Revelation 3

(5) The Address to the Church in Sardis

(Rev. 3:1-6)

To this church the Lord is presented as the One "that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." However much Romanism may have assumed "power over the nations," it still remains true that the fulness of power, set forth by "the seven Spirits of God," is with the Lord; and, however great the departure from the truth, there are those, symbolised by the seven stars, through whom He can give heavenly light to His people. Thus we know that in spite of the power and assumption of Rome, there arose those who withstood the evils of this system. Alas! whatever resistance to error, and whatever revival of truth there was in this movement, which we speak of as the Reformation, in the hands of man it has broken down. As ever man fails in responsibility. The result has been the development of Protestantism which has indeed "a name" that it lives, and thus stands for the truth before men, but the Lord has to say, as to fact, that in His sight, "Thou . . . art dead." We may, indeed, be thankful that through this stand against Romanism an open Bible has been won for God's people and the great truth of justification by faith re-asserted. But, alas! content with mere orthodoxy, the Bible has become to the mass little more than a dead letter, and its truths not being received in personal faith, leave the lives of the mass unchanged. One has said, "Nothing is more common among Protestants than to admit a thing to be perfectly true because it is in the word of God, without the smallest intention of acting upon it."

Such a condition can only lead to the judgment of the Lord. His coming will find all lifeless professors asleep even as it will find the world (1 Thess. 5: 2-6). Nevertheless, as in corrupt and idolatrous Romanism there is found a devoted remnant, so amongst the dead orthodoxy of Protestantism there are "a few names" that form a remnant, of whom the Lord can say that they "have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy." In the midst of a lifeless profession they personally walked with Christ, and their names will be retained in the book of life, and publicly owned before the Father and His angels.

(6) The Address to the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3: 7-13)

To this assembly the Lord does not present Himself in a judicial aspect as about to judge, nor in an official way as directing the assemblies, but rather in His moral attributes as "the Holy" and "the True." This is blessedly in keeping with the moral condition of the assembly of whom the Lord can say, thou "hast kept my word, and hast not denied my Name." In the midst of general departure they cherished and obeyed the Lord's word, and above all they jealously maintained the glory of the Person of Christ, and refused every "denial" of His Name.

The Lord who holds the key can use it on behalf of such. In spite of all the power of the enemy He opens doors of service for them, in accord with His will, and closes doors that would lead into a path contrary to His mind. Such may have but a little strength and make no great appeal to the world as in the case of Thyatira; nor have they any name for a great reformation as in the case of Sardis. But if not marked by anything that the world can wonder at and admire, they had the approval of the Lord, and in the day to come every opposer will learn that they are loved of the Lord. In this assembly have we not the Lord's forecast that in the midst of the increasing corruptions of Christendom, and before the end of the Christian period, a testimony would be raised to the truths of Christ's word, and the supreme authority and preciousness of His Name?

If, however, amidst the prevailing gloom, God raises up this fresh testimony, we are also warned that Satan will seek to raise up a counter-testimony by a revival of Judaism with its forms and ceremonies. We know that the revival of the truth of the church contained in Christ's word was at once met by a great outburst of ritualism and superstition by which Satan has sought to nullify the word of Christ, and draw hearts from the Person of Christ, and thus rob the Christian of all true service and worship.

If such are warned of the opposition they will meet from Satan, they are also encouraged to patiently endure, knowing that if they are kept through present trials, they will be kept from the hour of tribulation that is soon coming "upon all the world." Owing to their "little strength," and the constant conflict entailed by the opposition of Satan who seeks by false religious systems to rob the saints of the truth, this assembly is especially exposed to the danger of giving up standing firmly for the truth that has been recovered to them. To meet this danger they are exhorted to "hold fast" that which they have — the truth, the preciousness of the Name of Christ, and the love and approval of the Lord. To let go these great blessings will result in the loss of their crown of reward in the day to come. To encourage such to "hold fast" the Lord sets before them His coming, for which they will have to wait but a little while, for He is coming quickly. The overcomer — the one who "holds fast," will have a bright reward in the day of glory. Taking heed to the Lord's warning to "hold fast," and being content with a little strength and thus to be of small account in the world's esteem to-day, he will have a position of power in the day to come. Making everything of the Name of Christ in the day of His rejection and in a world that increasingly slights that Name, he will have the Name of Christ displayed in him in that home of glory, the New Jerusalem.

(7) The Address to the Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3: 14-22)

In the last address we learn the solemn end of the increasing failure of the church in responsibility throughout the whole church period. We see, too, how the reviving grace of the Lord has been abused, and how little His warnings have been heeded. Nevertheless, we learn that amidst all the failure the Lord remains the unchanging resource of His people, and that in the darkest day there is richest blessing for the individual believer. In striking contrast to the great Christian profession that has been neither faithful to God nor a true witness before men, the Lord presents Himself as "the Amen" — the One through whom every purpose of God will be fulfilled, as "the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God," where all will be according to God.

Then there passes before us a solemn picture of the last stage of the professing church. The failure that commenced with the loss of first love to Christ, ends in such utter indifference to Christ, that the church is unmoved even though Christ is outside their door, and deaf to every appeal by which He would seek to win their hearts. The grace that has restored to us an open Bible, and revived the great truths concerning Christ and the church, is so abused by the Christian profession that it ends in the great mass using the truth to exalt themselves and boast that they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. As ever, the vanity of boasters blinds them to their true condition. The self-complacent mass know not that in the sight of the Lord, they are spiritually "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." The condition of such is nauseous to Christ and can only end in the entire rejection of the Christian profession by Christ. Nevertheless the grace of the Lord counsels them to turn to Himself to find in Him that which will meet their desperate need, that they may obtain the true riches, their shame be met and covered, and their eyes opened to see in Christ One that can not only meet their need, but One that is altogether lovely.

Then we learn that in the midst of these last dark days there will be true souls that the Lord loves, manifested by the very rebukes and chastening that love may see is needed to recall them to Himself. The Lord is found at the door of such, patiently knocking, as He seeks to find a place in their affections. To open the door to Him surely means that we give Him a place in our hearts, and thus get back to first love. To such the Lord says, "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." He will enter into all our exercises and trials, and He will lead us into His heavenly things. Are we not then to learn that, in the closing days of the Christian period, the path will grow exceedingly individual, but that it is possible for the individual to get back to first love, and thus enjoy the highest spiritual blessing of secret communion with the Lord, even though there is no return to public, or united testimony from the great profession? The overcomer who makes no boast of spiritual wealth, who seeks no public recognition, and is content with the secret approval of the Lord will, in the day of glory, be displayed with Christ on His throne.

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