E. Letter to Sardis. 3:1-6 - The dead Church. I. Church period - Year 1517 A.D. to the Tribulation. The Reformation age. A. It was the period when the authority of the Bible and its doctrines were rediscovered. except the doctrine of eschatology. B. A reformation period. C. The priesthood of all believers and justification by faith were acknowledged. D. The life that once was in this reformation period has now left and an empty shell of tradition, activity, programs, rituals and organizations without real spiritual life. E. The reformation period has left a Church in disunity, which is divided because of their difference of doctrine, the results is Denominationalism. F. The Church period presently exits as the Protestant church and will continue into the great tribulation period. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Romans (Justification by faith) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The treasure. Matt. 13:44 IV. Sardis means remnant. V. SARDIS. A. Placed about 30 miles from Thyatira. B. It was known for its great carpet and woollen industry. C. Today Sardis is called Sart. D. The population of Sardis was about 60.000 to 100.000 thousand people. V.1 a) The Counsellor - I. He refers to Himself as having the 7 Spirits (The Holy Spirit) because they were dead and needed the life of the Spirit. II. He refers to Himself as having the 7 Stars (Angels) because He is the One in Authority. III. He knew their imperfect works 3:2 IV. It was a church with a name to be a live, a church on fire, a church with a lot of works, perhaps a famous church. V. It was now dead, could be referring to their imperfect works 3:2, their spiritual sleep (Be watchful) 3:2 and uncleanness (Defiled garments) 3:4. VI. 3 steps to a dead church: A. Movement - It begins as a movement. B. Machinery - It then can become machinery with no life or real thirst for God or hunger for His Word. C. Monument - The monument stage is a place of memory of the good old days, life is gone and only the name is left - All has died. V.2 b) The Chastening - I. Their works was about to die, it was not increasing unto perfection Heb.6:1, but declining. II. What they needed doing to increase their works, was to be watchful and be strengthened, spiritual Sight and Strength. Matt.26:41 The Sardians had twice been conquered as a city because it depended upon their fortification and were therefore not watchful (The guards slept). III. The citizens of Sardis had begun building a giant temple but they never completed it, the church in Sardis had also begun well as a church, but now the work had stopped as though they were dead. IV. The Sardians had a special field of interest: Cemetery - 7 miles from the city lays an impressive cemetery called "a thousand hills" because of the hundreds of burial mounds visible on the skyline seven miles from Sardis. The preoccupation of the Sardians had crept into the church. V.3 c) The Counsel - I. 3 things the church should do: A. Remember how you Received and heard. (The apostles doctrine) Acts 2:42 B. Remain (Hold fast). C. Repent. II. If they wouldn’ t Remember, Remain and Repent then He would Return as a thief. Matt.24:42, 44; Eph.5:8 III. The city was conquered by Cyrus the great about 549 B.C. and by Antiochus about 218 B.C, they discovered a secret path up the cliff to the impregnable city and overtook it like a thief. Jesus also would arrive as a thief if they didn’ t repent. V.4 d) The Commendation - I. The church with a name only had few names that were Right in His Sight. Jude 23 II. Because they were Worthy they would Walk with Him in White (Holiness). Gen.3:8; 5:24 III. After a Roman victory in battle, the authorities of the city and friends to the Roman general wore white garments called the Toga, they walked in a triumphal procession wearing white. The worthy ones of the church are given this promise of walking with Christ in white. V.5-6 e) The Challenge - V.5 I. To him who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 II. 3 promises to the overcomers: 1. Clothed - White garments refers to righteousness. Rev.19:8; Ex.28:39-41; Heb.12:23 2. Continuation - Name not erased from the Book of life. This means that believers can loose their salvation. Heb.6:4-8; 10:26-29, 39; 1.Cor.6:9-11; Gal.5:19-21 3. Confessed - He would certify them to the Father and the angels. Matt.10:32; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 12:8 III. Jesus is actually saying: What are most important, to have a name in the world or in the Church, or to have the name in the Book of Life and on Jesus Lips? IV. Certain facts concerning the Book of life: A. The Book belongs to the Lamb and connected to His death. Rev.13:8 B. All the names in the Book were written in it before creation. Rev.17:8 C. No one can enter the city of God without their name in the Book. Rev.21:27 D. All those whose names are not in the Book are thrown into the lake of fire. Rev.20:15 V. There are different kinds of books of God in heaven: Rev.20:12 A. Book of life. Dan.12:1; Luke 10:20; Phil.4:3; Heb.12:23; Rev. 13:5,8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27 Those that will inherit eternal life. B. Book of the living. Ex.32:32-33; Deut.29:20; Psalm.69:28; Is.4:3 Those that is alive on earth, the saved and the lost. C. Book of the lost. Rev.20:12 A book that contain the names of the lost and their deeds. D. Book of remembrance. Mal.3:16 Those who fears and meditate on God’ s name. VI. They would walk in the triumphal procession with Christ wearing white, their names would be registered in heaven and Christ would confess their names before heaven. V. Because their industry were wool they would specially know about white clothing, Jesus links their industry with His industry which is making the Church white (pure) before God. Eph.1:4; 5:26-27 V.6 Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9 Thyatira and Sardis connected: A. In Thyatira is mentioned - Rest 2:24, death (kill) 2:23, time 2:21 B. In Sardis is mentioned - Rest (Few names) 3:4, dead 3:1, hour 3:3 The 4 steps to a dead church: 1. The church leaves their first love - Ephesus. 2. Then the church allows false doctrines - Pergamos. 3. Then the church follows false leaders - Thyatira. 4. Then the church is dead - Sardis. Leaving the first love, allowing false doctrines and false leaders will ultimately result in a dead church.