Revelation 3:3 kjv

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.

Revelation 3:3 nkjv

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.

Revelation 3:3 niv

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But 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 3:3 esv

Remember, then, what you 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 against you.

Revelation 3:3 nlt

Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Revelation 3 verses

Revelation 3 3 Meaning

Revelation 3:3 is a divine imperative given to the church in Sardis, a church outwardly alive but spiritually dead. It urges them to vividly remember the pure Gospel truth they initially received and heard, to steadfastly guard it, and to turn away from their spiritual apathy through genuine repentance. The verse warns that if they fail to awaken and remain spiritually vigilant, the Lord will come upon them suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, bringing an unannounced moment of judgment or consequence for which they will be completely unprepared. This serves as a strong call to spiritual watchfulness and diligence to avoid unexpected spiritual loss.

Revelation 3 3 Context

Revelation 3:3 is part of the letter to the church in Sardis, the fifth of the seven churches addressed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Historically, Sardis was a prominent, wealthy ancient city, but by John's time, it was declining. It had a reputation for living on past glory, characterized by outward pomp but inner decay. Spiritually, this mirrored the church. Jesus pronounces to Sardis, "you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead" (Rev 3:1). The members are primarily criticized for not completing their works and for spiritual laxity. The core message of verse 3, therefore, is an urgent call for this dying church to spiritually reawaken, return to their initial fervor, and maintain vigilance, lest they face judgment. The historical city of Sardis was known for being conquered twice (by Cyrus and Antiochus the Great) because its seemingly impregnable defenses were left unguarded at critical moments, a vivid parallel to the spiritual warning given to the church.

Revelation 3 3 Word analysis

• Remember (μνημονεύω - mnēmoneuō): This verb implies more than just mental recall. It is a command to consciously, actively, and purposefully bring to mind and live out what they have received. It suggests a call to return to the core truths and experiences of their initial conversion and spiritual fervor.
• therefore: Links this command directly to the preceding rebuke in verse 2, "I have not found your works perfect before God." It indicates that the commands to remember, hold fast, and repent are the direct antidote to their current deadness and incomplete works.
• how (πῶς - pōs): Not just what they received, but how – with what initial joy, earnestness, and spiritual commitment. It points to the manner of their first reception of the Gospel.
• you have received (εἴληφας - eilēphas, perfect active indicative of λαμβάνω - lambanō): Emphasizes that it was a past action with ongoing results. They had genuinely taken hold of the Gospel, likely salvation and the Holy Spirit, implying an initial spiritual awakening. It's a gift freely given by God's grace.
• and heard (ἤκουσας - ēkousas, aorist active indicative of ἀκούω - akouō): This reinforces the idea of intellectual and spiritual reception. They had listened to and accepted the apostolic teaching, the good news of Jesus Christ. This refers to the content of the Gospel message and initial instruction.
• hold fast (τήρει - tērei, present active imperative of τηρέω - tēreō): A strong command meaning to guard, keep, observe, preserve, or maintain diligently. It signifies a continuous, watchful preservation of the truths and experiences they once had. It's about steadfastness against spiritual decline.
• and repent (μετανόησον - metanoēson, aorist active imperative of μετανοέω - metanoeō): A decisive command for a complete change of mind, resulting in a turning away from sin (their spiritual lethargy and deadness) and a turning toward God and His ways. It is a fundamental shift in thought, attitude, and action.
• If therefore (ἐὰν οὖν - ean oun): Introduces a conditional statement. It highlights the serious consequence tied to their future actions regarding watchfulness.
• you will not watch (γρηγορήσῃς - grēgorēsēs, aorist active subjunctive of γρηγορέω - grēgoreō): To be awake, vigilant, alert. It is the opposite of their current sleepy or dead spiritual state. It implies active attention and preparedness. Failing to watch means persisting in spiritual slumber.
• I will come upon you (ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ - hēxō epi se): "I will come" is a firm declaration from Christ. "Upon you" implies an imposition or encounter, not necessarily a welcoming arrival. This is a punitive or disciplinary coming for the unprepared, not the blessed gathering of the saints.
• as a thief (ὡς κλέπτης - hōs kleptēs): This simile is crucial. A thief comes unexpectedly, without warning, often in the dark, and to plunder. For the unready church, Christ's coming would be disruptive and undesirable, leading to loss, shame, or judgment, rather than welcomed reunion. It signifies an unanticipated intervention of Christ in judgment, not necessarily the timing of His physical return.
• and you will not know (οὐ μὴ γνῷς - ou mē gnōs): A double negative in Greek, making the statement very emphatic: "you will absolutely not know."
• what hour (ποίαν ὥραν - poian hōran): The specific time or season. Their lack of watchfulness would render them oblivious to the impending arrival, ensuring maximum surprise and unpreparedness for its consequences.
• I will come upon you (ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ - hēxō epi se): Repetition emphasizes the certainty and personal nature of Christ's intervention, underscoring the severity of the warning.

Word-group analysis

• "Remember therefore how you have received and heard": This phrase directs them back to the purity and power of their original encounter with the Gospel. It's a call for retrospective reflection, reminding them of the truth (the doctrines) and the Spirit (the power and life) they were initially given. This forms the basis for their repentance and steadfastness.
• "hold fast and repent": These are two critical, immediate, and interlinked actions. "Hold fast" addresses their current negligence regarding the truth. "Repent" addresses their inner spiritual deadness and apathy, calling for a radical change of heart and behavior. Both are essential for their spiritual restoration.
• "If therefore you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief": This conditional warning highlights the dire consequences of spiritual lethargy. Their failure to be vigilant will lead to Christ's unexpected, unwelcome, and perhaps judgmental intervention, catching them unprepared. The "coming as a thief" here is not necessarily the Parousia (Second Coming) for the church, but a coming to them in a corrective, punitive, or dispossessing manner, potentially removing their lampstand (Rev 2:5) or their very privilege.

Revelation 3 3 Bonus section

The historical reality of Sardis often being captured because its guards were unwatchful is a poignant parallel to the spiritual state of the church. This adds another layer of meaning to Christ's command to "watch." They failed militarily because of a lack of vigilance, and now, spiritually, they face a similar fate if they do not remain spiritually alert. The specific "coming" as a thief for the church in Revelation 3:3 is best understood as Christ's judicial or disciplinary advent upon that local assembly. While the metaphor is also used for the general Second Coming of Christ for all people (Matt 24:43, 1 Thes 5:2), in this specific context it signifies a warning of a sudden judgment or removal of blessing (e.g., their lampstand being removed as in Rev 2:5) if they persist in their unrepentant, unwatchful state. It is a sovereign intervention of Christ to bring correction or to assess their faithfulness.

Revelation 3 3 Commentary

Revelation 3:3 delivers an urgent and multi-faceted call to spiritual resuscitation for a church plagued by spiritual deadness despite outward appearances. The initial commands—"remember," "hold fast," and "repent"—are sequential yet interdependent. Remembering their foundational spiritual experience and truth received, acknowledging how they initially embraced it with fervor, should inspire them to "hold fast" or diligently preserve that original deposit of faith and commitment. This requires actively guarding against complacency and false teachings. This guarding is then followed by, and perhaps prompted by, "repentance"—a deep turning away from their current spiritual slumber and incompleteness of works.

The severity of the warning rests on the conditional "If therefore you will not watch." Their continued lack of vigilance, their failure to awaken from their spiritual sleep, will trigger Christ's promised coming "as a thief." This vivid imagery universally signifies suddenness, unpredictability, and often, an unwelcome intrusion leading to loss or judgment for the unprepared. For Sardis, this implies a divine intervention—whether through internal discipline, loss of testimony, removal of spiritual light, or facing Him unready at an unexpected moment—which would catch them off guard and lead to regret or severe consequences. The absence of knowing "what hour" further compounds the urgency, emphasizing the critical need for constant readiness. It’s a powerful exhortation for every believer and every church to maintain genuine spiritual vitality, not just outward form, and to live in a state of watchful expectation and obedience.