Smalley takes special note of the lack of any commendation for Sardis, thus abandoning the pattern of message to the first four congregations. Whatever the exact meaning and the cause of this omission may have been, the consequences are, in this case, what really matters. The church is not brokering life but death, and its prospects for the future are as dim as those of the citadel’s overconfident defenders in the sordid history of Sardis.

The purpose of the identification seems to be relational. The risen Christ maintains relationship with both the seven spirits (i.e., the Holy Spirit; see 1:4) and with the seven stars identified as the angels of the seven churches. Once again the deeds of the church at Sardis are clearly known to the One who has both the Spirit and the seven stars

In Sardis the question is the relationship between reputation and reality. The reputation of the church at Sardis was life, but the reality was that they were dead

The Lord’s judgment is that he has not found the deeds of the church at Sardis to be complete in the sight of God. “Complete” is a translation of the perfect passive participle of plēroō and is one possible rendering. But here the NIV is not as helpful. The word often carries the idea of being “full” or “filled.” The offense is that Sardis has not filled the standard expected by the risen Lord.

Further counsel urges the saints of Sardis to remember two things—that which they received and that which they heard—and to be obedient to that heavenly vision through repentance. That which had been received would have to reflect the word of God, salvation, and all the manifestations of the grace of God. That which they had heard probably represents the message of redemption

The mandate for Sardis is “wake up,” a present active Greek participle with the sense of “awake” or “watchful.” This is preceded by a present middle imperative of ginomai, which means “become.” The church, then, is told to “wake up” or “be watchful” and strengthen whatever remains that is also close to death

Allusion to the fate of the city of Sardis in days long past is obvious here. Just as the overconfident city, unaware of the enemy scaling its walls, fell when least expected; so, too, the church at Sardis, with its reputation for life, stood at that moment imperiled by a thief-like visit from God, which would result in its destruction. The threat suggests that dead and dying churches are frequently oblivious to either their condition or to the imminent threat.

Churches with reputations for life but who, nonetheless, harbor primarily death are common enough in any age. One feature of many of these is the presence within the church of saints who have not succumbed to the death that is all around them. Sardis was no exception. Singled out in Sardis is a group that is said not to have “soiled their clothes.”

Those, however, who had participated in separated and holy living were promised that they would be ambulatory with the Lord himself. This walk would continue in holiness since they would be dressed in white. This promise has special significance for these who “hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

The reason for this walk in white with Christ is because these are worthy (axios). However, this achievement is not the accomplishment of the overcomer but is a bestowed or imputed worth based on the sacrifice of the worthy Lamb. Revelation 12:11 declares, “They overcame him / by the blood of the Lamb.

A final portion of the promise to the conquerors is that Christ will confess their names in the presence of his Father and before his angels. Clothed in the white of holiness, the overcomer walks as worthy into the presence of God and the angels, unafraid of his name having been removed from the Book of Life; and he listens as Jesus confesses his name before all the cosmos. The usual formula concludes the message: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”