SARDIS
07/04/18 10:00
Revelation 3:1-6 (NKJV) “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
“These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The seven spirits of God is somewhat of a mystery in our day. First, we must understand the original definition of the word which "spirit" was derived.
The word "spirit" here comes from the Greek word "pneuma". It’s first and foremost definition is air (pneuma is the word by which we get the word pneumatic for pneumatic tools). It can also mean breath or breeze. It can only mean a “spirit” figuratively or metaphorically; by which most modern people see that word. In other words, it means a person of rational, a vital principle, or mental disposition. Now, this is liable to bring all sorts of questions to your mind but this is the definition. Thus then, when the “spirit returns to its source” (Ecc 12:7) then it’s the breath which returns to God because pneuma, or in the Hebrew ruah, is only figuratively a spirit of man and not really this ghostly thing people picture. Understanding the "rational" side of pneuma, or ruah (exact same meaning just Hebrew instead of the Greek pneuma), we see where God will remove our ruah (rational) and give us His ruah (rational) (Ezekiel 36:26). This understanding of pneuma then helps explain why sometimes you will see the Spirit of God (Isaiah 11:3), spirit of Grace (Zech 12:10), spirit of truth (John 14:17), spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15), spirit of life (Rom 8:2), and spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9). It's easy to see how these are a level of rational, or mental thought; i.e. the rational understanding of Grace and truth.
This is not to set in a new doctrine or one that is close to the "oneness" doctrine. There are other portions of text that lead to a being as with the Comforter (John 15:26) and Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
I'm sure that does not help clarify what the seven spirits of God are but it, at least, gives you some insight into the meaning of the original word rather than modern day conjecture.
There are two different beliefs of the seven spirits of God:
1. Some believe that it is the seven-fold ministry of the Spirit. It's believed that Isaiah 11:2-3 has a list of the ministries of the Spirit of God and that this list explains what is meant by the seven spirits of God.
2. Some believe it's a symbolic statement of perfection. In Revelation 5:6, there is a picture of Yeshua having seven eyes. We don't believe He has seven eyes. The number seven is a number of perfection; therefore it's understood that the seven eyes represent perfect sight or all seeing. There are some who place the same understanding with the seven spirits of God; being that of a perfect spirit.
As my own addition to understanding what the overall meaning of pneuma means, it could very well mean perfect knowledge.
The point that muddies the picture of seven being perfect in this case comes into the seven stars. We are told the meaning of the seven stars; which are the seven angels, or messengers, of the seven churches (Rev 1:20). These are not angels as we picture but rather the ministers, or messengers, of the churches (See Introduction to this section for more detailed information on this topic). Now I would contest that these seven ministers are "perfect". Therefore, the seven spirits remains a mystery.
This church was worried about its reputation but it was not worried about its character; because they had a NAME of being alive but they were actually dead. This condition is usually the result of complacency in a relationship. A husband and wife who do not continue to pursue each other, because the ring is already on the finger, or been on the finger for many years, will have an appearance of a marriage to everyone around them but behind closed doors it looks more like a fight, or someone just going through the motions of marriage. A rock-solid marriage is a marriage in which both parties continue to pursue each other; no matter how long the marriage has lasted.
The relationship with God is the same as one of a marriage. God is always pursuing but we typically become complacent. We figure we've said the prayer, we sing praises on Sunday morning, we go to church, say a prayer every once in a while, and we believe we are fine. We coast through this thing called "Christianity" with a reputation but in all actuality, the relationship has been long gone.
CHALLENGE: Would you be satisfied, and would you call it a relationship, if your spouse said they wanted a "relationship" but they only wanted to spend a couple hours a week with you, didn't care to learn about you, only cared to talk to you when they wanted something and to thank you for cooking for them; they will call themselves married to you and even post your name on Facebook a few times a week to prove they are married, but other than that they rather spend time on their own things? I dare to say no one reading this would say they call that a relationship but that is exactly how we treat God and we try to declare that a relationship.
When that is the kind of "relationship" we have, we are not pursuing. This is why the next statement from Yeshua's mouth is to "be watchful". If we are "watchful", in our relationship, what we are watching is our spouse, what we are watching is God.
Yeshua has not found the works of Sardis perfect. Why? Because they are going through the motions of a "marriage" while not actually pursuing. Remember that the heart of God, and the Grace of God, will make us zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14). It's the works we do that is the same as doing them to Christ (Matt 25:40). In the relationship with Christ, doing for those in need is liken to buying your spouse a ring or a new car, it's like taking them out to eat or calling them to see how they are feeling when they are sick. If we are merely going to church on Sunday yet ignoring those in need around us, our works are not good.
What is probably happening here is much like the church today. It's not that there are no works at all. It may not even be that they are only Sunday going people. God points out that there are works but those works are not perfect. Think about that for a moment. This means that someone could be work in ministry, feeding the homeless, visiting those in prison or in elderly homes or orphans, and their works are not perfect. How could their works not be perfect?
We are a people that desire attention and appreciation. It's unfortunate, but something that may have started genuinely can easily lead to something that is attention motivated. This is where flattery can be so dangerous. As soon as people start to flatter, the flesh starts to enjoy that flattery then we tend to do things in order to receive more flattery. Flattery is like a drug to flesh. The more it gets the more it wants. Considering the condition of this church, this is likely what is happening. It's why they look good on the outside. Their reputation is good because of the works they are doing but their motives are bad; therefore they are dead. They are dead because God is the one who deserves any glory; not us. As soon as we do a thing for our own attention, we remove the attention from God and we become the same as satan.
So we have a church that is merely going through the motions and not doing any work for God; rather they work the work of God but for self-gain. The problem is, if we work for God we must give up some of our time for God, like a relationship. We must give up money for God, like a relationship. We may need to put our freedom and safety at risk because these are the areas of the unreached. This is why Yeshua moves to the statement of "Remember how you have received and heard...". The people of Sardis and Asia Minor as a whole were reached because of persecution for the Gospel. They were reached by people who risked their freedom, their safety, their money, giving up their lives for the people in these areas.
In America, we have a hard time relating to this kind of sacrifice to either give or receive the truth of the Gospel. It's likely that most reading this page were either raised in the church, came to God because they wanted their life better, and the likes. Unless you were once in prison or homeless in America, you likely did not hear the Gospel by someone who sacrificed time and money to bring it to you. Honestly, that's only if we can not think past our four corners of this world. We must remember the sacrifice of Christ. We also must remember that the Gospel of the Kingdom went for by perfection. Let us remember the countless lives that were burned alive, skinned alive, sawed in two, crucified so that the Gospel and the Bible could come to us. Let us remember by what means we hold this incredible book in our hands.
Verse three says, "If you do not watch, I will come upon you like a thief." It's vastly taught that people of God will not be taken as a thief BECAUSE they know the signs in the world. That is not what Paul was saying.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 NKJV) But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
First, notice that the Thessalonians apparently asked for signs to the coming of Christ. Paul says there's no need to write you on this; you know He comes like a thief. In other words, there are no signs (See Matthew 24 - coming soon). If you look out your window and see a suspicious van parked in front of your house, there would be a suspicion that thieves may be staking out someone's house in your neighborhood; maybe yours. This usually doesn't happen because a thief comes when no one is expecting. So then, how are we not taken like a thief? The reason is in Paul's statement: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, SO THAT..." So, why will the day overtake Christians? Because they don't walk in darkness. He continues to say "You are all sons of the light... not of the night or of darkness."
The reason the day does not take us like a thief is that we are watchful, not of signs in the sky or on the land, but in our relationship. We are not complacent. We are working in this relationship. We are working out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are working on the sharing of the Gospel and desire that God's name be glorified in those around us.
The great thing is that even in a church that is dead, there are can a few with life. We must be careful here. It's at this point that we want to point the finger at ourselves and say we are not dead. I challenge you to compare your relationship with God, in the same manner, you would compare a relationship with your spouse. Does your relationship with God consist of learning about Him, growing (real growing) in Him, doing good for Him, and the likes? Or does it look more like the example shown earlier in this portion of this study? If it looks more like the example given earlier, then we fall in a very dangerous area.
You really need to look at verse five and see the meaning of this passage. Yeshua is talking about the overcomer. These would be those who had "not defiled their garments". These will be given white garments and Yeshua will confess their name before His Father. We see these two statements in other portions of text.
White garments: Revelation 19:8 says the white garments are the RIGHTEOUS ACTS of the saints. Whenever we talk about being clothed in white garments on that day, we need to remember that these white garments come from the "works" we do or the righteous acts we do.
Confess them to the Father: Matthew 10:33 says that those who deny Christ before men will be denied before the Father but those who confess Christ before men, Yeshua will confess them to the Father. When we look at the context of this statement, we see there's more going on here than a verbal confession. I would challenge anyone to start at the beginning of the chapter and see all the language being used, the subject at hand. Even directly before this statement in Matthew, we read:
(Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV) “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Christ is talking about preaching what He's told us. Not passively but loudly from rooftops. Knowing this will not be liked by many, He tells us not to worry about a man who can kill us for proclaiming Christ's words.
And then He starts the statement at hand with, THEREFORE... which means His denying and confessing statement is built upon what we just read.
Some may be asking, "Are you telling us that failing to preach the Gospel of Christ to those around us, even if we are afraid of rejection, afraid of persecution in any way, that we are denying Christ?" No, I'm not. Christ is.
This is why we see a connection between these two statements in Revelation 3:5 and the context of the issue with this church. Remember, they've forgotten how they've heard and come to God. They've not watched but become complacent by going through the motions of church, having a good reputation around them, but actually dead in the relationship with God.
Our take away from this letter is that God is more interested in character than reputation. Reputation feeds one's own desire for attention while a Christian with good character feeds the Glory of God.
“These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The seven spirits of God is somewhat of a mystery in our day. First, we must understand the original definition of the word which "spirit" was derived.
The word "spirit" here comes from the Greek word "pneuma". It’s first and foremost definition is air (pneuma is the word by which we get the word pneumatic for pneumatic tools). It can also mean breath or breeze. It can only mean a “spirit” figuratively or metaphorically; by which most modern people see that word. In other words, it means a person of rational, a vital principle, or mental disposition. Now, this is liable to bring all sorts of questions to your mind but this is the definition. Thus then, when the “spirit returns to its source” (Ecc 12:7) then it’s the breath which returns to God because pneuma, or in the Hebrew ruah, is only figuratively a spirit of man and not really this ghostly thing people picture. Understanding the "rational" side of pneuma, or ruah (exact same meaning just Hebrew instead of the Greek pneuma), we see where God will remove our ruah (rational) and give us His ruah (rational) (Ezekiel 36:26). This understanding of pneuma then helps explain why sometimes you will see the Spirit of God (Isaiah 11:3), spirit of Grace (Zech 12:10), spirit of truth (John 14:17), spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15), spirit of life (Rom 8:2), and spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9). It's easy to see how these are a level of rational, or mental thought; i.e. the rational understanding of Grace and truth.
This is not to set in a new doctrine or one that is close to the "oneness" doctrine. There are other portions of text that lead to a being as with the Comforter (John 15:26) and Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
I'm sure that does not help clarify what the seven spirits of God are but it, at least, gives you some insight into the meaning of the original word rather than modern day conjecture.
There are two different beliefs of the seven spirits of God:
1. Some believe that it is the seven-fold ministry of the Spirit. It's believed that Isaiah 11:2-3 has a list of the ministries of the Spirit of God and that this list explains what is meant by the seven spirits of God.
2. Some believe it's a symbolic statement of perfection. In Revelation 5:6, there is a picture of Yeshua having seven eyes. We don't believe He has seven eyes. The number seven is a number of perfection; therefore it's understood that the seven eyes represent perfect sight or all seeing. There are some who place the same understanding with the seven spirits of God; being that of a perfect spirit.
As my own addition to understanding what the overall meaning of pneuma means, it could very well mean perfect knowledge.
The point that muddies the picture of seven being perfect in this case comes into the seven stars. We are told the meaning of the seven stars; which are the seven angels, or messengers, of the seven churches (Rev 1:20). These are not angels as we picture but rather the ministers, or messengers, of the churches (See Introduction to this section for more detailed information on this topic). Now I would contest that these seven ministers are "perfect". Therefore, the seven spirits remains a mystery.
This church was worried about its reputation but it was not worried about its character; because they had a NAME of being alive but they were actually dead. This condition is usually the result of complacency in a relationship. A husband and wife who do not continue to pursue each other, because the ring is already on the finger, or been on the finger for many years, will have an appearance of a marriage to everyone around them but behind closed doors it looks more like a fight, or someone just going through the motions of marriage. A rock-solid marriage is a marriage in which both parties continue to pursue each other; no matter how long the marriage has lasted.
The relationship with God is the same as one of a marriage. God is always pursuing but we typically become complacent. We figure we've said the prayer, we sing praises on Sunday morning, we go to church, say a prayer every once in a while, and we believe we are fine. We coast through this thing called "Christianity" with a reputation but in all actuality, the relationship has been long gone.
CHALLENGE: Would you be satisfied, and would you call it a relationship, if your spouse said they wanted a "relationship" but they only wanted to spend a couple hours a week with you, didn't care to learn about you, only cared to talk to you when they wanted something and to thank you for cooking for them; they will call themselves married to you and even post your name on Facebook a few times a week to prove they are married, but other than that they rather spend time on their own things? I dare to say no one reading this would say they call that a relationship but that is exactly how we treat God and we try to declare that a relationship.
When that is the kind of "relationship" we have, we are not pursuing. This is why the next statement from Yeshua's mouth is to "be watchful". If we are "watchful", in our relationship, what we are watching is our spouse, what we are watching is God.
Yeshua has not found the works of Sardis perfect. Why? Because they are going through the motions of a "marriage" while not actually pursuing. Remember that the heart of God, and the Grace of God, will make us zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14). It's the works we do that is the same as doing them to Christ (Matt 25:40). In the relationship with Christ, doing for those in need is liken to buying your spouse a ring or a new car, it's like taking them out to eat or calling them to see how they are feeling when they are sick. If we are merely going to church on Sunday yet ignoring those in need around us, our works are not good.
What is probably happening here is much like the church today. It's not that there are no works at all. It may not even be that they are only Sunday going people. God points out that there are works but those works are not perfect. Think about that for a moment. This means that someone could be work in ministry, feeding the homeless, visiting those in prison or in elderly homes or orphans, and their works are not perfect. How could their works not be perfect?
We are a people that desire attention and appreciation. It's unfortunate, but something that may have started genuinely can easily lead to something that is attention motivated. This is where flattery can be so dangerous. As soon as people start to flatter, the flesh starts to enjoy that flattery then we tend to do things in order to receive more flattery. Flattery is like a drug to flesh. The more it gets the more it wants. Considering the condition of this church, this is likely what is happening. It's why they look good on the outside. Their reputation is good because of the works they are doing but their motives are bad; therefore they are dead. They are dead because God is the one who deserves any glory; not us. As soon as we do a thing for our own attention, we remove the attention from God and we become the same as satan.
So we have a church that is merely going through the motions and not doing any work for God; rather they work the work of God but for self-gain. The problem is, if we work for God we must give up some of our time for God, like a relationship. We must give up money for God, like a relationship. We may need to put our freedom and safety at risk because these are the areas of the unreached. This is why Yeshua moves to the statement of "Remember how you have received and heard...". The people of Sardis and Asia Minor as a whole were reached because of persecution for the Gospel. They were reached by people who risked their freedom, their safety, their money, giving up their lives for the people in these areas.
In America, we have a hard time relating to this kind of sacrifice to either give or receive the truth of the Gospel. It's likely that most reading this page were either raised in the church, came to God because they wanted their life better, and the likes. Unless you were once in prison or homeless in America, you likely did not hear the Gospel by someone who sacrificed time and money to bring it to you. Honestly, that's only if we can not think past our four corners of this world. We must remember the sacrifice of Christ. We also must remember that the Gospel of the Kingdom went for by perfection. Let us remember the countless lives that were burned alive, skinned alive, sawed in two, crucified so that the Gospel and the Bible could come to us. Let us remember by what means we hold this incredible book in our hands.
Verse three says, "If you do not watch, I will come upon you like a thief." It's vastly taught that people of God will not be taken as a thief BECAUSE they know the signs in the world. That is not what Paul was saying.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 NKJV) But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
First, notice that the Thessalonians apparently asked for signs to the coming of Christ. Paul says there's no need to write you on this; you know He comes like a thief. In other words, there are no signs (See Matthew 24 - coming soon). If you look out your window and see a suspicious van parked in front of your house, there would be a suspicion that thieves may be staking out someone's house in your neighborhood; maybe yours. This usually doesn't happen because a thief comes when no one is expecting. So then, how are we not taken like a thief? The reason is in Paul's statement: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, SO THAT..." So, why will the day overtake Christians? Because they don't walk in darkness. He continues to say "You are all sons of the light... not of the night or of darkness."
The reason the day does not take us like a thief is that we are watchful, not of signs in the sky or on the land, but in our relationship. We are not complacent. We are working in this relationship. We are working out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are working on the sharing of the Gospel and desire that God's name be glorified in those around us.
The great thing is that even in a church that is dead, there are can a few with life. We must be careful here. It's at this point that we want to point the finger at ourselves and say we are not dead. I challenge you to compare your relationship with God, in the same manner, you would compare a relationship with your spouse. Does your relationship with God consist of learning about Him, growing (real growing) in Him, doing good for Him, and the likes? Or does it look more like the example shown earlier in this portion of this study? If it looks more like the example given earlier, then we fall in a very dangerous area.
You really need to look at verse five and see the meaning of this passage. Yeshua is talking about the overcomer. These would be those who had "not defiled their garments". These will be given white garments and Yeshua will confess their name before His Father. We see these two statements in other portions of text.
White garments: Revelation 19:8 says the white garments are the RIGHTEOUS ACTS of the saints. Whenever we talk about being clothed in white garments on that day, we need to remember that these white garments come from the "works" we do or the righteous acts we do.
Confess them to the Father: Matthew 10:33 says that those who deny Christ before men will be denied before the Father but those who confess Christ before men, Yeshua will confess them to the Father. When we look at the context of this statement, we see there's more going on here than a verbal confession. I would challenge anyone to start at the beginning of the chapter and see all the language being used, the subject at hand. Even directly before this statement in Matthew, we read:
(Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV) “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Christ is talking about preaching what He's told us. Not passively but loudly from rooftops. Knowing this will not be liked by many, He tells us not to worry about a man who can kill us for proclaiming Christ's words.
And then He starts the statement at hand with, THEREFORE... which means His denying and confessing statement is built upon what we just read.
Some may be asking, "Are you telling us that failing to preach the Gospel of Christ to those around us, even if we are afraid of rejection, afraid of persecution in any way, that we are denying Christ?" No, I'm not. Christ is.
This is why we see a connection between these two statements in Revelation 3:5 and the context of the issue with this church. Remember, they've forgotten how they've heard and come to God. They've not watched but become complacent by going through the motions of church, having a good reputation around them, but actually dead in the relationship with God.
Our take away from this letter is that God is more interested in character than reputation. Reputation feeds one's own desire for attention while a Christian with good character feeds the Glory of God.
