Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

I have looked at the seven letters in the book of Revelation before in past podcasts and blog posts, but God wishes me to do a more detailed look at the letter to Sardis. Now as I have shown in these podcasts and blog studies. The letters are not just concurrent. Which means we can find every example of these seven churches in the behavior and actions of those that profess to being “Christian,” at this very moment. But that they are also chronological. Which means that the majority of those that call themselves “Christian” behave in the manner shown in order from the first letter to the seventh. The last letter is that of the lukewarm, which is the time we now live within.

Then why bother looking at the fifth letter if we are living in the times of the last letter of the lukewarm Christian? As stated afore there are examples of all the churches going on at this very moment. I must also add this though. When looking at the behavior of the lukewarm Christian, does it not reflect that of the dead Christian of the letter to Sardis.

And yes, you heard me right. I said the “Dead Christian.”

For these letters to the seven “CHURCHES” reflect Christianity not those that deny Christ. Therefore, we are seeing the behavior of those that profess to call themselves “Christian.” How do they do this? They go to church. They say they believe in Jesus Christ and that He is their Savior. They even tithe 10% of their income. And do many things for the “church.”

Now let’s look at the entire letter to Sardis:

Revelation 3:1-6 – “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. 4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. 6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

What is the very first thing that the Glorified Jesus Christ says to these “Christians?”

““I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.”

So let us now deal with this rejection that these people that believed they were right with God encountered from the KJV of this verse:

Revelation 3:1 – And 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.

In today’s world those that fully profess to being the name “Christian.” They believe that this name says it all. That their name is written in the Book of Like. That they are one with Christ and are His tools and in His service. That by just saying the name of our Savior is enough to protect and carry them on into heaven.

However, Jesus Christ makes it clear that this is not the truth. In fact, they are dead. Not physically dead, but spiritual dead.

Most do not wish to hear this. Most reject that this is even possible. Yet, this letter was dictated by Jesus Christ Himself. There are those that deny any part of the Bible that is not the Gospels. They reject the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

We have an entire Bible made of both the Old and the New Testament. It is not just the New and it is not just the Old. When these two books became one book they became “Scripture.” Also note that the New Testament is not just the Gospels and the book of Acts. It also includes letters by Paul, James, Peter and John. Consequently, to deny any part of the Bible is to deny God Himself. Now you can see that with this one example of what is and what is not “Scripture.” Shows that there are those that can be considered “dead” to the Glorified Jesus Christ.

What are other examples of those that can be seen as “dead” to Christ?

1 John 2:15-16 – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Now when you read the first part of this second chapter from the first letter of John. You see that he is addressing those that are old and new to the belief that they are “Christians.” Therefore, these two verses are directly aimed at those that profess to being “Christian.”

Yet, they seek after wealth, luxuries. They seek after activities that give them physical pleasure. Like sporting activities and even sex. They seek after and take pride in the worldly achievements. As well as seek after fancy cars, big houses and all the decorations that fill and adorn these objects. And in each one of these actions, they take a step into the world. They move further and further away from God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Until they finally get to a point where they are cut from the branch of the Holy Vine who is Jesus Christ. Causing them to be dead unto Him.

John 15:1-2 – “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

You cannot be a part of the vine unless you are born again. Unless you are what can truly be called a “Christian.”

Let us move on to the KJV of verse 2:

Revelation 3:2 – Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Be watchful and to awaken have the same meaning. It is the guard watching the city at night. Not to fall asleep. To be vigilant.

Vigilant is defined as: always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger per Cambridge Dictionary.

Christ is telling people there is a chance to redeem themselves in His eyes which will correct their path towards death and be able to be seen as worthy to stand before God. As is made clear in verse three:

Revelation 3:3 – Remember 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.

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.”

Repent – G3340 – metanoeó – I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God.  per Bible Hub.

Stating that these people have turned their backs upon God and are going away from Him not toward Him. So, they are called upon to repent of their behavior and return to the true path of being a true “Christian.”

This is done by rejecting the world. Not to seek after wealth, fancy homes, and comforts here on earth, but to seek after their treasures in heaven.

 Matthew 6:19-24 – “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 we are instructed to give most of our wealth away. So those that give a whole 10% as tithe have it backwards. They should keep 10% to meet their needs and give 90% away.

Throughout the years as I have grown in my faith and belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have had God taking my worldly possessions away from me more than once. The biggest and greatest of these lessons occurred in what I call my year of Job. In 2013 I had reached the point where I could either be dead to Christ or alive to Him. I lost most of my possessions amongst other events that year that made me face God one again and be His disciple. I now live a life of needs only. I do not seek after things of this world that go beyond a need requirement. For I seek to have my treasures in heaven not here on earth.

Now let us look at verses 4 and 5:

Revelation 3:4-5 – Thou 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. 5 He 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.

It is made very clear here. That there are those that do not seek after the world; that are seen as worthy to stand before God. The implication is made clear. Those that repent and stop seeking after the world will be called overcomers and they too will once again be allowed to wear white robes.

But it is also made very clear. That those that continue to pursue the world will have their names removed from the Book of Life to be called dead and worth only of going where those that refuse to be one with Christ go:

John 15:6 – If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

To wither is to be dead and those that die spiritually will be cast into the fires of damnation.

Ponder upon this study and think hard about your own lives.

God Bless.