In this week’s study, I begin in Chapter 3 with the Church of Sardis
The outline of the epistle to the church at Sardis Rev. 3:1-6 are:
(1) The usual salutation to the angel of the church, Rev. 3:1.
(2) the usual reference to the attributes of the Savior - those referred to here being that he had the seven Spirits of Yahweh, and the seven stars, Rev. 3:1.
(3) the assurance that He knew their works, Rev. 3:1.
(4) the statement of the uniqueness of the church, or what He saw in it - that it had a name to live and was dead, Rev. 3:1.
(5) a solemn direction to the members of the church, arising from their character and circumstances, to be watchful, and to strengthen the things which remained, but which were ready to die; to remember what they had received, and to hold fast what had been communicated to them, and to repent of all their sins, Rev. 3:2-3.
(6) a threat that if they did not do this, He would come suddenly upon them, at an hour, which they could not anticipate, Rev. 3:3.
(7) a commendation of the church as far as it could be done, for there were still a few among them who had not defiled their garments, and a promise that they should walk before Him in white, Rev. 3:4.
(8) a promise, as usual, to Him that should be victorious. The promise here is that he should walk before him in white; that his name should not be blotted out of the book of life; that he should be acknowledged before the Father, and before the angels, Rev. 3:5.
(9) the usual call on all persons to hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
Allow me now to interject on this Cybele. In classical mythology Cybele’s were female prophets who’s suspending the senses of the mind, whose utterances were inspired by Apollo.
Now keep in mind that this worship of Cybele is also the same as worshipping Ishtar, which we get Easter from. Ishtar is also known as the fertility, sexual many-breasted goddess.
Angel = the messenger or Bishop of this Church would have been Melito
A name = not suited for this dispensation of grace.
Livest = into the worldly way
Dead = dead spiritually. They have no place in that next earth age. Why? Because they follow after the way of Cybele!
Get Your Heart Right With Yahweh. The church at Sardis looked good from the outside but was really dead on the inside. They had empty works. Salvation is not through works.
Eph. 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Yahweh -- not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Heb 4:12 For the word of Yahweh is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
My intention is to take this study to a deep level. Deeper than most of you are used to! I am asking no one to agree with me; however I do ask that you check every detail that I present out for yourself.
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
But, be like those in 2Timothy 2:15 ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God (Yahweh), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at utwoy@netzero.net
