The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

“I know thy works”

Revelation 1 to 3

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

“The challenge of keeping our garments

white”Revelation 3:1-13

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

“…he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.”

Rev. 3:1 Sardis – The dead ecclesia

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis today .

Once the magnificent capital of Croesus king of Lydia – richest

man in the world!

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

53 kms south of Thyatira. From around 1200 BC had been a proud city protected by a virtually impregnable fortress.

Once a great and splendid city. Capital of kings of Lydia. Once wealthiest city in world. Gold taken from River Pactolus. Famous for temple of Cybele.

Had a long history of warfare and had prevailed over nearly all nearby cities.

Destroyed by earthquake AD 17. Rebuilt with assistance from Tiberius Caesar.

Sardis – “Escaping ones”

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis – A reputation! Prevailed in wars against the Greek

cities and inscribed its coin with the words, “Sardis the First Metropolis of Asia, and of Lydia, and of Hellenism”.

Went into decline under the Romans and turned to trade rather than the spoils of war.

Twice in its history overthrown by enemies climbing the unguarded cliffs on the north, thought to be impossible to scale – Cp. Rev. 3:3.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Unfounded confidenceIn the war between Croesus king of Lydia and Cyrus king of Persia in BC 546 a Lydian soldier dropped his helmet over the northern wall. He climbed down and retrieved it and was noticed by the Persian army. The Persians thus entered the city and overthrew it.

“…thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon

thee.”

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis – The dead ecclesia Commended by Christ for:

a few worthy members who had not defiled their (Christ) garments.

But criticised for: having a reputation of vitality, but

being spiritually dead; unfulfilled works before God.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis – The dead ecclesia V.2 – “watchful” - gregoreo – to keep

awake. Bro Thomas - “become watchful”. Need for spiritual alertness to recover sensitivity to the Truth.

“strengthen” - sterizo – to set fast, fix firmly, make steadfast.

“for I have not found thy works” - R.V. – “no works of thine”. Works unacceptable without faith - James 2:26.

“perfect” - pepleroomena – fulfilled. Vow of baptism not carried out.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis – The dead ecclesia “before God” - mou theos – R.V. “my

God”. V.3 – “received” – Past tense. Sardis

relied on privilege and reputation. Need to recognise gift of the truth.

“hold fast” - tereo – to watch over, take care of, watch narrowly, give heed.

“repent” - metanoeo – to change one’s mind and purpose. Need for action.

V.4 – “garments” - himatia – Refers to figurative garment received at baptism – Rev. 7:13-14.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

REVELATION 31 And unto the angel of the ecclesia 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 ecclesias.

SardisIt is possible for an ecclesia to be large in number

and of good repute but to be

dead due to a lack of spiritual

dedication.In an age of permissive

tolerance this is a real danger.

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.Ruins of the Royal Archives

“I will not blot out his name out of the book of life”

As capital of Lydia Sardis housed the royal archives – the records of the kingdom

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Sardis

“thou hast a name that

thou livest, and art

dead”

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“…These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of

David…”Rev. 3:7Philadelphia – The beloved

ecclesia

This letter begins and ends with reference to Christ

being made consubstantial with Deity; i.e. Yahweh manifested immortally.

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The key of David – Isa. 22 Rev. 3:7 is cited from Isa. 22:22. There were two ‘states’ of the kingdom of

David prefigured in Isa. 22 - just as there were two classes in Philadelphia.

V.15-19 - Shebna – “to lead captive” – Dispersed and ruined – Type of Israel under the Mosaic constitution – held responsible but rejected (Rev. 3:9).

V.20-25 - Eliakim – “God shall set up” – Type of David’s Kingdom restored under Christ – Isa. 9:6-7. Future certain (V.10-12)

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Philadelphia – “Brotherly love” Derived its name from Attalus 11 (BC 159-

138) whose love and loyalty for his brother Eumenes gained him the epithet Philadelphus.

Situated in the valley of the Cogamis, a tributary of the Hermus River, it became tied to Pergamos in BC 189.

A centre of Graeco-Asiatic civilisation, it served as a focal point for education in Greek language and manners.

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Philadelphia Destroyed by an earthquake in AD 17, it

was rebuilt with the aid of the Emperor Tiberius and for a time assumed a new name “Neokaisareia” (the new Caesar), and thereafter lived in fear of earth tremors.

About 43 kms (26 mls) S.E. of Sardis. Today known as Alashehir – the city of

God.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Philadelphia – The beloved ecclesia

Commended by Christ for: works accomplished with little

strength; keeping his word; not denying his name; endurance under trial – V.10.

There is no criticism or condemnation.

V.8

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Philadelphia Philadelphian Epoch - From 1847 to

about 1947 a period of a little strength - the Truth revived in its purity.

“synagogue of Satan” - Division had occurred. Cp. Smyrna Rev. 2:9 – Why no commendation? Contrast Pergamos and Thyatira – fellowshipped errorists.

Question – How can brotherly love be shown by withdrawing fellowship from errorists?

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

The trials to come V.10 - “patience” - hupomene – patience.

An abiding under, endurance under trial. Occ. 7 times in Rev. Cp. 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 3:5.

“keep” - tereo – to watch over, preserve. “from” - ek – out of. Not removal of trial

but deliverance out of it. Period of intense trial under Decius AD 248.

“the earth” - The Roman Empire - Rev 16:14.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

REVELATION 37 And to the angel of the ecclesia in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;8 I know thy works: … for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; … to come and worship before thy feet, 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the ecclesias.

PhiladelphiaThis beloved ecclesia is worthy of praise for its faithful, vigorous

preaching even in the face of persecution.

The Lord promised to bless their efforts but

there would be no relief from

persecution.They were faithful

even under severe trial from outside the

ecclesia

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Crown “crown” - stephanos - coronal wreath.

Crown of victory. Symbol of eternal life (1 Pet. 5:4). A coronal of justification (prize of an over-comer).

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

A pillar in the temple All that remains of

ancient Philadelphia. Temple was God’s

abode in Israel (I Kings 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:19-20). Pillars – Jachin = He shall establish; Boaz = Strength. Hence, ‘He shall establish by strong ones’. Represents royal priesthood of Israel.

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Philadelphia

KingsPriests

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.A pillar in the temple of my God

“Him that overcometh will I

make a pillar in the temple of my God”“Him” = Salvation is an

individual matter

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“My new name” “name” – onoma – used 4 times to

Philadelphia. “my God” – used 4 times in V.12. 4 = righteousness, new creation and

God manifestation. Speaks of the “most holy” and immortality – Eph. 3:18.

What name? Yahweh - Acts 15:14; Rev. 14:1. The word of God – Rev. 19:13. King of kings… – Rev.19:16.

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The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

Next study… God willing

“I know thy works”

Study 5 – “The challenge of prosperity and

peace”

The Letters to the Seven Ecclesias

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