Pillars in the Temple of God

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

“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. “ ‘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. 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. 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 am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Philadelphia is the only church to not receive a word of Rebuke

does not imply the church is perfect, implies they are heading the voice of the Lord.

Progression

Church that Fell out of Love with the Lord-Ephesus

Church that considers themselves spiritually weak and heavily persecuted-Smyrna

Church where the leaders have sold the Pulpit-Pergamum

Church where the congregation has sold out- Thyatira

Church that has stopped caring and is Spiritually dead- Sardis

Final address to the church as a body

Next letter addresses the individual as a person in the church

Flawed and all the church learned to depend on the strong arm of the Lord as its source.

We Must Learn to Depend on God Alone To Overcome.

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 3:7 ESV

“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.

5 Characteristics of Christ

The Holy One

This is the reason He asks the body to be Holy.

None are Righteous not one apart from Him.

The True One

Rev 1:5 True witness… our source of Truth

Both Holy and Truly Speak of the Deity of Christ

Holds the Key of David

Speaks of authority

Has the Power to Do the Will of God-Soveriegnty

Eliakim in Is 22 is handed full authority over the Kings possession and as able to speak as the King

Opens and No One Will Shut

The power to sustain open

Who can oppose Him

Shuts and None Will Open

The Scholar Gamaliel knew this well in Acts

If they oppose the work of the Lord they will only help to spread the work and find themselves at ends with God

Noah is shut in and could not open

Matthew 16:19 ESV

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

To those who dare to give Him Lordship is given the key to operate in the divine.

Its not just the authority but combats the Gnostic movement which believed that by gaining knowledge they could open doors, portals or gateways of divinity. Jesus Says I am the Only Way

Commendation for Perseverance

Revelation 3:8–11 ESV

“ ‘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. 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. 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 am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

The Lord Knows intimately and Opens the door for the work of the church.

Who will oppose the work of this church.

A Church With Little Power

The Little Power is not numbers or amount of divinity available

It is Christ who has opened that Door

the Little power has to do with on their own strength they can do nothing but IN CHRIST THEY ARE A MIGHTY FORCE

Beloved above the Rest

v.9 BEHOLD… Christ wants the church to see what is about to happen

strong admonishment to churches that call themselves true but are not

Paul on his way to interfere with God’s divine plan is brought to his knees and is re-purposed

Perseverance above Perseverance

v.10 Does not show us a perfect Church it shows us a church that will persevere even when its too difficult

They show the ability to go through the trials and therefore are sustained through… not taken out of this world

John 17:15 ESV

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Spiritual Protection...They are told to hold onto this heart posture… keep fighting keep persevering

I am coming soon… if they thought this would be quick they would have been mistaken…

Sustaining Power of Jesus… it is why they are told to not rely on their power or strength but that of the Lord

Promises for the Faithful Church

Revelation 3:12–13 ESV

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

Four Major Promises are Given

Pillars in the Temple of God

There is only ONE TRUE CHURCH

Jesus Christ

We cannot keep saying “WE ARE THE CHURCH”

you are a vessel and will be made a part of the Church

You will be a Pillar in His Temple

Permanent Communion

Today some come and go some fall and stand backslide and are on fire… THE TEMPLE OF GOD will be permanent

In the completed church of the Lord there will be perfect communion

Permanently Marked

The name of God will be engraved on you.

The name of the new City will be on you

You will be permanently known as His

Perfected Identity in Christ

Jesus NEW name

You are not only marked but given the Identity of Jesus.

The permanent church the trie church is spiritually inviolable…

False church has given its allegiance to Satan…

The true church is belongs to Christ and He places that church in a seat of authority… Giving the church power authority and the ability to rest in HIs presence in the here and now, and in perfect communion in the time to come.