One other note, before we look at each letter individually. I count that Jesus wrote 7 letters to His churches. Of those 7 letters, 5 contain rebukes, warnings and calls to repent. Among the strongest of those rebukes are words to Ephesus – a church with apparently great doctrine and theology, but in danger of being shut down as a church – by none other than Jesus Himself. Also, challenging and stinging words to the rich church at Laodicea and the supposedly “alive” church at Sardis. Jesus tells “rich” Laodicea, that that are factually poor, naked and wretched in His eyes, and He tells “lively” Sardis that they are actually dead. Ouch. Two churches, however, are met with only encouragement and comfort from King Jesus – no negative words. Those two churches are extremely poor Smyrna (“⁹ I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich.  Rev. 2:9) and extremely weak Philadelphia “Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power” Rev. 3:8 Yet another example of the truth Jesus proclaimed in Luke 16:15, “for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” Let’s read our passage and then discuss.

Fifth letter: Sardis. I have long marvelled that there are still churches named “Sardis” in the United States, including some in the city I grew up in. This is surprising, because the church at Sardis in Revelation is really challenged by Jesus, “I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. ” Rev 3:2  In fact, the most positive thing Jesus says about the church at Sardis is, “⁴ But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.” Revelation 3:4. This tells us this ultimate value of reputation: in spiritual terms, a reputation isn’t worth much, is it? Sardis church was supposedly alive and lively, but Jesus said, quite flatly, that they were dead. What was His prescription for this church?  “³ Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.” Revelation 3:3  The cure for spiritual deadness, then, is to remember God’s Word – KEEP it, guard it, treasure it, and repent so that you turn back to following it. That will bring life.

Sixth letter: Philadelphia. As already mentioned, this was a church of very little power. They were apparently under severe persecution from a group of Jewish people who have rejected Jesus and His Gospel. They were struggling greatly, and yet the Lord gives this assessment of the church:  “yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” We might have looked and thought well of doctrinally sound Ephesus church, alive Sardis church and rich Laodicea church, and had pity on weak Philadelphia church and poor Smyrna church…but Jesus sees things radically different, doesn’t He?  Jesus promises to this church that He will keep them from a time of trial coming to the world and He urges them to keep holding on to His Word and Himself.   ¹⁰ Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. Rev 3:10-11

Seventh letter: Laodicea.  There are a lot of Sardis churches still around, but very few churches named Laodicea – though that number is not zero. Apparently we have a Laodicea Baptist church right down the street from the Bible 2021 bunker in Oakland, California. That is surprising, because Jesus gives one of the starkest threats/promises in the Bible to this particular church, and I’m sure you’ve heard it before. “¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16  What is it that marks this church as so lukewarm, and therefore repulsive to Jesus? He explains it briefly in vs. 17: “¹⁷ For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” This church seems to have an inordinate trust in their wealth and resources, and their confession is that they “need nothing.” Jesus’ response to this attitude is crystal clear, “¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. ²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus says to His church: Don’t trust in worldly gold and resources – even if you have all the money in the world, you still have great need….instead, He calls His church to SEEK HIM for spiritual gold without impurity and spiritual ointment for our eyes so that we can see as He sees – not with natural eyes, but with eternal eyes. He calls this church – and many modern churches – to turn away from self-reliance and money-reliance and to wholeheartedly turn to Him. He says to His church that He is standing OUTSIDE (not in their midst) and He is knocking. This church – and all churches who overtrust in themselves and their resources – are not churches with Jesus at the center, but human organizations with Jesus on the outside. So must we be zealous and repent and open the door to our Savior.