The church at sardis, says our lord, is a church that has a reputation to live, but is really dead. The book of revelation causes some to glance into the clouds in anticipation of a trumpet announcing the arrival of the savior who will rescue them from all their trials and sorrows. Revelation 3new international version niv to the church in sardis 3 to the angela of the church in sardis write. While revelation can seem like a frightening apocalypse of the end times, it also presents a glorious vision of hope. Some note that although the term church ekklesia is not found in chapters 618 of the book of revelation, saints hagion, rev. At the time jesus spoke these words to john, the ancient. The university churchwhere the emphasis is on teaching, learning, and doctrine. We have arrived at the final book of the new testament and of the christian bible. How revelation 17 pictures the roman catholic church david cloud, way of life literature, p. Does the book of revelation have something to say to. Scripture tells us the book of life has its origins from the beginning of time at creation. Battle believes heaven can touch earth whenever we live in godly community with one another, just as martin luther king, jr. Sardis was known for its great wealth and may have been the earliest kingdom 7th century b. The title revelation in greek is the word apocalypse or apocalyptic.
Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the seven messages. The apostle paul indicates that this diversity of opinion had been present for some time 1 corinthians 1. The revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Deadness in the church the city and the assembly 3. The church at sardis was described as being dead 3. The expression he who has an ear, let him hear is explained as well as other details from the verses in the second and third chapters of the book of revelation. This chapter contains messages to the churches of sardis, philadelphia and laodicea, three of the seven. The seven churches of revelation, as described in chapters two and three of. This teaching is based on the argument that since the term church is not used in chapters 421 of revelation, the church must no longer be on earth at that time. The arena churchworshipcentered, where performance and entertainment are key. The righteous saints in sardis were also promised that their names would appear in the book of life.
These churches also seem to represent the chronological development of the. The reason is that the book is full of vivid images, but with little explanation as to what the images mean. See the discussion concerning the identity of the angel at revelation 1. Pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the bible from the book of revelation. Whats the catholic view on the seven churches mentioned. How revelation 17 pictures the roman catholic church.
The corporate churchlarge, complex, intricate, and a model of. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in. Further, it is assumed that the invitation to the apostle john in revelation 4. Clean, white clothing in the book of revelation is consistently a symbol of religious and. The book of revelation unveiled kindle edition by united. There is something about a good mystery that stirs the heart and revelation is certainly mysterious.
Sardis was many times overlooked and other over emphasized. The roman catholic church accepts the book of revelation as authentic scripture. They will walk with christ since they will overcome. Therefore, the book of revelation in the bible is apocalyptic literature that is symbolic and requiring both careful study and careful interpretation. The book of revelation unveiled kindle edition by united church of god. Revelation 3 explained dramatic movie chapter 3 gideon. Perfect for personal use, small groups, or to add depth to any revelation bible study. If the church is not mentioned, it is concluded, she must have been raptured prior to the events written about. The book of revelation, the mass, and the hour of death. Revelation making use of our knowledge of the forms of agreement in the ancient near east but at the same time remembering that gods covenant revelation is unique shows that one of the main truths that permeates revelation is the concept of the covenant and thus also of. The fifth study about the seven churches of revelation is concerning the letter to the church at sardis. He was the apostle considered by the churches of asia minor mentioned in the book.
The seven churches of revelation bible student archives. Yet, as noted in the introductory article seven churches of revelation, sardis and six others were chosen by christ to receive messages that were relevant to them at the time. The owner of the book of life is christ himself, the lamb. If you have been reading the new testament and following along in this blog, thank you. Sardis had, at one time, been considered to be impregnable because of its ideal physical arrangement and topography for defense. To the church in sardis to the angel of the church in sardis write. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church.
This is a sad and tragic letter to a rather sad and tragic church because this church is dead. June will be a nice month to tackle this mysterious work. The book of revelation cannot be adequately understood except against the historical background that occasioned its writing. For others, the name conjures doomsday images of suffering, universal destruction, and events so horrific. Revelation 3 commentary the message to sardis biblegateway. Among the things found in this book was the idea that revelation was speaking about such things as the soviet union, nuclear attacks between the ussr and the us, etc. This thinking is based primarily on the absence of the word church from revelation 3.
Sometimes a given scriptural passage is taken up into the official tea. Like daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. The seven spirits represent the completeness of the holy spirits ministry 5. Some teach that the church will be raptured before the events that begin in revelation 4. It was transcribed from the eighth recording in his the book of the revelation series, entitled sardis, the dead church transcribed by preach the word. Seven churches not in the book of revelation and missions.
Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Sardis was the fifth of seven churches in asia minor to receive a message from. December 2007 this sermon was delivered at the iron hall evangelical church in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge. The book of revelation has always appealed to people. What was jesus message to the church in sardis in revelation. The message to sardis reveals nothing definite about the churchs. W hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. And yet, those who take the time to go beyond appearances and to examine its message more closely are in for a surprise. The book of revelation is practical and applicable. Yet this does not prove that the church is present at that time because saints is a generic term which describes believers of all ages. Thyatira, seated on the river hermus, is 61 kilometers 38 miles from pergamos and 51 kilometers 32 miles from sardis. Churches of the book of revelation were a big topic in the past.
The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches fifth message, sardis we continue studying the seven messages to the churches of asia. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. Enjoy having an easytounderstand overview on the seven churches in revelationpacked with quickreference charts, simple summaries, and a fullcolor map, this quickreference pamphlet explains jesus message to each of the seven churches and shows key information at a glance. Churches of the book of revelation united church of god. Revelation 3 is the third chapter of the book of revelation or the apocalypse of john in the new. Some, however, in sardis were faithful and had not soiled themselves spiritually verse 4. Gene mims book, the seven churches not in the book of revelation gives 7 types of churches that he sees as being unhealthy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Prologue chapter 1 1 the revelation of jesus christ that god gave him to show his slaves what must quickly take place. Uncovering evidence that the book of revelation was written prior to the destruction of jerusalem in 70 ad is only of secondary concern. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation are looked at in great detail. So far we have covered a loveless church ephesus, a suffering church smyrna, a compromising church pergamum and an elitist church thyatira. This article will focus on the history of sardis and then provide an explanation of. So we should interpret the rest of the book symbolically.
In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 3. Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey that existed during the apostle johns time. Their names will not be removed from the book of life and the lord will acknowledge them before the father in general, a majority of the people in the church at sardis were spiritually weak, much like the members of the laodicean church described. Why did the church in sardis receive a direct message from the. The writer of the book the early church unanimously agreed that the writer of the book is st. The writings of the early church attribute the book to himiv.
It is designed to be helpful in the life of every christian who lives from the time john recorded his visions until jesus returns. Home content index books of the bible revelation church in sardis. This verse literally says that the book is mainly going to be symbols. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. The church and the book of revelation commentary a.
We look now at the fifth of the seven letters to the churches, the letter to the church at sardis. In this lesson, we look at the message to sardis, the dead church revelation 3. This idea has a strong tie to the book of revelation, as the gospel of jesus christ is the good news that he brought. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. When it comes to official views on each passage, that normally is left to scholars to work out. This blog for revelation is a little late in coming. The new testament church, which began in the 30s, was beginning to fragment in the 90s, when john wrote his epistles and the book of revelation. Sardis had, at one time, been considered to be impregnable. These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of god, and the seven stars.
There is a book of life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. Clearly at the end of verse 1 our lord says, you are dead. David guzik commentary on revelation 3 continues the letters jesus wrote to the seven. In verse 5, the overcomer is also promised he can never have his name erased from the book of life. He sent it and signified it through his angel to his slave john, 2 who testified to gods word and to the testimony about jesus christ, in all he saw. But there was a time, apparently, when this church was alive, when it was filled with people who knew the lord. When jesus christ gave his message to the church at sardis at the end of the first century, there were congregations in other nearby cities. Apocalyptic literature is full of symbols and imagery that are intended to convey a message through symbolism. Each of these messages includes specific information for each church, and there are lessons in each letter for believers today. These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of god and the seven stars.
An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. The churches in this context refers to the community or local congregations of christians living. According to the jamiesonfaussetbrown commentary, cold must mean more than negatively cold, i. The purpose of johns book is the same as the purpose of the psalms, the purpose of the prophetic books, and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of revelation unveiled. Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the roman authorities. The city was located in the northern part of lydia of the roman province of asia, and bordered mysia on the north and lydia on the south thyatira, which in the greek language means daughter, got its name in 290 b. Study the bible online using commentary on revelation 3. The book of revelation and symbolism hills bible church.
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