2021-9-19, Revive & Rebuke: Jesus Speaks to His Church, The Church at Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13
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Introduction
Have you ever had to go through a tough trial? Have you ever thought about trials and hardships you did not have to go through? Ones that you avoided?
Like, why did I get to grow up in the home I did?
Today we are going to look at a church in Revelation that had to go through several tests and trials, but Jesus spares them from the biggest one.
The Book of Revelation comforts believers because it emphasizes Christ’s return and triumph over evil.
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.
Jesus is holy- completely separate from sin
1. Jesus was called holy in the NT by an angel speaking to Mary (Lk 1:35)
2. By a demon (Mk 1:24)
3. By Peter (John 6:69)
And now by Himself.
To be holy means to be completely separate from sin. His character is without fault.
The reason Jesus expects His bride to be holy is that He is holy.
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Are you striving to live holy lives?
Jesus calls Himself “true”- genuine and authentic- contrasted to darkness and falsehood which infiltrates the world.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus implores us to be true as well when He tells us to
37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Are you being true and authentic? Are you being a “What you see is what you get” type people with no duplicity?
He is conforming us to His image. You can understand why His rebukes toward His churches have to do with lapses in holiness and truth.
He has the Key of David- Messianic reference to the Messiah and the kingdom of God (The king and the kingdom, New Jerusalem)
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Eliakim controlled who had access to Israel’s king, Jesus alone has the authority to determine who enters His kingdom.
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Emphasis on Jesus’ sovereign control over His church.
He opens what no one will shut. This is a reference to the kingdom of heaven (a.k.a. salvation, eternal life).
Life is a open door and for those truly in Christ.
Jesus never shuts the door of heaven on His children once it has been opened to them.
What he shuts, no one can open. Conversely, for those who do not call on Christ before death, the door will not be opened to them.
Just as the door to the ark was not opened once the rains began, despite the shouts and pleadings from outside.
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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.
Little power- small in number but had powerful impact on its town.
Marked by obedience- proving genuine their love for Christ.
They were faithful and had not denied Christ. Loyal regardless of the cost.
Endure patiently
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.
This is a second reference to Synagogue of Satan. This is a reference to Jews who did not believe in Christ and persecuted His servants- both demonic actions.
Like Smyrna, the Christians in Philadelphia suffered from hostility from unbelieving Jews .
Jesus promises these Christians that one day these hateful Jews will bow at their feet as humbled and defeated foes. This is a promise which will be fulfilled in the kingdom of Christ.
This is the promise Jesus gives to the ones He loves
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.
Because they proved obedient and faithful, like all true Christians, Jesus also promises them that they will be kept from the Great Tribulation.
This is important for all of us to pay attention to, I understand this to speak message to be for all faithful Christians.
1. There will be an hour of trial that comes to the whole world (test those who dwell on the earth refers to unbelievers in the book of Revelation 6.10; 8.13; 11.10; 13.8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).
2. It is placed in the future.
3. It is limited in time.
4. The purpose of this test is to expose people for what they really are, people who will believe in Jesus or not. You pass the test by repenting of sin, you fail by rejecting Christ.
Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9), the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7).
A lot hinges on the word “from.” It is a preposition of separation that also means “out of.”
Jesus will keep Christians out of the Great Tribulation.
“Because the believers in Philadelphia had successfully passed so many tests, Jesus promised to spare them from the ultimate test. The sweeping nature of that promise extends far beyond the Philadelphia congregation to encompass all faithful churches throughout history. This verse promises that the church will be delivered from tribulation, thus supporting a pretribulation rapture.” JM 92
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
All these passages refer to keeping Christians out of the judgment.
-This tribulation is not the same as the impending judgment Christ has on the other churches (that their lampstands would be snuffed out)
Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:3
-This is different from the 10 day persecution that Smyrna will have to face (2:10)
The Command
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
This verse has three parts.
First, Jesus promises to come and bring deliverance for the believers who are suffering persecution.
This is immanent, but not immediate.
Jesus’ return remains immanent, and it is more immediate than what it was.
Then, He gives a command to them in light of His immanent return- Hold fast.
Endure in keeping His Word and do not deny His name. This is the essence of the Christian life is it not?
Those who persevere to the end will prove their salvation was true from the beginning.
Christians are saved by God’s power, but not apart from their constant undying faith
Lastly, it says there the prize for true faith- “the crown of life.” There is a cause and effect here. Actually, a cause and an effect, and an effect.
Believe and be saved, endure to the end, receive the laurel of eternal life.
This is encouraging to us when we think about our loved ones who have gone on to heaven. This is comforting when we think about our own mortality, should it happen before Christi returns. Believe, remain faithful in obedience, receive heaven.
Then Jesus continues on with Counsel,
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.’
Pillar in the temple of God
Pillars denote permanence and honor. This is a message to you and to me who are in Christ, God has prepared a place for us in His house that is eternal and full of honor.
Inscribed with the name of God,
We belong to the Father
the name of the city, the new Jerusalem
We are citizens of the eternal city.
Foreshadowing- New Jerusalem has a heavenly origin and an earthly destination
Inscribed with Jesus’ new name.
We will see Jesus for all He is rather than the clouded view we have of Him in the present (1 Cor. 13)
The rewards of faithfulness will always outweigh the pain of suffering.