Seven churches

112
M. M. NINAN
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Rev 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and
repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at
what time I will come to you.
Rev 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They
will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out
his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and
his angels.
Rev 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Sardis was a city 30 miles from Thyatira situated on the mountain cliff of Timolus. It was
built in BC 500 and was probably one of the first affluent cities of the world. It was
impregnable because of its position, self sufficient with respect to food and water and
other resources. It was approachable only from one side by a single road. Like Jerusalem,
Sardis could have boasted that with only the lame and the infirm could defend the city.
2 Sam 5:6 The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the
lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." :7 Nevertheless, David
captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David
Nevertheless the city was taken twice once in BC 449 and then in BC 218. In both cases
the procedure was the same. In both cases the helmet of one of the soldiers fell down the
cliff side. As he took his path down to extricate it, the enemies watched. In the night they
traced the footholds in single file and entered the city. The sentries were surprised by the
attack and the city fell without a fight. They were confident and therefore careless.
Rev 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die,
It was rich. Therefore an affluent society living in absolute luxury lived there. Being
business people, it was here the first minted coins were used in trade. The mountain area
was an earthquake zone. When it was destroyed by an earthquake it was rebuilt within
eighteen months in more (then) modern design and architecture, much more sophisticated
and planned without any external aid. Such was the wealth of the people.