This 7th post in our reflective study through Revelation hones in on the letter to Sardis (3:1-6).  A video recording is available on the Shofar Durbanville Youtube channel. See the link in the image below.

Revelation, a prophetic letter written in the Jewish apocalyptic genre, was written to seven churches during the harsh reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 90-92) to comfort and challenge them in their struggle against the evil they endured.  As is typical with this symbolic genre, Revelation draws much from the Old Testament canon to reveal what is at play in their day.  In noting these symbolic references and the historical context, we get a clear understanding of the intended message to the first readers, which in turn breaks open the word of encouragement and exhortation to us in our day.

This is the case with our reading of Christ’s message to the church in Sardis today.  Sardis (present-day Sartmustafa in western Turkey) was once an impenetrable mountain fortress, a wealthy agricultural and wool-trading city characterized by arrogance associated with religious adherence and learning.  Temple ruins and statues of the gods of Dionysus (Roman name Bacchus), Artemis, and Cybele remain as witnesses to the culture of the day.

During his Persian conquest, Cyrus the Great laid siege to both the impenetrable cities of Sardis (547 BC) and Babylon (539 BC).  The prophet Daniel describes the night of the Fall of Babylon in the Bible.  The arrogance of emperor Belshazzar and this great city led to its fall when besieged by the Persian army, they continued feasting, trusting in its secure walls.  That night, the Lord wrote in blood on the palace walls, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN…—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end… you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up… your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:24-28).  Ironically, this siege is known as the Bloodless Battle: Cyrus the Great simply diverted the Euphrates River, which flowed through the city and marched his army into the capital.  Babylon woke up to a conquered city.

The historical Lydian capital Sardis fell in the same way: while the citizens kept their feast, trusting in their ancient, secure walls, a Persian scout noticed how a lookout’s helmet fell and how he retrieved it through a gap in the wall.  That night, Cyrus led his army through that gap, surprising the guards who were enjoying the feasting inside.  This arrogant security sets the background and tone for Christ’s letter to the church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6).

The revelation of Christ (3:1a). Christ reveals himself as … [Read the full commentary of Revelation in Faithful to the End]

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