Chapter Eleven/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 next century before our Common Era, this city was the proud capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and seat 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.  Instead 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 thee spirits represent Jehovah's holy spirit flowing in it 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 120:26; 1 Corinthians 4:5)  The congregation in Sardis has the 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 are ready to die, for I have not found your deeds fully performed before my God. Therefore, continue mindful  of how you have received an dhow you heard, and go on keeping it, and repent. Certainly unless you wake up , I shall come as thief, and you will not know a tall at what the 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 a spiritual activity.  Their congregational lamp is flickering because of lack of works of faith. Years before, the apostle Peter wrote to the congregation 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 they belonged  to 'a chosen race,  a royal priesthood , a holy nations , a people for special possession, that they should declare abroad the excellencies of the one that called them our 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  24:43, 44. 

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

From the book of Revelation