The Church in Sardis

The Things Which Are

Rev. 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.

The 8th New Testament prophecy in Revelation (Rev. 3:3-4, fulfilled; cp. Rev. 4:4; 6:11; 7:9, 7:13; 19:8, 19:14). Next, Rev. 3:9.

Exhortation

They were exhorted to wake up from their spiritual slumber and to strengthen the few evidences of life they still had. He exhorted them to remember… obey… and repent. He warned them that if they did not heed this exhortation, He would come on them like a thief, that is, suddenly and unexpectedly.

Remember...

μνημονεύω

mnēmoneuō

mnay-mon-yoo'-o

From a derivative of memory; to exercise memory, that is, recollect; by implication to punish; also to rehearse: - make mention, be mindful, remember.

therefore...

οὖν

oun

oon

Apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjugationally) accordingly: - and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

how...

πῶς

pōs

poce

Adverb from the base of what; an interrogitive particle of manner; in what way? (sometimes the question is indirect, how?); also as exclamation, how much!: - how, after (by) what manner (means), that. [Occasionally unexpressed in English.]

thou hast received...

λαμβάνω

lambanō

lam-ban'-o

A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively [probably objective or active, to get hold of; whereas to receive is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while to take for oneself is more violent, to seize or remove]): - accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

heard,...

ἀκούω

akouō

ak-oo'-o

A primary verb; to hear (in various senses): - give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

and... see above.

hold fast,...

τηρέω

tēreō

tay-reh'-o

From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to to be a spectator); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from isolation, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from custody, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfill a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried): - hold fast, keep (-er), (ob-, pre-, re) serve, watch.

and... see above.

Repent....

μετανοέω

metanoeō

met-an-o-eh'-o

From accompaniment and to exercise the mind ; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.

If...

ἐάν

ean

eh-an'

From whether and a supposition; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty: - before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-) soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, [who-] so (-ever).

therefore... see above.

thou shalt not...

μή

mē

may

A primary particle of qualified negation (whereas no or not expresses an absolute denial); (adverbially) not, (conjugationally) lest; also (as interrogitive implying a negative answer [whereas no or not expects an affirmative one]); whether: - any, but, (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, [can-] not, nothing, that not, un [-taken], without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.

watch,...

γρηγορεύω

grēgoreuō

gray-gor-yoo'-o

From to awaken; to keep awake, that is, watch (literally or figuratively): - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).

I (Christ Jesus) will come...

ἥκω

hēkō

hay'-ko

A primary verb; to arrive, that is, be present (literally or figuratively): - come.

on...

ἐπί

epi

ep-ee'

A primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], that is, over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.: - about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, [where-]) fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of) over, (by, for) the space of, through (-out), (un-) to (-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).

thee...

σέ

se

seh

Accusative singular of thou; thee: - thee, thou, X thy house.

as...

ὡς

hōs

hoce

Probably adverb of compound from who, which; which how, that is, in that manner (very variously used as shown): - about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when ([-soever]), while, X with all speed.

a thief...

κλέπτης

kleptēs

klep'-tace

From to filch; a steal-er (literally or figuratively): - thief.

This does not refer to the second coming, but to Christ sending sudden judgment upon Sardis if the church would not repent.

and... see above.

thou shalt not...

οὐ μή

ou mē

oo may

That is, no or not and lest; a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all: - any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise).

know...

γινώσκω

ginōskō

ghin-oce'-ko

A prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed): - allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

what...

ποῖος

poios

poy'-os

From the base of at and such, or what sort of; individualizing interrogitive (of character) what sort of, or (of number) which one: - what (manner of), which.

hour...

ὥρα

hōra

ho'-rah

Apparently a primary word; an “hour” (literally or figuratively): - day, hour, instant, season, X short, [even-] tide, (high) time.

I (Christ Jesus) will come...

ἥκω

hēkō

hay'-ko

A primary verb; to arrive, that is, be present (literally or figuratively): - come.

upon... see on above.

thee... see above.