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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:1-6

(5) The epistle to the Church in Sardis: the decaying Church on the brink of ruin. The sad spectacle is presented here of a Church dying out. To the angel it is said, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead." This is the judgment of him who hath "the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." He holds the stars in his band, for safety in danger, for punishment in unfaithfulness. They cannot escape from him. The Lord of life is the Lord also of death and judgment. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:1-6

The words of Christ to the congregation at Sardis. "Sardis," says Dr. Eadie, "was a city of ancient Lydia. Its modern name is Sert Kalesi, and it lies about thirty miles south-cast of Thyatira, and two miles south of the river Hermus. It is, however, but a miserable village, inhabited chiefly by shepherds, though it is one of the stopping places of the Persian caravans. The original city was plundered by Cyrus, and afterwards desolated by an earthquake, the ruins of it being still... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:2

Be watchful ; literally, become watching. The use of ψίψνομαι implies that the watchful state is not the normal one—a change is needed before the watching can come about (comp. Revelation 1:9 , Revelation 1:10 , Revelation 1:18 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 4:2 ; Revelation 6:12 , etc.). The use of the present participle instead of an adjective ("watching!" for "watchful") makes the charge more definite; not merely "be of a watchful character," but "become a watcher". ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:1

The Epistle to the Church at SardisThe contents of the epistle to the church at Sardis Revelation 3:1-6 are:The usual salutation to the angel of the church, Revelation 3:1. (2)The usual reference to the attributes of the Saviour - those referred to here being that he had the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, Revelation 3:1.(3)The assurance that he knew their works, Revelation 3:1.(4)The statement of the uniqueness of the church, or what he saw in it - that it had a name to live and was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:2

Be watchful - Be wakeful; be attentive and earnest - in contradistinction from the drowsy condition of the church.Strengthen the things which remain - The true piety that still lives and lingers among you. Whatever there was of religion among them, it was of importance to strengthen it, that the love of the Saviour might not become wholly extinct. An important duty in a low and languishing state of religion is, to “strengthen the things that still survive.” It is to cultivate all the graces... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 3:1

Revelation 3:1. To the angel of the church in Sardis write This city, “once the renowned capital of Crœsus and the rich Lydian kings, is now no longer worthy of the name of a city. It lies about thirty-three miles to the south of Thyatira, and is called by the Turks, Sart, or Sard, with little variation from the original name. It is a most sad spectacle; nor can one forbear weeping over the ruins of so great a city: for now it is no more than an ignoble village, with low and wretched... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 3:2-3

Revelation 3:2-3. Be watchful Therefore awake to a sense of thy danger, and stand on thy guard against the enemies, visible and invisible, which threaten thy eternal destruction; and strengthen By prayer, hearing and reading the word, by meditation thereon, and a conscientious use of every private and public means of grace; the things which remain In thy soul: such as knowledge of the truth, good desires, convictions of sin, of depravity and weakness, and of thy duty and interest; ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:1-6

Letter to Sardis (3:1-6)The church in Sardis had so much followed the ways of the society around it that it was Christian in name only. Spiritually it was dead (3:1). The Lord of the church can give it new life through the Spirit (see v. 1; cf. 1:4,20), but first the believers must wake up, change their ways, and determine to follow the teaching of the gospel they first believed. If not, swift judgment will fall upon them (2-3).Some in the church had proved the genuineness of their faith by... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 3:1

unto = to. angel . . . church. See Revelation 1:20 . Sardis. The ancient capital of Lydia. Its commercial activity attracted merchants from all parts of Asia. The remains of a vast temple to Cybele (the "mother of the gods") still exist. seven Spirits. See Revelation 1:4 . God. App-98 . seven, &c. See Revelation 1:20 . stars. See Revelation 1:16 . a name, &c. Not suited for this dispensation of grace, for Christ's people now live "in Him". We who were dead are now alive in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 3:2

Be = Become. watchful. See Matthew 24:42 . the . . . remain = the remaining (things). App-124 . are = were, with the texts. perfect. App-125 . read more

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