Gabriel & Lorraine

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Sardis, Turkey | The Dead Church

Lorraine Marie Varela

Are you inspired to visit the biblical sites and historic cities in Turkey? Come with us on a life-changing adventure!

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Sardis was a city of decadence, power, and paganism. With a population of 120,000 in the first century AD, its people were known for loose living, pleasure-seeking, and lovers of extravagance. And yet, it was from this place that the Good News spread rapidly, creating one of the largest Christian communities to impact the culture around them.

The Biblical Significance of Sardis

entrance-to-ancient-city-colossae-turkey

The Biblical Significance of Sardis

entrance-to-ancient-city-of-colossae

Sardis is the fifth community in the book of Revelation to receive a message, a rebuke, a warning, and a promise. The ancient city was originally built on a ridge at the top of Mount Tmolus, 5,800 feet high, before the civilization moved down the mountain into the fertile plain below. 

In 550 BCE, King Croesus—the richest man in the world—ruled from this impenetrable mountaintop fortress. In his power, he had become arrogant, lazy, and apathetic. One day, a soldier scaled down the city wall to retrieve his helmet that had fallen, unaware he was being watched by an enemy below. The fortress’s vulnerability had been exposed, which led to a surprise nighttime raid and capture of the city by Cyrus the Persian and his troops. 

Centuries later, the Lord gave a very strong warning to the believers of this community through the Apostle John in Revelation: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains…if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Revelation 3:1-6). 

To the angel of Messiah’s community in Sardis write: “Thus says the One having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds—you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains that was about to die. For I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God.  So remember what you have received and heard—keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.


But still, you have a few people in Sardis who have not stained their clothes. They will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. The one who overcomes thus will be dressed in white clothes; I will never blot his name out of the Book of Life, and will confess his name before My Father and His angels.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities.” Revelation 3:1-6

To understand the metaphor in this warning, we need to remember Sardis’s history. The believers in Sardis would have made the connection—this was their past legacy. Had they also become arrogant, lazy, and apathetic in the midst of the pagan culture that surrounded them? Have we?  It’s time to wake up! God wants us to impact the heart of our culture and our world. Let’s be careful not to compromise, but to shine the light of Messiah and carry His love everywhere we go, in all we say and do. Amen!


The Seven Churches of Revelation

Community Reputation: The Dead Church

Correction Needed: Wake Up!

Promise Given: Overcomers' names would never be blotted out of the Book of Life

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In the ancient agora of Sardis, Christian and Jewish shops intermingled side by side, just steps away from the pagan Roman gymnasium and baths.

Key Verse


“Remember what you have received and heard—keep it, and repent.”
Revelation 3:3


Spiritual Inheritance

Strength to live a life bold for Jesus without compromise—in the midst of cultural standards that are in conflict with His teachings

Points of Interest

  • Sardis Ancient City
  • Temple of Artemis

Points of Interest

  • Sardis Ancient City
  • Temple of Artemis

What to Expect in Sardis Today

unexcavated-tell-of-biblical-colossae-turkey

Gabriel and I approached the ancient ruins of Sardis (located here) just in time as the sun was beginning to set, giving us one final hour to explore this magnificent place. The ancient city is breathtakingly beautiful, even in its ruined state. 

open-air-bazaar-konya-turkey
unexcavated-land-of-colossae-turkey
Gabriel and I approached the ancient ruins of Sardis (located here) just in time as the sun was beginning to set, giving us one final hour to explore this magnificent place. The ancient city is breathtakingly beautiful, even in its ruined state. 

Alongside the perimeter of the city ran a long agora (Greek for “marketplace,” equivalent to our modern shopping malls). We noticed a number of Christian and Jewish shops mingled together, side by side. Names of Jewish shopkeepers were prominent with their menorahs, and crosses were plentiful. A public identity of faith was clearly on display.

Turning the corner, we entered the synagogue—the largest in the world from its day that has ever been found, unexpectedly discovered in 1962 by a team from Harvard and Cornell. Measuring over 300 feet, it was nearly the length of a football field! The floors retained most of their intricate mosaic patterns, the walls adorned with marble panels of floral and animal designs. At the back was a large marble table that is chest-length in size, and an apse with the “chief seats” for the wise and important. Impressive then—impressive now!

Next to the synagogue remains a huge gymnasium dedicated to the Emperor. It was a place to teach and to pass on their worldview: “Human beings are the center of the universe,” a very anti-God sentiment. Everything was either devoted to God or devoted to self (note: our modern equivalent is the university). The palestra, a large open courtyard, is the place where people trained their bodies to run, wrestle, box, and throw the javelin—in the nude! Behind the gymnasium is a large Roman bathhouse, where great immortality took place. Pagan idols dedicated to their gods are everywhere.

A short 5 minute drive from Sardis Ancient City are the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.

Alongside the perimeter of the city runs a long agora (Greek for “marketplace,” equivalent to our modern shopping malls). We noticed a number of Christian and Jewish shops mingled together, side by side. Names of Jewish shopkeepers were prominent with their menorahs, and crosses were plentiful. A public identity of faith was clearly on display.

Turning the corner, we entered the synagogue—the largest in the world from its day that has ever been found, unexpectedly discovered in 1962 by a team from Harvard and Cornell. Measuring over 300 feet, it was nearly the length of a football field!


The floors have retained most of their intricate mosaic patterns, the walls adorned with marble panels of floral and animal designs.


At the back is a large marble table that is chest-length in size, and an apse with the “chief seats” for the wise and important. Impressive then—impressive now!

Next to the synagogue remains a huge gymnasium dedicated to the Emperor. It was a place to teach and to pass on their worldview: “Human beings are the center of the universe,” a very anti-God sentiment. Everything was either devoted to God or devoted to self (note: our modern equivalent is the university).


The palestra, a large open courtyard, is the place where people trained their bodies to run, wrestle, box, and throw the javelin—in the nude!


Behind the gymnasium is a large Roman bathhouse, where great immortality took place. Pagan idols dedicated to their gods are everywhere.

A short 5 minute drive from Sardis Ancient City are the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.

Why Christians Should Visit


Sardis is one of the most impressive ancient sites remaining of the seven churches of Revelation. In spite of all their wealth and prestige, the warning given to the believers there is a wake-up call for us all—and an inheritance waiting to be activated again today.


Are you looking to strengthen your faith? To walk in greater degrees of boldness? Then come, visit Sardis with your spiritual eyes open and your heart ready to receive! 

About Lorraine Marie

Lorraine Marie Varela is an author, screenwriter, and professional photographer. She and her husband Gabriel are the co-founders of Inspiring Faith International, a ministry founded to draw people closer to the heart of God.

Lorraine Marie Varela is an author, screenwriter, and professional photographer. She and her husband Gabriel are the co-founders of Inspiring Faith International, a ministry designed to help people draw closer to the heart of God.

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