In Revelation 3:1-6 .
The message to Sardis  
3 To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars , says this: I know thy works , that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead . 2 Be watchful , and strengthen the things that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Well if you will not watch, I will come like a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon ti.4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white , because they are dignas.5 who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life , I will confess his name before my Father, and before his ángels.6 who has an ear , let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches .

The city of Sardis  was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and undoubtedly , in his time, was an important city . It was located roughly 80 miles of Ephesus and her five major roads converged , so that Sardis was an important trade center . It also had its military significance because it was located on top of a hill , which made it almost impassable . Spiritually , Sardis was saturated with the cult of pagan goddess Artemis. Moreover, this city was known for its textile industry. There fine cotton fabrics were manufactured . But at the time John wrote Revelation, Sardis had lost much of the splendor it enjoyed in the past. We would say it was a city that only thing left is the name . A city living in the shadow of the glory.
Sardis was a church works , but with little life. Once had a reputation of being alive , but now even Faith was dead.
Jesus warns the saints ( 1) Be vigilant, be alert , (2 ) affirm the little they have , (3 ) recall the word that they have received and heard, (4 ) preserve and prepare for when He comes .
Verse 5 Amucha bothered people, because it seems to suggest that the names of the unfaithful Christians will be erased from the book of life. The book of life contains the names of all who are born . The names of those who reject Jesus Christ are erased from the book because they are dead .
The sender is presented as one who has the seven spirits of God . Seven is the number of perfection and what is complete. With this, Jesus is showing that nothing escapes his questioning look. Jesus Christ knows the actions and attitudes that cause those actions. Furthermore, Jesus Christ, the sender of the message is presented as having the seven stars . This means that Jesus has control of the churches and their leaders , because the seven stars represent the leaders or spokespersons in these seven churches.
We found the evaluation of the reality of the church of Sardis, intimately connected with the claim that Jesus makes this church . Unfortunately , something like what happened to the city of Sardis was going on with the church of Sardis . It was a church living under the shadow of the glory.
Revelation 3:1 in the second part says: ” I know thy works , that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead ”
He who knows absolutely everything that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars , has detected the deplorable condition of the church of Sardis . His verdict is clear: you have a name that you live , but are dead. For all practical purposes , the church in Sardis was nothing more than a neat mausoleum. It looked attractive on the outside , but inside was full of corpses. Speaking of bodies , I mean people who had fallen asleep on the laurels of past victories . Sure, they thought everything was fine. They had a beautiful temple , lavish buildings, enjoying fellowship , attendance was very good , finances were at their peak , but in reality , it was all artificial. Things were done out of habit. It was just a mechanical exercise of singing, praying , collect the offering , hear the message and go until Sunday to repeat the process , and so Sunday after Sunday .

Jesus therefore said to them : Have name that thou livest and art dead . Many churches today are like the church in Sardis , right? A church and Jesus Christ makes a recommendation .

Jesus says to this church and all who are like her: Be watchful or awake. Do not go more like you’re dead asleep . Then, once you wake up , strengthen the things , perhaps few , still living , but also die soon if you do something about it. Immediately after , remember what you have received and heard , save it and repent. This means , again do what you did in the past, to not only live the glories of past victories .
What recommendation as precise and clear. If you notice that your church is a well maintained , etc. , it is time to wake up and not continue to act as dead, because you have the name of one who lives . Begin to cultivate the things that have not yet been extinguished in his spiritual life . Perhaps prayer or reading and studying the word of God or Christian service. Anything that is still on but with a flame and shuts down. Start with something. Stoke that fire and that will lead you to revive other things I used to do before, but inexplicably have become extinct in your life. If the church in Sardis was ignoring the recommendation of Jesus Christ , we expected a severe judgment from Jesus Christ . In her dream come Jesus Christ as a thief in the night , that is, at the least expected to give their due to this church’s name lives but in practice it is dead now. Amid the recommendation , Jesus refers to a small group of believers in the church in Sardis , who refused to be carried away by the stream of mortality prevailing in the church.
They Revelation 3:4 where it says relates : ” 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 ” Thank God throughout the existence of the church There has always been a small remnant that has remained true to the principles of the word of God. In the darkest night , a few stars will always shine . They are not allowed to take his clothes pervasive smell of death that pervaded the church in Sardis . These people will be awarded , walking with Christ in white . Denoting intimate communion with the Savior in an atmosphere where sin has no involvement .
The reward in Revelation 3:5-6 says: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life , I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches ”

The winners are the true believers. His works are the result of their genuine faith. To them Jesus promises the following : To be clothed in white garments . This denotes a righteous life before God. Then , their names will not be blotted out of the book of life . This indicates security salvation. Nothing can make a true believer to lose his salvation . Finally , confess your name before the Father and the angels . This is a kind of celestial appreciation for the loyalty of the victors.

Revelation 2:12-17 Church of Pergamum

“Blessed is ( blessing falls on the person ) who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein : for the time is near. ” Rev 1:3

Letter to the church at Pergamum
12 » Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum ” This is what he says who has the double-edged sword : 13 ” I know you live where Satan has his throne, even so, has been very loyal to me and do not quit your faith in me even when killed Antipas , my faithful witness, in that city where Satan.14 lives ” However, I have a few things against you : there are some of you who follow the teachings that gave Balaam [ a] Balak to make the people of Israel sin by eating food offered in sacrifice to idols and by committing sexual sins . 15 In addition , there are some who believe in what they say nicolaítas.16 Therefore, changes , otherwise , I will come and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 ” Listen carefully to what the Spirit says to the churches . Whoever emerges victorious , I will give the hidden manna . I also give him a white stone on which is written a new name that can only know the recipient .

Notes: Pergamum means ” married ” , and this church was married to some erroneous doctrines and practices. There were three serious problems in Pergamum : Mystery Cults “also worship the emperor. They began to worship false gods and Balaam , idols fakes were made and given to fornication . In Pergamum church was with the world in order to achieve the advantages mundanas.También fell doctrines of the Nicolaitans then the church was divided between priests and people. This church had members who claimed that it was easy to confess the Lord , while simultaneously living in sin . People were living under the heavy hand of dictators spiritual self exalted , not the Lord.

Exactly the same thing is happening today, there are many pastors and religious leaders who are self exalting as if they were a god. Beware of the false prophets , teachers, pastors , evangelists as the Lord himself says that he is against all false worship false idols teaching, as is also against eating these false gods sacrificed for meals. The suggests that the more we move away from all this and much more of all sexual sin ! because if not, he will come soon and fight against all of them with the sword of his mouth.

The call to the church
Here is where the major problem of the church in Pergamum . Revelation 2:14-15 says: ” But I have a few things against you, because you hold there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam , who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols , and to commit fornication . So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate . ”
Jesus is putting the record straight in this church. They had good stuff, but there was always a but. In this case was that the church was tolerating in its bosom those who hold the doctrine of Balaam . Balaam was a prophet who sought personal gain from their office . In the church of Pergamum there were people who were profiting by his service , in quotes, the Lord.
Besides that Balaam counseled Balak to weaken Israel incite the people to join pagan cults , in which sexual immorality was part of the order of worship . Many Israelites did not think twice about joining this tantalizing religion. As a result , God punished them and died as 24,000 in a single day. Sad end to this painful episode. This is exactly what they were doing certain people in the church in Pergamum . The name means Pergamum : Married . The church is married to Christ and therefore must be faithful to Jesus Christ. But that promoted the doctrine of Balaam , incited the true believers to be unfaithful to Christ. They did it by saying things like : No problem that believers walk in the things of the world. No problem getting into politics , no problem you take an occasional drink , no problem that all smoke another cigarette one , no problem if they are drawn for meat and commit adultery or fornication , after they fix it with God and ready . These are examples of the doctrine of Balaam . This is how the church of Christ lived between the years 313 and 606. Being married to Christ , lay in the arms of the world. Lover turned Roman Empire . But unfortunately , that’s how he lives much of the church of Christ today. I mean true believers who dance to playing them . When in the church seem holy , do not even need the halo, but when you are in the world seem real demons , speaking as the world speaks , think like the world thinks and do what the world does. His love of the world makes them spiritually adulterous , because her true husband is Christ Jesus who died for them.
But the church of Pergamum tolerated also those with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Not much is known about this doctrine , but it seems it has to do with the absurd separating siblings , to make some other clergy and the laity . If you are looking for in the New Testament believers called a group of clergy and another group of believers called laity, not find it , because the New Testament says that all believers are priests of God. Moreover , we are a royal priesthood . So there is no reason to make separations as clergy and laity. But apparently this is what made ​​the Nicolaitans . Jesus Christ has strongly censured .

Jesus recommendation
Revelation 2:16 says, ” Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly , and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ”

Jesus wanted the church of Pergamum, recognize itself in the situation he was in, repent and rectify . Otherwise, Jesus Christ would come soon to the church to take care of himself attacking with the sword coming out of his mouth, the word of God , to those who teach the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans .
 Reward
Revelation 2:17 says , “He that hath an ear , let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . He who overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written , which no one knows except him who receives it. ”
These are not just words to the church at Pergamum , but for all believers in general.
The winner is he who has Christ as Savior. This we know from what we read in 1 John 5:5 . These winners show that your faith is real by its fidelity to Christ. For all believers , Jesus promises to reward them with two things : Give them to eat of the hidden manna which is a reference to enjoy the delights of Christ, who is the true manna from heaven , and give them a white stone . As for the white stone, we must recognize that when an athlete winning a competition, as part of his prize was handed a white stone with his name on it, this was his entry ticket to the conclusion. This suggests that believers have received your admission ticket to glory when you received Christ as Savior. In the stone , Jesus Christ a new name written , which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it . This refers to the name of love that Jesus Christ used for His own glory in , is so personal that no one knows but he who receives it.

A vision of the Son of Man
9 I John , your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day , and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet , 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last . Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia : to Ephesus , Smyrna, Pergamum , Thyatira , Sardis , Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Our  Bible study today is in Revelation 1 : 9-11 . But before we get to an analysis of this Scripture , fact remains that Revelation is divided into three parts. The division clearly in Revelation 1:19 where it says : ” Write the things which thou hast seen, and they are, and the things which shall be hereafter . ”
The first part , things you’ve seen . Revelation 1:9-20 . The second part, the things that are , Revelation 2 and 3 and the third part , the things that shall be hereafter , Revelation 4-22 .

The first part revolves around John’s vision on the island of Patmos. The portion for our study is the first section of this part. We might call it the circumstances of vision.

Revelation 1:9 says: “ I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ”

Several things worth taking into account within this verse. We see that the person who received the vision identified himself as John. This is the apostle John as already mentioned previously , the same who wrote the Gospel that bears his name and the three letters that also bear his name. This John is the simple and humble fisherman , son of Zebedee and brother of James . His life took a 180 degree turn when he met Jesus . John is the beloved disciple , who had the privilege to sit down on the side of Jesus at the Last Supper . Now, when you receive the vision was an old man, must have had more than 90 years . But note the humility of this great man. By identifying himself does not put the big title of Apostle , and chest out , but chooses to describe himself in a simple but beautiful way .
It’s just your brother . The greatness of character do not give titles to be acquired but the actions are performed . Brother is the most sublime epithet that a believer can be prefixed to his name. The great apostle John preferred to simply call brother. Also John testified that other believers is a partner in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ . John had received a dose of trouble in the work of the Lord and was a partner of all those who are afflicted in the Lord’s work . But John was also part of the great kingdom of the Lord is King and therefore was a partner of all those who are also part of that kingdom. Also Juan longed with his whole being back to see her beloved Jesus Christ and therefore is a partner of all those who patiently await the coming of our Savior. Then John gives us a detailed report of the situation when he received the vision. He says he was on the island called Patmos. I was on vacation.

Patmos Island was not an island that someone would go willingly . It was a barren island , volcanic , rocky, with little vegetation. A bleak about 24 kilometers from Ephesus on the Aegean sea. Measures just 15 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. On this island a prison for dangerous criminals was established. Alcatraz was the first century . It was equivalent to being in Siberia in winter. There were the galleys where prisoners were worked to exhaustion without the least convenience . The power was scarce. Inmates dressed in rags . Many of them had to sleep in damp, dark caverns. Some of the prisoners were so dangerous that it was better to be as far away from them. Loneliness was the best companion . Would you like to be in a place? Well, John, 90 years came to this place . Why? The text says that it was by the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. John came to the island as a result of persecution by reason only follow and serve Jesus Christ . Tradition has it that the Roman emperor Domitian took the ferocious prisoner Juan and to end his life ordered to be thrown into boiling oil. However, John did not die. In a miraculous way , his life was preserved . Domitian was so frightened by this fact did not dare to try to kill him again , but he banished the barren island of Patmos. In this deserted island surrounded by many dangers , Juan could have complained against God.
Maybe John could have said to Jesus : I followed you and I have served all my life until old age and now that I am old Why you treat me so ? Or maybe John could have said to Jesus : I ‘m too old . It’s time to give me some comfort in my old age . But John does not think so and prayed . John knew that follow and serve Jesus has its price. That price is persecution or misunderstanding or opposition , and John was always willing to pay . Follow and serve Jesus does not guarantee that we will live comfortably in this world.
Revelation 1:10-11 . He says: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day , and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last . Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia . Ephesus , Smyrna, Pergamum , Thyatira , Sardis , Philadelphia and Laodicea “

When John says he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day , does not mean that John was filled with the Holy Spirit in a sun day on a Sunday service . On the island of Patmos because there was no church other than Juan had not believers. In addition , John was filled with the Holy Spirit also from Monday to Saturday , not only on Sundays. What John says is that by the power of the Holy Spirit was supernaturally transported the material to the celestial sphere , where he received the revelation of Jesus Christ to be recorded in a book area.
When John says that was the Lord’s day , it means that the events that were seen are related to what the Bible calls the Lord’s day , which is something different on Sunday . On Sunday in the Bible is known as the first day of the week. The Lord’s day means the period of time in which God will pour out His judgment on the unbelieving world and impose their sovereign government. Seen this way, the day of the Lord extends from the beginning of the tribulation and ending with the Great White Throne judgment , including the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom. If some of these terms are a bit dark for you , do not worry as we proceed with the study of Revelation will become clearer . The first experience of John in the Spirit on the Lord’s day , is heard behind him a loud voice like a trumpet . This means it was a clear and intelligible sound. You could understand perfectly . The message echoed in the ears of John. It read: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last . This is how Jesus described himself. It shuts everything.

He is the eternal God and preeminent . Then John was ordered by Jesus Christ : The order read: Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches in Asia : A Ephesus, Smyrna , Pergamum , Thyatira , Sardis , Philadelphia and Laodicea. What John was about to receive is the book of Revelation. Now John knew he had to record everything that was to be seen in a book , which , should be sent to seven churches in what is now Asia Minor. Of these churches discussed in detail later in our study. While John is about to turn around to see with their eyes who was talking behind him, we were thinking how lucky I was to perceive Juan so heavenly glory . It is the reward for their suffering. The road to exaltation always paved with suffering

Revelation 2:8-11

8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last , which was dead, and lived , says this: 9 I know thy works , and tribulation , and poverty, ( but thou art rich ) and the slander of those which say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer . Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried , and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life . 11 He that hath an ear , let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . He who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death .

Notes: Smyrna was the persecuted Church , so that the Lord reminds them of their own suffering , death and resurrection . The saints were faithful in spite of suffering . They thought they were poor but they were rich , but they were poor. Satan is behind all this persecution even that is done behind the religion . False Christians blasphemed the saints.
Smyrna means “bitter ” and is associated with the word ” myrrh ” .

The Lord does not criticize this Church but nevertheless there is a present danger . It was a poor church and suffered. How easy it had been to make commitments with ( Satan ) getting rich and escape persecution . Exactly what today is happening in many churches , make pacts with Satan with false gospels and false beliefs to escape poverty and make false teachings led by false teachers , teaching a gospel based on money ” prosperity” and no faith in the Lord. How they must have been discouraged this church because they were not “rich” as the church of Laodicea.