Miki
Oct 6 2008, 09:10 AM
The Church in Prophetic Perspective
The Dead Church
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Revelation 3:1-6 Tape GC 1442
Review
The church at Sardis is the fifth of the seven churches listed in Revelation 2:1--3:22. It can be called "the dead church." The book of Revelation falls into three categories as delineated in Revelation 1:19: "... the things which thou hast seen [chapter 1], and the things which are [chapters 2 and 3], and the things which shall be hereafter [chapters 4 through 22]." As we study the seven letters to the seven churches, we are considering "the things which are ...."
Those seven churches were actual historical churches--there actually was a church in Sardis. They are also symbolic of different types of churches--there are Sardis-type churches. Dead churches exist today just as they have in every era of the church age. Finally, they represent types of individual Christians.
We will consider the same seven points in our outline that we have considered in each of the previous letters: the correspondent, the church, the city, the commendation, the condemnation, the command, and the counsel. First, let's notice ...
I. THE CORRESPONDENT (v. 1a)
"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...."
A. His Representation
The writer takes the title of "He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars...."
1. THE SEVEN SPIRITS
The Holy Spirit was in view when John referred to the seven spirits of God in Revelation 1:4. The seven spirits represent the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit. John was referring to the fullness of the Holy Spirit's ministry. Seven is God's number of fullness.
2. THE SEVEN STARS
In Revelation 2:1 and the letter to the church at Ephesus, Christ repeats the fact that He has the seven stars in His hand (Rev. 1:16). It is a reference to the control that He has of the churches.
Christ designates Himself as the One who operates the churches through the ministers of the churches by the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christ's relationship to the church follows a simple principle: The church works by the power of the Holy Spirit through the leadership in the church.
B. His Reminder
By the description Christ chooses, He is saying that the church at Sardis was not following the leading of the Spirit of God. That is why He reminds them by saying, "Remember Me? I'm the One who wants you to operate by My Spirit through your leadership." The problem in Sardis was the sad condition of the leadership. The Spirit of God was never consulted--as is always the case in a dead church.
Christ wanted the church at Sardis to know that He wanted to control His church by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 provides a key from the Old Testament that will help our understanding: God says, "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit ...." Sardis was operating without the Spirit. There was plenty of human activity because Revelation 3:1 says, "... I know thy works ...." They were an active and organized outfit, but the missing ingredient was the Holy Spirit. Consequently, no matter what they did, they were dead. Christ wanted to remind them that the Holy Spirit needs to be in control of His church.
Second, let's look at ...
II. THE CITY (v. 1)
The city is called "Sardis." It is a great example of a city on a fast decline from splendor to decay. Sardis is the story of degeneration.
A. The Characteristics
1. ITS FORTUNE
Seven hundred years before Christ wrote the letter, Sardis was one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the entire world. Sardis was the glory of the Lydian empire. Its most famous king was Croesus. His name became a common word because of a proverb that says, "As rich as Croesus." Sardis was a very rich city.
2. ITS FORTIFICATIONS
The city of Sardis was located about thirty miles southeast of Thyatira on the edge of the fertile Hermus valley. On the north side of the valley ran the long ridge of Mount Tmolus. Jutting out of Mount Tmolus were many spurs, each forming little plateaus. The city of Sardis was built on one of those spurs. It was virtually impregnable. Climbing up the spur of the mountain was extremely difficult. The only approach to the city was from the back where the ridge of Mount Tmolus met the spur. Of course the garrisons of the city guarded the entrance. A gigantic tower on the end of the spur overlooked the entire Hermus valley, so enemies could easily be spotted as they approached. In fact, the entire city looked like a giant watchtower looking out over the Hermus valley.
3. ITS FAME
Under Croesus, Sardis became one of the greatest cities in the world, but because of him it soon plunged into disaster. It became decadent in its love of luxury, money, and immorality. However, it was a famous city for a long time. Three very famous men spent some time in Sardis: Thales, the first Greek philosopher, was from there; Solon, a famous legislator, visited Sardis; and Xerxes, the general, once ruled there.
B. The Conquests
1. THE FIRST TIME
Sardis was conquered two times in the same manner. It was conquered the first time by Cyrus (in 549 +B.C.) and the second time by Antiochus the Great (in 214 +B.C.). In both cases, the army besieged the city. Part of Sardis had grown around the bottom of the spur, but the army had to defeat the part of the city on top of the spur in order to take control of the fortifications. One of Cyrus's soldiers was standing watch one night when one of the Sardians dropped his helmet from the top of the tower. It rolled to the bottom of the spur. The soldier of Sardis climbed over the fortress and made his way down the cliff to the base, collected his helmet, and climbed back up the same way he had come down. The soldier standing watch realized that there was a route up the cliff to the city. That night he gathered a select band of soldiers and followed the same path that the soldier had followed when he recovered his helmet. The band of soldiers went into the city over the wall, and because the soldiers of Sardis thought they were so secure, they had left the city unguarded. Cyrus's soldiers then let the army into the city and it was captured. (Book I of The Histories of Herodotus describes the fall of Sardis to the armies of Cyrus.)
2. THE SECOND TIME
Hundreds of years later, the same thing happened. The armies of Antiochus found a way to climb up the cliff. The people of the city were living in complete luxury and security, not thinking that any army could capture the city. But they were overtaken a second time because they failed to keep someone on guard.
That's an important thought when you examine the first two words of Revelation 3:2: "Be watchful." The city of Sardis had a problem watching out for its enemies; the church at Sardis had the same problem.
It was in the degenerating atmosphere of Sardis that the church began to grow. But it grew to be like the city of Sardis: It lost its vitality and power. It became a corpse--a dead church in a dying city. It had nothing to offer anyone.
Let's look next at ...
III. THE CHURCH (v. 1)
We don't know who started the church or who was involved in it. There is no history available on that church. But the word Sardis gives us some insight. It is plural in the Greek text because there was a city at the bottom of the spur, and another one at the top. The word itself means, "escaping ones," or "those who came out." Notice that Revelation 3:4 says there are "a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments ...."
Next, I want you to see ...
IV. THE CONDEMNATION (vv. 1b, 2b)
"... I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.... for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
In Matthew 5:48 Jesus said, "Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect." Christ says to the church at Sardis, "You've got a name that you live. But you aren't alive; you are dead." Sardis was the dead church. It had been contaminated by the world. It had disintegrated and was now dead. It was suffering from dry rot while going through the motions of worship and activity. The church at Sardis was very much like the liberal church today-- dead.
Stuffed Animals and Corpses
When I took my son to the L.A. County Museum, we noticed displays that showed stuffed animals as they would appear in their natural habitat. They looked like they belonged there. One of the animals looked like he was drinking out of a stream--but it wasn't a stream. Although the animals looked alive, they were dead.
In The Rime of The Ancient Mariner Coleridge says, "Corpses man the ship; dead men pull the oars; dead men hoist the sails; dead men steer the vessel." That was true of Sardis. The entire church was run by dead people.
A.The Death of a Church
What kind of death did the church suffer? Spiritual death. People who did not even know Jesus Christ were operating the church. You say, "Can that happen?" It's happening today to many churches like Sardis. There are dead men in the pulpits, dead men in the pews, and dead men running the machinery. Why are they dead? How does a church die? The church dies when live people are replaced by dead people. You say, "How does that happen?"
1. REPLACING THE TRUE WITH THE FALSE
Death occurs when unbelievers are allowed to take over ministries in the church. It happens when a church becomes more concerned with form and liturgy than it is with life on a spiritual level. Death occurs when a church becomes more concerned about welfare and social ills than it is about salvation. It happens when a church loves systems more than it loves Jesus Christ. And it happens when a church becomes more concerned with material things than spiritual reality. That's how a church dies. It all is a result of sin.
2. REPLACING RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH SIN
What kills a church? Sin--in any form that the church tolerates, whether it is in the members or the leaders. Tolerance of sin begins the cycle; then comes the tolerance of unbelievers in the church until no one cares who is a believer or an unbeliever. The end comes when the man who runs the church isn't a believer. Sins of commission and omission kill a church little by little. When that happens, Christians become carnal. Soon afterwards, unbelievers come into the church, and then a total tolerance for sin exists. The church begins to die, and the people who really love Jesus Christ leave only to be replaced by people who don't know Him. There are many people in our church who can testify to the fact that they have come to a church like ours because they had to leave a church that was dead--it was in the hands of people who didn't love Christ.
B. The Deception of the Church
The church at Sardis went through the spiritual motions. It had a name that it was alive: It had a great reputation among the people of Sardis. But God condemns every single religious activity that is not directed by the Holy Spirit. The church at Sardis was living a lie. There wasn't even a reason to persecute it. Who would want to? The world is not going to persecute itself. Sardis was the world under the title church.
C. A Depiction of the Church
1. THE LIFE OF SAMSON
A great Old Testament illustration of the church living apart from the Spirit is the life of Samson, who was the charming, lovable hero of Israel. He arrived in the dark days of their history to become a great champion of freedom. His name is a byword for champion. He performed many feats of heroic strength that no man could ever equal.
But Samson eventually lost touch with the source of his strength. He was cut off from God. Somebody will say, "That happened because his hair was cut." No, the cutting of his hair only illustrated the much deeper fact that he had been spiritually cut off from God. Samson should never have been involved with Delilah. God had told Israel to stay away from foreign women because He wanted Israel to be pure. He didn't want them intermarrying. But Samson rejected God's law and will for his life. The cutting of his hair only illustrated that he was cut off from spiritual power--and he didn't even know it.
When he woke up after having his hair cut, and tried to meet the danger that had confronted Him, the Bible records these sad words: "... he wist not that the +LORD was departed from him" (Jud. 16:20). What a tragic statement! He didn't even know that when he got into a problem, God wouldn't be there. Samson was the same--his biceps measured the same, his brain hadn't changed, and his name was the same, but God wasn't there. As a result, Samson was defeated, imprisoned, and blinded. No matter how glorified Samson was in the Old Testament, I always think of him as a pitiful blind giant tied to a prison mill with two brass chains. He was there because of his sin. God had left him.
2. THE CHURCH AT SARDIS
The Sardian church, once alive and powerful, began to harbor sin. As a result, it became weak, blind, and dead. Sardis became bound in brass chains, grinding the grain of sin's prison. It probably didn't realize that God was no longer around. I wonder how many churches that are dressed up and organized really have a congregation that is blind, weak, and dead like Samson--a corpse grinding away at the prison mill. The next time you pass a church, listen for the faint sound of weak, sinful, blind, dead people grinding at that mill. Then remember Christ's words: "... thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. 3:1).
Let's move on to ...
V. THE COMMENDATION (v. 4)
A. The Purity of the Remnant
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments ..."
The word "few" (Gk. oligos) means "slight" or "small." God always has His remnant. There were a few people in Sardis who were unspotted from the world. The spiritual were among the unspiritual, the sincere among the hypocrites, the humble among the proud, and the separated among the worldly.
You say, "Why did they stay there? Why didn't they go to another church?" There weren't any other churches. Christ wasn't talking about a building; He was talking about the body of believers located in Sardis. There were only a few believers who were leading pure, wholesome, Christlike lives in the midst of corruption. God always has His remnant.
Garments in the Bible
Revelation 3:4 says that a few in Sardis "have not defiled their garments ...." You say, "What does that mean?" The word garment in the Bible often refers to someone's character. For example:
1. DEFILED GARMENTS
a. Isaiah 64:6 -- "... all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ...." That means that all men have a vile character.
b. Jude 23b -- We are to hate "the garment spotted by the flesh." That is referring to defiled character.
2. UNDEFILED GARMENTS
In contrast to those verses, Revelation 19:8 says, "And to her [the church] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
The garment of linen refers to the righteousness of the saints. Defiled garments refer to unrighteousness. A garment refers to character in the Bible. In some people, the garment is defiled; in other people, it is white and clean--the fine linen of righteousness.
B. The Promise to the Remnant (v. 4b)
"... and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy."
The undefiled have been given the promise of a new garment. Revelation 7:14 says, "... These are they who came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." That means that the undefiled have a righteous character. God has made them righteous in the blood of Christ. Their garment refers to their character.
In Sardis there were a few whose character was not defiled in spite of the sin that existed there. Now we need to look at ...
VI. THE COMMAND (vv. 2-3)
Christ gives the church at Sardis five key commands that are critical to understanding the letter: watch, strengthen, remember, hold fast, and repent. Those commands are directed to the different types of members of the church in Sardis. Each command has at least one of the three specific types of people in view: the unsaved, who are in the majority (the dead people); the carnal Christians, who are sleeping-- hanging on the fringes; and the few who have not defiled their garments.
A. Watch (vv. 2a, 3b)
1. CONSTANT VIGILANCE (v. 2a)
"Be watchful ..."
That command was especially applicable in Sardis because on two occasions, the city hadn't kept anyone on guard, and it was captured.
2. COMING JUDGMENT (v. 3b)
"... 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."
Will Christ come upon believers as a thief in the night? No. Then He must be talking to the dead ones--the unbelievers. Christ never comes upon believers as a thief in the night. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Paul says, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." But in verse 5 he says, "Ye are all sons of light ... we are not of the night ...." Christ is coming in the night of judgment on unbelievers. Christians are children of light, not night. Christ says to the unbeliever, "Open your eyes and watch out because I am coming in judgment." Jesus is coming again. You say, "When is He coming?" I believe He will come very soon to take His church and begin the Tribulation (Rev. 7:14).
B. Strengthen (v. 2b)
"... and strengthen the things which remain ..."
Evidently there were some Christians in the church at Sardis who were hanging on the fringes. So Christ tells the solid Christians--the living saints, the worthy ones--to wake up the carnal Christians. They are described as being next to dead. They were just remaining. They needed to be strengthened and built up. The solid believers were to strengthen the ones that remained.
C. Remember (v. 3a)
"Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard ..."
In other words, remember your salvation. Christ is talking to believers. Remember to keep your mind occupied with the person of Christ and the things of your salvation.
D. Hold Fast (v. 3b)
"... and hold fast ..."
Whenever you see "hold fast" in the Bible, it is referring to sound doctrine. Christ is saying, "Remember how you were saved and hold fast to the doctrines you were taught at the beginning. Hold fast to what you know. Don't get distracted by the world. Don't be influenced by false doctrine. The injunction to Thyatira was, "But that which ye have already, hold fast ..." (Rev. 2:25). He was also referring to sound doctrine in that verse. Christ was telling the worthy saints to hang on and not let the world distract them.
E. Repent (v. 3c)
"... and repent ..."
That command refers to both the carnal Christian and the unsaved. The dead, hypocritical church member and the carnal Christian need to repent.
Those were the five general commands to the church in Sardis--and to any dead church.
A Sermon to a Dead Church
If I was ever invited to speak at a dead church, I know what text I would use: Revelation 3:1-6. I would divide the congregation into three parts and say, "I have two things to say to those of you who are dead and don't know Jesus Christ. One, watch because the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. God is coming in judgment, particularly on those who have feigned a love for Christ and have no such love. Second, repent of your sin, and turn to Jesus Christ and His grace before it's too late. To those of you who are carnal, sleeping Christians, repent of the sin in your life. Also, remember what you had when you came to Christ. To the few of you who have remained faithful to Christ, strengthen those who are on the edge and hold fast to sound doctrine." That is the three-fold message I would deliver to a dead church, addressing each kind of member.
Last, let's look at ...
VII. THE COUNSEL (vv. 5-6)
In each of the seven letters, Christ gives counsel for the overcomer. Who is the overcomer? First John 5:5 says, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
A. The Promises for the Overcomer (v. 5)
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."
There are three things promised to the overcomer--to the one who receives Christ as Lord and Savior and overcomes the world.
1. CLOTHED IN WHITE
White clothing symbolized several things in the ancient world:
a. Festivity
White robes stood for festivity. Those faithful to Christ will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb dressed in the robes of a festival.
b. Victory
White robes also stood for victory. When someone was victorious in battle, he put on a white robe. The faithful who have won victory over sin and Satan in the world will receive their rewards at the bema (1 Cor. 3:12-15), and God will clothe them in white robes.
c. Purity
White is always the color of purity. The faithful have been purified, cleansed, and made spotless by the blood of Jesus Christ. As a result, their robes are white.
d. Glory
White is also the color of the brilliance of glory. The faithful will be glorified. In our glorified bodies we will shine as white light.
To the one who knows Jesus Christ, the brilliance of white will surround him. He will be clothed in white for eternity. Every time a believer is pictured in heaven, he is always clothed in white.
2. CONTAINED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE
Christ says, "... I will not blot his name out of the book of life ..." (V. 5). Does that mean it's possible to have your name blotted out of the book of life? Does that mean you could be a Christian, have your name written in the book, do something wrong, and God would blot it out? Does that mean that God puts names in the book and takes them out at random as if He were completely subject to what men did? I believe that the Bible teaches from beginning to end that the believer is secure in the blood of Christ and in the decree of God.
You say, "Then what does the verse mean?" Historically, what Christ said would have been understood by the people in Sardis.
a. The King's Register
In John's day, the king of any land always kept a register that was very much like a census. If a person committed a crime against the state, his name was removed from the register and he was no longer considered a citizen. If a person moved, his name was put on another register and erased from the former register. If a person died, his name was removed from the register. The king also kept a register of the living subjects of his kingdom who had not rebeled against him.
b. Christ's Register
Christ says, "Some petty kings might blot your name out of their books, but I will never blot your name out of My book." He is not saying that you can lose your salvation; He is saying the opposite. No matter what anyone else would do, Christ will not blot your name out of His book if you put your faith in Him.
3. CONFESSED BEFORE GOD
The third thing that Christ promised is at the end of verse 5: "... I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." When I get to heaven, Christ will stand before God and say, "John MacArthur belongs to Me." Isn't that fantastic? He is going to tell the Father that I am His. He is also going to tell the angels that I am His. You say, "What right do I have to be His?" None: "... by the grace of God I am what I am ..." (1 Cor. 15:10). Remember what God said about Israel? "And they shall be Mine, saith the +LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels ..." (Mal. 3:17). Christ says, "I am going to tell the Father and His angels that the one who truly loves Me belongs to Me."
Jesus said, "Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father, who is in heaven" (Mt. 10:32). When you state your love for Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Savior, that is the guarantee that someday Christ will say to the Father, "He is Mine."
B. The Perception of the Overcomer (v. 6)
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Did you hear the message? Where do you stand? Are you dead, not even knowing Jesus Christ? Are you dead in your trespasses and sins, as Paul says in Ephesians 2:1? If you are dead, I only have two words for you: One, watch--Christ is coming soon. I trust you will be ready. Second, repent--turn from your sin, fall on your face before Christ, and seek the salvation that He wants to give you.
You say, "I'm not dead; I'm just carnal." If you're a carnal Christian, remember what you had at the beginning: Remember your salvation--and repent. Be what Christ wants you to be.
If you say, "I thank God that I do love and serve Him," then I say this: Strengthen those who aren't serving Him, and hold fast to what you have. Whatever kind of church member you are, Christ has a challenge for you.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What is in view when John describes the correspondent as having the seven spirits of God? What do they represent? (see Rev. 3:1)
2. What do the seven stars that are mentioned in Revelation 3:1 refer to?
3. What message was Christ communicating to the church at Sardis by the way He described Himself in Revelation 3:1?
4. What does the city of Sardis provide a great example of?
5. Describe the location of the city of Sardis. What was significant about it?
6. Describe how Sardis was conquered.
7. What problem did the city of Sardis and the church at Sardis have in common?
8. What does the name Sardis mean? Why is that definition significant?
9. What kind of death did the people of Sardis suffer from?
10. How does a church die? Explain. What kills the church?
11. Explain how the life of Samson is a good illustration of how the church dies.
12. What was the one thing that Christ could commend the church at Sardis for? (see Rev. 3:4)
13. What does the word garment often refer to in the Bible? Give some examples.
14. What has been promised to the undefiled? (see Rev. 3:4)
15. What are the five key commands that Christ gives to the church at Sardis? What three specific types of people does He have in mind? (see Rev. 3:2-3)
16. Why was it particularly applicable for the church at Sardis to be watchful? What would happen if they didn't watch? (see Rev. 3:2-3)
17. Who will Christ come to as a thief in the night? How do you know? (see 1 Thess. 5:2, 5)
18. Who were the solid believers in the church of Sardis supposed to strengthen?
19. What were the worthy saints of Sardis supposed to hold fast to?
20. What three things does Christ promise to the overcomer? (see Rev. 3:5)
21. What four things do the white robes of the believer stand for? Explain each one.
22. What did Christ mean when He said, "... I will not blot his name out of the book of life ..." in Revelation 3:5? As a result, what does that verse teach about a Christian's salvation?
Pondering the Principles
1. One of the main problems in the church at Sardis was that it was not operating in the Spirit of God. Why is that an important thing for churches and believers to do? Look up the following verses: Romans 8:1-2, 26-27; 14:17; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 11-14; 12:7; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Ephesians 2:18; 3:16; 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 3:5-6; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 John 3:24. List all the benefits of the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life. As a result of those verses, determine how you are going to apply the working of the Holy Spirit in your life.
2. The commands that Christ gave to the church at Sardis apply to three types of people: the unsaved, carnal Christians, and strong believers. If you're unsaved, Christ wants you to beware that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. He also wants you to repent of your sin and turn to Him before it's too late. How are you going to respond? If you are believer who is not committed to God, Christ wants you to repent of your sin. He wants you to remember the salvation that is yours in Christ. How are you going to respond? If you are a committed believer, Christ wants you to strengthen uncommitted Christians and to remain faithful to strong doctrine. How are you going to respond?
3. According to Revelation 3:5, what are the three promises that Christ has for the overcomer? Meditate on them. Take this time to thank God for the future that He has secured for you. Knowing that your future is secure, how should that allow you to live in the present? Make the commitment to live in that way.
Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
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