Book of Revelation Episode Four

Today we discussed two very important churches - Sardis and Philadelphia. We also heeded the warning and repented.

What does Revelation 3 mean you live and art dead

In Revelation 3:1, Jesus tells the church in Sardis they have a reputation for being alive (active, reputable) but are actually spiritually dead (lifeless, complacent). This means they maintained outward appearances of Christianity, but lacked true, vibrant faith and works, resulting in a warning to wake up and repent before facing sudden judgment. 

Berean Bible Society +3

• Spiritual Condition: While physically alive, the church had lost its spiritual vitality, possibly due to compromise with the surrounding pagan society.
• Reputation vs. Reality: The church was well-known, but Jesus's assessment showed their reputation did not match their internal reality.
• The Command: Jesus instructed them to "be watchful," strengthen remaining faith, remember what they received, and repent to avoid being caught off guard like a thief.
• Promise: Faithful individuals within this "dead" church were promised to walk in white, have their names kept in the book of life, and be recognized by Christ.

To a Christian, what defiles our garments in the bible?

To a Christian, "defiling garments" in the Bible is a metaphor for spiritual corruption, representing how sin, disobedience, and immoral actions stain a person's standing before God. Based on passages like Revelation 3:4 and Jude 1:23, garments are defiled by the "flesh"—meaning sinful actions, idolatry, and moral compromises that violate a holy life. 

• Sin and Disobedience: Any action contrary to God's will stains a person's spiritual, white garment of righteousness.
• The "Spotted" Flesh: Jude 1:23 warns against, "hating even the garment spotted by the flesh," which refers to turning away from sinful, indulgent, or immoral behaviors.
• Actions Proceeding from the Heart: Jesus taught that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander are what truly defile a person.
• Spiritual Deadness: A Facebook post notes that in some contexts, defiling garments means staining them with "deadness" or spiritual decay.
• Idolatry and Compromise: In Revelation, the context of the church in Sardis suggests that compromising with worldly, pagan, or idolatrous practices defiles a believer's purity. 

Ultimately, the Bible calls for Christians to keep their garments white by walking in obedience, with the ultimate, clean garment being the "righteousness of Christ" washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

What does it mean in Revelation 3 "the word of my patience"?

• Active Endurance: It is not passive waiting, but a "patient endurance" that stands firm and continues to serve God despite intense pressure.
• Christ's Example: It refers to the message that Jesus Himself persevered and overcame the world, setting the standard for believers to endure contrary situations.
• The Gospel Message: It is interpreted as the Gospel, which produces patience and bears witness to Christ’s own patient endurance in His sufferings.
• Faithfulness in Tribulation: The church in Philadelphia is commended for keeping this command, which implies remaining faithful in faith rather than departing from God, as explained by Keystone Victoria. 

Ultimately, keeping the word of His patience means abiding in Christ's authority and trusting His promise while persevering through trials.

Revelation 3:1-13

1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.