Awake, you who sleep

Ephesians 5:14
Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Although the literal meaning of this shows that Christ has the power to resurrect, the context of this is about walking in the light. So the command to wake from the sleep and arise from the dead is also meant as advice to the believers who are still living in this world.

Essentially, the sleep and the dead here points to the spiritual state of believers who are not walking in the light or who have not overcome whatever situations they are in. The command that Christ will give you light guarantees that Christ will give us victory and the ability to overcome. Perhaps another thing of note is the action commands to awake and arise. This command seem to indicate the believers also need to put the effort to wake themselves and rise up, knowing that Christ is there to support them.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life

The letter to the church in Sardis warns them to be watchful and that their works have not been acceptable. They are accused of being dead even though believers are supposed to be alive in Christ. They are told to repent and it seems that perhaps they have not been watching or waiting for the return of the Lord. To those who overcome, their reward is the righteousness of Christ (white garments) and they will be in the Book of Life.


Revelation 3
The Dead Church

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.[a] 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You[b] have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’