The Book of Revelation The Final Part Write to the Angel of the Church in Sardis
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke about the message directed to the angel of the Church in Sardis, explaining that God knows the faithful even if they are only a small few in the midst of a world full of corruption and deviation. He confirmed that truth is not measured by numbers, because the few who hold fast to God may be the truly faithful before Him.
He explained that these few names were not swept away by the general current, nor did they follow the mistaken majority, but they resisted pressures and preserved the purity of their spiritual garments. Therefore, the Lord testified for them that they are worthy to walk with Him in white garments.
The lecture also focused on the meaning of God’s testimony for a person, and that the greatest testimony a human can receive is for the Lord Himself to testify that he is righteous, faithful, and worthy. He mentioned examples such as righteous Job and John the Baptist, to whom God testified concerning the greatness and holiness of their lives.
His Holiness also explained that true worthiness is not from man himself, but it is the fruit of God’s mercy and compassion, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet in His love, God grants the struggling and overcoming ones the grace to walk with Him in eternal glory.
He also spoke about the white garments as a symbol of purity, holiness, and righteousness, explaining that they are the garments of angels, saints, and martyrs, and that whoever desires to wear white garments in heaven must live a pure life on earth.
Then he explained the meaning of the “Book of Life,” and that a person must struggle so that his name may not be erased from it, because turning away from the path of holiness causes a person to lose the fellowship of life with God.
The lecture confirmed that Christ confesses before the Father and His angels everyone who confesses Him before people. Therefore, the believer must not be ashamed of the name of Christ, but should testify for Him through his life, words, and deeds.
In the end, the message carried a clear call to spiritual watchfulness, steadfastness in repentance and purity, and not being led by the corruption of the world, so that a person may become worthy to walk with the Lord in white garments among the assembly of the
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”
