Chapter 3, Verses 1-6: Sardis EV 3:1-6{the Lord Addresses the Angel of the Assembly at Sardis As the One Who Holds the Seven Stars in His Hand. (See the Imagery of Chapter 1:16, 20.) This Time, He Does Not Say, As He Did When Addressing the Angel of the Assembly at Ephesus, "in His Right Hand." This Omission Is Not Without Significance. the Right Hand Is the Hand of Power and Authority; and While the Angel in Sardis Still Acknowledges Its Connection With Him, It No Longer Acknowledges His Authority Over It

Nevertheless, despite its spirit of independence, He is still the One Who "holds the seven Spirits of God." All fullness resides in Him; and whether the angel recognizes it or not, He is the only source of spiritual supply for what the assembly really needs. Where there is faith, this is a most precious and encouraging assurance indeed.
The assembly there has a name that it lives; but spiritually, it is lifeless and without vigor. (Many there do not even possess divine life at all.) What it does have though is ready to perish; and so, He warns it to remember how it had received and heard and repent. It had received the Word of God with divinely-given faith; but beyond that, it hadn't given it its proper place in its heart. If it doesn't watch therefore, He will come upon it the way a thief comes upon his victim—that is, in an hour it doesn't expect him.
Still, even in Sardis, there are some that have divine life and have not become personally defiled by what surrounds them. They will therefore walk with Him in white, because they are worthy. The overcomer then will walk with Him in white raiment, and He will not blot his name out of the book of life, but He will confess His name before His Father and before His angels.
Historically, Sardis corresponds to the assembly after "The Reformation Movement" had lost its initial freshness and vitality. It is therefore that which grew out of what had originally broken away from Thyratira, when the truth of justification by faith was first recovered. At its inception, the Reformation was a fresh and mighty work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and could only be said to be "a divine work." Gradually however, earthly ways and cold ritualism set in; and it became largely formal, perfunctory and even political.
Although Sardis was not characterized by Thyatira's corruption, it had given up what it once stood for; hence, the charge that it had a name that it lived, but was dead. Today, it is what is called "mainstream Protestantism" and is last seen when it embraces that idolatry that will hold all Europe and the western world in its grip. (See Rev. 16:15.) There are however some among them whose hearts are devoted to the Lord and whose lives reflect a holy zeal for Him and His interests. They are the overcomers.