Hold-Fast what you have!

1C. It was founded by colonists from Pergamum under the reign of Attalus II, who ruled in Pergamum from 159 to 138 BC. Philadelphos is the Greek for one who loves his brother. Such was the love of Attalus for his brother Eumenes that he was called Philadelphos, and it was after him that Philadelphia was named.

2C. It was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a means of spreading Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia; and so well did it do its work that by A.D. 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own language and were all but Greeks. The archaeologist Sir William Ramsay says of Philadelphia that it was ‘the centre for the diffusion of Greek language and Greek letters in a peaceful land and by peaceful means’. That is what the risen Christ means when he speaks of the open door that is set before Philadelphia.

3C. But there is more of Philadelphia’s history than that in this letter. When this earthquake devastated it, Tiberius was as generous to Philadelphia as he had been to Sardis. In gratitude, it changed its name to Neo-Caesarea (the New City of Caesar). In the time of Vespasian, Philadelphia was to change its name, again out of gratitude, to Flavia, for Flavius was the emperor’s family name. It is true that neither of these new names lasted and ‘Philadelphia’ was restored. But the people of Philadelphia knew what it was to receive ‘a new name’.

3B. The City Today: Alaşehir is a municipality and district of Manisa Province, Turkey. Its population is 104,717, with very few who are Christians. One estimate has the number of Christians at 1,000.

4B. Historic-Prophetic: During the period of 1700–1900 there was virtually no place where a missionary could not go. Every place was open to them. Today, more and more countries are closing their doors to missionaries. But during those two centuries there were virtually no limitations, and this church took advantage of it. They had little power; it was a minority supporting these missionaries. Yet, the little power was used to accomplish great things. They are commended for it.

2A. Description of Jesus

1B. He who is holy: Isaiah 40:25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

1C. Habakkuk 1:13 "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?"

2C. Hebrews 10:19–20 "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, "by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,"

3C. Holiness. God is absolutely separate from and exalted above all his creatures, and he is equally separate from all moral evil and sin. - Thiessen

4C. 1 Peter 1:15–16 "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, "because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”"

The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. God’s one aim is the production of saints. Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

2B. He who is True: There is alēthinos, which means real as opposed to that which is unreal

1C. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

2C. Revelation 6:9–11 "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” "Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed."

3C. God is truth. His knowledge, declarations, and representations eternally conform to reality. The truth of God is not only the foundation of all religion, but also of all knowledge. God is true God in that he is genuine God as well as truthful God. He is the source of all truth. Lectures in Systematic Theology, by Henry Thiessen

3B. He who has the Keys of David:

1C. Eliakim was a palace administrator who was promoted. Isaiah 22:22 "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."

2C. A “Key” is a symbol of authority. Jesus has the Keys to the Kingdom. “He is the Absolute Sovereign Authority. To be on His side is the only place to be.

3C. Job 12:13–15 "“With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding. "If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release. "If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth."

4C. Luke 4:33–34 "Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, "saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”"

5C. John 6:68–69 "But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”"

3A. What Jesus Knows:

1B. Works: Like the other churches they demonstrated good works.

2B. “See, I have set before you and open door”:

1C. 1 Corinthians 16:8–9 "But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

2C. Acts 16:7–10 "After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. "So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” "Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

3C. 2 Corinthians 2:12–13 "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, "I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia."

4C. Colossians 4:3 "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,"

5C. Acts 14:27 "Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."

3B. They have a little strength:

1C. Humility not strong in themselves.

2C. If God be for us who can be against us!

3C. “Man Overboard!” There is a story of an Atlantic passenger lying in his bunk in a storm, deathly sick—seasick. A cry of “Man overboard!” was heard. The passenger thought, “God help the poor fellow. There is nothing I can do.” Then he thought at least he could put his lantern in the porthole, which he did. The man was rescued, and recounting the story the next day, he said, “I was going down in the darkness for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand, and a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed my hand and pulled me in.” Weakness is no excuse for our not putting forth all the little strength we have, and who can tell how God will use it?

4A. Jesus' Assessment (No Condemnation)

5A. Jesus' Assessment (Commendation)

1B. They have kept my Word

1C. John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”"

2B. They have NOT denied My Name:

3B. They had endured resistance and persecution from the Unbelieving Jews. (vs9)

1C. Jewish Expectation:

1D. One Day everyone will bow before God: Isaiah 45:23 "I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath."

2D. One Day the Jews will have a place in God’s Kingdom: Isaiah 60:14 "Also the sons of those who afflicted you Shall come bowing to you, And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel."

2C. Jesus will reward their exclusion with His acceptance. Persecution with promotion.

4B. Because you have Kept my command to persevere.

1C. Hebrews 12:1–2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

2C. Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

6A. Jesus' Word of Exhortation

1B. Hold-Fast (Present Active Imperative)

1C. κρατέω kratéō; contracted kratṓ, fut. kratḗsō, from krátos (2904), strength. To take hold of, grasp, hold fast, followed by the gen. of person meaning to have power over, rule over

2C. Until He comes or He calls you to be with Him!

2B. I am coming quickly

1C. Not in the sense of time “soon” but rather I am coming unexpectantly. He is coming as a thief in the night. (Mt. 24:43-44)

2C. Be READY:

1D. If you are faithful – what a comfort or assurance.

2D. If you are faithless – what a warning

3B. Jesus give some examples of Holding Fast

1C. Example of the Master and two servants Mt. 24:45-48)

2C. Example of the 10 bridesmaids Mt. 25:1-13) Watch & prepare

3C. Example of the 3 Servants Mt. 25:14-30) be faithful in God’s Work Now

4C. Example of the sheep and the goats Mt. 25:31-46 Do you know Him?

7A. Jesus' word of Promise

1B. Given Favor/Position before the Jews: Keep my command (vs.9)

1C. Rewards/Crowns in the Kingdom!

2B. Kept from the Tribulation (vs.10)

1C. From Greek word “ek” as opposed to through “dia”.

2C. The “HOUR of trial”: Not trials in general but from “the Trial”

1D. It is a trial that shall come upon the whole world. There is a tribulation(Jn.16:33) but Jesus spoke of “the time of great tribulation (Mt. 24:21, 29

3C. God’s Promise: 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, "who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

3B. I will Make Him a Pillar a permanent Fixture in my presence. (vs.12)

1C. Memorial names written on pillars of temples.

2C. Before God’s presence in the Millennial Reign of Christ and for Eternity (Ez. 48:35)

4B. I will Mark them as My own with a New name:

1C. the City was given a new name.

2C. Ownership, belonging, Relationship

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