The Seven Prophetic Churches of Revelation: Sardis

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Picture of Ruins of ancient Bath and Gymnasium complex in Sardis. Sardis is one of the seven churches in Revelation given a spiritual assessment by God.

Ruins of Bath-Gymnasium complex in Sardis (circa 211 A.D.)

Sardis is the fifth of seven churches in Asia Minor that received an evaluation of its overall spiritual condition from God:

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
"These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6, NKJV).

Sardis was a city located at the foot of Mount Tmolus. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia in the 7th century B.C. and became an important Persian city after it was conquered by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century B.C. By the first century A.D. Sardis had passed into the hands of the Romans.

Although an earthquake destroyed Sardis in 17 A.D. the city was soon rebuilt.

Sardis is believed to have been the first city in that part of the world that was converted by the apostle John's preaching. It also may have been the first city that revolted from Christianity and one of the first that was laid in its ruins.

The inhabitants of Sardis bore an ill repute among the ancients for their voluptuous modes of life. There may be an allusion to this fact in God's message to the church when he says: "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments;" (Revelation 3:4).

Sources: Adam Clark's Commentary on the Entire Bible; Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible; Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

The Seven Prophetic Churches of Revelation

Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamos - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea


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