REV. # 9~3:1-6 SARDIS- 1517-1790 A.D. ~ the reformation church 6-13-09
Today well continue in our study of this great book of Prophecy, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”.
Let me give you this information as a way of background to Sardis.
It became the capital of the ancient Lydian empire; it was about 50 miles northeast of Smyrna.
The art of dyeing wool is said to have been invented in Sardis.
The massive temple of Cybele still bears witness in its fragmentary remains to the wealth and architectural skill of the people that built it.
It later passed successively to the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans during their respective dominance of the ancient world.
As you know, if you’ve been listening to the previous broadcast, in chapters 2 & 3 we have a picture of different stages of what will be going on to do with the Church age while its on earth. Both chapters are in red writing indicating that Jesus is doing all the talking, as He is the Head of His True Church.
And let me remind us that all 7 of these named churches are still with us today in some form or fashion. There are many believers in Christ that are living closer to the Word of God than others.
Paul said in 2nd Thess. 2:6 that there would be a falling away first, many are falling away from the fundamental doctrines of the Bible.
The Lord Jesus chose these 7 particular churches there in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey, in order to point out to us certain fasces, you could say, of the life of the church age while it remains on earth. Once again the names of these 7 churches are; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Last time we talked about the church period of “Thyatira” the 4th church, and pointed out that this was the time the Catholic church came on the scene, it over lorded the people and the people were kept in the dark about the truth of Gods Word, it was and still is today a religion of works.
Ø The period that we’re going to read about today is one of the turning points in history, many things would come about in these years.
The time known as the Reformation was on its way.—the church in Sardis, the 5th church, this time period was from about 1517-1790 A. D.
AND let me point out that “A.D.” does not mean “after death” as some might think, “A.D.” means; “Anon domini” it is Latin, meaning, “in the year of our Lord”
Listen as I read today’s text found in Rev.3:1-6
1And 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.
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3Remember 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.
4Thou 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.
5He 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. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The church of Sardis was a living church physically but was dead spiritually.
Because of the Papal church, “Thyatira” and all that the Catholic doctrine that the people had been exposed to, this church, ”Sardis” was considered spiritually dead even though it was in existence. But God would not allow the Church to die completely so He raised up men to strengthen what was remaining.
A few of the names in Sardis who did not corrupt themselves with the evils of the Catholic Church were the reformers such as Martin Luther of Germany, the intolerable conditions under Papal rule reached its climax on October 31st 1517 as Martin Luther read for him self that “the just shall live by faith” he nailed his 95 theses on the church door of Wittingburg Germany and many people who were weary with the papal system came out of it.
John Wycliffe of England, John Knox of Scotland, John Huss of Bohemia, and John Calvin of France. These men held to the truth. And there were many others.
The people in this period were generally ignorant of what the Bible taught, but we must understand that the people didn’t have Bibles then like we do now, the printing machines had not been invented as yet but would be during this period of time. So we can understand how the people could be ignorant of what God has said.
Because of the Reformation, and the invention of the printing machines, or press, the Bible was now accessible to the people, and the great message of justification by faith was preached. [4 times is recorded in the Bible, the just shall live by faith}
Now instead of trying to get to heaven by works or by giving money to some so called priest, people learned that salvation comes only by having faith in JESUS CHRIST.
There’s no such thing as working to be saved, never have been.
Remember that in speaking of these 7 churches we are referring to professing Christendom.*** scattered among this mass of professing Christendom, are the true believers. God has His faithful people in every age and in every church of the seven.
In the sixteenth century the Dark Ages are beginning to be lifted, largely because of the testimony of the faithful remnant of true believers in Thyatira, it’s the beginning of the new direction of the Church.
The name given to that great awakening in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries is called the sixteenth-century Reformation in Europe.
Many factors were instrumental in bringing about this deliverance from the dark ages of Thyatira and the new direction of the Church.
The 5th church; Sardis” the word “Sardis” means a remnant, or “that that remained. Until this time great darkness in every way prevailed over the church, but then certain discovers and inventions set the stage for the Reformation and the church at Sardis, the Reformation church.
Among these factors were the discovery of America, the invention of the printing press and the giving of the Scriptures in printed form to the Common people-
~~Until the invention of the printing press the Scriptures were unknown to the common people. Until this time great darkness in every way prevailed over the earth, but then certain discoverers and inventions set the stage for the Reformation.
The printing press in the middle of the sixteenth century by Johan Gutenberg of Germany brought new light upon the world of Christendom.
The first complete press was completed in about 1550 and the first complete book printed from type was the Latin Bible known as the “Mazarin Bible” or the “Bible of forty-two lines,” because there were only forty-two lines to a page.
At that time the printing machine was a new thing and because of the time it took to make copies, the number of printings was limited and confined to a few scholars and the so-called clergy.
With this God-given, God-sent and God-timed invention of printing, a new study of the Bible began, truths that had not been known by the masses of the people were rediscovered, unbiblical errors were exposed and so the stage was set for the Church of Sardis, the Church of the Reformation. –The Protes-tants, they protested.***
In other words when many who had been seduced by the teaching of the Catholic Church found out that the Bible said, “the just shall live by faith” they protested and came out of this false church system, that is what is meant when we hear the word “protestants”.
And let me say right here, that the Baptist are not protestants because the Baptist never was under Catholicism, the Baptist never came out of Catholicism, because they were never in it.
We see many of the protestant churches today that are still holding on to some of the works of Catholicism, its teachings are still embedded in many ways.
There are some of the protestant churches that still think they are to have so called priest, their still standing before their congregation wearing their robes such as the Catholics still do.
So the Reformation fell short of accomplishing all that which might have been achieved.
While it was a protest and reaction against the ecclesiastical hierarchy of Thyatira, it went to the other extreme and, being free from the restraints of the hierarchy of the Church, it was split by the abuse of its own liberty and freedom and became divided into numerous sects and denominations. And this is a matter of history. –The many “protestant” denominations.
The Church boasted of its orthodoxy {to established doctrine} but did nothing about it. It denounced all who disagreed, and confusion instead of solidarity resulted, so that soon there were numerous denominations, sects and groups.
This spirit of carnality resulted in a dead orthodoxy and the Reformation Church became a great organization with but little evidence of spiritual life.
Ø This was the Church of Sardis as described by John in the Book of Revelation sixteen hundred years before it was born.
~~~And so God had this to say to this Church:
1And unto the angel** of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;--
-- the seven Spirits of God- mean the 7 attributes of God found in Isa. 11:2.
-- the seven stars—are the 7 messengers or Ministers that we read of back in 1:16. that were in the Hand of Jesus.
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
It was known as “the live church.” Christ said, “Thou hast a name that thou livest.” But the church in Sardis was dead. Perhaps the members there don’t think so, but we know the church was dead because the Lord said it was.
God says concerning this confusion among professing Christendom of the Reformation, that they have a name that they live, but are dead.
This is God’s estimate of this Church as a whole, but just as in the others there is a remnant of true believers,
Verse 1- thou hast a name ) it was a name among men, but not “before God.”
This church was living a lie. Its members were physically alive and at the same time spiritually dead.
Most were artificial, have you ever rode by some ones home and see what appears to be some beautiful flowers growing in a container and then realize as you get closer that their not real, there artificial flowers.
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2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
The word “perfect” means “complete” They were not carrying out God’s purpose for their existence.
Paul said in 1st Tim.5:6 “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth”
Isaiah 29:13 Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me—
This was the spiritual temperature of the church in Sardis. The Lord condemned every outward appearance of religious activity not directed by the Holy Spirit.
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3Remember 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.
Here the Lord Jesus has aimed His remarks at all hypocritical make-believe. He is never deceived by the outward attractiveness of a well-kept mausoleum, knowing that on the inside there are the bones of a dead man.
A corpse that is made to look alive is a frightening site.
Ministers of the Sardis church were ministers in man sight, but not in Christ sight. Denominationalism with its sacraments, forms, and ceremonies became a cold, lifeless formalism.
As a result of the carnality, division and worldliness of the Church of Sardis, God rebukes its dead orthodoxy
The truth was believed by many of God’s faithful remnant, but it was seldom preached and was greatly unknown to the masses of church members.
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4Thou hast a few names**{he has always had His few in every church period} even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
This word “garments” is used in a figurative sense, its to do with our spiritual garments.
5He 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. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Let me say that “the book of life” has the name of every person that is born physically, and as a person reaches the age of accountability, if that person dies without being born again spiritual, that persons name is blotted out of the book of life.
Revelation is about two groups of people, those whose names are written in the book of life and those who are not.
When the rapture takes place, everybody’s name that is still in the book of life was at some point saved in his or her lifetime on earth; the book of life then becomes “the Lambs Book of Life”
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With the coming of the Church of Philadelphia, the next church period, a protest against the deadness of the denominations of the Church of Sardis was proclaimed, the missionary fire broke out, and bears testimony to the zeal and love of the revived Church of Philadelphia.
