The remainder of this letter is full of encouragement to the faithful.  The only burden Christ placed upon them was a severe censure because they tolerated that abominable party in their midst.  They were exhorted to continue faithful and were promised power over the nations.  These they should rule with a rod of iron, the same as Christ, who received this power from his Father.  The law, or rod, with which Christ, and his people with him, as kings and priests, rule the nations is the word of God, the most unyielding law, based upon the greatest authority, ever written.  “Let the saints be joyful in glory ... let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgments written:  this honor have all his saints.”  Psa. 149:5-9.

CHAPTER III.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

    2.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, 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.  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.

    4.  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.

5.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

    6.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
    the churches.

Sardis was one of the chief cities of western Asia Minor.  It was beautifully situated on the river Pactolus, in the middle Hermus valley, at the foot of Mount Tmolus, and was once the capital of the kingdom of Lydia, the place of residence of Croesus and other Lydian kings.  It was a city of great opulence and splendor, and “distinguished for the voluptuous and debauched manners of its inhabitants.”

To this church Christ introduces himself as “he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars”—­that is, he has control of the Holy Spirit’s agency and of his ministers.  Thus, the great spiritual agencies of the church are in his keeping to bestow or to take away as he pleases.  Considering the dead condition of this church of Sardis, it was very appropriate for Christ thus to address himself to them.  He has no words of commendation