The Seven Chueches - Philipelphia
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Faithful
Faithful
Philadelphia means brotherly love. “Its name was given to it in honor of Attalus II, because of his loyalty to his elder brother, Eumenes II, king of Lydia. Still another name of the city was Decapolis, because it was considered as one of the ten cities of the plain. A third name which it bore during the 1st century AD was Neo-kaisaria; it appears upon the coins struck during that period. During the reign of Vespasian, it was called Flavia.
It takes its name from it’s Attalus II brother of the King of Pergamum Eumenes II who’s loyalty to his brother earned him the name Philadelphus “lover of his brother” around 150 - 130 BC
It is the youngest cities addressed in Revelation and was a strategic junction of trade routes leading to Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia - also known in ancient times as “Gateway to the East”
The message to the church is different in that there is no rebuke just words of encouragement!
The Church of Philadelphia represents the current dispensation of the church
“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”:
The description of the speaker begins with the word “Holy” - Agios in the Greek Denoting a state rather than an action
In Mark we find an acknowledgement by the demons of this fact
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!”
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
In Peter’s sermon on Pentecost
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
It is important to establish this fact to qualify Him as the one who receives the key and opens!
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—
For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Isn’t interesting that the dwelling place of God was the “Holy of Holies”? Now you are the tabernacle of God - the Holy of Holies!
It is His state of holiness that is imputed to us by faith
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
He who is “True” - Upright or correct -
And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
The message of the Gospel is true and correct because He has judged our sin at the cross of His Son!
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
“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”:
The reference here then is to Isa 22:22 in regards to the authority to control access by Eliakim, the new keeper of the keys, it speak prophetically of the messiah’s regin
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.
They “key of David” speaks about unlocking access to the throne room!
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
The key is the Gospel!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
It is the power of God at work through your faith that has transformed you!
buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
He charges them to walk through the open door!
“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.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
My friends, God has placed an open door before us for the souls of men!
You have a little strength - It is a picture of the church today!
Some glory in their numbers when millions die a Christ-less eternity
We do not see the miracles of old so we excuse ourselves with the belief that miracles have ceased so we can sooth our conscience!
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.
There is a day coming that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! The truth shall be reveled!
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.
The misunderstanding of persevere - to hold fast
Those who hold fast to the truth of the Gospel will be delivered out of the “hour of trail”
Another promise that we will not endure the tribulation period for our lives have already been tested!
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
We are reminded of the urgency of the mission and the need to stay focused
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
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.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
He is holding the keys to the Kingdom of God and has opened a great door for us even though it may seem like the enemy is advancing quickly!
Hold fast church and we will see the glory of our God manifested