The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

Apostles and by the remarkable effusions of the Holy Spirit; or to the ardor and love with
which they embraced it. We might add that it may refer to the ardor and labor of those
who were instrumental in giving the Gospel to them; to the favors and privileges
conferred on these ministers of God; or to their own understanding of what the Gospel
required of them when they embraced it. These surely are necessary things to call to mind
when spirituality is declining.
"And hold fast and repent [reform]," the Savior further exhorts. The meaning of these
words evidently is that they hold fast the truths that they had learned, and the measure of
piety that remained among them; and to exercise godly sorrow for whatever measure they
had departed from their former activities, and had lost the spiritual joys experienced when
they first heard and received the Gospel of the grace of God. The exhortation teaches also
that they were to turn again, and lay hold upon His Word and promises, that they were to
engage again in active service and thus experience the joys that these promises and
services would bring to them.
Continuing to address that class referred to as in a careless attitude, unwatchful, and as
ready to die, and deeming it possible that they would not give heed to His exhortation, the
Savior gives warning of what would be the result, in the words: "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." The warnings and threatenings contained in these messages apply more to
individuals than to churches. The words, "I will come on thee as a thief," seem to imply
that the ones referred to, those whose spiritual decline had reached such a critical state as
would be described as unwatchful and in the words "ready to die," would be surprised
suddenly, and find it then too late to reform, too late to regain their former standing.
Considering the words from the standpoint that the Sardis conditions prevail to a
considerable extent down to the time of the Second Advent, the following statement by
Mr. Russell Is very pertinent and applicable:
"Many today have the Sardis characteristics. To such there is a fatal warning in Revelation
3:3. Seven times our Lord's Second Coming is described as being thief-like, stealthy. Only
to those who are watching is the approach of a thief known. Those who are asleep will be
awakened only after he has taken full possession, after his work of destruction has
progressed. Although they may then arouse themselves, it is too late. They have been
overtaken. Thus our Lord will be present, but invisible and unknown--except to the
watchers--for some years after His arrival; and His Presence will be recognized by the
sleepers only as the noise of spoiling the strong man's house gradually increases. Then
slowly will they realize what it is and what the outcome will be."
The Savior next addresses the Sardis Church and its messenger, referring specially,
however, to the overcoming class: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis have not defiled
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy." The "few
names" which had not defiled their garments, refer to the faithful few who had kept
themselves free from the corruption that prevailed in the Sardis Church and in the period
in history represented by it. The words plainly teach that there were but a few persons