It was on a Sunday, that I went to a large famous church. When I entered the church it was dark, because the lights were not turned on yet. I walked to the front and sat down. The pastor walked to the pulpit and told us to open our Bibles, but I couldn’t read. I waited until someone turned on the lights, but nobody did anything. I asked if someone could turn on the lights. But no one responded. When the pastor began to read, the whole church read the Bible in darkness, except for me. Therefore, I stood up and walked out of the church. This is a dream from some time ago. This dream disturbed me and I began to wonder what this dream meant. Is the church seated in darkness?
Do Christians think they walk in the light, while they walk in darkness?
Do Christians think that they walk in the light, while in reality (in the spiritual realm) Christians walk in darkness? Are growth and the number of people signs that the church is on the right track and spiritually prosperous?
Is prosperity and are supernatural miracles a sign of God? Do Christians think that they do good works for God, while God doesn’t consider their works good?
Do Christians think that they know Jesus, while in reality, Jesus doesn’t know them? Are there Bible verses about a church that is seated in darkness that confirm this dream?
Are there Bible verses about a church that is seated in darkness?
Yes, there is! Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke about a church that was seated in darkness in the Book of Revelation chapter 3. In Revelation 3:1-4, Jesus said the following to the church in Sardis that was dead:
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 (but you are dead). Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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. 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 (Revelation 3:1-4)
What does the Bible say about the church in Sardis?
When we look at the church in Sardis, we can conclude that it was a well-known church. Because the church had a name among the people that the church lived.
The believers of the church in Sardis did the works and thought they pleased God.
They assumed that they found the life and walked therein. However, the truth was that the church in Sardis was not alive, but dead.
The church in Sardis wasn’t seated in the light but in darkness.
The church was spiritually dead to Jesus and dead to God. None of their works were found perfect before God.
Jesus urged the believers of the church in Sardis to be watchful and to strengthen the things which remain, that were ready to die, so that they wouldn’t die, but live.
From a natural viewpoint the church of Sardis was alive, but from a spiritual viewpoint the church was dead
From a human point of view, the church in Sardis was a living church. Apparently, the church was successful and famous and probably had many church members.
The church in Sardis did many works and everything seemed to be prosperous. But from God’s view (a spiritual view), the church of Sardis was dead and lived in darkness. The believers didn’t do the works out of Jesus; out of the Light. But the church did the works out of themselves; out of the flesh (darkness).
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God
Romans 8:5-8
The Holy Spirit knows what’s in the heart of man
Only the Holy Spirit knows people’s hearts and what’s inside of people. These elders of the church of Sardis didn’t walk after the Spirit, although maybe they thought they were.
If they would have had the Holy Spirit and had walked after the Spirit, they would have discerned the spirits and good and evil and what is right and what is wrong. They would have discerned their dead works and the dead works of the members of the church and would have repented.
But the elders (the leaders) of this church, were darkened in their minds and lived in darkness. Their garments were defiled by sin and the world. Because you can only defile the garments of righteousness through disobedience to God, when you keep walking after the flesh; in sin and iniquity.
Was the church of Sardis prosperous and successful?
The believers thought they possessed the Holy Spirit and did the works out of the Spirit, because they were prosperous and successful. But God’s truth was, that they were spiritually asleep and dead.
The devil and demons come as an angel of light. They present themselves in the best way possible.
They imitate God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to tempt and mislead Christians so that they will open their lives to the powers of darkness and believe, obey, and follow them.
Carnal Christians that are led by their feelings, emotions, carnal mind, etc. will be misled.
If Christians don’t know the Bible and don’t hold on to the Word of God, but open themselves to the spiritual realm from their soul, then these powers of darkness will tempt the believers and take possession of them.
These powers of darkness can also imitate God and perform miracles. They can predict the future (and prophecy), reveal the hidden things of their neighbor, give visions and dreams, imitate tongues, provide supernatural powers, yes… even healings (Reiki, reconnective healing, acupuncture, witch doctors, massage therapy, etc).
Why was the church of Sardis not alive but dead?
The church of Sardis was not alive but dead. There was no life in the church of Sardis, although the church thought there was. The believers had received the truth, but they compromised. They probably adjusted the truth and permitted lies and doctrines of man into the church, whereby the truth was no longer the truth.
They had turned the gospel of Jesus Christ into a gospel of man.
The believers were not awake, but slept. There were only a few church members, who walked in the ways of the Lord in holiness and righteousness. These believers hadn’t defiled their garments but walked worthy before the Lord.
Jesus urged the church of Sardis to awaken and repent.
If they didn’t wake up and repent, then Jesus would come like a thief and they wouldn’t know the hour of His coming. If they did not repent of their dead works, they would enter eternal death instead of eternal life.
Is today’s church alive or seated in darkness and dead?
There are many churches today that are seated in darkness and are (spiritually) dead. Most Christians are not spiritual but carnal and focused on themselves.
Instead of Christians becoming born again and seeking the things which are above and focus on Jesus and be His witnesses on earth , the majority of Christians stay carnal and seek the things on earth and focus on themselves.
They focus on success, prosperity, finances, etc. instead of focusing on the lost souls of man and being busy with the Kingdom of God and the preaching of the cross.
In many churches, there are people, who think they are saved, while in reality, they are lost souls, who are on their way to destruction: eternal death.
Most shepherds are asleep, therefore, they don’t see their sheep walking into the abyss.
These shepherds don’t warn and chastise their sheep and don’t guide them with the truth of God anymore. Instead, they let the sheep go their own way.
The love has disappeared. Although many think they walk in love, by tolerating everything, including sin.
But the love of God calls to repentance and obedience to the words of God and keeping His commandments (a.o. John 14:15-23; 15:10).
In many churches, the fivefold ministry or actually the fourfold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds, who are also teachers) is not functioning correctly anymore.
As a result Christians are not taught in the Bible. They don’t know the will of God and don’t grow up in the image of Jesus Christ (which is the purpose of the fivefold ministry). Instead, they remain spiritual babies.
The Word has been replaced by the doctrines and philosophies of man. Many humanistic, philosophical, scientific, and new-age doctrines entered the church.
Many churches have become entertaining centers
People want to be entertained. They want to get attention, and sing, dance, fellowship, eat and drink and have a good time, instead of studying the Bible, praying and fighting spiritually and crying about the state of the church.
Man has become the center of attention; in sermons, church service, seminars, praise and worship, etc. As as result, sermons have been shortened. The prayer services have been shortened, canceled, or replaced by praise and worship services.
have preachers become entertainers?
Many preachers and elders of the church have become entertainers, comedians, and actors on stage instead of being spiritual fathers. They not only try to be intellectual, but also funny and witty, so that they will be liked, praised, worshiped, and exalted by the church audience and attract more people.
Many Christians love the world and the things that are in the world, and can’t give it up. Because of this, they have adjusted the words of God and mixed His words with their own philosophies, opinions and findings.
This way, Christians won’t have to change but can continue their carnal life and live like the world, and walk in sin and iniquity in darkness.
The church has thrown out the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit and welcomed the words and wisdom of the world into the church. (Read also: Jesus thrown out of the church and The Holy Spirit banished from the heart and put back into a building).
The world is seated in the church. and the devil (the ruler of this world (the darkness)) established his throne.
In many churches, Jesus is no longer the Head, but the devil has become the head.
This shouldn’t be surprising, because Jesus foretold this, when He spoke to His disciples about the abomination of desolation.
Has Jesus removed the candlestick?
Jesus removed the candlestick from many churches that are seated in darkness and are spiritually dead and refused to repent.
Despite the fact that a church has a name and is famous (in the nation or all over the world), has many members, has written books, speaks charismatic words, preaches motivational sermons, does good humanitarian works, and performs miracles and people are healed, the church can still be seated in darkness.
The church may think to live closely to Jesus and confesses His Name, while in reality, the church deviated from Jesus the Word and walks outside the will of the Father
That’s why it’s time to repent and return to Jesus, the living Word, and obey His words and keep His commandments.
update: This dream has come to pass and this church no longer exists.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
