ISB ~ Revelation 3 v1

Sardis:Thirty miles southeast of Thyatira. Sardis was once a wealthy and powerful city struggling to recover its former glory. Though a fortified city, it was twice conquered by surprise nighttime attacks. Christ may allude to this history when he warns readers to stay “awake” lest he come like a “thief” and the Church fare as badly as the unprepared city (3:3).