Revelation Chapter 3

Today Dr. J talks about Revelation Chapter 3

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Welcome to Dr. J in the Bible. Glad you're here today. Quick shout out to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hope everyone's doing well in Cincy. Go Bengals. I know the Bengals haven't even started baseball season, but uh go bangles anyhow. So Revelation chapter three, we're looking at today. The last three churches. Uh, and some people may be listening and like, wow, you're jet throughing these churches, and the first three chapters you're going through quite fast. I realize that. Uh I'm going through fast because we're going to slow down uh as we get to chapter four and five, and then six through twenty, we're gonna slow down quite a bit. It won't be as jet speed. So let's look at uh Revelation chapter three. The churches is pretty straightforward. Once we get into four through uh the rest of the book, it it gets a little bit uh, it's about the future. And it uses a lot of Old Testament terminology and references, and so there'll be deeper and more lengthy explanation and teaching for sure. So Revelation chapter three, the last three churches. Revelation three contains the messages to the last three seven churches: Sardis, which is the dead church, Philadelphia, the faithful church, Laodicea, which is the lukewarm church. Uh Revelation 3, 1 through 6 uh talks about Sardis, the church of Sardis, the dead church. The ancient capital of Lydia was Sardis in Western Asia Minor, modern-day Sartre Turkey. And it was known as a wealthy, strategically located city, known for its fertile plains and control of major trade routes, famous in history as the seat of King Croessus. Uh, Sardis had a reputation for immense wealth, luxury, and refinement with a thriving textile and dying industry. By the first century, it was under Roman rule, blending uh Greek cultural influence with Roman governance, and featured temples, theaters, gymnasiums. And the city was deeply polytheistic with pagan rituals, integral and civic life creating pressure on Christians to conform. And despite its outward splendor and proud history, the church in Sardis was spiritually dead, reflecting a community that maintained appearances, reputation, but lacked true vitality in faith. So during this period, symbolically associated with the time with Sardis, roughly about the period of 1500 to 1700 A.D., and which this was a dominant form of Christianity at the during this stage. So Sardis kind of points to a time that was fulfilled in prophecy of Roman Catholicism, uh pre-Reformation, early Reformation period. And the church was hierarchical with authority centralized in the papacy. And its outward ritual, tradition, and formalism were emphasized often at the expense of personal devotion and spiritual vitality. Emerging Protestant movements, early reformers like Luther, Swiggly, Calvin were beginning to challenge Catholic practices, emphasizing personal faith, scripture, repentance, and these movements often preserved the faithful remnant within Sardis' spiritually dead environment. So, in short, Sardis symbolized a time when formal institutionalized religion dominated, but a small faithful remnant maintained true devotion to Christ, foreshadowing the Reformation's revival of spiritual life. So, really, when you look at Sardis, it really similar to Pergamus represents the Roman church. And this was kind of at the point where you had the indulgences, you had the uh uh they looked, they looked like they appearances wise, they were holy, uh pious, and but uh, you know, they did all the right rituals, but they inside they were empty. The word of God was not their true focus, it was about money, uh love of the flesh. So looking at this, in verse one, he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The seven spirits in verse one is representative of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the seven stars, the church leaders under Christ's control. So Christ's omnipresence or all-knowing reminds Sardis, even a dead church is known and accountable to Christ. So as we look at the church, as we look at this church, the church looks alive outwardly, but with rituals appearance, but spiritually it was lifeless and intrinsically totally shallow and empty. Verses two through three, we see a commendation warning by the Lord. Sardis has a reputation of being alive, but is actually spiritually dead. And Christ commands wake up and strengthen what remains and repent. A body that moves but has no pulse outwardly, it's active but spiritually dead. And really, that's what a lot of a lot of our society is. Uh I call them um I I call them zombies. Yeah, because really a person without Christ is alive physically and walking around, but dead inside. And that's a sad thing. Verse 4, you know, it talks about a faithful remnant. You have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. Even in the most unfaithful church, there's still a remnant. I think if you go into some of the um most liberal churches, or even the Roman Catholic Church to some degree, you'll find a small remnant that still believes the gospel. I believe that. Verses five through six, you have the promise to overcomers. Christ promises eternal life in white garments, which symbolizes the righteousness and reward in the kingdom. That the overcomes are the overcomers are spiritually awakened before the rapture. Revelation 3, 7 through 13 is the letter to Philadelphia. Uh, we know Philadelphia comes from the Greek word Phylos and Delphos, which uh we get, you know, we know Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, the you know, brotherly love. That's what that means, the city of brotherly love. And so Philadelphia was a small but strategically situated city on a trade route connecting the interior of Asia Minor with the coast. Founded during the Hellenistic period by King Attalus II, Philadelphus came under Roman control by the first century. And the city was known for its resilience, having been rebuilt after an earthquake, for its agriculture, local trade. Philadelphia maintained Greek cultural traditions, including theaters, gymnasiums, temples, though its pagan influence was less intense than in larger cities like Ephesus or Pergamum. The Christian church there mirrored the city's character, faithful, persevering, and spiritually alive, and enduring external pressures while remaining devoted to Christ. This made Philadelphia a model of steadfastness, of resilience, receiving Christ's promise and protection and eternal reward. During the period symbolically associated with Philadelphia is the time of 1700 to 1900 AD. Dominant forms of Christianity were primarily Protestant denominations emerging from the Reformation, evangelical awakenings. You had Luther, Reformed, Presbyterian churches emphasized scripture, personal faith, moral living, sought to correct the formalism and the compromise of the previous Sardis era Roman Catholic Church. Evangelical revival movements, the Methodists, Baptists, and the evangelical groups emphasized personal conversion, mission work, faithful perseverance. And these movements spread globally through missionary efforts, reflecting the church's open door, faithful endurance, described in Revelation 3, 8 through 10. Philadelphia symbolizes a faithful, persevering church during a period of Protestant resurgence and spiritual revival, where true believers remain devoted, active despite opposition, persecution, small numbers, and societal pressures for that matter. So verse 7 talks about Christ's authority. He who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, represents Christ's authority to open and shut doors of opportunity and protection. And he has that in our life too. Lots of times we get frustrated because maybe a door is closing and maybe another door is opening. And we got to realize that the one holy and true, Lord Jesus, holds the key of David. He's the one who opens and closes doors. And we got to give glory and sovereignty and submission to his glory. Christ is the master key holder, opening doors for faithful believers to spread the gospel even under opposition. Verses 8 through 10 gives a commendation and promise to the church, Philadelphia. Philadelphia is commended for its faithfulness despite little strength. And Christ promises to protect believers. Believers will not face the hour of trial coming up. A small, faithful church holding on to Christ is in a hostile environment, yet God gives them an opportunity and preserves them from coming judgment. And Christ in verse 11 tells them to hold fast to his word. He encourages believers to hold fast, emphasizing perseverance until the end. Verse 12, overcomer with reward. Believers are promised a permanent place in God's kingdom, symbolized as a pillar in the temple of God, a secure, unshakable position in God's presence, eternal and honored. And then finally we come to Revelation 3, 14 through 22, the letter to the church of Laodicea. Laodicea, located in Phrygia, modern day near Denizili, Turkey, was a prosperous Roman city strategically situated on trade routes connecting Colossae and Hieropolis, founded by Antiochus II, Theos, and named for his wife Laodice. It was renowned for its wealth, banking, textile industry, particularly glossy black wool, a medical school for ISAV, and the city prided itself on self-sufficiency, luxury, and commerce, creating a culture of materialism and civic pride. Pagan worship was prevalent, blending Greek, Roman, and local deities, which, combined with its wealth, fostered spiritual complacency. And the church in Laodicea mirrored this environment, lukewarm, self-reliant, and materially focused. Yet Christ calls it to repentance. He calls it to renewed fellowship and faithfulness, promising reward for overcomers who respond to his discipline and guidance. Laodicea symbolically represents the modern era of the church age. So the totality of the church, even now, reflects, in general, with individual exceptions, obviously, the lukewarm spiritual complacency, spiritual indifferent church. This period includes many mainline Protestant denominations, such as the Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, as well as portions of the Roman Church and other affluent culturally comfortable congregations. They preach tolerance, they preach a gospel gospel where really isn't no power of gospel there. Up in the Up Church, where it's more about appearance and feeling good. These churches maintain programs, traditions, social influence, but they're criticized for ritualism, nominal faith, reliance on material security rather than a passionate devotion to Christ and his word. Laodicea serves as a warning that spiritual self-sufficiency and comfort can dull faith, and Christ calls his people to repentance, renewed fellowship, and wholehearted devotion, promising reward for those who overcome. Verse 14, Christ identifies himself, the Amen, the faithful and the true witness. Oftentimes Jesus would often say, Amen, amen before he said something. And the reason why he said that, because he knew it would be true. We usually say it afterwards. You know, we say our prayers, we say amen. But Jesus would say it before he said things. And Christ addresses the spiritual complacency and the moral compromise of this church. He is the foundation and the final authority over the church. Verses 15 through 16, Laodicea is neither hot nor cold. It's spiritually indifferent. There is no, they go with the flow. There's no standing on the word with this. I've heard it said if you're either on one side of the street or on the other, but if you're in the middle, you'll be run over by a car. The lukewarm cup of water is neither refreshing nor useful. Verse 17 through 18, there's the rebuke of Jesus. Wealth, material security, self-sufficiency are criticized. Christ calls for repentance and spiritual renewal, buying gold refined in the fire and white garments. Person clothed in fine clothes in the uh thinking they are secure, yet spiritually they're naked in need of Christ's righteousness. Picture a person that uh had the greatest looking dress or suit, and they looked very spiritual, and they looked very fine and uppity up. But at the end they were naked according to God. He also tells them to take the salve out of their eye to that they need to be able to see. He talks about the lukewarmness of it. It's because they actually had a medical school that sold out ISAV in Laodicea. Verse 19 through 22 is a call to fellowship. Christ disciplines those he loves and calls to an intimate fellowship. Christ disciplines those he loves. Let that sink in. He wants his chosen, his elect, to come to him. He calls to them to be intimate. An intimacy that with the God of the universe, and yet we choose to be intimate with money. We choose to be intimate with fame, with popularity, we choose to be uh intimate with things that don't have eternal consequence. Overcomers are promised authority and eternal fellowship with him. And many see this as those who heed the call may be part of the rapture generation. And we'll get into that. And we're gonna slow down a little bit in Revelation 4. We're gonna talk about the throne in heaven and who are those elders up there. Believe it's the church, but I don't want to get too far off on that. Uh, whet your appetite. I hope you're enjoying. And I pray that God will take your mess and turn it into a message for his glory for your good.