Revelation 3:7-13 - The Church in Philadelphia - A Door Wide Open
By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for all people. Now Jesus reigns from above - He is crowned with glory and honor because He is God and because of what He suffered on the Cross. The Bible tells us that Jesus seeks today to bring each of us to salvation (Hebrews 2:9-10). Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). We often say that but what does it mean in practice? As the King warned and encouraged the Philadelphians so too He warns and encourages the Church today to be courageous and bold.
There is a compelling passage in 2 Corinthians 6 where Paul explains vividly that we must not accept the marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. But, objectively, how do we do today (speaking just to myself and my fellow Southern Baptists)? Do we ignore it? If we are honest we can see that some pressure people to “convert” with emotional and long drawn out “alter calls.” Then we don’t disciple, mentor, and lead by example in the way that Paul sets in 2 Cor. 6. Instead we see Christians living in a way that makes others stumble. Like in ancient times, many churches have been littered with wicked leaders for years and we’ve often failed to protect the sheep from the wolves.
Follow the money. Look at our budgets. That’s how you’ll tell where the heart is. What are the ministry priorities and do they align with God’s priorities? Sadly we see many that seem to care most about money.
We whine if we are even slightly inconvenienced. God forbid if we have to stay five minutes late - we may get stuck in line at a restaurant or Target after Church. We brag about our achievements, our wealth, and everything but the Cross of Jesus. And we hear ad nauseum that the world is going to hell in a handbasket and that Jesus will return on such and such a date - exactly as God commands us not to do. And we brazenly team up with unbelievers - indeed we often put them in charge! It has to stop. If we are Christ followers we need to say enough is enough. We need to get our house in order. We need to honor Christ in what we do.
Now is the “right time.” Today is the day of salvation - the day to open our hearts to God and to other believers in Christ with genuine brotherly love. This is not a time for worldliness or doom and gloom preaching. It is the time of God’s favor as God is victoriously building the Temple of the Living God. We are to hear and obey God - to separate ourselves from unbelievers - and Jesus will live with us and walk with us. He is our God. And we are His people. Do not ignore God’s kindness today (2 Corinthians 6, Revelation 18:4, Leviticus 26:12, and Ezekiel 37:27).
The Bible tells us that in the past God overlooked the times of ignorance. But that time is long past. Now, God not only expects but “commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus will return, plain as day, on one final day of judgment. Thank God that we can be of good courage today for we are part of His living Temple. God strengthens us and will walk alongside us as we work today to live our hope and obey His way.
I’m reminded this morning that it is one thing to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and our devotion to Him. I’m trying to do that. But it is quite another to speculate about things we are told by God not to speculate about. We are to hold tightly to what we know. Do not major in the things we cannot and must not speculate about. Major in what we know and that we are to hold tightly to (love, faith, service, patient endurance, and continuous improvement).
Patient endurance is a virtue. When our spiritual endurance has a chance to grow we are commanded to rejoice and let it grow (James 1). I don’t know much about this ancient city of brotherly love. But we do know the church had endured a lot in the first century. We know that early in the first century Philadelphia was completely destroyed by an earthquake and had to be rebuilt after AD 17. So, many of these first-century Philadelphians would have been raised in that city in the rebuilding years. They were a tough lot - like Northern Saskatchewanians.
Our hope is in the things of God that are to come in eternity. We are citizens of heaven. Jesus warns the church in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis to repent and to hold tightly to the faith and requirements of worthy servants. Jesus is foretelling that in the generation after His ascension into heaven (Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matthew 24) there will be a serious judgment - a final end of the Jewish ways and those who were guilty of convicting and crucifying the Messiah. It would be a certain judgment - an unmistakable end to the old covenant and a sign that Jesus is the King of kings and that His people are under His new covenant. Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia that He would protect them from this great time of testing (3:10).
In this passage Jesus commends the church for its endurance and encourages them that they will get through the coming “great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world” (3:10). Likewise, as we await Jesus’ final return, we too must persevere.
Jesus' messages to the Philadelphians in verses eight and nine are specific to that church. Just like Jesus told His disciples when they asked about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls, Jesus explained that the Temple would be completely demolished. “Not one stone will be left on top of another” (Luke 21:6). Jesus was explaining what the Romans would do in AD 70 forever destroying the old Temple and the old covenant. Jesus explains the signs of His judgment on the Jews (Luke 17:20-37) in the end times or last days if you will of the old covenant (as prophesied by Joel 2:28-32) and as explained by Peter to his “fellow Jews” that they were in the end of the old covenant as predicted by Joel (Acts 2:14-41). Peter explained what David said about God’s humbling His enemies, making them a footstool under His feet (Psalm 110:1 and Acts 2:34-35).
Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. There was a coming judgment on those who crucified Jesus that would be evident not just in Jerusalem but everywhere (including Philadelphia in Asia Minor). Jesus says, “Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue - those liars who say they are Jews but are not - to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love” (Revelation 3:9). We’ve been subjected to futurist teaching in Southern Baptist circles for so long that we fail to hear Jesus message of Revelation 3 that aligns with Luke 21:12-13 where Jesus explains to His disciples that before the “great persecution” that they would be “dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers” (Luke 21:12).
Jesus commanded His followers to endure and persevere. He said, “By standing firm, you will win your souls” (Luke 21:19). Amen! And when did this great tribulation take place where Jerusalem was surrounded by a great army? Jesus gave them the answer as a warning. He said, “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place” (Luke 21:32). When Revelation was written Jesus was similarly warning and encouraging the church in Philadelphia. In Luke 21 Jesus confirmed that heaven and earth will one day pass away (see also 2 Peter 3:10 on the final day of Judgment). And in Revelation 3 Jesus confirms that His followers will be victorious in the “new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God” (Rev. 3:12).
We are encouraged by and focus on what we know. We, like the Philadelphians, are citizens of heaven. We are God’s deeply loved children. Jesus announced a new covenant. He said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people - an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you” (Luke 22:20). Under the new covenant of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit gives us eternal life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your command to preserve. Thank you for Your new covenant for Your people. Help us to grow. Help us to listen today (Hebrews 12:25). We know that all of creation will be shaken and removed (Hebrews 12:27). But we also know that we can trust Your promise of victory in Your new covenant sealed by Your blood. Amen.
Comments