In Sardis you get another character-it is a very striking thing when you come to this. The character given to Christ when walking among the candlesticks, in chapter 1, is all ecclesiastical. You see Him both in His divine and human character,— “One like unto the Son of man... his head and his hairs white like wool, and his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass.” All this is a person judging—fire is ever the sign of judgment; “And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword;”—judgment again. We find none of these ecclesiastical characters here except the seven stars. He never gives up His authority at any time, and never will, still the ecclesiastical characteristics are passed over. In Sardis we get His divine character in connection with the coming of the Lord,— “These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars:”—none of those spoken of at first, but the seven stars. This fullness of the power of the Spirit is His; no lack of authority. “The seven spirits of God,” His intrinsic moral character, all that the Spirit is, in wisdom and power. “I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead.” There is no Jezebel corruption here in Sardis; there is death. “Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” That is the way He is dealing with Sardis. This is a solemn truth.
What a strange thing when the Lord speaks of their being dead, and yet expects perfect works! But God never expects anything else, and never will. He will never go back from His proper claim; He will never expect more than has been given; but He will expect conduct fully up to what has been received, “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.” What is this? It is mere profession—not corrupt systems; it is that which has a name to live and is dead. He will treat it like the world. Why? Because it is the world. People complain of our calling it so, but it is called so; and it is treated as the world; as you see in 1 Thess. 5:22For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is the very distinction the apostle makes where you get taste Christians contrasted with professors. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, for when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them; but ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that clay should overtake you as a thief.” Nothing could be more solemn than His testimony, “I will come on thee as a thief;” but it will overtake Sardis; and if you, my reader, have a name to live and are dead, it will overtake you. If you do not “watch”—if you are not acting up to this—I will treat you like the world. That is the exceedingly solemn testimony as to those who have a name to live but are dead-where there is profession, but the works are not perfect according to what has been received. If you are not acting up to that, if you say “My lord delayeth his coming,” I will treat you like the world, and will appoint you a portion with unbelievers. (Luke 12:4646The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:46).) I get this solemn testimony here as to those who have a name to live and are dead to God.