Sunday 11/01/26

Title: Examining our lives in their light – Part 4

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Examining our lives in their light – Part 4

6th letter – To the saints of Philadelphia

The 6th letter: Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-22, 

“(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 presents Himself as Holy, True and in possession of the authority of the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, He alone, by that power and authority, may open and shut access to it.

This phrase is lifted directly from Isaiah and it’s use here corresponds perfectly with its used by Isaiah regarding Eliakim in respect to the House of David.

(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.  

(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.”  

Jesus’ former statement regarding the truthfulness of His unique position in God’s kingdom as being THE One Who Alone has power to open and close access to the Kingdom of God, has implications for this statement. 

Matthew 28:18-20,

“(18) And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 17:1-3, 

“(1) When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, 

“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You,  (2)  since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.  (3)  And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.”

Now there were in Philadelphia those who were literally (albeit unknowingly) worshipers of satan, who claim they were true Jews – meaning God’s true children by covenant and loyal servants in His kingdom – but they are not. 

Paul, had by the power of the Holy Spirit, closed the door to the Jews AS A NATION saying they had “judged themselves unworthy of eternal life”. They were therefore, AS A NATION, set aside until the time of the Gentiles had run its course and the fulness of them had entered the kingdom. 

It is important, even to the understanding of this letter, to realize and admit that this does not bar individual Jews access or admittance to the Kingdom of God through faith in and submission to Christ as Lord, but only the Jewish NATION as a whole.

Jesus goes on in a few verses to say that it will one day become clear to those Jews in name and natural genealogy only, that God has placed His love upon these believers in Philadelphia – both Jews and Gentiles because they were in Christ. But immediately He addresses His favor towards His Own in regard to the time of great trial which will come upon THE WORLD (as opposed to the church).

“(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.”  

“(11)  I am coming soon.

Ταχύ (Tachú) in this context carries the meaning of swiftness or quickly and there is a difference! 

• Swiftness means that whenever it does happen, it will be quick. 
• Quickness by itself indicates a brief integral of time. 

Neither imply “sudden” with all the implications that word carries in the English which would include the idea of “catching off guard”. Since these are believers, they may not know the moment of His return, but neither will they be blindsided by it.

Other passages in scripture lean this towards the idea of swiftness when it comes. “In a moment” and “Twinkling of an eye” as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52 being primary among them.

“Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”  

We identified several scriptural crowns to which this may be referring but most likely it makes little difference. Whatever crown or crowns may be implied here, they include these saints as those who will in God’s temple carry some type of regal authority given them by Jesus the Lord and king of the Kingdom.

“(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.’  

So this seems to be a simple letter to a small assembly of believers who have been the victims of false appraisals, in a similar yet opposite manner from the church of Sardis from last week. Sardis had a reputation of being “ALIVE” though they were dead. Here, the saints of Philadelphia seem to have a reputation for being insignificant in size and lacking credibility in regard to relationship with God. Jesus addresses both.

In both churches – Sardis and Philadelphia, external indicators all pointed to wrong conclusions which itself is a lesson for us. For while we may be small that does not disqualify us nor speak to our condition as loved or alive. On the other hand, we cannot make the mistake of assuming it is an indicator of the opposite either. The only real indicator for both churches and for us is our ongoing fidelity to Christ and the whiteness of our robes – a.k.a. works done in Christ.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit said this and they are words to live by if ever there were any,

2 Corinthians 10:8-18, 

“(8) For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord GAVE for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.  

(9)  I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.  (10)  For they say, 
“His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”  

(11)  Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.  (12)  Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.  

(13)  But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.  (14)  For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.  

(15)  We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,  (16)  so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.  

(17)  “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  (18)  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”