Sardis narrowly avoids joining Laodicea in receiving only words of criticism from Christ. Since reputation is a good thing, this statement technically is considered a praise from Jesus. Its reputation alleged it was alive, but really it was spiritually dead. As the all-wise Head of the Church, Jesus knew the church in Sardis had a reputation that didn't match reality. Jesus identifies himself to the church in Sardis as having the seven spirits of God, likely a reference to His wisdom, and also having the seven stars, a reference to the messengers or pastors of the seven churches. Later, the Romans built a new town below the hill and left the original Sardis deserted. In AD 17 an earthquake completely destroyed Sardis. The soldier successfully sneaked into Sardis and opened its gates to Antiochus and His army. The golden lampstands representing the churches of Asia are given revelation directly from the throne by the Lord Jesus through the prophetic messages sent through the seven messengers. However, Antiochus the Great, a Syrian king, conquered Sardis by sending a soldier through a crack in the city's northern wall. 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. The scripture plainly states that the seven spirits are seven lamps that represent the seven churches. This limited access made it easy for only a few men to defend the city. The city commanded a prominent military position atop a 1,500-foot high hill and was accessible only by a steep path on its southern side. Sardis was located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira and 50 miles east of Smyrna. The fifth of seven letters from Jesus is addressed to the church in Sardis. Revelation 3:1, CSB: "Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: 'I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive-but you are dead. Revelation 3:1, NLT: 'Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. Revelation 3:1, NASB: 'To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead. Revelation 3:1, KJV: 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. 8 Jesus Self-Designation (v:1) seven Spirits seven stars Rev 3:1 He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this Seven Spirits of God. Just as God is One but has three distinct personhoods: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so the Holy Spirit. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. There are seven distinct expressions of the one Holy Spirit: 1) Spirit of the Lord, 2) Spirit of Wisdom, 3) Spirit of Understanding, 4) Spirit of Counsel, 5) Spirit of Strength, 6) Spirit of Knowledge and 7) the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. Revelation 3:1, ESV: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Most importantly, it will be a great blessing if we read those valuable advices and warnings of Jesus Christ and live accordingly.Revelation 3:1 Parallel Verses Revelation 3:1, NIV: To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. When we go through those messages, it helps us to understand their works and the issues that existed among them. Jesus gave many advices, warnings and appreciations to these churches separately. Moreover, these churches represent the churches of the seven time periods. These seven Churches were located in the seven cities of ‘Asia Minor’, the present Turkey, during the first century A.D. Thus, Jesus himself interpreted the meaning, hence there is no need of human speculation. Jesus says, the seven stars symbolize the seven angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands symbolize the seven churches. One such vision John received was about the seven Churches during that time. Throughout the Bible, the number seven is symbolic of perfection, and saying that the Holy Spirit consists of seven spirits could be a way of representing that perfection. “As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Revelations 1:20)Īfter his resurrection, around 95 A.D, Jesus revealed many things in the book of Revelations through John the apostle. The most widely held and plausible view of the seven spirits of God is that they are representative of the Holy Spirit in some way.
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