Revelation 3:3

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.

Remember {G3421} therefore {G3767} how {G4459} thou hast received {G2983} and {G2532} heard {G191}, and {G2532} hold fast {G5083}, and {G2532} repent {G3340}. If {G3362} therefore {G3767} thou shalt {G1127} not {G3362} watch {G1127}, I will come {G2240} on {G1909} thee {G4571} as {G5613} a thief {G2812}, and {G2532} thou shalt {G1097} not {G3364} know {G1097} what {G4169} hour {G5610} I will come {G2240} upon {G1909} thee {G4571}.

So remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and turn from your sin! For if you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief; and you don’t know at what moment I will come upon you.

Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 3:3 delivers a stern warning and urgent call to action from Jesus Christ to the church in Sardis, a community characterized by spiritual complacency despite a reputation for being alive (Revelation 3:1).

Context

This verse is part of the third of seven letters to churches in Asia Minor, specifically addressed to Sardis. Historically, Sardis was a city with a glorious past but had suffered surprise attacks due to its inhabitants' overconfidence and lack of vigilance. This historical vulnerability serves as a poignant backdrop for Christ's warning. The church itself, though outwardly appearing active, was spiritually dead, needing a revival of its foundational faith and practices.

Key Themes

  • Remember and Hold Fast: The command to "remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast" urges believers to recall the initial fervor and purity of their faith, the truths they were taught, and the spiritual blessings they received. It's a call to return to and cling to those foundational principles rather than drifting into apathy.
  • Repentance: The imperative to "repent" is central, indicating a need for a decisive change of mind and direction from spiritual indifference and dead works. This call for repentance is a recurring theme in Christ's letters to the churches (Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:16).
  • Vigilance and Sudden Coming: The warning, "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," highlights the critical importance of spiritual alertness. The phrase "as a thief" emphasizes the unexpected and sudden nature of Christ's coming, whether in judgment upon the unrepentant church or in the ultimate return of Christ for all (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). It is a call to constant readiness.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "watch" is grēgoreō (γρηγορέω), meaning to be awake, alert, or vigilant. It implies not just physical wakefulness but spiritual readiness and attentiveness. The term "thief" (kleptēs - κλέπτης) in this context is used not to imply malicious intent, but rather the element of surprise and the fact that the coming will be unexpected for those who are unprepared, leading to a state of spiritual loss or divine judgment.

Practical Application

Revelation 3:3 remains highly relevant for believers today. It serves as a potent reminder against spiritual complacency and calls for continuous self-examination. We are urged to remember the core tenets of our faith, to hold fast to sound doctrine and spiritual disciplines, and to be ever-watchful, living in constant readiness for the Lord's promised return or any moment of divine accountability. It underscores that true faith is not merely a past experience but an active, ongoing relationship requiring vigilance and genuine repentance when we stray.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 2:5

    Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

  • 2 Peter 3:10

    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2

    For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

  • Matthew 24:42

    Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

  • Matthew 24:43

    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.

  • Luke 12:39

    And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

  • Luke 12:40

    Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back