040906 To the Church in Philadelphia

To the Church in Philadelphia

April 9, 2006

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: (Of the called at Philadelphia) I know we think of the “call” as being what a congregation does when they need a pastor. They “call” a pastor, a teacher. What we seem to have lost is the truth that all Christians are called, called to faith in Jesus. This distinguishes the Christian Church, gathering, from every other organization on Earth. Being a disciple of Jesus is to be called by Jesus, not recruited, not enlisted, not for purely social reasons. God’s call is a call to enter into His Kingdom of grace.

‘The words of wthe holy one, xthe true one, (The one speaking is the Holy One who was set apart for God’s very own purpose of Redeeming the world. Whatever He says is direct from the Father. Thus, He is the True, the totally reliable voice over and above every other voice speaking in heaven and earth.) Many claim to speak for Jesus, to speak for God. But if what they say denies God’s Word, His written Word, they are serving and doing the opposite of what Jesus did. No wonder Pilate asks Jesus, “What is Truth?” How sad that He did not recognize the truth standing before him—Jesus.

ywho has the key of David, (The key to the kingdom that only the King of Israel, Jesus Christ, has. Without this key, no one enters. Entrance into God’s Kingdom is dependent solely upon the grace of Jesus Christ. Only His forgiveness opens the gates of heaven. Only faith in Jesus Christ receives it.)

zwho opens and no one will shut, (No one can shut what He opens, i.e., the door of faith. By His creative power, He is able to make blind eyes to see, and deaf ears to hear.) Blind eyes are those who cannot see Jesus for who He really is. Deaf ears are those who cannot hear Jesus’ word of truth.

who shuts and no one opens. (No one can open what He shuts—the function of the key is clear. Jesus is the Eternal Judge. If He binds sin to the sinner, nothing can be done about it, except to seek His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.)

8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you aan open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (This door is open and no one can close it, because Jesus has the key that opened it. What is that open door? Jesus is the one who opens blind eyes, opens deaf ears, opens the gates of heaven, and opens the door of faith. The open door before them—whatever it is—does not need lots of human power to keep it open. Christ Himself keeps it opened. Whatever energy they might have, the Christians at Philadelphia have kept the word of Jesus, they have not denied His name. Keeping His name is the same as keeping the faith, i.e., believing that He really means what He says.)

9 Behold, I will make those of bthe synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, cI will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that dI have loved you. (A synagogue of Satan is any gathering place where people make claims to the truth—that they are God’s people—but, in reality, they are false people, who only know their own lies. But, from among them, Jesus will make some to come and prostrate themselves at the feet of the Philadelphians. This is an act of honor. The little power of the Philadelphians turns into a powerful message that communicates the reality of God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ. Thus, the Philadelphians are found to also be holy and true just as their Savior and helper is. They are the real people of God who have not denied the name of Jesus through unbelief, but kept His Word.)

10 eBecause you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try fthose who dwell on the earth. (Yes, their patient endurance while suffering for the truth becomes a tremendous blessing. Their reward is that Jesus will also keep them from a terrible time of testing, and temptation, and trial that is coming upon all the inhabitants of the world. How He will keep them from these trials is not specified. But, because He has said it, they trust that He can and will do it! It’s His Word, It’s God’s Word, it’s the Word of Truth. No wonder they are kept from the hour of trial. They have what is necessary to overcome.)

11 gI am coming soon. hHold fast what you have, so that no one may seize iyour crown. (Keeping the words of Jesus’ patient endurance results in the knowledge that Jesus is coming quickly. So the Philadelphians need to have a good grip and tight hold on the Word of Jesus. By doing so, no one, not anyone, is able to take what has been given to them—the crown of life. Because they have kept Jesus’ word He comes not as a thief, but as a welcome guest and Savior. How then, can the crown that He Himself bestows ever be taken from them? It cannot happen. God be praised.)

12 jThe one who conquers, I will make him ka pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him lthe name of my God, and mthe name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, nwhich comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own onew name. (Anyone who keeps the Word of Truth, Jesus’ Words, is a true Jew, a true disciple of God, a true and holy person in the sight of God. Their place as a pillar in God’s temple is pronounced ahead of time. A pillar is a supporting structure. It doesn’t make the temple; neither does it own the temple. It only supports those who are also being built into that building which is the temple of God, the Body of Christ. This is the New Jerusalem, the City of the living God. But, what is Jesus’ new name? Could it be The Holy, the True?)

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

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w ch. 6:10

x ver. 14; ch. 19:11; 1 John 5:20

y Isai. 22:22; [Luke 1:32]

z Job 12:14; [Matt. 16:19]

a Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3

b ch. 2:9

c [Isai. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14]

d Isai. 43:4

e ch. 1:9; 2 Pet. 2:9

f ch. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; 17:8

g ch. 22:7, 12, 20

h ch. 2:25

i ch. 2:10

j See ch. 2:7

k 1 Kin. 7:21; 2 Chr. 3:17; Jer. 1:18; Gal. 2:9; [Ps. 23:6; 27:4]

l ch. 14:1; 22:4

m ch. 21:2; Ezek. 48:35; [Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22]

n ch. 21:10

o ch. 2:17

j [See ver. 1 above]