Jesus' Unknown Hour of Arrival Revelation 3:3

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos” and then the “church in Thyatira”. He added “the church in Sardis” and how Jesus knew their “works, that” they “have a name that” they “live”, “and are dead” and he exhorted them, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God.” In chapter three and verse three of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told “the church in Sardis” “will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come” where we read:

Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.

The verse reads, “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” John began with the words, “remember” which means “be mindful of, call to mind and hold in memory” “therefore” or “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “how you have received” or “the way the church in Sardis took with the hand, carried, procured, attended to and seized” “and heard” which means “attended to and considered what is or has been said”, “and hold fast” or “guard, attend to carefully and observe”, “and repent” which means “have a change of mind for the better and heartily amend with abhorrence of past sins”. Jesus exhorted the “church in Sardis” to “remember” what they “procured” and “attended to” and then “guard” those things and “change their minds” toward them.

The verse goes on to say, “If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.” John continued, “if therefore” which means “in case then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “your shall not watch” or “the church in Sardis will not give strict attention to, be cautious of and taking heed to”, “I will come” or “Jesus will appear, arrive and be present” “on you” which refers to the church in Sardis” “as a thief” or “like an embezzler or pilferer”, “and you” which means “the church in Sardis” “shall not know” or “will not learn, get knowledge of, perceive or understand” “what hour” which means “the certain and definite time, season or moment” “I will come upon you” or “Jesus will arrive, arrive and be present with the church in Sardis”. Jesus' warning to the “church in Sardis” was if they did not “watch” for Him, He would come upon them at an unexpected time.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus reminded the “church in Sardis” to recall what He said to them. They were to “keep” His words and “change their minds” if they were in error, and they were to be aware that He would “appear” to them when they were not expecting Him if they were not “watching” for His arrival. Even as a “thief” or “robber” comes when a person is unaware, Jesus warned the “church in Sardis” to be “on the lookout” and “watching” for Him. God desires to have a relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus, and those who “hear”, “obey” and “watch” for Him shall not be discomforted when He comes.

Next time we see John shares how Jesus has, “a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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