ANSWERS

Revelation 3:1

Read Revelation 3:1.

And 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. (Revelation 3:1)

2.To whom did the Lord Jesus command the Apostle John to write?

To the "angel" of the church in Sardis, to the ruling spirit of the type of Christian church that Sardis represents.

3.What do the seven churches in Asia represent?

Each of the seven churches of Asia represents one of the many kinds of Christian churches that can be found throughout the world.

4.What else may these seven churches portray?

Seven periods of the history of the churches.

5.How can a Christian believer respond practically to the words of the Lord Jesus in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation?

If one of these seven churches seems to fit the situation in which the believer finds himself, then he should take heed to the Lord’s admonition concerning that church.

6.Are the warnings and exhortation given by the Lord to the seven churches addressed to us today?

Yes.

7.What truth is revealed by the fact that Christ has "the seven Spirits of God"?

Christ is all-powerful. Christ is majestic. Christ always is in control of every person and every situation. Christ never is limited by the weaknesses and shortcomings of the churches.

8.What truth is revealed by the fact that Christ has "the seven stars"?

Christ never is held or controlled by the churches. He holds the churches. He remains above the churches and is Lord of the churches.

9.Today the Holy Spirit is emphasizing the forming of Christ in the disciples. How can a believer misunderstand this emphasis?

By becoming so occupied with this concept that he loses sight of the Lord Jesus who is at the right hand of God in Heaven.

10.How does Christ appear to us?

In a form that is corrective and helpful.

11.What significance is there in the fact that the Lord Jesus appeared in a different way to each of the seven churches?

The manner in which He presented Himself to each of the seven churches in Asia was corrective and helpful with regard to the weaknesses and sins of the particular church.

12.How many genuine disciples were there in Sardis?

A few.

13.What was true of the remnant of the church in Sardis?

They had not soiled their garments with sin. They are worthy to walk as companions of Jesus.

14.What was true of the majority of the believers in Sardis?

They had serious spiritual shortcomings.

15.How must the victorious saint, in the midst of a Sardis-type assembling, view the Lord Jesus?

He or she must come to know Christ as the One who lives in the Spirit of God and as the One who is Lord of the churches.

16.In what aspect of the Kingdom of God does the Sardis-type church fall short of the Glory of God?

In the realm of the anointing of the Spirit and of the lordship and power of Christ.

17.What statement does Christ make to each of the seven churches of Asia Minor?

"I know thy works."

18.What did Christ state concerning the church in Sardis?

"Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

19.What was lacking in the church in Sardis?

The Life of Christ that comes to us through the Holy Spirit.

20.What was the church in Sardis?

An active, growing corpse to which members were being added daily.

21.What was the apparent "life" of the assembling in Sardis?

The life of human endeavour.

22.How could one describe the animated corpse of Sardis?

The church was being administrated with skill. There was concerted, diligent action on the part of the committees and members of the assembling. The programs of the church sparkled with talent. The church in Sardis was an attractive, exciting place to go on Sunday morning. The size of the congregation was increasing with each passing week. It was a corpse propped up and animated by the wisdom and energy of human beings.

23.What is the meaning of the name Sardis?

Remnant, or those who have escaped.

24.Read Isaiah 10:20,21; Romans 9:27; 11:5.

25.What is true of the Jewish people who are not members of Christ’s remnant?

The greater part of natural Israel has been given by the Lord "the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear."

26.What is true of Gentiles who are not members of Christ’s remnant?

They continue in spiritual ignorance and death.

27.What will the remnant do in the days just before the coming of the Lord?

The remnant will give an earth-shaking testimony of Christ during the days of Antichrist, as symbolized by the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter 11.28.

28.What will take place after the remnant have been lifted from the earth?

As soon as the remnant have been lifted up, the vials of God’s wrath will be poured on the wicked, followed by the descent of the Lord Jesus and His army of conquerors from Heaven.

29.What ministry will the remnant have during the darkest hour of the tribulation?

The remnant will be the source of spiritual deliverance in the earth, even in the darkest hour of the tribulation.

30.Read Joel 2:32.

31.Who are the remnant?

The true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29), those who "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Christ."

32.Why does Christ appear to the church in Sardis as "he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars"?

Christ appears this way because it is in the area of the anointing, and of the Person and power of Christ, that the

human-oriented churches come short of God’s Glory and the remnant fulfil the will of God.

33.What is it that the human-oriented church seldom or never will do?

Trust in the anointing of the Holy Spirit or the Person and power of Christ to accomplish its goals.

34.In what does the human-oriented church trust?

Human wisdom, human energy and diligence, human talents, money, entertainment, and so forth.

35.What is the battle cry of the Elijah-Elisha company?

"Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."

36.Who are the remnant?

Those who walk in the anointing of the Spirit of God.

37.Of what are the remnant always conscious?

The Presence and almighty power of Christ.

38.What expression was used by Elijah and Elisha?

"The Lord God before whom I stand."