Bible Matrix ⑦_210_REV 3:4 – Yet you have a few people in Sardis

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Bible Matrix ⑦_210_REV 3:4 – Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV16Kqs3VqA

Bible Matrix ⑦: Historical & Scientific Views on Daniel and Revelation

Part 2. Revelation

Revelation 3:1~6 - To the Church in Sardis, alive but you are dead, but a few people

Revelation 3:4 – Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes

☞ Revelation 3:4 - 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. (NIV); 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. (KJV); "Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (NLT); But you have a ·few [few people;  few names] there in Sardis who have kept their clothes ·unstained [unsoiled; undefiled], so they will walk with me ·and will wear white clothes [ in white], because they are worthy. (EXB); But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. (ERV); But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your clothes clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so. (GNT)

○ First of all, considering into <Revelation> 19:8, here 'robes or garments or clothes’ mean 'actions or acts or deeds of people'. Thus, ‘who have not soiled their acts‘ (NIV) means “who have not defiled their acts” (KJV) or ‘who have kept their acts unstained' (EXB). This means 'who have not soiled their acts with evil' (NLT), or 'who have kept themselves clean' (ERV) or 'who have kept acts clean’ (GNT).

○ In a word, “those who have not soiled their clothes” (NIV) are “those who have done the righteous acts or actions or deeds” in <Revelation 19:8>.

☞ Revelation 19:8 - Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.(NIV); And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.(KJV); She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people.(NLT)

○ In terms of Christian history, a few people might be interpreted as follows:

☞ It refers to Martin Luther (1483~1546) in Germany, Huldrych Zwingli (1484~1531) in Switzerland, and Jean Calvin (1509~1564) in France, all who led the Reformation in the early 16th century (1517).

☞ Arndt, Spener, and Francke: In the 17th~18th centuries, when the Reformation fell into a period of stagnation, a few believers who breathed life into the church appeared. John Arndt (1555~1621) and Philip Spener (1635~1705) of Germany, and their successor A.H. Francke (1663~1727) led the Pietism movement in the 17th century. Encouraging small group bible studies and prayer meetings with active participation of the laity, emphasizing piety in real life and the second coming of Christ, teaching practical faith and sermons centered on the biblical gospel instead of sermons centered on theological theories, they breathed new life into the church that had seemed dead.

☞ Zinzendorf and Moravian: In addition, German Zinzendorf (1700~1760), a Lutheran pastor and the successor of Czech reformer Jan Hus (John Hus or John Huss, 1370~1415), preached the truth between Lutheran and Hussite believers who had different opinions. In 1727 he organized the Moravian church, united both Lutheran and Hussite into ‘Unites of Brothers’ named "UnitasFratrurn". These descendants are called the Moravians.

☞ Quakers and Puritans: In addition, the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers, descendants of George Fox (1624~1691) of England, and the Puritans, who inherited the flow of Calvinism in  England and United States and who opposed the Church of England which had a strong Roman Catholic character, maintained the spirit of reform. In particular, the Puritans opened the opportunity to start a new faith of the Christian church with complete religious freedom in the new continent, the United States. They maintained an uncorrupted faith, and their beliefs and deeds were righteous as the righteous acts or actions or deeds.

○ Therefore, these are the ones, Jesus says: “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” (NIV). In other words, they are 'those who have done the righteous acts or actions or deeds’, therefore, they are worthy to wear white clothes.

○ I will discuss what is ‘white clothes or fine linen which is bright and clean’ in the next session.