Watch Therefore

“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4)

In His message to the seven churches in Asia, Jesus points out the defects of each church except for the church of Philadelphia. He declares that the church in Sardis is dead. They think they are alive but they are dead. That means it has no spiritual life in it, no connection to God and not in His Will. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things. I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God.” (Revelation 3:1-2) But evidently there are some things, which are not specified that are still alive but are “ready to die.” Jesus instructs them to watch and repent. Jesus will come unexpectantly to them. They will be like the five virgins who didn’t have oil. They missed the bridegroom. And so the church in Sardis will miss the Lord if they don’t repent.

How many Christians in the many generations since Jesus ascended to heaven, have been waiting for His coming? Every generation has expected Jesus to return in their day. Every generation felt that all prophecy had been fulfilled for the coming of Christ. But there are two important and separate events that take place. One is the rapture of the church. Many believe it will happen before the Great Tribulation. Others believe it will occur in the middle of the Great Tribulation. And still others believe the church will have to be at the end of the Great Tribulation. But whenever it occurs, we have to be waiting for the coming of the Lord with expectancy.

In the Rapture, Jesus does not set foot on earth. We go to meet Him in the clouds. To those of us who believe it occurs before the Great Tribulation, we look at Noah who was taken away from the judgement of God. We believe the church will be taken from the terrible judgement that is to come upon the earth. There are other Scriptures that declare that the saints will be coming with Jesus when He sets foot on the Mount of Olives and it splits east and west. Therefore, they must have been in heaven already. The Scripture reads “with all of His saints.” This means everyone of us. “And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we also toward you, in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1Thessalonians 3:12-13)

When Jesus returns and sets foot on earth, He will come with all of His saints riding horses. “And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war. And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself. And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:11-14) The saints are the army of the Lord. And we’re dress in fine linen, white and clean. That’s the righteousness of Jesus on us. The undefiled of Sardis will be there also.  Jesus said that they were few.

This time, Jesus comes not as a Shepherd to gather His people to Himself, but to bring judgement on the earth to His enemies. It’s called the Great Tribulation because there will be suffering like never before. “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand). Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house; nor let him in the field turn back to take his clothes. And woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days! But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.” (Matthew 24:15-24) While the temple has been desecrated when Antiochus erected the idol of Zeus in the temple. At the end of time before Jesus returns, the Antichrist will order the image of the beast to be set up in the temple.

Jesus gives us this instruction. “Watch therefore, praying in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36) How can we be worthy? It’s not by our own effort, works or gains. We are worthy because Jesus has covered us with His shed blood and cleansed us of all unrighteousness. He has placed on us His righteousness when we received Him as Lord, King of our lives. This is not merely lip service, but rather heart service in sincerity. Many are troubled because they sin. They stumble and fall in their walk and in their devotion. But Jesus has put all our defects and weaknesses under the blood. It’s forgiven and forgotten. This is so wonderful to meditate on and to realize the miracle of the life Jesus has given us.

In summary, although the church in Sardis was dead, there were saints there who were undefiled. This means that individually, we are responsible for living a righteous life regardless of what the world or the majority are doing. We should heed the warnings Jesus gives to the churches of Asia and watch for His coming. The Rapture of the church is different from the Second coming of Christ. In the Rapture Jesus comes for the church. In the Second coming, He comes to judge the earth and His enemies. And when He does return, we will all come with Him and watch Him triumph over His enemies and set up His kingdom.

Let us pray:

Father God, the things that are to come are too difficult to truly understand. But Your Word has declared it. Some of what has been prophesied has come about and what hasn’t is sure to occur. Your Word is firm and established forever. No one can change a Word of it. I thank You my Lord that You love Your children and that You will have mercy on Your church. You will gather her and protect her from the judgement that is to come. I look forward Lord to be gathered with Your church and to triumph with You as You come to establish righteousness on the earth. Be glorified forever my Lord. Maranatha, Lord come. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.