Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 3:2

"Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God." — Revelation 3:2 (ASV)

The command “Wake up!” (lit., “Be watchful”; GK 1213) is a call to reverse their attitudes radically. The congregation must be alerted to the seriousness of the situation. Their complacency led them to give up their identification with Christ and their mission for him. The situation is dire but not totally hopeless. Immediate steps must be taken to “strengthen [GK 5114] what remains.” Some persons and things are salvageable if quick and decisive action is taken. Otherwise, death will follow. The Sardians’ deeds are in danger of judgment because Christ has not found them “complete [GK 4444] in the sight of my God.” Though this could refer to incompleteness in the number of their deeds, more likely it describes the quality of their deeds—they do not measure up to the standard Christ sets. In the other letters, works acceptable to Christ are love, faithfulness, perseverance, keeping Christ’s words, and not denying his name.