OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 13 (Audio Unavailable)

                                       August 2, 2009

 

3:2- we determined that “dead” in vs.1 refers to “operational death” of  disobedient believers, who fail to live under the Holy Spirit.  “Operational death” is synonymous with carnal in I Cor.3:1.  Sardis had a “name” or reputation, but had lapsed into sub-Christian living.

  “be watchful”- is a call to spiritual alertness or awakening (Eph.5:14)—it is to re-establish a consciousness of one’s continued dependency on the H.Spirit in order to live the Christian life.  The NIV has “WAKE UP”.

   “strengthen…which remain”- the word has the idea more of stabilize or

secure;  instability or loss is immediately possible in these believer’s lives due to their carnality.  The same word [steridzo] is found in I Thess.3:2, 13,; II Thess.

2:17; II Pet.1:12.   “that are ready to die”- the corruption of the life in the

flesh threatens other areas of these believer’s actions.

  “not found your works perfect…”-  perfect = pepleromena (fulfilled)-

It is less the idea of imperfection and more the idea of lacking fulfillment of

God’s intent or plan.  Their flesh cannot produce spiritual achievement- see

John 3:6.  These believers have monumentally under-achieved.

 

3:3- “Remember …how you have received and heard”—Christ instructs these believers to recall their previous valued and helpful instruction from

the apostles.  It is not new material that is needed, but application of older

doctrine.  “received and heard” may be understood in the light of I Thess.

2:12.  The ‘norms’ for the Christian life remain unchanged and are found now as they were then in the writings of the apostles (Jude 3).

   “hold fast and repent”- there must be a complete change of mind with respect to their condition and a re-establishment of these truths in their lives.

Operational death can only be corrected by focusing on the truths basic to how the Christian life is to be lived: submission to scripture, filling of Spirit, confession of personal sin.

   With this corrective word is a warning: “if you do not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”  It would appear that “watch” is synonymous with the application of

the instructions of vs.2-3—it is to return to state of spiritual alertness (Rom.13:11-        12) appropriate to the normal standards of the believer’s life.

   While some view “I will come upon you as a thief” (like in Mt. 24:42-43)

as referring to the return of Christ, it is not necessary that the thief-robber motif  always refer to His 2nd Advent.  Earlier in 2:16, Christ warned of coming quickly in judgment.  In James 5:8-9, the coming of the Lord is set in aspects

of temporal judgment upon wealthy believers who have been corrupted by their

money (5:1-4).  If believers at Sardis do not repent, then swift and certain temporal judgment may be visited upon them.  Observe 2:5 again where the corporate church (local) may forfeit their actual witness.

 

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3:4- added is the Lord’s observation that a few have not fallen into this

serious lapse of Christian living. “not defiled their garments”- used

figuratively for godliness—particularly, the exercise of confession of personal

sins  for cleansing- I John 1:9. “for they shall walk with Me in white”-

this promise anticipates reward of fellowship for the faithful or overcomer.

 “for they are worthy” indicates their consistent and faithful walk –Eph.4:1.

What they did on earth as believers directly effects their status in the future

rule of Christ.  Note Jude 23 where disobedience is pictured as a defiled garment.

 

3:5- it is now stated as a fact- “he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments..”  See Rev.19:8- this fine, white linen is expressive of the

righteousness that is produced in a believer’s life as part of sanctification (not righteousness that is imputed from Christ to achieve justification).

  “I will not blot out his name from the Book of life, but will confess

his name before My Father…”- this statement has been construed to

mean that believers may jeopardize  their possession of eternal life by

disobedience—however, what is expressed here is called litotes—a figure of speech whereby understatement  is used for effect (“not a few regrets”)—

in the negative.  This is not a warning, but a promise—no one will be omitted from the book of life who has believed on Christ (Lk.10:20)—even if associated with the church at Sardis.  With each of the 7 churches, promises are issued with respect to the overcomers.