Revelation Part 12

The message to the Church in Sardis begins with a sobering warning in Revelation 3:1. The Church had gone from tolerating sin to becoming spiritually dead. The city itself was remarkable. Sardis was beautiful, prosperous and strategically important. Located about 30 miles south of Thyatira, it was known for its wealth, with gold from the river, crucibles for refining silver and gold and perhaps even the first coins ever minted. It had a flourishing wool industry and may have been the first to dye wool. The city rose impressively with an acropolis 800 feet above its northern section, along with a necropolis often called “the 1,000 hills” because of the many burial mounds visible in the skyline. The city also boasted a gymnasium, a synagogue, public latrines and the great temple of Artemis. 

Sardis seemed impregnable, with its steep cliffs and difficult approach, yet history told another story. Cyrus conquered the Lydians when his climbers scaled the unguarded walls, catching the city asleep. Later, Antiochus the Great captured Sardis the same way, using a climber from Crete to ascend the cliffs. Twice in its history Sardis had fallen, not because of weakness in its defenses, but because no one was watching. By the time of the New Testament, Sardis was a city of past glory. It never fully recovered from the earthquake of A.D. 17, and its people, known for their luxurious lifestyle, slid into moral decadence. Once great, Sardis had become a dying city, both politically and morally. The Church reflected this same spirit—living off past reputation, but without true spiritual vitality. 

Christ’s indictment is direct, 

“You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). 

Outwardly, the Church had activity. They likely served the community and maintained appearances, but inwardly they lacked signs of life. Tolerance of sin and complacency had extinguished the flame. Yet Christ, with His piercing and discerning eyes, saw their true condition. He declared, 

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2). 

Like the city itself, the Church looked secure but was spiritually asleep. 

The call to Sardis was to “be watchful.” They were to strengthen what little remained before it died completely. They were reminded to recall what they had once received and heard, to hold fast, and to repent. Otherwise, Christ would come upon them "as a thief” in the night (verse 3), suddenly and unexpectedly, just as the city itself had twice been conquered while it slept. This warning echoes Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24–25 and Luke 21 about being ready for the Day of the Lord. 

Still, there was hope. Not all in Sardis had defiled themselves. A faithful few had not soiled their garments, and to them Christ promised the reward of walking with Him in white, clothed in purity and honor. Revelation 19 uses this imagery of white garments to describe the righteousness of the saints. The promise to the overcomer was profound; their names would not be blotted out of the book of life. Instead, Christ Himself would confess their names before His Father and the angels. 

The lesson of Sardis is one of vigilance and repentance. Outward appearances of life are not enough; true vitality comes only from the Spirit of God. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2, God makes us alive even when we were dead in trespasses and sins. The Church in Sardis was called to return to this truth. As always, the exhortation concludes: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.