the end-time. Appropriately so, Sardis is an end-time spiritual segment of the Church who is to "hold fast" in repentance until the coming of the Lord. If she fails to do so, she will be part of the remaining dead Body of Christ, surrounded by vultures (Luke 17:34-37).

In their literature the cults have taken a toll by skirting "the truth," while seeming to be ministers of righteousness. Sadly, Sardis' Christians are victims of those who readily counterfeit "the true light that shineth." Paul wrote,

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor. 11:13-15)

 

Christ didn't die to save an isolated denomination, or a unique group of people; and this is what Sardis needs to acknowledge in repentance: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER, believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Supplementing this very truth, "the just shall live by faith," not by so-called true churches, and their various works.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

If the left behind Christians of Sardis want to escape the disaster of the Great Tribulation part of the Tribulation, or in this case the latter-latter part of the Great Tribulation, they must get back into the ranks of the living Church. They must overcome by holding fast in repentance. Then, and only then, can they also join the Wedding Feast and have their bodies adorned with washed white robes (Rev. 7:14-16).

The Scribes believed (John 12:37-43). Still, they wouldn't confess that Jesus was the manifested right arm of Jehovah in the flesh. In correlating their experience to Sardis’ letter, it's plain to see that Christ wants to remind this segment of the Church of His deity, by promising to confess all to the Father and to the angels, who truly confess Him. Hence, in overcoming, Christ "will not blot out" the faithful of Sardis from the Book of life.

As in all the letters, the name of the church signifies the uppermost topic of discussion. Here, the "Prince of Joy," the meaning of Sardis' name, is no exception. For it draws attention to the deity of the Messiah. Or, to the one who was anointed with joy above His fellows (Psa. 45:7; Heb. 1:9). In retrospect, that is, to the Anointed ("Christ"), God anointed God in human flesh, none other!

The name Sardis also means to "come out," or as some say, the "escaping ones." Germane to this understanding, Sardis departed the living Church by accepting those who proclaim the "true Church" rhetoric.

In conclusion, the points singling out Sardis as denying Christ's deity and the Church are several. First, Christ in this letter has the seven Spirits of God, for He is of the same essence, being the perfect sum of the Spirit--the Spirit of Christ. Relevantly, by simple analysis of Scripture, we can see that Christ and Jehovah both wield the Spirit of God; therefore, both are one in the same God. Both are divine. Second, Christ possesses the seven stars, which isn't just symbolic of the angels representing the seven historic churches, but the entire Church today and its end-time message.

Third, the angels belong to Christ in this letter; later in this same letter they belong to the Father. Fourth, the things "that are ready to die" in the Day of the Lord are genuine faith, love and righteousness. All of which Sardis experienced before she rebelled from the Church. Fifth, actively practicing religion, Sardis has a name that she lives, but Christ characterizes her as dead. Sixth, Sardis possesses a dual name in meaning, underscoring Christ's deity and the fact of her escape from the Church.

Seventh, is the biblical meaning of confessing the Lord, which, by Scriptural standard, is to concede Jesus' rightful identity (John 12:41-42). Eighth, is Sardis' reference in conjunction with the Book of Life. Once again, if anyone holds a counterfeit god before our God, they risk being blotted from "his book" (Exod. 32:31-33). Ninth, Sardis is to remember how she heard and received. And, as earlier conferred in this work, the Great Commission of the Gospel solely belongs to the living Church, the Body of Jesus Christ.

Now Sardis must hold fast and repent in these end-times. She must live up to her name by experiencing the real Prince of Joy, who alone is the Anointed God of God. For it is only by a personal experience with the genuine Christ of the Bible, can one watch in the coming Night. (barnesandnoble.com  $10.84)

Robert C. Harris, Founder of
Midnight Ministries
PO Box 843
Fernley, NV 89408

MidnightsCryBook@aol.com
 

(775) 575-5556

Toll Free 877.541.3039