Revelation 3:1-4:11
I know this sounds judgmental, but the church in Sardis (vv. 1-6) reminds me of the church that Carol and I left behind in Richmond: …you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die … Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. When we started coming to St. Andrew’s I remember thinking that the Spirit was just not present in that church in Richmond, except in the lives of a few people. But even saying that, I knew that the others loved the Lord; my sense was that they just did not really know Him. It was more like a nice gathering of nice people.
I wrote yesterday that Jesus had a three-fold message to each of the seven churches – commendation, complaint, and correction – but I do not see this pattern in His words to the church in Philadelphia. I see commendation, but complaint and correction are missing. Twice He says to them, “…you have kept my word…” (vv. 8, 10) I can see why we have a city in the USA named Philadelphia.
To the church in Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” The word “vomit” could substitute for “spit”, a much stronger translation! I think of these words as applying to agnostics, but they could also easily apply to anyone who does not have Jesus as Lord of their lives. His being Savior is one thing; His being Lord is a whole other level!
It’s a shame I had to double up these chapters for the next week. The break between chapters 3 and 4 is dramatic, from Jesus’ words to the seven churches to John’s entrance into Jesus’ throne room. I’ll leave it at that with only one comment – my Study Bible noted that scholars often relate the 24 elders to the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles.