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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_3:1-6
1To the angel of the church in Sardis write: "He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My father and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.'"
Rev_3:1 "church" See Special Topic at Rev_1:4.
▣ "He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars" This phrase is another allusion to the glorified Christ (cf. Rev_1:4; Rev_1:16; Rev_1:20). The seven stars refer to the churches and her leaders in Rev_1:20; the seven spirits may be a related metaphor because in Rev_4:5 they are related to the seven lampstands, which are also mentioned in Rev_1:20 as referring to the churches. These seven spirits of God are also mentioned in Rev_5:6 as part of the description of the lamb. See Special Topic: The Seven Spirits at Rev_1:4.
▣ "I know your deeds" Jesus was aware of the strengths and weaknesses of His churches (cf. Rev_2:2; Rev_2:19; Rev_3:1; Rev_3:8; Rev_3:15).
NASB, NKJV "that you have a name that you are alive"
NRSV "that you have a name of being alive"
TEV "that you have a reputation of being alive"
NJB "how you are reputed to be alive"
This was a devastating revelation. They thought they were right with God, spiritually pleasing to Him (cf. Isa_29:13; Rom_2:19-20; Col_2:16-23; 2Ti_3:5), but they were not!
Rev_3:2
NASB, NRSV,
TEV, NJB "Wake up"
NKJV "Be watchful"
This is a present middle (deponent) imperative (with a present active participle), literally "be thou continually watching." It is the first of five present imperatives found in Rev_3:2-3. Jesus commands His church to keep watching!
NASB, NKJV "strengthen the things that remain"
NRSV "strengthen what remains"
TEV "strengthen what you still have"
NJB "put some resolve into what little vigor you have left"
This is an aorist active imperative. They were to act now and continue to act to preserve what remained of their dying faith.
▣ "for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God" The first verb is a perfect active indicative. They may have looked spiritual (cf. Isa_29:13), but they were much like the religious people mentioned in Mat_7:21-23 and Col_2:16-23.
The term "completed" is a perfect passive participle meaning "mature, perfect, equipped for the assigned task." They had not allowed God to complete what faith had started (cf. Php_1:6).
Rev_3:3 "remember what you have received and heard" This is a present active imperative followed by a perfect active indicative and an aorist active indicative. This relates to the gospel which they heard and continued to receive. Christianity is not a decision only, but a lifestyle relationship. It involves believing a message and receiving a person. It results in a changed and changing life of repentance (aorist active imperative, Rev_3:3 b) and obedience (present active imperative, Rev_3:3 b).
▣ "keep it" This is a present active imperative which is an ongoing command.
▣ "repent" This is an aorist active imperative which implies a complete repentance. See note at Rev_2:5.
▣ "Therefore if you do not wake up" This is a third class conditional sentence like Rev_2:22. The action is potential, contingent on their response to Jesus' commands, but not assured.
▣ "I will come like a thief" This is often used of the Second Coming (cf. Mat_24:43-44; Luk_12:39-40; 1Th_5:2; 1Th_5:4; 2Pe_3:10; Rev_16:15). However, in this context it seems to refer to a temporal judgment of this church.
Rev_3:4 "a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments" The putting on and taking off of clothing was used as a metaphor of the Christian life (cf. Eph_4:22; Eph_4:24-25; Eph_4:31; Col_3:8; Col_3:10; Col_3:12; Col_3:14; Heb_12:1; Jas_1:21; 1Pe_2:1). Some believers had not compromised with pagan culture.
▣ "they will walk with Me in white" White clothing is used as a symbol of purity or victory in Rev_3:4-5; Rev_3:18; Rev_6:11; Rev_7:9; Rev_7:13-14; Rev_19:14. The term "walk" is often used as a metaphor of the Christian life (cf. Rev_3:5; Rev_21:24; 1Jn_1:6-7; 1Jn_2:6; 1Jn_2:11; 3Jn_1:3-4).
Rev_3:5 "He who overcomes" Four things will be given to the one who overcomes.
1. they will walk with the Messiah, Rev_3:4
2. they will be clothed in white
3. their names will never be blotted out of the book of life
4. the Messiah will acknowledge them as His own in the presence of the Father and His angels
See Special Topic on Perseverance at Rev_2:2.
▣ "I will not erase his name from the book of life" This is a strong Double negative. When citizens died, their names would be erased from the rolls of their city but God will never erase believers from His rolls.
This metaphorical phrase "the book of life" is also found in Rev_20:12-15, where two books are mentioned:
1. the book of life which is made up of the names of God's people (cf. Exo_32:32-33; Psa_69:28; Isa_4:3; Dan_12:1; Luk_10:20; Php_4:3; Heb_12:23; Rev_13:8; Rev_17:8; Rev_20:12; Rev_20:15; Rev_21:27)
2. the book of deeds or remembrances which records the deeds of both the wicked and righteous (cf. Psa_56:8; Psa_139:16; Isa_65:6; Mal_3:16)
For "book" see notes at Rev_5:1.
▣ "I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" As believers confess Christ ("call on His name," cf. Rom_10:9-13), He also confesses them before the Father (cf. Mat_10:32; Luk_12:8).
"Confess" is the Greek term exomulogeô. It was used in three senses:
1. to publically confess sins to God and others present (cf. Mat_3:6; Mar_1:5; Act_19:18; Jas_5:16)
2. to publically confess faith in Christ (cf. Php_2:1; and possibly Rom_14:11)
3. to publically praise God (cf. Mat_11:25; Luk_10:21; Rom_14:11 {Isa_45:23}; Rom_15:9 [Psa_18:49])
The related Greek word homologeô was used in similar ways:
1. to acknowledge sin (cf. 1Jn_1:9)
2. to acknowledge faith in Christ (cf. Mat_10:32; Luk_10:32; Joh_9:22 [negatively, Joh_1:20; Joh_12:42])
3. to affirm a belief in something (cf. Act_23:8; Act_24:14; Heb_11:13)
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Rev_3:6 See note at Rev_2:7.