The Church At Philadelphia Series

Friday, April 07, 2006

Church of Philadelphia

The Open Door Church

Rev 3. 7 – 13

We know that the word Philadelphia means brotherly love.

This can also be the state of Church when the gentile time comes to the full and God once again sees the Jew coming to Christ in great numbers.

This was the last city to fall to the Turks in 14th Century. What is exciting is there is a Christian believing Church in this city today.

The Church Age History this Church represents the years of 1730-1800 which represents the Missionary Church through Preachers like Wesley and Whitfield. The 1800’s was another Great Awakening with Preachers like DL Moody and Spurgeon.

The Gospel during this time jumped from continent to continent, a great door of opening.

As with the Church at Sardis which many of its characteristics are still present to this day we will notice that Christ makes mention of the time of tribulation that is to come.

Re 3:7 ¶ 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;

Jesus is holy and if we plan on seeing Jesus as our Savior we too must be holy, for without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

True, we know from the Gospel’s (not the Gospel of Judas) the Jesus is the way the truth and the Life.

The Key of David denotes His Royal Office. That He is greater than Pharaoh or Caesar.

Isa 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Because of this Key He can open and no one can shut it and He can close it and no one can open it. Because of this Key He can do what no one else can do.

Re 3:8 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 denied my name.

Jesus knew there witness, he knew that they had little strength, but how many know that when you are weak Jesus will make you strong.

I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.

Because He knew he gave an opportunity, an open door

This seems strange about a church with little strength but how many know little is much if God is in it. Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

What was there strength? They kept the Word and did not deny the name of Christ.

The word of God tells you and I if we deny Him He will deny us.

Re 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Jesus makes us wonder what makes a real Jew. Many say they are Jews but are not, so we see that to be a real Jew is to be in Jesus as being the Messiah, the Seed of David.

, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

There will be a time that will fully or forceful very knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord,

The white knee the black knee the Jews knee will bow and they will know that Jesus loved them but they rebelled and now judgment has come.

This also could relate to a time of revival in the Jewish land where they believe in Jesus as the Messiah and Lord.

Lets read the great promise given to this Church v 10

Re 3:10 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.

This makes reference to the tribulation that is to come upon the world. And the promise is I will keep thee from the hour of temptation. Glory to God!!

I personally use this as one of the verses that point to a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. For if it will try all that dwell on the earth, to be kept from it I must be off the Earth.