What is one commonality in the message to the seven churches?

I am coming.. (Revelation 2:5, 16, 25, 3:3, 11, 20). This declaration or iterations of this all point towards the same promise of Christ’s second advent – Jesus is coming back soon (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). The culmination of the world, as we know it, can never be stated sufficiently enough in our churches. Which is why the word come or coming is used a total of 7 times in the final chapter of the Bible – pertaining to the return of Christ (Acts 1:11). If the second advent of Christ isn’t stated enough today or rather invokes a response of fear within us, it is solely because the heart of the church has become cold towards the Lord (Matthew 24:12-13). The church is not an organization, a club for the like-minded, or a Sunday hangout. It is in God’s perspective – His bride (2 Corinthians 11:2). The poetry of love between the Shulamite bride and her lover, in the book of Song of Songs, is also an allegorical depiction of God’s love for Israel and for His church. And if a bride of this world who has been betrothed (engaged) to be married to her lover, shows no desire or longing for her suitor, not counting down the days leading up to their marriage date. It would only be a fair implication to say that either the bride does not truly love her suitor or she has taken up another lover. Rather, the church (you and I) much like the Shulamite bride, must with soulish yearning and sweet words desire for the return of the Bridegroom (Christ) to us. And during this present time of betrothal (engagement) grow in our love for Him and always find ourselves crying out: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20 b).

The church of Sardis, the fifth among the seven churches, is about 50 kms (30 miles) southwest of Thyatira. And like the city of Thyatira, the city of Sardis was very affluent. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, an empire known for its great wealth that it had amassed over the centuries and was the first to mint gold and silver coins. It would closely resemble modern-day America, albeit with a much smaller scale of global influence. And this we would later see, have a great influence on the church. The message to the church of Sardis, begins with Jesus identifying Himself as: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars (Revelation 3:1). The seven Spirits of God are mentioned in Isaiah 11:2 and the seven stars are in reference to Revelation 1:20, who are the seven angels or messengers to each of the seven churches. And the judgment related to the introduction of Christ is further in Revelation 3:3 b: Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. This is implying the spiritual deadness of the church, with the NKJV translation using the title: “The dead church.” And this is established by Revelation 16:15 and Matthew 24:42-44. The church had a name that it was alive (spiritual legacy) though it was dead (spiritually barren) (Revelation 3:1). And I couldn’t help but imagine a zombie to describe such a church – which walks about pointlessly and from afar can appear alive and be mistaken for a normal human being. Yet, as we examine (discern) closer and especially into the eyes, we find that life has far-gone. Merely an empty shell of the former person. And Sardis like any other church was not birthed into spiritual barrenness but spiraled there as a consequence of their own actions, which is what ..you have a name… implies. They were once known for being alive and had largely carried on using their former good reputation and past legacy even in their present deadness. And this is a great deception of the enemy among the churches that is widely prevalent in our times as well. Spiritually reputable and once-alive churches founded by the likes of great servants of God like John Wesley and Martin Luther, have strayed far from their humble beginnings. And like with the previous church – Thyatira, the inevitable correlation of wealth and riches on the very faith and spiritual state of the churches has to be pointed out (Matthew 19:24, 1 Timothy 6:10). To deny the reality of the pitfall of wealth (pursuit of excess money above our needs) is like running down an icy slope and acting surprised when we fall. 

Revelation 3:2 continues by saying: Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die…God now exhorts the church of which no good has been stated. In saying this, note that He is not calling or promising them to resurrect the dead things but rather the call is to focus on that which is alive and about to die. And the remedy to spiritual restoration is simple, as stated in v3: So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. It was a call to return to the apostolic teachings and doctrines on which the church was founded and grew. And today, likewise the “simple” answer to spiritual revival in the midst of bareness is a return to the whole truth of the Word of God, followed by repentance for all past disobedience. This was the key to revival in king Josiah’s (Yahweh who heals) time, who was only a youthful 26 years at the time of it (2 Kings 22). One influential revivalist, Charles G. Finney, says this about revival: ““Revival starts with repentance on the part of God’s people. If we will start obeying God, the Holy Spirit will begin to work in power in our lives, and as a result in the lives of those who as yet have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The remnant at Sardis are defined as such in v4:..people in Sardis who have not soiled [defiled] their garments…Are these people who have no sin? Yes (Revelation 22:14). Are these people who have not sinned? No (Romans 3:10, 23). The key to spiritual awakening is found in our response to our sins, either like Saul we can try and justify or transfer blame in our sin (1 Samuel 15:24, 30) or like righteous David we can acknowledge our sin before God (2 Samuel 12:12-13). And this response is largely driven and determined by our consciences (the spiritual fire-alarm to all sin). A closer walk with God makes us desire a purer conscience (Hebrews 9:14). The farther we are from God, the more concessions we start to make for our sinfulness (keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. – 1 Timothy 1:19). Revelation 3:4 continues by saying:..and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. White is the standard wardrobe choice of Heaven if you haven’t gotten that yet. It was also worn by the High-Priests as they ministered in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle/Temple. White signifies purity through the blood of the Lamb and the righteousness of Christ (Revelation 7:14, 19:8).

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:6). The parting words to the churches are insistently the same as before and as to follow; much like an emergency broadcast message being relayed over and over again to reach all citizens during times of pressing emergencies in the nation. The eternal promise to those who are victorious is as such: