(Philadelphia) The Faithful Church. Rev 3;7
7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Christ’s Character: Holy & True;
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true,
“Holy“
Luke 1;35 Angel to Mary; “ That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God”. Mark 1;24 unclean spirit in synagogue “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”. Cp Lord’s Prayer: ‘Holy your name’. Jesus is here linked with Jehovah – the Holy One. God alone is holy.
The Angels around the throne cry, “Holy Holy Holy” It is the very character of God. Recap our study at Sardis on Holiness..
True: real, genuine, The VERY God, compared to false Gods and cp Devil who is father of lies; Here we have to judge everything; as we have seen false prophets have comeinto the church. We need to check if they are preaching truth or err. But with Jesus everything is truth. In Rev. 21;27 we are told that “There shall by no means enter it (New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie,…”
Everything about Jesus is the truth. He said, “I am … the Truth”. The disciples never had to check on anything He said. They knew it was true.
Holiness and Truth go together. You cannot have one without the other.
Today there are so many lies about. Politicians are noted for their deviousness. So called ministers of the Gospel preach what is patently untrue. And is this surprising when 1 John 5;19 tells us “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” who is “The father of lies”. We saw this last week. Satan when tempting Jesus claimed that his rulership of the world “has been given to me and to whoever I will I give it” (Luke 4;6). Jesus did not contradict him!
But Holiness is the mark of the real Christian. 1 Jn 5;18 “Whoever is born of God does not sin”. We are ‘not of this world. John is reiterating what he said in 1Jn 3;6-9. Many Christians worry over this because they sin. “Does this mean I’m not a Christian?”. Earlier John tells us that if we say we have no sin, we are liars – then goes on to say 1jn1;9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The answer is that Christians do not live sinful lives. Doing something wrong upsets us. Our consciences are very sensitive! John explains this in 1Jn3;7 “He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.” Just as we like to keep our bodies clean and regularly wash, so we need to keep our spirits clean – cp 1 Jn 1;9.
Key of David: He that hath the key of David
A Quote from Isa 22;22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.,
Sennacherib king of Assyria came against Judah and took all the cities. Hezekiah tried to buy him off without success, using the gold from the temple, and Eliakim and Shibna, the Scribe went to try and reason with the king. It seems that Shibna wanted to capitulate from Isa 22;13.. “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!” But God pronounced judgement on him and set Eliakim up instead, ‘giving him the key of David’ and v22. Eliakim. is taken as a type of Christ.
Keys symbolic of authority or control cp Matt 16;19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
We talk of getting the ‘Key of the door’ when you reach 21.
He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
opens/shuts etc JESUS IS IN CONTROL!
v8: I know your works: (again…)
I have set an open door; Two interpretations:
A door of escape;
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
(NKJ)
A Door of opportunity
Paul tried to go into different places, Jesus said ‘no’. Then: 1 Cor 16;9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
2 Cor 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, (NKJ)
Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving, 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, (NKJ)
We may fail because we try to break down the door He has closed. (It is legal to try door, but not batter it down)
When He opens the door, no one shuts it
We have Doors of opportunity for preaching Gospel & otherwise
for thou hast a little strength,
Jesus held the door open for them because of their weakness. He will always support us. Especially so because of their weakness, His strength made perfect; 2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJ) WHY? 2 Cor 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (NKJ)
Because of their faithfulness He was supporting them and opening the way. Making a way where there was no way.
Wherever there is the slightest strength, Jesus will use it & us for His Glory.
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
It seems that Jesus is here referring to some particular incident. Romans would try to get Christians to deny Jesus was God. The same applies today. People are happy to talk about ‘god’ But not about Jesus, especially as being God.
Jesus sets great store by His Word. Remember: Matt 7;24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
We need to realise the power of the Word;
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
God created the heavens and earth by his word. Gen 1;3 “God said, let there be light … etc.
Note; God IS the Word; John 1;1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We need to realise how important are our words.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned
Evangelist Peter Gammons said, Something that is particularly relevant to Renovate at this time. “ When God wishes to accomplish anything, He first has to find an obedient man or woman to whom He imparts the vision or plan. They then have to speak it into being. Your new church building is built with words, not bricks and stones. Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking about fund raising, I am speaking of prophesying it into being. First you must hear the heart and plan of God, then you must speak it into being, speaking only faith filled words, until the project is complete. The same principle is true in building a business or a happy home. Words will either build it or destroy it. Words when they are released always produce a harvest, good or bad.
It is interesting to note that when men of God spoke, things happened; Peter and Ananias and Sapphira, the magician who harassed Paul, blinded.
Jesus said, Mark 11;23 “you will have ‘whatsoever’ you say” ! How often have we negated something we planned to do. “I don’t suppose it’ll work”, “I won’t get that job of course”.
So never say negative words over your plans and dreams!
SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN – again!
Rev 3:9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars– I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. (NIV)
Refer back to Rev 2;9 and church at Smyrna who had same problems.
“I will make”; lit ‘I’ll arrange it’ Those who oppose the gospel: Religion; nb Not lit ‘worship’ but ‘kiss your feet – pay homage -
TO KNOW I HAVE LOVED YOU; Jesus is proud of His Church; NO ONE is going to get the better of us! He is on our side! We will come out on top!
Need to realise who we are in Jesus… HIS GLORIOUS CHURCH!!!
v10: 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, (lit my command to persevere – recall “Endure”.) I also will keep thee from (out of) the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
“You reap what you sow”… They had kept faithful. Been patient. Put God First… He will keep us: cp v 9 – He LOVES US! So is not going to let us go through the ‘great tribulation’. (You want to go through, you go!). Some will go through a great time of testing. Christians always have. The god of this world hates us! But there is coming a time of trouble the world has never known. We can see the beginnings now. A growing hatred of Jesus. Don’t be afraid to stand for Him!
“Them that dwell on the earth” usually used of ungodly who oppose God eg see Rev 11.10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth…. (When the two prophets are killed in the great tribulation).
There is a distinction in v 10 “The whole world” / “those who dwell on the earth”.
The ‘dwell’ seems to indicate that their whole outlook is ‘earthy’. They have no interest in God and refuse to bow to him; eg Rev 9:20
The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood–idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Those who refuse to believe will not believe in spite of everything that happens: Rev 16:11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
v11; 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. I COME QUICKLY. It’s getting quicker! Jesus is coming soon.
HOLD FAST; Easy to lose. Devil will try by stealth to steal our joy, even our salvn; cp 3;5 last week.
But how can we lose our ‘crown’ ?
Col 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
There are plenty of these ‘false prophets’ about. BEWARE!
Let no man take your crown; Possible to let someone else do what God wants US to do- they get the reward!
v12: 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. : (girl fell in last yard of race, lit on line – & lost)
Make a PILLAR: A Monument. Notable citizens were often honoured by having a pillar erected in the temple with their name on it.
Lady in Church prayed “Make me a pillar in the church”. When trouble came and many left, she said, “pillars don’t move”.
Write on him my Name: WE ARE HIS (that’s why the world hates us) (Matt.10;22 “you will be hated by all for my Names sake. But he that endures to the end shall be saved”)
He will be proud of us; “LOOK – THEY’RE MINE!”
Such great things to look forward to:
and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:: Bishop Barnes wrote: ‘if the passage proves anything it is that a great city will come down out of heaven… but who can believe that!”
Praise God – we can!
Revelation finishes with a vision of this new city;
21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Cp “His Glorious Church!”
21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
We will be ‘new jerusalemites’ (cp ‘Mancunians’ from Manchester or ‘Liverpudlians’ from Liverpool!)
and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 22;14 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
What will that be? We wait and see!