The document discusses the letter to the church in Sardis in Revelation. It provides historical context about the city of Sardis from the 7th century BC to the 1st century AD. It then summarizes the key points in Jesus' letter to the church in Sardis: He criticizes them for being spiritually dead despite having a reputation for being alive; He urges them to strengthen their remaining faithful members and repent; and promises salvation to the overcomers who will have their names preserved in the Book of Life.

2. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”
(2:7, 11,17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)
Why these seven churches?
How are these letters to be understood?
1) Historically
2) Diagnostically
3) Personally
4) Prophetically

3. “Worship God!
For the testimony of Jesus is
the spirit of prophecy.”
Revelation 19:10

4. A.D. 30-100
Church at Ephesus
The church that lost its first love.

5. A.D. 100-313
Church at Smyrna
The persecuted church

6. A.D. 313-606
Church at Pergamum
The compromising church

7. A.D. 606-1517
Church at Thyatira
The corrupt church

8. A.D. 1517-1750
Church at Sardis
The dead church

9. A.D. 1750-1900
Church at Philadelphia
The faithful church

10. A.D. 1900-?
Church at Laodicea
The lukewarm church

12. 1 “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.

13. 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.

14. 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.” ’

15. THE CITY OF SARDIS
A. Its Name:
• “red” in color
• "escaping ones" or "those who
came out” or "the remnant"
Σάρδεις (Sardeis)
• At one time considered “the greatest city
in the world”

16. THE CITY OF SARDIS
B. Its Geography:
• A two-tiered, split-level, city: an upper part
of the city built on almost impregnable cliffs,
and a lower part of the city.
• Acropolis
1500’ above
the valley.

19. THE CITY OF SARDIS
C. Its History:
BC 635 Lydian capital destroyed by Cimmerians.

20. THE CITY OF SARDIS
C. Its History:
BC 635 Lydian capital destroyed by Cimmerians.
617 Cimmerians forced out by the Persians.
499 Greeks defeated the Persians.
334 Sardis surrendered to Alexander the Great.
283 Sardis taken by Seleucus.
214 Antiochus the Great seized it.
189 Greeks surrendered Sardis to the Romans.
AD 17 Earthquake ruined Sardis.

21. THE CITY OF SARDIS
D. Its Commerce:
• The first city to mint
gold and silver coins.
• The site of the gold mining operation.
• 5 major highways intersected at Sardis.

22. THE CITY OF SARDIS
E. Its Spirituality:
Temple of Artemis
Temple of Cybele

23. THE CITY OF SARDIS
E. Its Spirituality:

24. THE CITY OF SARDIS
E. Its Spirituality:

25. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
1 “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 ...
A. The Omnipresent One
B. The Omnipotent One
C. The Omniscient One

26. THE COMMENDATION:
1 “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…
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

27. “How do you communicate with
a generation that listens with its
eyes and thinks with its feelings?
You will need an apologetic that
is not merely heard, but is also
seen. If my Christian life is not
visible to my neighbor, no
amount of prophetic utterance is
going to convince that neighbor
that Christianity is true. Is your
life in private that which you
claim in public?”
Ravi Zacharias

28. Frederick Nietzsche
“I’ll believe in the
Redeemer when
Christians look a
little more
redeemed.”

29. 1 “I know your works, that you have a name that
you are alive, but you are dead. 2 …for I have
not found your works perfect before God.
A. The Charge: "you...are dead"
B. The Condition: "I have not found your
works perfect”
THE CONDEMNATION:
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

32. “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn
from the church today, 95% of
what we do we go on and no
one would know the difference.
If the Holy Spirit had been
withdrawn from the New
Testament church, 95% of what
they did would stop, and
everyone would know the
difference.”
A. W. Tozer

34. THE COUNSEL:
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.
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

43. THE CAUTION:
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.
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS
A. A Military Reference
B. A Historical Reminder

44. THE COMFORT:
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 …
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS
1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

45. THE COMFORT:
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.
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

46. In John’s day, a king always kept a register. If a
man committed a crime against the state, or if he
died, his name was erased. It was used to keep the
register of the city accurate. When you die, your
name was erased, you were taken off the role.

47. THE COMFORT:
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.
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

48. “He who
overcomes
shall be
clothed in
white
garments,”

49. Revelation 3:6 “He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

51. Preparation for
Exodus 12

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