7 Churches of Revelation
5. Sardis
The Meaning of the Name
“Sardis”: Greek plural of uncertain derivation; lost through antiquity?
[Sardius = “Red stone”?] ‘odem; i.e., the red stone (with a yellow shade); cf. Ex 28:17; 39:10; Ezek 28:13. Much used by the ancients for seals, as being tough yet easily worked, beautiful, and susceptible of high polish; the best stone for engraving. Josephus (the best authority, being a priest, therefore having often seen the high priest’s breastplate) calls it the sardonyx, the first stone in the high priest’s breastplate, in Ant. 3:7, section 5, but the sard or sardine, B.J. 5:5, section 7. Both sardine and sardonyx are varieties of agate.
He on the heavenly throne “was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine” (Rev 4:3). As the jasper (or else diamond) represents the divine bright- ness or holiness, so the red sardine (our cornelian) His fiery wrath; the same union as in Ezek 1:4; 8:2; Dan 7:9. Named from Sardis in Lydia, where it was first found. The Hebrews got their high priest’s sardines in Arabia, and from Egypt (Ex 12:35).
Sardion (Grk: sardion): in Rev 4:3; 21:20: the 6th foundation of the New Jerusalem. According to the Septuagint, sardion was the 1st stone, 1st row, of the breastplate. Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) translates sardius; the King James Version translates “sardine” (stone) (Rev 4:3) and “sardius” (Rev 21:20); the Revised Version (British and American) translates “sardius.”
The sarda of Pliny’s time was much used by the seal engravers. There were three Indian varieties, all of them transparent, one of them red in color; there was then no precious stone in more common use; those of honey-color were less valued. It probably included both the sard and the carnelian of the present day (cryptocrystalline silica).
Jesus' Chosen Title
“1 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.” (Rev 3:1)
“Seven Spirits of God”: The Old Testament idiom for the Holy Spirit. Why does Jesus use this title with this particular church? Most denominations today are very uncomfortable with the Holy Spirit—it’s one major cause of division within the church.
