Rev 3:7-13
Lord Jesus speaks of His unique authority to each of the seven churches.
To the church of Philadelphia, Lord describes Himself as someone who is holy and true and holds sovereign authority over the church.
In that ancient culture and city there were hundreds of false god and goddesses.
The Lord makes it very clear to them that HE is the Holy God and true God.
He is authentic God not like one of the manufactured pagan gods.
This phrase “who holds the key of David” is a reference from Isaiah Ch. 22.
This phrase has a direct reference to Lord Jesus millennial rule as David’s heir.
Lord Jesus has the political authority to do whatever HE wants.
Verse seven declares that Lord Jesus is Holy God who has the sovereign power as a king.
In verse 8 the Lord recognizes and commends them for their faithfulness and service.
He saw their frailty but also their faithfulness.
The church at Philadelphia was a small group of people kept their faith and never denied the Lord in front of the pagan friends and society.
The Lord commends them for their zeal for the Gospel and placed them before ‘an open door no one can shut’.
It means that they have endless possibilities to reach people for the Lord.
Verse 9 points to the two groups of people, believers and non-believers.
Like in Smyrna, the Lord mentions another synagogue of Satan at Philadelphia.
We can expect Satan’s ‘base camps’ wherever the Gospel is preached.
When a church is at work there will bealways opposition from Satan.
Bible says that Jews were physical descendants of Abraham.
His spiritual descendants are those who accepted Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior.
One author says that “It is a lie to claim that a person can know God without personal faith in Jesus.”
The Lord is promising that the oppositions will melt down and barriers will be broken.
In verse 10 we see a direct reference to 7 years Tribulation Period after Rapture of the Church.
Under Satan and his devils tribulation period will be the most horrifying, deadly, wicked time the world has ever seen.
The whole world is going to be subjected to this period with utmost misery and chaos.
Holy Spirit will be taken out of the earth and all evil will break loose.
The Lord is definitely promising the church at Philadelphia and also us that all believers in the Lord will never see that day.
All will be raptured before the Tribulation period begins.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
In this verse the Lord not only saying you will not see the tribulation period but also be ready to receive their rewards.
But the key statement is “Hold on to what you have”.
Lord was seeing something precious in them and commands them to hold on to that.
Their rewards are waiting for them and for us.
In Verse 12 the Lord shows a glimpse of Heaven with New Jerusalem coming out of heaven.
Temple refers to the inner part of the temple where God lives.
So a believer in the Lord will be in the presence of God in New Jerusalem as strong pillars.
Not only that all believers in Lord Jesus will get an name tag or ID card.
On that ID card Lord Jesus will write the ‘Name of God’;Name of the city which is ‘New Jerusalem’; and a ‘New Name’ never to be repeated for another person.
SUMMARY
Our Lord Jesus declares that HE is the true God and a Holy God.
There is no one like HIM in the multitude of the world’s gods and goddesses.
HE has absolute power and authority over all governments of this world.
The Lord will never allow HIS faithful and true believers to see the Tribulation period.
We all will be raptured if we are still alive when the Lord returns for the Church.
AT present HE placed all believers with endless possibilities to share the Gospel.
HE enables us to overcome Satan’s strategies with His Holy Spirit.
The barriers from Satan will be broken and new possibilities created.
Most importantly all believers will have new ID card with our new name on it.
The Lord just encourages us to hold on to our faith till our last breath.
Lord Jesus speaks of His unique authority to each of the seven churches.
To the church of Philadelphia, Lord describes Himself as someone who is holy and true and holds sovereign authority over the church.
In that ancient culture and city there were hundreds of false god and goddesses.
The Lord makes it very clear to them that HE is the Holy God and true God.
He is authentic God not like one of the manufactured pagan gods.
This phrase “who holds the key of David” is a reference from Isaiah Ch. 22.
This phrase has a direct reference to Lord Jesus millennial rule as David’s heir.
Lord Jesus has the political authority to do whatever HE wants.
Verse seven declares that Lord Jesus is Holy God who has the sovereign power as a king.
In verse 8 the Lord recognizes and commends them for their faithfulness and service.
He saw their frailty but also their faithfulness.
The church at Philadelphia was a small group of people kept their faith and never denied the Lord in front of the pagan friends and society.
The Lord commends them for their zeal for the Gospel and placed them before ‘an open door no one can shut’.
It means that they have endless possibilities to reach people for the Lord.
Verse 9 points to the two groups of people, believers and non-believers.
Like in Smyrna, the Lord mentions another synagogue of Satan at Philadelphia.
We can expect Satan’s ‘base camps’ wherever the Gospel is preached.
When a church is at work there will bealways opposition from Satan.
Bible says that Jews were physical descendants of Abraham.
His spiritual descendants are those who accepted Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior.
One author says that “It is a lie to claim that a person can know God without personal faith in Jesus.”
The Lord is promising that the oppositions will melt down and barriers will be broken.
In verse 10 we see a direct reference to 7 years Tribulation Period after Rapture of the Church.
Under Satan and his devils tribulation period will be the most horrifying, deadly, wicked time the world has ever seen.
The whole world is going to be subjected to this period with utmost misery and chaos.
Holy Spirit will be taken out of the earth and all evil will break loose.
The Lord is definitely promising the church at Philadelphia and also us that all believers in the Lord will never see that day.
All will be raptured before the Tribulation period begins.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
In this verse the Lord not only saying you will not see the tribulation period but also be ready to receive their rewards.
But the key statement is “Hold on to what you have”.
Lord was seeing something precious in them and commands them to hold on to that.
Their rewards are waiting for them and for us.
In Verse 12 the Lord shows a glimpse of Heaven with New Jerusalem coming out of heaven.
Temple refers to the inner part of the temple where God lives.
So a believer in the Lord will be in the presence of God in New Jerusalem as strong pillars.
Not only that all believers in Lord Jesus will get an name tag or ID card.
On that ID card Lord Jesus will write the ‘Name of God’;Name of the city which is ‘New Jerusalem’; and a ‘New Name’ never to be repeated for another person.
SUMMARY
Our Lord Jesus declares that HE is the true God and a Holy God.
There is no one like HIM in the multitude of the world’s gods and goddesses.
HE has absolute power and authority over all governments of this world.
The Lord will never allow HIS faithful and true believers to see the Tribulation period.
We all will be raptured if we are still alive when the Lord returns for the Church.
AT present HE placed all believers with endless possibilities to share the Gospel.
HE enables us to overcome Satan’s strategies with His Holy Spirit.
The barriers from Satan will be broken and new possibilities created.
Most importantly all believers will have new ID card with our new name on it.
The Lord just encourages us to hold on to our faith till our last breath.
RSS Feed
