This characterises the gospel, because it distinctively is the revelation of grace and truth in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son. The effect went on; the spring was gone. They have slipped into the world, and share its fears and anxieties. "It is exemption from the period of time that is promised. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil [men]; and thou didst try them which say they are apostles and are not, and didst find them liars." The word that cometh out of Christ's mouth is the daily manna of our heavenly life, and it behoves every Christian, however feeble or however strong, to keep the word of God with all his might against all comers, since it is his life. They set up to be more righteous and holy than the rest, whom they denounced as Antinomian because they stood in the true grace of God. It is a fact of life that the best athlete and the finest scholar receive the most demanding training. Nevertheless, having become a man in divine grace, He speaks according to that lowly position which He entered here. I should like to see a few more of such Protestants. Learn here, (1.) 1. They have the awful ignominy of Judaizing the church of God. You are a vessel fit for the Master's use, and there never was a vessel fit for his use that he did not use one day or other. The fire must be kept burning. Never but here occurs an address to a certain number of assemblies, particularly one so definite and significant symbolically as seven. He says, "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." Abraham, said the Jewish Rabbis, was the pillar of the world. To those who have kept his word, Christ promises, I will keep you from the coming hour of trial, which will put those who dwell on the earth to the test. But for all that the voice of the Christian is at once heard and so much the more remarkably, because it is one of the few exceptional ripples which cross the ordinary current of the book at the end as well as at the beginning. It must be evident to a spiritual mind how remarkably suited all here is to what was afterwards about to come out. In this life even the best of us is sometimes bad. Our last point was to be A WORD OF PROMISE; for, according to the tenth verse, it is written, "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." How stand the facts? Jesus Christ perfectly satisfied these conditions. In truth, the moral reason lay in this: that Christ, if rejected as the object of faith, and the only channel of grace, becomes an executor of judgment. But, Christ points out, the small group of Christians who form the church of Philadelphia are the true people of God in that city. Sin, as Burns had it, "petrifies the feeling.". Did they love the shadow or the glitter of human power? It is the present imperative and means: "Keep on remembering; never allow yourself to forget." In Revelation 3:20 we have one of the most famous pictures of Jesus in the whole New Testament. This to me is treason against sovereign truth. Not the common text, but this is the true order. The white robes may stand for the fact that the faithful will be guests at the banquet of God. Furthermore, in addition to the inner possession and the hearty belief of the truth, we must be ready to adhere to it at all times. In the temptation you will fall, for indeed you are fallen already. The persecutions in the Roman empire would furnish abundant occasions for such a trial. God's thoughts are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth; dare we drag them down and sit in judgment on them? About; Guide; API; Contact; Login | Join. what said those who preferred "great tribulation," rather than commit adultery with her? As the Te Deum has it: "Thou didst open the kingdom of Heaven to all believers." ( Rev. Remember, Christ praises FAITHFULNESS, not success. "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith." Believers on earth will meet the Lord in the air and thus escape the hour of trial . In the Pastoral Epistles we read: "She who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives" ( 1 Timothy 5:6), The Prodigal Son is he who was dead and is alive again ( Luke 15:24). never to be marked by anything that men can wonder at or admire? The seven spirits signifies the completeness of the gifts of the Spirit and the universality of his presence. It was situated where the borders of Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia met. The once great Sardians were soft, and twice they had lost their city because they were too lazy to watch. And I don't feel that I have this great obligation to share the Gospel to the Jews. "These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest." "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow yon; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you" ( Isaiah 45:14). We are NOT reading the Bible each day, just providing a reading plan as well as a 3 or so minute observation or devotion based on that day's content. Loyalty has its sure reward. Buy. We have intervention on every side. For it is somewhat novel, especially in the New Testament. One of the highest rewards of patience in one trial is the grace that God gives us to bear another. I believe that result is sure to follow holy conversation and sound preaching. It was not till midway through the fourteenth century that it fell; and to this day there is a Christian bishop and a thousand Christians in it. Three centuries before, Philadelphia had been given an open door to spread Greek ideas in the lands beyond; and now there has come to it another great missionary opportunity, to carry to men who never knew it the message of the love of Jesus Christ. Thus, besides what the apostle had in his ordinary relation with Christians, and his already lengthened tenure in the service of Christ, he receives now a new character of word and testimony. Jesus Christ works through men; and the man who remains completely detached in his attitude to him has by that very fact refused to undertake the work which is the divine purpose for him. But Philadelphia also prominently brings out the Lord in person as also in His moral glory. This was an excellent spirit, and, when sanctified by the grace of the gospel, would render them an excellent church, as indeed they were, for here is no one fault found with this church, and yet, doubtless, there were faults in it of common infirmity; but love covers such faults. It was under his authority, and indeed by his call, that the famous council sat at Nicea, and the faith of the Trinity was publicly established. We never hear of angel as an official title in the ordinary arrangements of the New Testament. I hope for that day. May we tonight, O God, listen to what you would say to us. No doubt, morally speaking, He must needs execute judgment; but John could not lose sight of His divine glory, even where the subject is judgment, and the kingdom everywhere prominent. Not only is the same principle general or constant, but it is remarkably characteristic of John's own writings. "Thou dwellest even where Satan's throne is." And here He is loving the church in this sad condition. The garments made there were famous over all the world, and the wool of the sheep of Laodicea was a luxury article which all men knew, But, says the Risen Christ, Laodicea is spiritually naked; if it wants really to be clothed it must come to him. There is little point in a man adorning his body, if he has nothing to adorn his soul. Their subjection to the church is described: They shall worship at thy feet; not pay a religious and divine honour to the church itself, nor to the ministry of it, but shall be convinced that they have been in the wrong, that this church is in the right and is beloved of Christ, and they shall desire to be taken into communion with her and that they may worship the same God after the same manner. The Katakekaumene was a great volcanic plain bearing the marks of the lava and the ashes of volcanoes then extinct. In summary, the posttribulational position in Rev 3:10, as articulated by Gundry, seems unlikely because (1) it assumes a simplistic (and etymological) force for the preposition , and (2) it does not take into account the force of the total construction of verb + preposition. Search us, O Lord, know our hearts, try us, O God, know our thoughts, if there is a way of unrighteousness, if there is a way of deceitfulness, God help us that we would not deceive ourselves, and be blind to the truth. Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, perfect one" (SS 5:2-6). . Thy Word is truth. The answer is given by the last clause when "and" is taken away: the visions that he was going to behold and record in this book whatsoever things he saw. That is what happened in Philadelphia. We read s of twelve members of it that suffered with Polycarp. Read full chapter Footnotes It is quite another thing for Christians. III. I believe that that open door will be open to us until the Lord comes. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. Other New Testament passages also teach a pretribulation Rapture (e.g., John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Such a congregation is told that Christ gives that church power sufficient for its work. Oh, that they would cease to display their own thought, their own cleverness, and individuality. The condemnation of Laodicea begins with a picture of almost crude vividness; because the Laodiceans are neither cold nor hot, they have about them a kind of nauseating quality, which will make the Risen Christ vomit them out of his mouth. 1. Another thing is observable, when one looks into what is said here. "The time is at hand." You have been a receiver yourself until now, and that is well and good; but, now that you have become filled, overflow to others, and let them receive of your joy. They had here relaxed, but not in their works. They have thought out what they believe; their theology is made out of their own substance, as spiders spin their webs out of their own bowels. We must leave out "and unto." If you have little talent, it is a pity you have not more; but still it is for your praise if you quit yourselves like men, and stand fast in the faith. It seems to me to mean just this, "You have been faithful; therefore I will use you. In the time of Vespasian Philadelphia was in gratitude to change its name again to Flavia, for Flavius was the Emperor's family name. Let there be at least individual even if unvalued faithfulness to the Lord Jesus. Recall from Revelation 1:9, perseverance, or patience comes through trial and tribulation. We may safely strike out the word "and," if we respect the best authorities. (i) It prided itself on its financial wealth. Particular care is taken here to show it to us. Such was the love of Attalus for his brother Eumenes that he was called Philadelphos, and it was after him that Philadelphia was named. This we find formally and doctrinally in his gospel. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. Reuben, unstable as water, lost his place to Judah ( Genesis 49:4; Genesis 49:8). Paul warns the Thessalonians of the terrible fate which awaits the disobedient and the unbelieving when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven and shall take swift and final vengeance on his enemies ( 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Which shall come upon all the world - The phrase used here - all the world - may either denote the whole world; or the whole Roman empire; or a large district of country; or the land of Judaea. "I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.". [2.] All power, all governing might, is in His hands, and the seven stars, that is to say, all the instrumental means by which He acts upon the church. That is a work that God is going to do in bringing the knowledge to these people. Solomon made shields of gold, which were borne before the king when he went into the house of the Lord; but Rehoboam took away the shields of gold, and put shields of brass in their place. One says to me, "Are you not perplexed about the prevalence of modern thought the new phase of divinity that has come up of late, and the general progress that is being made towards a new theology? The connection of the Son with creation is frequently made in the New Testament. The Lord no longer dealt so when this kind of footing vanished for the responsibility of man. I have not found your works completed before my God. To the true heart His approval is enough, and sweeter than triumph before the universe. Third the endurance of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of his sympathy with us when we are called upon to endure. Victory lies before you. That night he led a party of Persian troops up by the fault in the rock. Discipline your son and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart" ( Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 29:17). Christ knocks and a man can answer or refuse to answer. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent ( Revelation 3:19 ). Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. The Lord sets before us an open door of opportunity and no man can shut it. First he sees a huge angel towering over land and sea, and holding a small scroll in his hand. 211-17; Thomas, Revelation 1-7, pp. In Paul's last address to the elders of Ephesus he warns them that grievous wolves will invade the flock from outside and from inside men will arise to speak perverse things. Secondly, Christ can discover this his favour to his people in such a manner that their very enemies shall see it, and be forced to acknowledge it. The persevering Christian shall win the prize from backsliding professors, who once stood fair for it.". This Philadelphian church had won the commendation, "Thou hast kept my word." A certain Mardian soldier called Hyeroeades had seen a Sardian soldier accidentally drop his helmet over the battlements, and then make his way down the precipice to retrieve it. The terrible thing about sin is that it can take the loveliest things and turn them into ugliness. He is going back to Isaiah 22:0 for this description. Isaiah heard God say of this faithful Eliakim: "and I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open" ( Isaiah 22:22). Every band of believers has some strength: weak as we are in ourselves, the very fact of our possessing faith proves that we have a portion of strength. III. These terrible days in Philadelphia were never wholly forgotten, and people in it ever waited subconsciously for the ominous tremors of the ground, ready to flee for their lives to the open spaces. You may never become more numerous, or more influential; but do let it be true of you, that you have kept God's word. Even that which connects Him with the Christian, as the One that intercedes for him in the presence of God, is here left out, though I doubt not we may see Him as the angel high priest for others in Revelation 8:1-13. The figure of the thief can be employed only for the world or the worldly-minded. Let them abide in the place of patience, even though there be tribulation, as there must be if they are content to endure for Christ's sake now. A particular assembly, or even the assemblies of a district (Galatians 1:1-24), may be addressed. Peter and James and John were the pillars of the early church in Jerusalem ( Galatians 2:9). He can tell of God, because he came from him. We will also release more in depth conversations on specific passages of scripture as the Father leads. Thirteen miles to the west, between Laodicea and the Gate of Phrygia, stood the temple of the Carian god Men. 7 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; 8 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 . 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. In Jesus is reality. If we do not provoke Christ to shut this door against us, men cannot do it. As it is said here, "Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess." Like an Israelite? Yet Christ says that because some of His people have been keeping His command to persevere, He will keep them from the worst of it. my beloved is knocking. Hyeroeades knew that there must be a crack in the rock there by means of which an agile man could climb up. v. 12). Hence it is that the Lord introduces Himself to them as the Amen, the end of every thing human, where all the security is in the faithfulness of God. (ii) We cannot say that that meaning is impossible and yet it does not seem to fit the context, for the atmosphere of the passage is not so much warning as love. In the pagan world devotees of certain gods often wrote the name of their god on their forehead (cf. Because you have kept my command to endure, I, too, will keep you safe from the hour of testing, which is to come upon the whole inhabited world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. We may first note that the key is the symbol of authority. There is alethinos ( G228) , which means "real" as opposed to that which is "unreal." 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 the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name ( Revelation 3:11-12 ). It was on the road of the imperial postal service, which left the coast at Troas, came to Philadelphia via Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis, and joined the great road out to Phrygia. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." The hour needs its man quite as much as the man needs the hour. Nothing can be simpler. Things which are tepid often have a nauseating effect. The problem of modern evangelism is not hostility to Christianity; it would be better if it were so. The insistence on the Son's part in creation was due to the heretics who explained sin and disease by saying that the world had been created by a false and inferior god. This poor creature has no power or influence; he is rather ridiculous than useful. Thus the Lord speaks with exceeding tenderness of those that were true to His name. They have the truth in a measure, but not so as to clear souls from bondage, or bring them distinctly into liberty, peace, and the power of the Spirit. They had lost the very perception of what was for God. It is to that terrible time that John refers. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, hold fast, repent. Nevertheless it is God's word and Christ's testimony, though as a whole composed of visions. In the Protestant Reformation they drew with it many of the pagan practices that originated in Babylonian religion systems. (iii) Laodicea prided itself on its famous eye-salve; but the facts of the case show that it was blind to its own poverty and nakedness. There was ariston ( G712) , the midday meal. That is what the Philadelphian Church would see, at least in its beginnings, if its members were faithful. It is plain that it is here as ever the first departure the most general symptom of declension. The Greek is elegchein ( G1651) and it describes the kind of rebuke which compels a man to see the error of his ways. ( Acts 20:29-31). But the Lord will compel the recognition of His own testimony. This medical school was famous for two things throughout the world, ointment for the ear and ointment for the eyes. The Risen Christ urges it to buy white raiment from him. You may have but little strength, but do you keep God's word? The Spirit says, "Thou hast a little strength." All was the fruit, doubtless, of what had been works before, but in far greater maturity now. Esau lost his place to Jacob ( Genesis 25:34; Genesis 27:36). There is nothing worse than a state in which a man is orthodox because he is too lazy to think for himself He is actually better with a heresy which he holds intensely than with an orthodoxy about which in his heart of hearts he does not care. In short, "the hour of temptation" is, I conceive, a larger term altogether than the "great tribulation" ofRevelation 7:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17, and still more than the unparalleled tribulation which is to befall the land of Israel. But the man who says, "I am going straight for glory, and if anybody is in my way so much the worse for him, for I am bound to take the right road;" such a man will find a pretty clear track. Revelation 3 - Jesus' Letters to the Churches (Continued) A. In such a state, all sorts of things may trouble the man who cannot rest without a question on the Lord, no matter how able and honoured he may be.
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