Being a Full Account of the Seven Letters Sent by Our Lord
to the Seven Congregations of the Province of Asia Minor
Revelation II:I — III:XXII · c. AD XCVI · The Island of Patmos
No. V · Revelation III:I–VI
The Dead Church
The Letter in Full
1And 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. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.Revelation 3:1–6 · King James Version Also available in the NRSVue, an ecumenical modern translation
"He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars."
None given directly, though Christ notes "a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments."
"Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead... I have not found thy works perfect before God."
"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain... if therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief."
"White raiment," a name kept in "the book of life," and confession "before my Father, and before his angels."
History & Ruins
Sardis had been capital of the fabulously wealthy Lydian kingdom under King Croesus — origin of the phrase "rich as Croesus" — and is credited with minting the world's first true gold and silver coinage. Its acropolis, on a near-vertical cliff, was thought impregnable, yet was twice taken by surprise night assault. That history of a city which twice failed to watch stands behind Christ's warning that He would come "as a thief."
Excavations at Sardis have uncovered one of the largest ancient synagogues ever found, attached to a monumental gymnasium complex, along with the ruined Temple of Artemis at the foot of the acropolis.
The gymnasium-synagogue complex is among the most striking ruins in Asia Minor.