Understanding the Second Coming: The Seven Churches Part 3 Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea

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Understanding the Second Coming: The Seven Churches Part 3

Understanding the Second Coming: The Seven Churches Part 3

Sardis

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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are

ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember

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. Thou 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. He 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the

churches” (Revelation 3:1-6).

The message to Thyatira addressed the papal church of the Dark Ages.

The message of Sardis is applicable to the Protestantism that separated

itself from the mother church. These were the faithful ones who resisted

the corrupting influence of “Jezebel” as it invaded the church.

The darkness was first pierced by John Wycliff, named “the morning

star of the Reformation,” as he translated the Bible into the English language.

His writings became popular. Many began to believe that the Bible

could be read and understood by common people.

Then arose John Huss in Bohemia, boldly preaching the Word of God

in the language of the common people, a practice forbidden by the church.

Huss obtained the writings of Wycliff and read them with great interest.

Slowly but surely he found his heart far from Rome. Conscience bound by the

truth penetrating his mind, he called the people to entire faith in Christ while

denouncing the oppressive power of the church he loved. Finally he was

burned at the stake for his fearless faith.

A voice mighty and clear sounded from Germany. Martin Luther, a

devoted Catholic monk, came to religious convictions wholly contrary to

those of his church. Compelled by the fire of truth burning in his heart, he

boldly stepped forward from the masses of helpless, deluded souls. He held

the Bible high before the people and declared it to be a higher authority than

the word of popes and kings. He denounced the sale of indulgences and

preached salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Rarely has a man

stood so courageously against such enormous opposition.

In France, a timid yet determined young scholar went from house to

house instructing the people to trust Christ for salvation because of His grace,

not in exchange for their righteous deeds. John Calvin set his heart on the

conversion of France to the Protestant faith. Eventually he became a source of

irritation to the Roman church and was sought out for arrest and likely for the

stake. Calvin opened the Word of life to an increasing number of eager listeners.

He settled in Geneva to aid Farel, a Swiss reformer. From there Calvin

employed his pen to defend the gospel.

William Tyndale in England, Menno S

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