Sep 23, Sardis

This morning, we departed Izmir (which is ancient Smyrna in Revelation chapter 2) for Sardis.  There was not a historical site in Izmir (Smyrna) for us to visit.  We learned that the Smyrna church mentioned in Revelation did not have a place of worship.  Therefore, the church, to which is being addressed, is a community of people who were suffering persecution, not about a  building structure.  And, they were faithful even in the midst of being slaughtered to death.  I HONOR them.

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown." (‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ NIV)

Journey to Sardis

We traveled east for about one hour and arrived at Sardis.  Sardis was a large city, and it housed THE largest synagogue in the world at the time of the first century.  Next to the synagogue is a gigantic Greek gymnasium area.  What was striking to us was the fact that along the main street of the city were signs of christian influence in a large Jewish community.  And, we saw evidence that the synagogue, too, had perhaps become a place for christian worship.

Here is a picture inside an excavated shop with crosses engraved in a basin, communicating to people in the market that in this shop were believers of the Way.

This is the Greek gymnasium.  I am standing in the huge courtyard of the gymnasium.

This next panoramic picture is of the synagogue *left" and gymnasium (right).

For this next picture, here is the east entrance to the synagogue.  Sam is instructing what the first christian symbol looked like, which was not a fish, but rather a grouping of greek letters that overlaid on top of each other to form the symbol of the circle with the criss-crossed lines.  The greek letters that make up that symbol were the initials of words "Jesus Christ God Son Savior" in greek, which spelled ICThYS.  The letters, ICThYS, put together to spell the greek word for "fish".   If you are confused, just ask me some other time to explain.

Overlooking Sardis is a hilltop that had an ancient city with a very interesting story.  You can see part of the remains of the city wall.

This ancient city has an interesting history that teaches us something about what John is trying to say to the Sardis church in Revelation.  The story goes like this:  This ancient city was held by the Lydian people under King Croesus in 550 BC.  When the Persian empire expanded, the Persians tried to conquer this Lydian city.  It was nearly impossible because of the rock cliff walls which protected it.  One day, a Lydian solder dropped his helmet over the side of a less-guarded, unprotected side of the wall around the back.  Unaware that a Persian soldier was looking on, the Lydian soldier climbed down the wall, retrieved his helmet and climbed back over the wall.  The Persian soldier who saw it, reported it to Cyrus the Great of Persia, who then planned a surprise attack at night on the weaker unguarded side.  The Persians succeeded and the hilltop city was conquered, all because the Lydian army was not alert and let their defenses down.

It is this well-known story ingrained in the people living in Sardis that has the metaphor that the apostle John uses to speak to the church of Sardis in Revelation 3.

"Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you."  (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭2-3‬ NASB)

In other words, wake up, watch out, be alert and alive to the things around you in your christian walk in life.  Otherwise, if you get complacent and lazy, you could lose everything!

Picture of Sam Morris at Sardis:

Next is Laodicea also from Revelation chapter 3.