Message to the Church in Philadelphia
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things
saith He that is Holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that
openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and
hast not denied My Name.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship
before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the Word of My Patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him The Name of My God, and
the Name of the City of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out
of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My New Name.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what The Spirit saith unto the
churches.
Rev. 3:7-13 KJV
Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love.’
The city of Philadelphia was of the province of Lydia
in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
Philadelphia was situated on the Cogamus River, a
tributary of the Hermus (modern Gediz) and was about 45 kilometers (28 miles)
southeast of Sardis. It was founded by Attalus II (Philadelphus), who reigned
as king of Pergamos from 159 BC until 138 BC Philadelphia was a center of the
wine industry.
Apostle John in this epistle, describes the church in
Philadelphia as ‘the faithful church’ and ‘the church that stood at the gateway
of a great opportunity.’
Christ said to this church, “Behold, I have set before thee an open door,
and no man can shut it” (v.8).
This "open door" is our access to GOD.
This ‘door of Grace’ gives the Church the opportunity
for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
The “Message to the Church in Philadelphia” is ‘the
sixth letter’ sent to one of the Asian churches.
Philadelphia which was seated upon the borders of
Mysia and Lydia, had its name from ‘brotherly love’ for which it was eminent.
All believers should have this affection, one for
another, as the children of one Heavenly Father and the brethren of Christ.
This epistle was signed by JESUS CHRIST Who is “The
Head of the Church.”
"... Christ is The
Head of the Church: and He is The Saviour of the body" (Eph. 5:23 KJV).
Christ is The Head of His body [His celestial
body]—"the True Church."
As "The Gentle Savior” and “Perfect Redeemer” He
laid down His life for her.
He has revealed to His "Faithful Church"
that He now has "the key of David."
“…He that is Holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David” (v.7).
Holiness is His Nature—‘Divine Nature’
He cannot but be True to His Word.
Politically, He has “the key of David”—authority of
government over Israel and the nations (Jews and Gentiles).
He has given authority to ‘the Church Triumphant,’
according to the terms of Salvation fixed by Him.
In accordance with The Father’s Will, His Divine
Purpose and Plan, His Kingdom’s Government makes decrees and rules.
He has opened ‘the door of Grace’ to His Church, by
the terms of communion and fellowship, which He laid down.
He shuts ‘the door’ when He pleases, He shuts this ‘door
of divine-opportunity,’ and leaves obstinate sinners shut up in the hardness of
their hearts; He shuts ‘the door of church-fellowship’ against unbelievers and
profane persons; and He shuts ‘the door of Heaven’ against the foolish virgins
who have slept away their ‘day of grace,’ and against the workers of iniquity,
how vain and confident whatsoever they may be.
He opens doors, and no one can shut them; He shuts
doors, and no one can open them.
He preserves the spiritual liberties, privileges, and
heritage of His Church.
If the Church do not provoke Christ to shut ‘this door’
against her, men cannot do it.
This church is commended:”…thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My
Word, and hast not denied My Name” (v.8).
“Grace” has kept His True Church—“Grace” has kept her
faithful.
“Grace” has propelled ‘the Church’ over these
centuries.
It is by Grace that ‘the True Church’ keeps the Word
of Christ, and never deny His Name.
“The True Church” overcomes by “the Blood of The Lamb”
and by “the word of their testimony.”
Christ will make her enemies subject to her—‘the
synagogue of Satan.’
‘The synagogue of Satan’ is a house of idolatry, blasphemy,
and blood sacrifices.
Satan's seat of power is being set up in 'Mystery
Babylon'—and through his ‘mystery of iniquity’ — which is ‘the secret power of
lawlessness,’ “the antichrist” is setting up his ‘one-world religion.’
‘The synagogue of Satan’ is the place of worship of
Satan—it is the temple of false apostles, and false prophets.
Though they may profess to be the only people of GOD,
their profession is a lie.
Their prophecies and teachings are by ‘the spirit of
Jezebel.’
“The True Church” worship GOD in spirit and in
truth—they are “the Israel of GOD.”
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship
before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (v.9).
In their subjection to “the Church of Jesus Christ,”
they shall worship The Only Living GOD; they shall be convinced that they have
been in the wrong, and that this is “the True Church of Jesus Christ.” They
will come to acknowledge that “the True Church” is beloved of Christ, and they
shall desire to be taken into communion with her and that they may worship the Only
True GOD after the same manner as the Church.
The LORD will do this because His True Church has
obeyed His Command to persevere.
“The True Church” is called to win souls for the
Kingdom of GOD.
“Because thou hast kept the Word of My Patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth” (v.10).
“The hour of temptation” is fast approaching. It is
coming upon all the world, to try everyone that is on planet earth. Only those
who are a part of “the True Church of Jesus Christ” will come out of it
victorious.
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown” (v.11).
Jesus Christ is coming to reward the fidelity of His
True Church, and to punish those who fall away.
There are those that will lose their crown which they
once seemed to have a right to, and which they hoped for—the persevering saints
shall win the prize from backsliding professors, who once stood fair for it.
Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS promises glorious reward to
His “overcomers”:
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him The Name of My God, and
the Name of the City of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out
of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My New Name (v.12).
“The church in Philadelphia” represent “the
overcomers.”
They shall become “pillars” in the Temple of GOD—they
will be eternally monumental in the Temple of GOD in Heaven, through the
powerful Grace of GOD.
They shall be established as ‘pillars’ that will never
be defaced nor removed, as many stately pillars erected in honor to the Roman
emperors and generals have been.
Upon these “pillars,” The LORD JESUS has promised
that. He will write “THE NAME OF GOD,” “the Name of The New Jerusalem”—the City
of GOD, and “HIS NEW NAME.”
“The overcomers” will be given “The Name of GOD” for
they are members, children of His divine family—“heirs of GOD” (read Rom.
8:17).
They are called by His Name; their engagement, and
service is by His Name.
“The 144, 000 Elect” will also have “The Father’s
Name” written on their foreheads (see Rev. 14:1).
“The New Jerusalem” is Mount Zion—The City of The
Living GOD (see Heb. 12:22). “The overcomers” will be given “the Name of the
City of GOD”—for they are His inheritance (read Psa. 74:2; 125:1). They are
‘the house of GOD’—“the Temple of GOD”—“the Church of The Living GOD.”
“The overcomers” will be given ‘The New Name of Jesus
Christ’—their Mediator, Redeemer, and Captain, for under His Command and
conduct they acted as ‘soldiers of the Cross’—under His influence they fought
‘the good fight,’ kept the faith and became victorious.