Sardis was situated in the middle of Hermus River Valley (Gediz River), about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the river. Its citadel was built on Mount Tmolus, a steep and lofty spur, while a lower town extended to the area of the Pactolus stream. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardis)
- In the seventh century BC, Sardis became the capital city of Lydia. …
- Sardis was conquered by Cyrus the Great around 547 BC [book of Daniel]. …
- In 334 BC, Sardis was conquered by Alexander the Great. …
- In 219 BC, Sardis passed to the Romans
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (verse 1)
Sardis represents, those “who live a moral but not a spiritual life, because they have little regard for the knowledges of spiritual things and for intelligence and wisdom therefrom” (Apocalypse Explained, paragraph 182)
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. (verse 2)
if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. (verse 3)
This idea is found throughout New Testament:
“if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.” (Luke 12:39)
Jesus TO the Pharisees: Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. (Matthew 16:3)
Little Apocalypse: “But of that day and hour no one knows” (Matthew 24:36)
Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13)
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15)
“… since a person’s internal and external can thus go in opposite directions, …, it is clear that a murky spirit can live behind a shining face, and a fiery one behind a smooth tongue. Therefore, my friend, you must get to know a person not by his mouth but by his heart, that is, not by his conversation but by what he does.” (True Christianity 590)
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Recorded on Sunday 23 July 2023