SARDIS CHURCH: THE PERIOD OF REFORMATION

The Sardis Church: The Period of Reformation
1400-1700 A.D.
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."
2  "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
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."
4  "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."
6  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." 

 

The Destination of This Letter

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;"

The Immediate Destination
"Unto the angel."

A supernatural spirit being whom God has appointed the custodian of the church (Heb. 1:7, 14). This one can be trusted to convey the message to its intended destination. And he is able to accomplish his task (Psa. 103:20).

"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

 

The Intermediate Destination
"Of the church."

Pastors, officers, people.

The Ultimate Destination
"In Sardis."

A little over 30 miles southeast of Thyatira. It was the old and famous capital of Lydia, kingdom of the wealthy Croesus, lying at the foot of Mount Tmolus. Under Roman rule it recovered some of its ancient importance, and though it suffered severely from an earthquake in A.D. 17, through the liberality of Tiberius Caesar, it was rebuilt and became a great city by 625 A.D. when Strabo wrote.

It was famous for its woolen manufacturing and dyeing industries. It was a meeting point for the ancient system of roads and therefore attracted the trade of Central Asia.

The chief cult of Sardis was that of Cybele, two columns of whose temple are still visible.

The inhabitants bore a bad name in antiquity for luxury and loose living, as indeed did the Lydians generally.

The church of Sardis lingered until the 14th century, but did not play a distinguished part in Christian history. Among its early bishops, however, appears the name of Melito, the earliest interpreter of the book of Revela­tion.