Rediscovering the Bible

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain” (Revelation 3:2, NASB).

— Brad Sweeney

The Churches of Sardis and Philadelphia were involved in the Reformation Movement resulting in the eventual overthrow of all‑powerful authority of the Papacy and its false doctrines. This gave the spirit‑begotten body members of the Church of Christ the opportunity to serve and worship God the Father and Jesus our Lord in spirit and in Truth. The Master gave special messages to these two Churches. The symbolic lessons given to the brethren, and their experiences, are excellent examples of faithfulness that we can apply to our consecrated spiritual lives today. These messages to the Sardis and Philadelphia Churches are found in Revelation 3:1‑13.

Revelation 3:1 (NASB), “To the angel of the Church in Sardis write.” Sardis is the 5th stage of the Church. Brethren here lived during the darkest of the Dark Ages and under the worst conditions possible for the Lord’s people professing the name of Christ.¹ John Wycliffe was the messenger of this Church in the years 1367‑1517, about two centuries before Luther and the Reformation. Sardis means “that which remains” and refers to the time when persecution had severely reduced the nominal church in numbers, but there was still a portion of faithful ones. In discovering the Bible to be the sole guide for Christian faith, Wycliffe was brought into open conflict with papacy. By 1378 he evolved a system of doctrine that opposed the system of priesthood, indulgences, confession, penance, veneration of images, and transubstantiation. Wycliffe was exemplary in his purity of life, his zeal for biblical truth, and his courage in defending it. His translation of the complete Bible into English was the only such version available for 150 years. As an early herald of the Reformation, he was widely recognized for his impact but too far ahead of his time to break the power of Rome. His followers, the Lollards, were cruelly and methodically persecuted almost to extinction, but miraculously, he escaped a martyr’s death.

(1) Editor’s note: Others apply Sardis to the Reformation itself (1517 to as late as 1798). It would not alter the actual history and message in this article.

Verse 1, “He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead.” The speaker is the Lord Jesus, and he claims to have the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The seven spirits of God indicate the holy Spirit operating in the affairs of the Church and its messengers during the seven periods of the Gospel Age. Due to severe persecution by Papacy, the true Church at this time had lost most of its spirituality (Daniel 7:21, 24‑25). Jesus said, “you have a name,” but few are worthy of it. However, the Lord is merciful and gives them the time and opportunity to make better advancement in developing the Christ likeness of character.

Verse 2, “Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.” At this time, the Church was almost dead spiritually. Papacy, through persecution, claimed that all heresy had been wiped out. The faithful of this time, who had not defiled their garments, were utterly powerless to recover the Church or improve the sad situation. The admonition, “Be constantly alert,” was pertinent for the spirit begotten Church of Sardis, as well as for the present-day Church of Laodicea. The consecrated need to have all the truth that is due for the Church at any time. How necessary it is to not only stay in the Truth, but to grow in grace and knowledge; to apply the Truth to oneself as a new creature. How pertinent for the Laodicean Church, who have dispensational “meat in due season.” Our works are never perfect, but the justification that is in Christ Jesus is perfect.

Verse 3, “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Remember the delight experienced when we first realized that we were spirit begotten and could understand the “Truth.” The Lord is telling Sardis that he would come at a future time. We must daily inspect our understanding of the dispensational Truth provided. If we watch and pray, it will be possible to know and see the signs of the Lord’s return.

Verses 4‑5, “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes will be clothed … in white garments … and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” A Church almost extinct, but not one faithful one is overlooked or forgotten. The white robes of Christ’s righteousness take care of the new creature while in the flesh and because of the flesh. In the resurrection the new creature will have a perfect body and white linen all its own. And then comes the introduction to the Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus face to face! We will also see the Apostles, the host of brethren and angels that assisted us on our journey!

Verse 6, “The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Hearing is so important. To do what we hear depends on the sincerity of consecration, faithfulness, love of the truth, the Lord, and the brethren.

Thank God for the “few names left in Sardis!” To these, under the leadership of the Divine Master, we are indebted for the preservation of “The faith.” While as witnesses, their testimony was silenced for a time, the spirit of Truth was soon again active in the lives of their reformation successors, Luther, Melancthon, Zwingli and Penn.

Verse 7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write.” Philadelphia is the 6th stage of the Church, from the years 1517 to 1877. The message describes a state that receives only the sweetest benediction of Divine approval. There are warning words but no words of reproof. Martin Luther was the messenger. Luther found that the source of divine authority was the Bible itself, not the church. He learned that salvation was attained by faith in God through Christ, not by rituals, sacraments or penances (Romans 1:17, 5:1).

By 1521 Luther was now the moving force of the Reformation. He nailed 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg and wrote 3 powerful tracts which attacked papal authority and the whole sacramental system: especially the mass and indulgences. He saw no biblical basis for popes or priests and believed that all members of the body of Christ were equal before God. He conducted services in German instead of Latin and translated and published the New Testament into German instead of Latin and translated and published the New Testament into German in His daring life led God’s people into the light of pure faith and a clearer understanding of truth for the future Laodicean Church.

Verse 7 continues, “He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens, and no one will shut … (8) I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.” Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” How fitting that verse 7 introduces the speaker as holy, seeing that the message is justification by faith. David means beloved and refers to Jesus, who is God’s beloved and our beloved; and we are loved by him. Papacy tried to close that door, but its attempts were futile. The promise to David of a ruling house through Christ must be fulfilled, for that prophecy is both holy and true. God was giving the faithful few the privilege and responsibility of carrying on a great reformation in the nominal Church of Christ. The time had now come to hold open the door; it was due time, to bear witness to dispensational Truth with an assurance of Divine protection.

Verse 9, “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not … I will make them come and bow down before your feet.” Luther revealed to the true Church the real character of the Catholic Church, being “The synagogue of Satan.” Just as the pope wanted people to kiss his toe and worship at his feet, the Lord is telling his faithful, “Jews” of the Gospel Age (Romans 2:29), that soon the tables will be turned, and they will worship at your feet.

Verse 10, “Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing.” Because the faithful of Philadelphia were so patient, severe trials of holding up the Truth of their day were kept from them. “The hour of temptation” is in the future 7th stage of the Church. Difficult trials would occur during the Harvest because of the Message of Present Truth.

Verses 11‑12, “I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God … and I will write on him the name of My God, and … the new Jerusalem … and My new name.” The second advent is referred to here, and it was very near occurring in 1874. Patient endurance is needed. The called, chosen, and faithful are pillars in the temple of God. While preparing in the flesh, they will have a place in the finished temple in the first resurrection (1 Peter 2:5, 2 Corinthians 3:3). Their character likeness to Jesus and God is genuine, fitting for that city or government, the new Jerusalem. They will receive from Him that new name, “The Righteousness of Jehovah” (Revelation 14:1, Jeremiah 33:16).

The Philadelphia character, the spirit of brotherly love, is the great test, the final test. This test is not that of loyalty to a system, to an organization, to a human agent, to a messenger, but loyalty to Christ, which will mean holding fast to the Word, to the name and the constant endurance of Christ.

Verse 13, “The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Here Jesus advises us to hear and consider the prize of the high calling. May the prospective bride have the ear of faith and listen to the compliments and admonitions of the Lord to the Reformation Churches of Sardis and Philadelphia. May the spirit and their examples inspire us “to do” — buy the Harvest Truth and sell it not, while keeping our Consecration Vow, and Covenant of self‑sacrifice, faithful unto death.