23. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl of Greatest Price – Part 3 of 4
WHAT DOES PHILADELPHIA REPRESENT? WHAT’S ITS PLACE IN CHURCH HISTORY?
[1]. INTRODUCTION FOR PART 3
We have completed the Study of the Pearl of Great Price, and looked at the Merchantman and the formation of the pearl. We have seen how the Pearl is the Church redeemed and bought by Christ. We saw that the teaching that the pearl is salvation one buys, or obtains by giving up everything, is wrong.
Having established that the Pearl is the Redeemed Church, we are now going to look at the next church in line in Revelation 3, and after Sardis is Philadelphia. Philadelphia is the church matching the Pearl.
We saw how each of the previous 5 churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and 3 identified with a Kingdom Parable, and also with a Church period. Here is the list of those -
** Parable of the Sower = The Church at Ephesus = The Apostolic Period
** Parable of the Tares = The Church at Smyrna = The persecuted Church up till A.D. 312
** Parable of the Mustard Seed = The Church at Pergamum = The corruption of the Church under Constantine, and up to, and merging with the rise of the Roman Catholic Church.
** Parable of the Leaven = The Church at Thyatira = The Roman Catholic Church
** Parable of the Hidden Treasure = The Church at Sardis = Restored Israel as the Treasure that will be no longer hidden at the Second Coming. The period of the Protestant reformations when the hidden gospel was being unearthed.
[2]. THE MATCHING CHURCH FOR THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
We have seen that in every Parable, one of the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 matches each one of the Parables of Matthew 13, but the remarkable thing is that it is all in consecutive order. The next church in order is that of Philadelphia. Already we have seen that The Pearl of Great Price is the CHURCH for which Christ gave up everything to purchase with His own death. So precious and eternal is that Pearl, that the corresponding church from Revelation must be very special, unlike any of the others, AND IT IS!
There is not one mark of condemnation for Philadelphia. All is beautiful. That is even more remarkable when we consider the meaning of the word. Philadelphia means “brotherly love”. We saw that the meanings were very significant in the case of each church and that is also the case here. No condemnation is in the letter – brotherly love is to the fore. Now we will look a bit at the background of the city.
[3]. SOME BACKGROUND FOR PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA was the city showing on its coins the two brothers Eumenes and Attalus II who had loyalty and affection for each other (the brotherly love). Nearly 1000 feet above sea level it overlooked a superior wine growing area. Bacchus (Wine god) is on their coins. The word Philadelphia means “Brotherly love”. The place was very famous for its hot springs (still is today) and for repeated earthquakes.
The historian Ramsay says, “The intention of its founder was to make it a centre of Graeco-Asiatic civilisation and the means of spreading the Greek language and manners in the eastern parts of Lydia and Phrygia. IT WAS A MISSIONARY CITY, founded to promote a unity of spirit, customs and loyalty within the realm, the mission post of Hellenism in an oriental land.” Philadelphia had become a missionary city in the secular sense because through it passed all the Hellenistic culture to the world before it. But the Lord is promising that through the church, would pass the message of the gospel.
A goodly number of Jews lived in Philadelphia, and Ignatius writing in about 110 A.D. to the church in Philadelphia, mentions the Jews there who had become converted and were very contrite about the trouble they had caused. (Revelation 3:9).
[4]. WE ARE GOING TO EXAMINE THE LETTER IN SOME DETAIL
[A]. VERSE 7 – THE OPEN AND SHUT DOORS WITH THE KEY OF DAVID
{{Revelation 3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: HE WHO IS HOLY, WHO IS TRUE, who has the key of David, WHO OPENS AND NO ONE WILL SHUT, AND WHO SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS, says this:”}}
Jesus introduces Himself here as the holy and true One, and as the One holding the key of David. Holiness and truth were qualities valued by the Christians at Philadelphia.
Sardis came out of the Roman Catholic Church (was done last message). Revolting against empty orthodox piety and the unreality and falseness of the great ecclesiastical systems, many Christians of that period discovered the truth and reality for which they yearned, in the Person of Christ - and that is still applicable today. People long for that which is real and true, and many reject the churches because of the unreality and insincerity which resides in them. If our Lord’s character is holy and true, His people should also be imitating their perfect Example and their lives should be marked by the same characteristics.
The promise about the door is highly significant. The open and shut door is all about access and activity. We are going to see that because this church history period is all about opening the gospel to the world and the great work of missionaries walking through mission doors. God has given this church the green light into outreach.
A matter of interest. The ancient god of doors and hinges was Janus who was also called Patulcius and Chusius, “the opener and closer”. Pagan Janus is shown as holding a key as a sign he had the power to open the doors of heaven or to shut the gates of peace and war on the earth.
This same power was later assumed by the Pope (with the same key), and his privy councillors became known as cardinals (from “cardo” a hinge) since they shared the right of turning the hinge. However this false papal paganism won’t detract from Christ who opened Revelation with the true claim He had the keys of death and hades. (Revelation 1:18). He holds the supreme key and was in fact the Guardian and Controller of the road of life. His hand unlocks the door to all the treasures of spiritual wealth and bliss.
[B]. VERSE 8 – AN OPEN DOOR FOR THE FAITHFUL SAINTS
{{Revelation 3:8 “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which NO ONE CAN SHUT because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”}}
What a wonderful commendation that is for any church fellowship. This was a faithful church and the Lord rewards them. He gives the open door of faithfulness. You can see that obedience is noted and that is a hallmark of faithfulness.
One has written – [[“The Philadelphian church was few in numbers and very little power was theirs and they had nothing of which to boast, but they had kept His word and had not denied His name and the Lord treasured their fidelity to Him. Their courage in the face of active opposition from the Jews and the pagan challenges of their city was dear to the Lord’s heart. Even today those following the Lord and the Scriptures may be few, and their efforts are weak and faltering but the Lord esteems loyalty and love for Him.”]]
[C]. VERSE 9 - THOSE OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN
{{Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will cause those of THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie - behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”}}
Ellicott has said. “The words designate the persons meant, with respect to their origin. They are not false Christians, but Jews, who just because of their enmity to the true Messiah (Revelation 3:7) are not true Jews, but the synagogue of Satan. Yet also in that the Lord brings some from this synagogue, and causes them to come humbly and believingly to his church, he shows that he is the one who has the key of David.”
[D]. VERSE 10 - KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TESTING
{{Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from THE HOUR OF TESTING, THAT HOUR WHICH IS ABOUT TO COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, to test those who dwell upon the earth.”}}
This verse is understood by students of prophecy as being the deliverance from the wrath of God that is coming on the whole world. It will be a real test for those living at the time. That wrath of God is THE wrath against sin, and NOT for the redeemed of God, because Jesus took that wrath for them. God will never place His children in His WRATH that Christ has already borne for them.
That wrath is the Tribulation when the wrath of God is poured out in 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls. This is set near the beginning of the Tribulation ? {{Revelation 6:15-17 The kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME, and who is able to stand?”}}
I feel disappointed that too many dismiss the Rapture and the Tribulation so readily. They just follow the Catholic line that the Reformers themselves acceded to without any examination. It is unjust to the scriptures.
Let us look at a verse here – {{1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “They themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus WHO DELIVERS US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.”}} These believers did two things. They were waiting for the Lord to come to take them home (Rapture), and that is developed at the end of chapter 4 in Paul’s letter ? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
The second thing was their deliverance from the wrath to come, that is, from the Tribulation. Of course that will only apply to those who will be living at the time Jesus comes in the Rapture to take His own away from the Tribulation that’s coming, because the ones what have died are already with the Lord. Jesus is our Deliverer from the wrath to come. People try to explain the verse away but it is clear and literal.
There is another important verse in Thessalonians – {{1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 “GOD HAS NOT DESTINED US FOR WRATH, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.”}}
Getting back to Revelation 3:10, the hour of testing is what the world faces in the Tribulation for 7 years, but Christians are removed from that. That was the hope given to the Philadelphian church, and to us also. We are going to see shortly that the emphasis on the Lord’s Coming is associated with the Church History period matching Philadelphia.
[E]. VERSE 11. THE CROWN IS YOURS IF YOU ARE HOLDING FAST TO YOUR FAITH
{{Revelation 3:11 “I AM COMING QUICKLY. Hold fast what you have, in order that NO ONE TAKES YOUR CROWN.”}}
These people are told that the Lord is coming quickly. Some have mocked that. They say 1900 years have passed and Jesus has not come. I know that a day with the Lord is as a thousand years – {{2 Peter 3:8 “Do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”}} - and time is nothing to eternal God.
However I believe what this expression means is that when the Lord does come, He comes quickly. In the Rapture we know that is instantaneous, for the expression “In the twinkling of an eye,” the Greek there uses “inatoma” which is a particle of time you can no longer divide. The word atom comes from the Greek.
The Lord was caring for the Philadelphia church when He said, “Hold fast what you have,” because the devil is always wanting to take it away. They needed to be on their guard because Satan prowls like a roaring lion ready to devour the saints. That command of the Lord is so necessary and fitting to the age of Philadelphia, which we will see, is our historic age.
I do wish to say one more thing. Verse 10 was speaking about the Tribulation (with the Rapture preceding that). It is mentioned at the end of verse 11 - “in order that no one takes your crown.” That again, is relevant. For those who are on the lookout for the Rapture, they are to receive a crown. Those who fall asleep will miss the crown. Here is what Paul wrote – {{2 Timothy 4:8 “In the future there is laid up for me THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also TO ALL WHO HAVE LOVED HIS APPEARING.”}}
Part 4 examines where this church and parable fits in Church History.
