THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7-13
Life
Application New Testament Commentary: "About
twenty-five miles southeast of Sardis on a high plateau sat the city of
Philadelphia. The city was also about one hundred miles due east of Smyrna
(another city on the letter carrier’s route). Christ had no words of rebuke for
this church. Though small and struggling, the church in Philadelphia had stayed
true to Christ, and he told them simply to hold on to what they had."
Rev 3:7 "Write this
letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the
One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no
one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.
This is a phrase that is used to say that the words are
from God. Without that distinction it would have only been from John. That is
not putting John down but John would not have been able to keep an eye on one
town.
Rev 3:8 "I know all the
things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have
little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.
Remember that we are in the post crucifixion
period. Jews are now supposed to believe in Christ. The Jews who have not
turned to Christ are the "liars" he is referring to.
Rev 3:9 Look, I will force
those who belong to Satan's synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are
not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the
ones I love. Rev 3:10 "Because you
have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of
testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this
world.
This time of testing is complicated. There are
many variable thoughts on what this means. I will show you what the Life
Application New Testament Commentary says: Apparently there
was significant conflict between the Christians and the Jews in Philadelphia.
As in the letter to the church in Smyrna (Rev_2:9),
Christ referred to those who called themselves Jews but who were really liars
and those who belong to Satan. These people, descended from Abraham and
Jews by birth, vehemently opposed and persecuted the Christians for their
belief that Jesus was the Messiah. Because of their opposition, Christ
considered them as belonging to Satan. True Jews (God’s people) have accepted
Jesus as Messiah and Savior (see Rom_2:28-29;
Gal_3:29;
Gal_6:16).
These Jews who had rejected the Messiah truly belonged to Satan, not to God.
They had shut the Christians out of their synagogues, but Christ says that he will
force these people to come and bow down at the feet of his faithful
people. Then they will acknowledge that the Christians are indeed the
ones whom Christ loves. At Christ’s return, true believers will be vindicated.
3:10 The believers had endured patiently, as Christ had commanded, so
Christ promised to protect them from the great time of testing that
will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. Some
believe that this protection from “the great time of testing” means there will
be a future time of great tribulation from which true believers will be spared.
This is a key verse for those who subscribe to the pre-Tribulation-Rapture
theory—that believers will be kept from this time of testing because they will
not be on the earth then, having been taken to heaven in what is called the
“Rapture” (based on 1Co_15:51-53;
1Th_4:15-17).
Others believe that the verse refers to times of great distress in general, the
church’s suffering through the ages. Others interpret the protection to mean
that the church will go through the time of tribulation and that God will keep
them strong during it, providing spiritual protection from the forces of evil (Rev_7:3).
The verb “protect” is the same Greek verb in the Lord’s prayer (“Deliver us
from the evil one,” Mat_6:13).
As Jesus said before his death, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the
world, but to keep them safe from the evil one” (Joh_17:15).
This “great time of testing” is
also described as the Great Tribulation or Day of the Lord, mentioned also in Dan_12:2;
Mar_13:19;
and 2Th_2:1-12.
All the judgments recorded in the remainder of the book of Revelation take
place during this time of tribulation. While believers may have to face
difficulty and suffering, they will certainly be protected from God’s wrath and
judgment.
As I said earlier the words " time of testing"
are complicated. I personally believe that I will die, the moment my heart
stops beating I will awake in the presence of Angels and be delivered to
heaven. Why do I believe that? I had a very good friend named Peter Davis who
passed away many years ago. Peter was a minister but did not have a parish. He
just worked for God where ever he could. When Peter was dying from liver cancer
he had a lucid moment. That is not uncommon and why that happens you will have
to ask your doctor. In that moment he was talking to his wife. He turned his
head and ask the two standing there if he could have another minute. He got his
minute laid down and he died. He was alone in that room except for his family
and they were not the ones he addressed. Was that a God moment? I do not know
but I believe it was. You would have to know Peter, he was a wonderful man and
fully devoted to Christ, so yes I believe it was a God moment.
Rev 3:11 I am coming soon.
Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
Rev 3:12 All who are
victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never
have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of My God, and they will be
citizens in the city of My God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven
from My God. And I will also write on them My new name. Rev 3:13 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and
understand what He is saying to the churches
Do you have questions about where you will be when you
shut your eyes for the last time? Christianity is extremely hard for the
logical mind, but, why does it still exist if it is not true. The Bible has had
many prophecies and most have come true except the ones that are left and they
are in our future. Read up on the prophecies' of God. You will be amazed.
Agape
Dave
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