Is Your Name in the Book of Life?

SOME 30 miles south of modern Akhisar (Thyatira)  is the site of  the next congregation to receive a message from the glorified Jesus Sardis.  In the sixth century before out Common Era, this city was the proud capital of the ancient kingdom of the enormously wealthy King Croesus.  By John's day, it has fallen on hard times, and its former splendor under Croesus is mere history.  Similarly, the Christian congregation there has become  spiritually impoverished.  For the first time, Jesus does not begin his message  with a word of commendation. He says: "And to the angel of the congregation in Sardis write:  These are the things that he says who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.  'I know your deeds, that you have the name that you are alive, but you are dead.' " -Revelation 3:1.

Why does Jesus identify himself as the one "who has the seven spirits"?  Because these spirits represent Jehovah's holy spirit  flowing in its fullness.  Later, John describes them also as "seven eyes," indicating the penetrating vision that God's holy spirit bestows on Jesus.  (Revelation 5:6) Thus, he is able to uncover and handle any situation that may exist.  (Matthew 10:26; 1 Corinthians 4:5)  The congregation in Sardis has he reputation of being alive, active.  But Jesus can see that it is spiritually dead.  Evidently, most of its members have relapsed into an apathy similar to their condition before they became Christians.- Compare Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14.

Jesus also reminds "the angel of the congregation in Sardis" that He is the  one who has "the seven stars."  He holds those congregation elders in his right hand, having authority to direct them in their shepherding work.  They should set their hearts to 'knowing positively  the appearance of the flock.' (Proverbs 27:23)  Hence, they had better listen carefully to Jesus' next words: "Become watchful, and strengthen the things remaining that were ready to die, for I have not found your deeds fully performed before my God.  Therefore, continue mindful of how you have received and how you heard, and go on keeping it, and repent.  Certainly unless you wake up, I shall come as a thief,  and you will not know at all at what hour I shall come upon you." -Revelation 3:2, 3.    

The elders in Sardis need to remember the joy they first had when they learned the truth and the blessings they then received.   But now they are dead as to spiritual activity. Their congregational lamp is flickering because of lack of faith.  Years before, the apostle Peter wrote to the congregations in Asia (likely including Sardis) to build appreciation for the glorious good news that Christians had accepted and that had been declared "with holy spirit sent forth from heaven"-as represented by the seven spirits of John's vision.  Peter also reminded those Asian Christians that hey belonged to 'a chose race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that they should declare abroad the excellencies of the one  that called them out of darkness into his wonderful light.' ( 1 Peter 1:12, 25; 2:9) Meditating on such spiritual truths will help the congregation in Sardis to repent and "strengthen the things remaining." -Compare 2 Peter 3:9.

At the moment, their appreciation and love of the truth are like a fire that has almost died out.  Just a few embers continue to glow.  Jesus encourages them to fan the spark, stir up the fire, repent of the sins into which their negligence has led them, and become  a  spiritually alive congregation once  again. (Compare 2 Timothy 1:6, 7) Otherwise, when Jesus comes unexpectedly-"as a thief"-to execute judgment, the congregation in Sardis will be unprepared. -Matthew 24:54, 44.

Next time: Is Your Name in the Book of Life? -Coming "as a Thief"

From the Book of Revelation