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. 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. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. ~ Revelation 3:1-3 

Notice the warning of Jesus to the church on Sardis, he warns them to be watchful and to strengthen the things which are ready to die. It is not clear from this portion of scripture what the sin of the Sardis church was, but whatever it was, it had caused them to become complacent and their spiritual garments were defiled.

We know this because Jesus speaks of the few among them who had not defiled their garments and would walk with in white for they were worthy. In other words, they had kept themselves pure by the blood of the lamb. We see that those who had not defiled their spiritual garments, were already overcomers, and Jesus wanted the entire church at Sardis to be overcomers: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Being clothed in white raiment is the spiritual language for keeping sin out of our lives. In Revelation 16, Jesus says, Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame ~ v.15. Then in chapter 19 we read the following:

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 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. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. ~ Revelation 19:6-9

Notice that the lamb’s wife hath made herself ready, and was arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Contrary to the lamb’s wife that had made herself ready in chapter 19, we see Jesus telling the church at Sardis that they were not ready and their garments were defiled. We must remember that Jesus is talking to the church, so this is a message for the church. It is entirely possible that we who claim to know the Lord could be in a state of not being ready if we are harboring unrepentant sin in our lives. Harboring unrepentant sin could cause the coming of the Lord to overtake us as a thief, just as Jesus pointed out to the church in Sardis, and just as he says in Revelation 16:15, Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

The book of the Revelation is not the first time we see Jesus referring to his coming in the likeness of a thief. Consider our Lord’s words in Matthew 24.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ~ Matthew 24:43-51

Notice that Jesus describes two types of servants. The first was a faithful and wise servant. The second was an evil servant who said in his heart, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and consequently begins to live in egregious sin. 

Unfortunately, this evil servant is comforted in many places by Pastors and ministers who will tell them that they are eternally secure even if they forsake Jesus and live in willful sin. Conversely, Jesus says that this evil servant will be cut asunder and appointed his portion with the hypocrites.

In case anyone needs help understanding what that means, it ain’t good, and it’s not an entrance into the kingdom of Heaven, because there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Now, if we were to keep reading this section of scripture, it would lead us right into the parable of the ten virgins. So let’s read the two sections together as one flow of thought, beginning with Matthew 24:43 to 25:13. You might be surprised at what you discover.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. ~ Matthew 24:43- 25:13 

Notice the correlation between the faithful and wise servant and the five wise virgins. Notice also the how evil servant who has his portion with the hypocrites relates to the five foolish virgins who were not ready and and was shut out of the marriage.

Don’t be deceived. Believe the teachings of Jesus.