The Patient Church
Revelation- A Message to the Churches • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 28:38
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Attributes of Jesus
Attributes of Jesus
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Holy One- Set apart, distinct, unique, truly God
True One- Genuinely Messiah, Words are true, you can trust them
Key of David- Jesus controls the entrance to David’s house, which ultimately refers to the Messianic kingdom.
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Revelation 1:5 (ESV)
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
The Jews, whose hostility is prominent in 3:9 of this message, denied that Jesus was the Messiah and claimed that they alone, not Jesus’ followers, had access to the kingdom of David. The opening words of this message emphasize that the opposite is true. He is the genuine Messiah, and in the coming reign of glory His power to open the door to His own and close it to the self-styled “children of the kingdom” is established (Beckwith).
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens-
Opens and shuts what? Door of David- Jesus alone has the power to admit into or exclude from His kingdom.
Knowledge of Jesus
Knowledge of Jesus
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an 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.
What does Jesus know about the church in Philadelphia? Your works
Brief interlude- A word of encouragement to the church. How does Jesus seek to encourage the church?
I have set before you an open door? What does this refer to?
Option 1: Christ is the door of the sheep / door of salvation
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
The sense is that Christ makes access to God sure, despite the trials and temptations of this life.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an 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.
Problems: Christ is both the one setting the door and the door itself, the context of Revelation 3:8 is far removed from the context of John 10.
Option 2: Expanded Missionary Opportunities
9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
Problems: Doesn’t fit the context of a suffering church
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an 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.
Option 3: a sure entrance into the messianic kingdom, promised to the church as a reward for their faithfulness
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
No one, not even those of “the synagogue of Satan,” can shut them out. Jewish opponents would seek to deny Gentiles, such as Christians in this city, entrance into the messianic kingdom (Beckwith). This meaning is clear from the immediate context of the message.
Then Jesus resumes his knowledge about the churches works.
I know that you have but little power?
“Little power” must refer to the church’s limited influence because of its numerical smallness.
Yet you have KEPT my Word!
You have not DENIED my Name!
Promises of Jesus
Promises of Jesus
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Synagogue of Satan?
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
“The synagogue of Satan” was apparently composed of professing Jews, worshiping in the synagogue and claiming to be the true Israel
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Come and bow down before your feet?
Option 1: The false Jews will come and bow down before the churches feet- without implying salvation of those who are forced to come and worship.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
This is the language of eschatological judgment rather than an anticipation of blessing. It simply says that the Jews will acknowledge their mistake in denying Christians a place in the kingdom.
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Option 2: a reference to an eschatological salvation of the Jews
In light of the general nature of the application of all seven of these messages, the prophecy must look forward to the time when the whole church enters the messianic kingdom (Beckwith). The people of Israel will have an entirely different attitude toward the church as Christ’s bride because they will by then have turned to Christ themselves.
I will make them (believing Jews in the messianic kingdom as opposed to the attitude of most Jews in that day) to have an entirely different attitude toward Gentile Christians and the church. Promise of future blessing.
10 Because 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 those who dwell on the earth.
Word about patient endurance- probably best understood as the endurance that Christ Himself displayed and must be emulated.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
10 Because 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 those who dwell on the earth.
I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world
Command of Jesus
Command of Jesus
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
No one may seize your crown
Promise to the Overcomer
Promise to the Overcomer
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Pillar in the temple of my God
Meaning? Never shall he go out of it-
Metaphorical- No temple in the New Jerusalem
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
The Jerusalem that comes down from heaven is all temple, and Christ’s victorious ones are its living stones and pillars. The Philadelphian Christians will be permanent, like a pillar in the Temple, and will stand when all else has fallen. They are assured of continuance in God’s presence throughout all eternity (Walvoord).
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Name of my God- belonging to God
Name of the city of my God- right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem
Christ’s new name-
Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary Exegesis and Exposition
Christ’s “new name” symbolizes the full revelation of His character promised to the overcomer at Christ’s second advent. Currently, man is incapable of grasping the full theological significance of the incarnation, but that will change. When He comes, the victors will not only appreciate fully who Christ is, but they will bear His new name with Him (Charles; Mounce). Herein is further assurance.
New Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’