Is Praying for Patience a Good Idea?

Revelation 3:7–13 NIV

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 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. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

14 - Introduction: Evan Almighty - Poses the question.

15 - The Church has had enemies.

Caveat - We don’t know exactly what is happening.

- Persecution by Jews - Judaism was a sanctioned religion, they get a pass in the Roman Empire even though generally Romans thought less of the Jews (Anti-Semetic)

- Early Church made up of Jews and Gentiles, A sect of Judaism. But for Christianity was seen as a liability for many Jewish people so they were handed over to the Romans, often to preserve their status as a sanctioned religion, but also to purify Judaism.

At this stage in History, not anti-semetic - John was a Jew.

Jesus’ description - Different than in all of the Churches.

The Key of David - A Reference to Eliakim receiving the Authority to be in charge of the Palace, (ie. Hezekiah’s Secretary) - He had the “Keys of the Kingdom” at the time when the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem.

Some similarities are the sige of Jerusalem vs. the attacks of the Synagogue of Satan. Jerusalem persevered in Trusting Jesus and relied on his protection. Here the church is praised for its perseverance under persecution and holding fast to Jesus' name. Sennacharib is miraculously thwarted, and here the Synagogue of Satan miraculously changes their mind.

Person at Youth Group always trying to start a fight with me. Another friend said to me, "Why don't you fight back?" "You are showing him you are weak." He said this while the guy is hitting me with a wedge. My response was, "Who is stronger, the one who hides behind his fists, or the one who can take a hit." I don't remember the kid bothering me again.

Indeed, it is especially noteworthy that the command has inherent in it an understanding of discipleship that pervades the New Testament: that those who follow the Crucified One should not expect lesser treatment than what their Master received. Thus endurance as a command is simply part of the package for those who would be Christ’s disciples.

Fee, G. D. (2011). Revelation (p. 53). Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

16 - Question:

Ask yourself, What hardship is trying your patience?

And we can Trust that...

17 - Jesus vindicates those who patiently endure.

vs. 9 - God is now opening a door in which their persecutors will suddenly kneel before them and Worship Jesus.

Connects to Isaiah 45 & 60: s in reference to Cyrus sending the Jews back to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Isaiah prophesied that Egypt, Cush, the Sabeans will see this and also bow in worship in recognitian that Yahew is a saving God.

God Opens a door through their patient endurance, that their enemies turn to Jesus and Praise Jesus...

Jesus through John is communicating that the Church in Philadelphia can be encouraged in their persecution and they can look back at Israel's persecutions in the O.T. as a sign of how Jesus will vindicate them in front of their persecutors.

- My speculation (Not Fact) -

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary To the Church in Philadelphia (3:7–13)

The most important feature of the town, however, was its location almost atop the fault responsible for the severe earthquake noted above regarding Sardis (17 CE), of which Strabo writes just a few years later, “Philadelphia has not even its walls secure, but they are daily shaken and split in some degree. The people continually pay attention to earth-tremors and plan their buildings with this factor in mind.” And later,

beyond the Lydians are the Mysians and the city of Philadelphia, full of earthquakes, for the walls never cease being cracked, and different parts of the city are constantly suffering damage. That is why the actual town has few inhabitants, but the majority live as farmers in the countryside, as they have fertile land. But one is surprised even at the few, that they are so fond of the place when they have such insecure dwellings. And one would be even more amazed at those who founded it.

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary To the Church in Philadelphia (3:7–13)

Added to this was the economic disaster imposed on them by the emperor Domitian in 92 CE, just a couple of years before our letter. In the kind of ill-advised move that the powerful can make, the emperor required grape growing empire-wide to be reduced in half—most likely, it is thought by historians, as a way to force the growing of corn for his armies. This rather foolish law had particularly devastating effect on places like Philadelphia, which were largely dependent on vineyards for their livelihood. It appears to have fostered a strong sense of betrayal among the people, who had always been very pro-emperor. In a variety of ways much of this history makes sense of some of the data in our letter.

Maybe the Jewish Synagogue who was pro-Rome and Emperor, began to see in the Christians patient and Consistent resistence to Worship the Emperor and Rome, that they were indeed right all along. Who knows.

And So, when Testing Came upon the known World - Ie a Test - “Do you Worship Ceasar,” or “Do You Worship Jesus?” Philadelphia had some allys instead of enemies in the Jewish Synagogue. - Ie they were protected from the testing.

Side Note - How some interpret vs. 10 as the Rapture.

1.- That is highly Symbolic with no clues to meaning. - Church Ages.

2. - This Section is in the Now is, Chapter 4 begins the What is about to come, So this is a clue that we are talking about things happening these Churches in the 1st/2nd century.

3. - This is not how the original readers would have read this. - How would you read it if you were in Philadelphia at that time.

Honest - Can’t answer “Whole inhabitated world.” Is that known world, is that Asia Minor (as persecution under Domition was mainly Asia Minor) - Is this a general promise that everyone will be tested in their lifetime????

Regardless the promise is that God will Provide protection during times of testing.

Story of Martin Luther King Jr. the day the civil rights movement turned in his favor when he took a hit. and demonstrated his vision of non-violent protest. He embodied his teaching.

We have to be careful here - As we speak about patient endurance there are people in Afghanistan, but not just there that will be enduring things far worse

What can we learn here. While I think this Message is for the Philedalphians (We can say the events here are future to us), Like John looks back into the O.T. Persecution as a teaching on how to handle persecution in his day, we can look at Philedalphias persecution to teach us how to handle persecution in our day and in the future. - Jesus will vindicate those who patiently endure in Him.

18 - Application Point:

How Can you patiently endure the hardships you are going through?

Yes, Pray for it.

Ask for Strength and Courage, and protection in the Lord.

19 - Jesus promises inclusion in the New Creation.

We will find later in Revelation that in the New Heaven and New Earth there will be no temple.

There is no longer a physical temple in Jerusalem at this time, nor is there one now.

In the New Testament the Temple is the People of God. So to be a pillar in the temple of my God, means that people who conquer by means of patient endurance will be foundational and well honored within the Church.

But why will they never go outside again? - Fee believes this is a reference to the cities earthquake city, that their buildings often were crumbling because of it, so people usually hung out outside in the vineyards. So the idea, is Finally inside you will be secured. Or to take the analogy further, those who persevere will be secure in God’s eternal church.

They belong - the name of God, the name of Jesus, and the name of the New Jerusalem (also symbolic of the Universal Church.

20 - Application Point:

In persecution or hardship reflect on the beatitude.

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 5)

Blessed are youwhen they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Conclusion