Sardis

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:1-4)

The city of Sardis was situated on the eastern bank of the Pactolus River at the southern end of the Hermus valley, about 80 kilometers east of Smyrna and northeast of Ephesus. The earliest settlement occupied the northern slopes of Mount Tmolus, its citadel situated on a high rocky spur, which was well fortified and easily defended. The river Pactolus, flowing at its base like a moat, ensured the city was virtually impregnable.

The wealth of Sardis was derived from gold found in the sandy shores of the Pactolus River, from wool, the manufacture of textiles and jewelry. It is in Sardis that gold and silver coins were first minted by the opulent king Croesus. Given its strategic location, as well as commercial importance on the East-West trade routes, that Sardis became the capital of the ancient Lydian empire.

Ironically, because the citadel was built on such a steep, high hill, Croesus the last Lydian king, was complacent about its defence, convinced it did not need guarding. The city fell in 546 B.C. to Cyrus the Persian ruler after his soldiers observed how a Lydian descended the steep hill using steps cut into the rock to regain his lost helmet. Using this secret path the Persians entered the acropolis and captured Sardis. The people of Sardis failed to learn the lesson because in 214 B.C. the city fell to Antiochus the Great using the same tactics. Sardis is also remembered as the place from where Xerxes invaded Greece and Cyrus marched against his brother Artaxerxes.

In 334 B.C. Alexander the Great captured Sardis but allowed it to remain independent. Just 12 years later in 322 B.C. it was taken by Antigonus. In 301 B.C. the Seleucid kings, in turn, took the city and made it the home of their own governors. Sardis became independent again in 190 BC, as part of the Pergamum empire before eventually succumbing to Roman rule.

Sardis was also famous for its impressive Temple of Artemis as well as its mystery cults especially one associated with Cybele. Built in the fourth century B.C. the Temple of Artemis was 100 meters long and 50 meters wide, with 78 Ionic columns, each over 17 meters high. Some of these columns still remain standing today. There was also a large Jewish Synagogue in Sardis, over 120 metres long and 18 metres wide. This was three times larger than any synagogue found in Palestine. An earthquake in A.D. 17, devastated the entire city. The emperor Tiberius gave Sardis a dispensation, freeing the city from taxation, and also helped to fund its restoration. Sardis never, however, regained its former glory.

In the first Century Sardis also had a large Christian community. It is the fifth church addressed by the Lord Jesus in the Book of Revelation. The letter to 'the angel of the church in Sardis' (Revelation 3:1) suggests, however, that the church was infected with the same complacent attitude as the city. They were relying on their reputation, and failing to remain vigilant, as the city had twice failed before.

Jesus warns them, "you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." (Revelation 3:1). His call to the Christians of Sardis, as to us in our day, is to 'Wake up! Strengthen what remains...' (Revelation 3:2). The reference to those 'dressed in white' (Revelation 3:5) would similarly have been familiar in a city renowned for its luxury clothing industry. The faithful who remain vigilant will indeed share in the triumphal coming of our Lord.