Saturday, April 23, 2022

Philadelphia, The Faithful Church, Revelation 3:7-13


Φιλαδέλφεια, ας, ἡ

The Letter to Philadelphia

The Faithful Church

Revelation 3:7-13

 

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’


The letter to Philadelphia is the sixth, of the seven, letters dictated from the Island of Patmos, by Jesus, to the last remaining apostle, John. This letter, and the one to Smyrna, are the only two that receive only commendations from Jesus.   

The city of Philadelphia (modern day, Alaşehir, Turkey) was twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis at the base of Mount Tmolus (modern day, Bozdağ Mountain).

The area had a history of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Which left behind a fertile soil, especially good for growing grapes. Which resulted in wine, lots of wine. They were famous for their wine. Which resulted in lots of business, lots of money, and lots of drunken orgies—of course, like many of the cities, they called it worship. And they loved to worship. They worshipped the false god of wine, dionysius, and many other false Greek gods, so much so, that they were nicknamed, Little Sicily.

In the midst of this, Jesus finds a faithful little Church.

 

“And to the angel (aggelos, messenger, pastor) of the church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) write,  

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true,

Jesus, opening words proclaim, I AM God.

1 Peter 1:15-16. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 11:45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7.

“He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

Rather than pulling from John’s picture in chapter one, Jesus reaches back to Isaiah.

The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. Isaiah 22:22.

Key of David, is a symbol of unlimited authority over the royal household.

David is of course reference to the Messiah.

 The key upon the shoulder, reminds us of Isaiah 9:6-7.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Without any ambiguity, Jesus opens this letter by stating, I AM God and Messiah.

He who opens and no one shuts, ”

We could spend all day, all week, discussing the, open and shut, statement of Jesus; however, let’s just look at a couple openings we’ve all focused on recently, and one more, that’s is about to happen.

The open veil. The open tomb. The open Heaven.

The open veil.

After Jesus cried out in a loud voice, He yielded up His Spirit. The sky went black, the earth did shake, the rocks did break. The veil in the temple, which was sixty feet high, thirty feet wide and four inches thick, was rent from top to bottom; revealing Jesus breaking down the door of separation between God and man—the door that’d been shut since the Garden. And from that day to this, all of heaven shouts, COME! All who hear, COME! All who are thirsty, COME! Whosoever will, COME and drink freely from the water of Life.  

(Matthew 27:50-52, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, Ephesians 2:14, Revelation 22:16 ).

The open tomb.

We just celebrated the great opening, on Resurrection, SONday. The day, the stone rolled away. Thank You Jesus, for opening the door to the grave; not to let You out, but to let us in. To reveal that no power on earth, or gates of hell, could keep You. Thank You.

All four gospels record the event; hundreds of eye witnesses saw Him, alive and well, before His ascent. No one can shut that open door, no matter what. Matthew 28:2; Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1.

The open veil and the open tomb, are undeniable, un-closeable, openings in HIStory.

Now let’s look at the next great opening about to be revealed in His story.  

The open Heaven.

As Jesus dictated this letter to John, He wasn’t only thinking about the Church in Philadelphia, He was also thinking about you and me, here and now, the Church.

You see, as Jesus is telling John to write about, open doors, He knows, in just a minute, (perhaps, in the twinkling of and eye, for you and I), He’s going to show him an open door and with a voice like a trumpet, say “Come up…”

 

Revelation 4:1-2;

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven and One sat on the throne.

After these things. After the letters to the Churches, Jesus says, "Come up..." We have one more letter to read. Are you ready to hear Jesus say, "Come up..."? Compare that to this famous scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

After this trumpet, come up, caught up, through the open door, the word Church, (ekklésia), is never mentioned again until the last page of the book, when the final invitation, is given, the one we spoke about before, COME! Revelation 22:16.

…and shuts and no one opens:

God shuts doors that belong closed. Man builds doors that don’t belong, at all.

The door to the ark was open, for whosoever, would like to come in. But one day, before wrath flooded the earth, God shut the door—and no one could get it open.

In the letter to Laodicea, the final letter, Jesus stands at the door and knocks—that door isn’t supposed to be there. He didn’t shut it, or He wouldn’t be knocking. He didn’t open it, or they couldn’t have shut it. They built a door that wasn’t supposed to be there.

We’ve done the same. Built doors and slammed them in God’s face. Separation of Church and State. SLAM! School Bible reading and prayer. SLAM! Crosses in military chapels. SLAM! Churches are nonessential. SLAM! US Military Chaplains, don’t say, Jesus SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!

Jesus stands, waits, knocks, “Come, please open, let Me in; we’ll knock this door down together.”

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Revelation 3:8.

God creates doors that are supposed to be there. Open doors of opportunity, to walk through in peace, knowing no one can shut them.

You have little strength, have kept My Word and haven’t denied My Name, therefore, I’ve set before you, and open door, no one can shut.  

Little Strength: The door God opens is bigger than your little strength. You can do nothing in your, little strength;  but can do all things through Christ. Philippians 4:13.  

Kept My Word: You have honored God outwardly, in body, actions, deeds. Well done.

Not Denied My Name: Not only honored God outwardly, but also inwardly, with mind, will and emotions.

Well done, My good and faithful servant, enter in, through the door I have opened for you.

HIS strength perfect in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9.

The last time the synagogue of satan was mentioned was with the Church of Smyrna. The only other Church Jesus didn’t rebuke. And check this out, it’s exactly, to the verse, one chapter earlier, Revelation 2:9.

This verse is like a side note. Indeed, (oh, by the way), I know about those hypocrites who slander, cheat and lie about you. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of them; and vindicate you in the process.

He’s not saying they will worship you, at your feet. He’s talking about the Millennial Kingdom, when the Church is ruling and reigning with Christ and every knee will bow and tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD Philippians 2:10-11.

2 Timothy 2:12, if we endure, we will also reign with Him…

 

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10.

The command to persevere needs no explanation; it takes perseverance to survive as a Christian. But just to be clear, we’ll let scripture interpret scripture.

Matthew 10:22, And you shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13, But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:13, And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 21:19, By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.

Christians, like marathon runners, must possess endurance, without which, they are neither. The marathoner’s fuel is carbs; the Christian’s is love—God’s Love.

John 13:34, A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

John 15:12, This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:17, This is My command to you: Love one another.

1 Cor. 13:4, Love is patient…

…I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10.

This is one proof text of, pretribulation rapture. Meaning, the Church, (ekklésia) will be kept from, the hour of trial (tribulation), which shall come upon the whole world.

The hour of trial is, Jacob’s trouble in Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel’s 70th week in Daniel 9:27, and Jesus taught about it in Matthew 24:21, For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Jesus states it perfectly clear, I will keep you from. He will do it, not, you will endure it. The word, from, is ἐκ, ἐξ, ek or ex. Defined: from out, out from among, from; suggesting from the interior outwards.  

Since you are in the world but not of it, I will deliver you out from it.

Remember, Jesus opened this letter talking about an open door. Now, He takes it a step further and tells us why He opened the door; to keep you from the trial. As mentioned above in, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, we shall be caught up, to meet the Lord in the air and then, it tells us why; for God has not appointed us to wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

This wrath to come is for those who dwell on the earth; but dear Church, this earth is not our Home. Our citizenship is in heaven, so we eagerly await our Savior from there, to take us Home. Philippians 3:20.

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:11.

Just in case we weren’t listening, He says it again, loud and clear. Behold, I am coming quickly!

Watch. Be ready. Keep My Word. Do not deny My name. Persevere in Love. Hold fast, let no one, or nothing, take your crown.

Guard your heart, as if walking through a crowd of thieves with a bag of gold. Tempters try to steal your crown, not to wear, but so you can’t.

Beware of the tempter in the mirror. The heart. The lust of the flesh, the eyes, the pride of life. 1 John 2:16. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:15.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more… Revelation 3:12.

Often, after the earthquakes, the only thing left standing were the pillars. The strong, stable, immovable, unshakable, pillars. Even to this day, pillars remain; they’ve stood the test of time. You are like that, says Jesus to His overcomers.

I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:12.

This is a beautiful and powerful and intimate statement. The personalized, engraved, new name, on the white stone, of Pergamos, was like having your names on the wedding invitations and napkins. But this, this, is the vows, the completion, the consummation.

Just as a bride becomes part of the family of her groom, moves into his home, and receives his name, Jesus, paints this glorious picture of when He receives His Bride. She becomes, as permanent as a pillar, in the family of God, her new address is His, as well as her name.

I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Revelation 21:2.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ Revelation 3:13.

 

 

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