Revelation 3:7–13

Review…

• SEVEN letters…
  • SEVEN literal churches in Asia Minor [modern day Turkey]
  • Different KINDS of churches – the TOTAL [seven] church…
  • The HISTORY of the church – from PENTECOST to the RAPTURE!
  • Historical church…
  • Ephesus – the Apostolic Church: 32-100 A.D.
  • Smyrna – the Martyr Church: 100-313 A.D.
  • Pergamos – the Compromising Church: 314-590 A.D.
  • Thyatira – the Roman Catholic Church: 590-1517 A.D.
  • Sardis – the Reformation Church: 1517-1700 A.D.
    • The church has a NAME [reputation] that we ALIVE – but they were DEAD…
    • The SOLUTION – was for the to Remember TWO things – the SPIRIT and the WORD…
    • If they HELD fast to these – then there would be a REVIVAL…
    • If they OVERCAME [death] – they would WALK in WHITE – have their name in the Book of Life!
  • Philadelphia – the Revival Church: 1700-1900 A.D.
  • Laodicea – the Worldly Church: 1900-Rapture

The Faithful church…

• 1^st – The introduction… vs. 7
  • FOUR sections
    • Each of the LETTERS to the churches contains FOUR sections…
    • Introduction – Positive – Negative – and Encouragement!
  • 1^st – The Angel…
    • To the angel!
    • As you will recall – there are TWO thoughts on WHO this ANGEL was…
    • FIRST – a guardian ANGEL – who watched over PHILADELPHIA – Hebrews 1:14
    • SECOND – it could be the PASTOR of the church…
    • ANGEL [ἄγγελος] – means messenger – one who gives Gods WORD…
    • Therefore – Jesus is talking about the PASTOR – who gave His church His Word!
  • 2^nd – The City…
    • Of the church in Philadelphia write!
      • PHILADELPHIA – a compound word – to LOVE [φίλος] your BROTHER [ἀδελφός]
      • It is the MODERN city of Alaşehir – meaning the CITY of GOD [or red city]
      • It is a small agricultural city of around FORTY thousand – with VERY few Christians…
      • Located about 50 Kilometers southeast from the church of Sardis…
      • The RUINS of the Roman city are located in the middle of the MODERN city…
      • Only three PILLARS from the Basilica of Saint John [6^th century] remain standing today!
    • Biblical PHILADELPHIA…
      • Due to its GRAPE [wine] production – it was a very PAGAN city…
      • The main god of Philadelphia was Dionisius – the god of WINE…
      • Located on the Imperial Post Road – it was an important trade and communication route…
      • It was a KEY city between the EAST and WEST portions of Asia Minor…
      • PHILADELPHIA was the one of the LAST cities to fall to the Muslim Ottomans [1390]
      • Though they were perhaps the LEAST [smallest] of the churches – they lasted the LONGEST!
  • 3^rd – The Tone…
    • Describing Jesus…
      • In His INTRODUCTION to each of the Churches – Jesus looks back…
      • Highlighting specific CHARACTERISTICS of the Vision from – Revelation 1:11-18
      • The choice of CHARACTERISTICS – sets the TONE for the LETTER to that church…
      • The TONE to PHILADELPHIA – is one of encouraging a SMALL church…
      • With that in mind – there are THREE descriptions given by Jesus in His INTRODUCTION!
    • These things says He who is holy
      • FIRST – Jesus is THE [ὁ] HOLY [ἅγιος] – to be SET apart – to be WORTHY…
      • In a CITY that was dedicated to WINE – Jesus calls the church to be SET apart [ἅγιος]!
      • We live in a world that lives for PLEASURE – only thinking about TODAY…
      • Though we live AMONG them – we are not to be LIKE them…
      • We are called to be HOLY – show them a BETTER life – lived for ETERNITY!
      • II Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them – and be separate – says the Lord.”
    • He who is true!
      • SECOND – Jesus is THE [ὁ] TRUTH [ἀληθινός] – TRUTH is a PERSON!
      • John 14:6 – “I am the way – the truth – and the life.”
      • I saw a teaching from a pastor – who church boasts FORTY thousand people a week…
      • He claimed that EVOLUTION is compatible with the BIBLE…
      • God was the AGENT [creator] who used EVOLUTION as the means [tool]
      • Directly contradicting the Bible account – SIX literal days – NO death…
      • This eroding of the AUTHORITY of the WORD – is now celebrated in many CHURCHES!
      • II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming [and now is] when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will… look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.”
      • Many CHURCHES today – would love for us to question the TRUTH…
      • What is right for you – may not be what is right for me – everything is RELATIVE…
      • And People FILL the churches who teach this…
      • Because they want pastors who tell them their LIFESTYLE is OK…
      • The result is a lot of churches have gotten away from the TRUTH – the WORD!
    • He who has the key of David.  He who opens and no one shuts – and shuts and no one opens!
      • THIRD – Jesus has THE [ὁ] KEY [κλείς] – of David!
      • In the days of the King Hezekiah – there was a SCRIBE named Shebna [strong]
      • An ARROGANT man – he BUILT great monuments [tomb] for himself – Isaiah 22:16
      • But the LORD had the prophet Isaiah rebuke Him…
      • Shebna would be REPLACED by Eliakim [GOD raises up] – son of Hilkiah [God is my portion]
      • Isaiah 22:22 – “I will give HIM the key to the house of David…” [NLT]
      • The IDEA is God – who is HOLY and TRUE – will NOT use men who think they are STRONG…
      • God uses men whom HE raises up – who KNOW their POWER comes from the LORD…
      • To these men God will give the KEY – so they can OPEN and CLOSE the DOOR…
      • It is the KEY of death and hell – Revelation 1:18
      • The TONE of this letter – is Jesus telling a SMALL church He has a PLAN for them…
      • NOT the STRONG or MIGHTY – not the MEGA churches who question TRUTH…
      • NOT the pastors who are out to build THEIR Kingdom [monuments] – MEGA ministries…
      • God uses the who DEPEND on HIM – they are the ones given the KEY…
      • The GOSPEL message – the ONLY way to open the DOOR to heaven – if we give it to others…
      • Or CLOSES the DOOR to heaven – if we do not!
• 2^nd – The Positive… vs. 8-10
  • 1^st – Jesus KNOWS… vs. 8
    • I know [εἴδω] your works!
    • Jesus said this to all SEVEN churches – He sees [perfect] EVERYTHING – Hebrews 4:13
    • What He saw in PHILADELPHIA was pretty much ALL good…
    • So much so that arguably this is one of only TWO [Smyrna] churches were nothing BAD is said!
  • 2^nd – The SMALL church… vs. 8
    • [Look] – I have set before you an open door – and no one can shut it!
      • LOOK [imperative] – the FIRST of FOUR times Jesus will say this to the CHURCH!
      • If someone tells us to LOOK at something – it is NOT because we are staring at it…
      • It means we are DISTRACTED – and LOOKING the WRONG way!
      • The church in PHILADELPHIA was distracted – they were missed the point…
      • Perhaps they were envious of what was happening in nearby Laodicea [rich MEGA church]
      • And Jesus wanted them to instead LOOK at the most important thing…
      • He had opened the DOOR to HEAVEN – and NO one had the POWER [δύναμαι] to SHUT it…
      • The church in PHILADELPHIA – unlike some of the other SEVEN – was in a GOOD place!
      • It is EASY for a church to get DISTRACTED – and lose FOCUS…
      • We can get our EYES on other churches – and MISS what really MATTERS…
      • God is not concerned about how many SEATS are filled on a Sunday morning…
      • His focus is how many SAINTS are going to walk through the DOOR into heaven!
    • For you have a little strength – have kept My word – and have not denied My name!
      • BECAUSE – although the church in PHILADELPHIA was SMALL [μικρός]
      • And they did NOT have a LOT of POWER [δύναμις] – NOT many people – NOT much money…
      • It was easy to THINK they were NOT that important of a church…
      • But what they did do – was KEEP the WORD – and NOT deny the NAME of Jesus!
      • We tend to FOCUS on a LOT on numbers in the church today…
      • As if somehow – a MEGA church is the measure of a HEALTHY church…
      • Yet the average church has around 75 people [50% of churches had less than that]
      • And many [not all] MEGA churches we see – do NOT teach the WORD!
      • The SIZE of the church is up to the LORD – the FOCUS of the church is our choice…
      • What makes a GOOD church is not how MANY people attend – it is the MESSAGE…
      • If we KEEP teaching the WORD – which is the TRUTH…
      • Then we are a HEALTHY church – because we understand it is all about Jesus!
      • Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing – and hearing by the word of God.”
  • 3^rd – The FALSE church… vs. 9
    • [Look] I will make those of the synagogue of Satan – who say they are Jews and are not – but lie!
      • LOOK [imperative] – Jesus wanted the church to SEE another church…
      • He called it the CHURCH [συναγωγή] of SATAN [Σατανᾶς]
      • The members claimed to be JEWS – people of God – but they were LIARS!
      • Although THE church was SMALL for the first THREE centuries…
      • It was when THE church became the ACCEPTED religion [Constantine] things went wrong…
      • Though the numbers GREW– those who truly believed in Jesus DECLINED…
      • Satan found that the best way to beat the church – was to join it!
      • It is sad to say – there are likely more than a few churches of SATAN today…
      • Some are LARGE congregations – where they claim to be people of GOD…
      • But all we have to do is LOOK – at what they TEACH – how the LIVE…
      • And we will SEE they are LIARS – they do NOT belong to God!
    • [Look] I will make them come and worship before your feet – to know that I have loved you!
      • LOOK [imperative] because Jesus will [future] cause these FALSE churches to WORSHIP…
      • WORSHIP [προσκυνέω] – to KISS the hand – we call it MANO…
      • The idea is – TODAY it might look like the BIG churches are BLESSED…
      • But ONE day – they will have to come and BLESS the SMALL churches…
      • So they might [subjunctive] KNOW – Jesus LOVES little churches who KEEP His Word!
      • Christianity is a FAITH that is focused on TOMORROW not TODAY…
      • Because living a HOLY life – by the TRUTH – sharing the KEYS of heaven…
      • Is NOT a guarantee of a MEGA church – it might mean a MINI church…
      • But there is a REWARD that will come ONE day – when God will show His LOVE [ἀγαπάω]!
  • 4^th – The RAPTURED church… vs. 10
    • Because you have kept My command to persevere – I also will keep you from the hour of trial!
      • The church had KEPT [aorist] His WORD [λόγος] by ABIDING [ὑπομονή]
      • Therefore – Jesus would also KEEP [future] them OUT of the time of TRIAL…
      • Not that they would not face any TRIALS [πειρασμός] – John 16:33
      • This is talking about THE [ὁ] time of THE [ὁ] trial – the Great TRIBULATION!
      • I do wonder – what some of these APOSTATE pastors will say to THEIR churches…
      • When the Jesus comes and RAPTURES His church – and they are still there!
      • The KEY to not having to go through the TRIBULATION – is to KEEP the WORD of God…
      • Because when we are in the WORD – we are ABIDING in Jesus!
      • I Thessalonians 1:10 – “Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come!”
    • [Wrath that] shall come upon the whole world – to test those who dwell on the earth!
      • THE Tribulation that will come upon EVERYONE [ὅλος]
      • As a TEST to those who are still LIVING here on the earth [not taken in the rapture]
      • As we come to the THIRD part of Revelation – see the HORRORS of the TRIBULATION…
      • One quarter of the earth dies with the first FOUR seals – FOUR horsemen – Revelation 6:8
      • By the time SIXTH trumpet is blown – 60% of the world has perished – Revelation 9:15
      • It will be natural to ask – why would God bring such WRATH upon the WORLD!
      • We are given the answer here – because God wants to TEST the hearts of men…
      • He will bring CONSEQUENCES – to see if those who DWELL on the earth will REPENT…
      • Why are we not going to be here – because we have already CHOSEN…
      • Those who HOLD onto His Word TODAY – have no reason to be tested again!
• 3^rd – The Negative… vs. 11
  • 1^st – Hold Fast…
    • No NEGATIVE…
      • There really is NO negative for the church of PHILADELPHIA – they were a GOOD church…
      • But there was a WARNING – what they NEEDED to do in order to FINISH well!
    • [Look] – I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have!
      • LOOK [imperative] – one find Jesus tells this church WHAT to LOOK at…
      • They were to LOOK for Jesus – who was coming QUICKLY…
      • While they were WAITING – they MUST [imperative] HOLD onto what they had [the Word]!
      • Jesus is coming QUICKLY – the RAPTURE could happen TODAY…
      • If the TRUMPET sounded NOW – what would Jesus find in us doing…
      • We might think – PLEASE come back NOW – I am in CHURCH…
      • But what if it happened TOMORROW – are we CONFIDENT we would be READY…
      • The COMMAND we are given to keep us READY – is to HOLD [imperative] onto the WORD…
      • I John 3:3 – “Everyone who has this hope in Him [rapture] purifies himself.”
  • 2^nd – The Crown…
    • [Hold fast] – that no one may take your crown!
    • The IMPORTANCE of HOLDING onto the WORD – till Jesus comes…
    • Is emphasized by the DANGER of someone taking [subjunctive] our CROWN…
    • THE [ὁ] CROWN – [στέφανος] – described as the CROWN of LIFE – Revelation 2:10
    • In other words do NOT get discouraged that because the church is SMALL…
    • Definitely do NOT try and imitate certain MEGA churches who REJECT the Word…
    • Instead simply ABIDE in Jesus – in His Word – LOOKING for His RETURN…
    • Knowing as we do – no one can CLOSE the DOOR to heaven – no one can take our CROWN!
• 4^th – The encouragement… vs. 12-13
  • 1^st – Overcome … vs. 12
    • He who overcomes!
    • This same CONCLUSION – is given to all SEVEN churches…
    • There are a variety of REWARDS described – but all with the same CONDITION…
    • OVERCOME [νικάω] – to those who have VICTORY [present]
    • For PHILADELPHIA – VICTORY meant NOT being DISTRACTED…
    • Instead continuing to HOLD onto the Word – LOOKING for the coming of Jesus…
    • If they did – they were given TWO promises!
  • 2^nd – Pillar in the Temple… vs. 12
    • I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God – and he shall go out no more!
    • PILLAR [στῦλος] – 4x in NT – used to describe LEADERS in the church – Galatians 2:9
    • Those who OVERCOME will [future] become LEADERS in the HOUSE [temple] of God…
    • They will NEVER [οὐ μὴ] leave [go out] His PRESENCE ever again!
    • It is interesting to NOTE – that in the RUINS of the ancient city of Philadelphia…
    • The ONLY thing left standing is three PILLARS from the CHURCH!
    • The Bible does not say much about what we will do in ETERNITY…
    • The Word does not say much about what our JOB will be – how will we spend our TIME…
    • But here we are told – those who OVERCOME – will be LEADERS [pillars]
    • And they will ALWAYS be in the PRESENCE of the FATHER [My God] in heaven!
  • 3^rd – Name of God… vs. 12
    • I will write on him the name of My God!
      • When I was a kid – every summer I would go a Youth Camp…
      • My mother would write my NAME on my clothes…
      • Her intent was so that there would be NO question they belonged to me!
      • To those who OVERCOME – God places His NAME on us…
      • That way there is NO question who we belong to – we belong to Him!
    • The name of the city of My God!
      • The City of God – it NOT the current city of Jerusalem…
      • That city today is overrun [trampled down] by the Gentiles – Luke 21:24
      • When we were in Israel last year – we were talking the street on a Friday…
      • The Al-Aqsa mosque had just let out – a STREAM of people that lasted an HOUR poured out!
    • The New Jerusalem – comes down out of heaven from My God!
      • The City of God – is the NEW Jerusalem – that will come down out of Heaven…
      • We will talk a LOT more about this NEW Jerusalem in – Revelation 21
      • When we TRAVEL we have a PASSPORT – that tells people where we are FROM…
      • It has a NAME marked on the front of it declaring our CITIZENSHIP!
      • We can ONLY be citizens of one of TWO kingdoms – Matthew 12:30
      • We either belong to the KINGDOM of God – or the KINGDOM of this world…
      • And if we try to get into heaven with the wrong CITIZENSHIP – the doors are closed…
      • But if we OVERCOME – we no longer belong to this world – changed our CITIZENSHIP!
    • [I will write on him] My new name!
      • Note that the words – I will write on him – are written in italics…
      • The passage just says – Jesus has a NEW name…
      • Jesus [יְשׁוּעָה] – is a name that means God is SALVATION…
      • But having SAVED us – He will have a NEW name written on Him!
      • Revelation 19:16 – “He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
      • Because when Jesus returns – it will NOT be to SAVE – it will be to RULE!
  • 4^th – LISTEN … vs. 13
    • He who has an ear – let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
    • This was NOT written just for the church in PHILADELPHIA…
    • It is for ANYONE who has an EAR – they MUST [imperative] LISTEN…
    • Because the SPIRIT of God is SPEAKING [present] to ALL churches [plural]
    • This LETTER is for us – Jesus is writing to us TODAY…
    • If we are willing to LISTEN to what His SPIRIT has to SAY!