MESSAGES TO SEVEN CHURCHES-3
Revelation 2:1- 3:22
Part 6
Philadelphia – The Church that Faithful and Alive
Revelation 3:7-13
Good News Christian Fellowship
November 12, 2006
BUCAS, Daraga Albay
INTRODUCTION
A. Last week we have seen a church that was full of splendor, and has a good reputation. Yet later that church was dying and lifeless A Church resting on its laurel and past history, that just reveled in what used to be. Once the Church was alive and powerful, and then began to harbor sin. As a result, it became weak, blind, and dead.
B. This afternoon we will take a look at the church that is alive and faithful; a Church that focuses on reaching people about Christ; a church that focusing on the teaching of Christ; a church that love one another; a church that hold on to the truth.
C. This church has all the power, strength, holiness, and truth. It represents certain types of churches in every age: those that are faithful and Christ-honoring.
D. You will notice, this church has no warning or complaints only praise and commendation.
The Recipient (3:7a)
A. The Minister - "And unto the angel…”
The letter is addressed to the pastor or minister (angel) of the Church at Philadelphia.
B. The Church – “to the church at Philadelphia.”
1. It’s Beginning.
Just like the church at Sardis, we don’t know who started this church at Philadelphia. I mean, we don’t know exactly if it is really Paul who founded the church. The bible didn’t explicit details about it. However, we know Christ had opened some doors. We know that Christ empowers the Apostle to open the doors for the Gospel. But as to who is that Apostles, that we don’t know.
Some commentators says, it might be Paul.
2. The name.
The city was called, "Philadelphia." That name was formed from two Greek words: phileo, which means "love," and adelphos, which means "brother." So the name Philadelphia means brotherly love. Later in this message we will see why the City was named Philadelphia.
C. The City
It was established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon (197-160 BC). Eumenes II named the city for the love of his brother, who would be his successor, Attalus II (159-138 BC), whose loyalty earned him the nickname, "Philadelphos", literally meaning "one who loves his brother".
[This reminds us about our own city of Legaspi. Our City was named after after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Philippine islands in 1565, and whose family name came from Legazpi, a town in Guipuzcoa, Spain.]
After being annexed to the Roman Empire, the city was a strong ally of Romans who often changed the name of the city during the time of certain Emperors helping to the city. Philadelphia stayed always faithful to Christian Faith till end of its history. Since it was a famous city for its grape production; naturally, the most important divinity was the god of Vine, Bachus. (http://www.ephesusguide.com/seven_churches_philadelphia.php)
The city lay along a fault line, and is subject to frequent and sometimes powerful earthquakes, making the task of recovering the past in archaeology a difficult one. They knew what it was to live in the midst of insecure surroundings and under constant stress and strain. According to history the city of Sardis and ten other cities was destroyed by terrifying earthquake in A.D. 17. Philadelphia was spared total destruction.
After Emperor Tiberius aided in their rebuilding, it took the new name of “Neocaesarea” (New Caesar).Under Vespasian’s rule (69-79 AD), it changed names to “Flavia”. By the third century, paganism had held on in the face of a Christianizing Empire, and the city became known as “little Athens” for its dedication to deities. None of these names or epithets lasted, and today the modern city is called Alasehir (http://www.ephesusguide.com)
The Author (3:7b) – “These are the words of Him…”
There is the speaker, Jesus Christ Himself. What Jesus Christ says about himself speaks to the heart of the church that is alive and faithful.
1. “The Holy One” – Jesus Christ is claiming to have the very nature of God. Christ is God. He is the Holy One. Holiness means to be set apart and different from all other beings, completely and totally set apart. Christ is supremely holy. Christ is different from all other who claim deity.
“Extol the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is Holy! (Psalm 99:9)
2. “The True One.” – In Greek text there are two words for “true”: alethes and the other is alethinos. We have to determined which one of these words is used in the text so that we will understand fully what Christ is meant.
a. alethes – loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful (http://bible.heartlight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=227
This Greek word refers to a true statement as opposed to a false statement. For example, "the sky is purple polka dots" is a false statement. "The sky is blue" is a true statement. Alethes refers to a true statement, but not truth itself.
b. Alethinos- that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine
a. opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended
b. it contrasts realities with their semblances
c. opposite to what is imperfect defective, frail, uncertain
(http://bible.heartlight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=228)
This Greek word is used in Revelation 3:7. It means "truth itself, the genuine truth." Christ is not saying, "I make true statements." He does that, but that isn’t what He is saying in verse 7. He says, "I am reality." Jesus said, "If you know Me, you will know the truth" (Jn. 18:37).
Jesus once said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life ..." (Jn. 14:6). Christ is declaring that He is the Truth. He didn’t merely say, "I give truth;" He said, "I am ... truth ...." Truth is a part of His nature. He does not say I possess truth. Rather, He says, “I Am the Truth.
He is the only living and true God. All the other gods worshipped by men are false, counterfeit and unreal.
What’s the implication of these?
When in our lives; in our ministries; in our activities; and meeting, we make Christ the center of our focus, then we are following the truth- following Him who is True.
3. “Who has the key of David.” – What is the key of David? In Revelation 1:18 the keys speak of Christ’s power to give salvation and victory over death and the unseen Satanic world which tenaciously tries to hold men under the dominion of sin and death (Heb. 2:14). Here, however, the key speaks of (1) His royal claims as Lord and Head of David’s house. It anticipates and looks to His rule and kingdom on earth. (2) But it also reminds us of His royal authority or sovereignty even now over heaven and earth (Matt. 28:19).
The key is the symbol of sovereign authority and ultimate power. There is no higher power.
By way of application let us remember this.
• When men by their arrogance and ecclesiastical or political position and actions would strive to shut out true Bible believing believers from effective service, we need to remember His power and authority.
• Men may bind us, as they did John and Paul, but God’s Word is not bound (2 Tim. 2:9). But further, when we think we must compromise God’s principles of the ministry and resort to human gimmicks, Madison Avenue techniques, or any kind of worldly means to accomplish spiritual objectives or as the keys to open doors, we need to again reflect on the truth of this passage.
• The Lord holds the key to opening doors to ministry as well as the door to the hearts of men. So note the following description:
“The One opening …” (3:7b) In the final analysis it is always our Lord who opens all true doors of ministry to us. This church had a little strength, i.e., they were small in numbers by man’s standards as man counts success, but this must never disturb or discourage us.
“And who shuts and no one opens …” There is also an important lesson here as believers seek God’s guidance for ministry. (1) Paul and His missionary team had planned to minister first in Asia, but were forbidden by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6). Then they wanted to minister in Bithynia, but they were not permitted to minister there either (vs. 7). Instead, they were called to Macedonia. In other words, at that point at least, the Lord shut the doors to Asia and Bithynia, but opened them in other places. (2) Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 16, Paul expressed his plans to eventually visit Corinth (16:5-7), but he carefully qualified this with “if the Lord permits” (vs. 7). However, for the moment, he was committed to staying at Ephesus to minister. Why? Because “a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries (evidently a sign to Paul of God’s hand on his work at Ephesus)” (cf. vss. 8-9). (3) But when we turn to 2 Corinthians, we find that Paul had to change his plans in regard to Corinth due to circumstances beyond his control and the sovereign leading of the Lord, the One who opens and closes doors.
The obvious lesson is that we must learn to grab the opportunities when they come, but not push and get frustrated when the Lord isn’t opening the door. We must also bear in mind it is the Lord who open the hearts and mind of every men. When we have done our very best, we can leave the matter to the Lord.
The Commendation ( 3:8)
1. Faithful witness - They were using the opportunities (the open doors) the Lord had given them as the door opener. This is implied in verse 8a. Christ knew their deeds, and so He put before them an open door of ministry. Greek didwmi which literally means, “I give.” It is used according to context in the sense of “bestow, grant, supply, deliver, commit, and entrust.”
There are two points to ponder here. First, open doors of opportunities, no matter how hard we think we have worked to open the doors to this ministry or that one, are gifts from the Savior because without Him, they would not open. Second, open doors are trusts given to us for faithful stewardship just as with our spiritual gifts or our finances.
(2) For spiritual competence
“You have a little power.” They were small in number by comparison to the religious and idolatrous people of the city, but, small as they were, they did have power, spiritual capacity because they were operating from the source of Christ’s life and authority. This probably means the church is small in numbers and small in resources, yet reaching out to the lost. This is striking: small as they are in resources and number, they are witnessing and bearing testimony to the salvation and hope of eternal life.
Brothers and sisters, our church, the Good News Christian Fellowship have little resources: in finances; in manpower; in instrument. However, these doesn’t hindered us from proclaiming the gospel. For we know God will provide our needs according to His mercy and grace.
(3) For faithfulness to the Word
“And have kept My word.” This was the secret to their lives and ministry (Heb. 4:12). Keeping God’s Word and keeping our hearts dependent on and close to Him go hand in hand (Prov. 4:20-23). “Kept” is the Greek threw, “to watch over, guard, keep, preserve” and “give heed to, pay attention to, observe” especially of the Law, or the Word, or teaching, etc.58 Undoubtedly, both ideas are involved. They were committed to Christ’s Word or the Word about the Savior to preserve it from false ideas and adulterations, but they were also committed to observing its truth in their lives.
(4) For attestation to their faith in Christ
“And have not denied My Name.” This speaks of their spiritual fidelity and separation from the world. Remember, one may confess the Lord with his mouth and yet, in some way, deny Him with a life that is inconsistent with the truth of Scripture or the character of Christ.
The Promise (3:9-11)
(1) Comfort concerning their persecutors (9) - Now you say, "What is the `synagogue of Satan’?" That is the same problem the Smyrnaean church encountered. There were certain Jews who claimed to be of God. The Jewish system hated Christianity because it seemed destructive to Judaism. Many Jews hated Christ and Christianity. Naturally, they resorted to harassment and persecution of the church. And they claimed to be the synagogue of God. But Christ says, "You’re really the synagogue of Satan."
Christ says, "I’m going to make that synagogue of Satan bow at your feet so they will know that I love you." How would the Jews know that Christ loved the believers in Philadelphia? I don’t know how it happened, but those Jews wound up at the feet of that little church.
(2) Comfort concerning the Tribulation (10) - “Because you have kept the word of my patience” (3:10a). “The Word of My patience” refers to the Word, the testimony of Scripture regarding the truth of Christ as the suffering, resurrected, and so also, the victorious Savior who endured the shame of rejection and the cross and who endures today as the resurrected and ascended Lord now sitting at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:3 with 12:1-3).
“Kept” is again the Greek threw, “to guard, watch over, protect,” or “obey, observe” as with the principles and commands of Scripture.
The believers will experience a great deliverance. They will be delivered from the hour of trial that is coming upon the earth.
The Command (3: 11)
His coming is promised to be “quickly.” This means “suddenly, unexpectedly, without announcement” and not necessarily soon. It implies imminency and so the charge here is to “hold fast,” a warning against spiritual carelessness and carnality. The warning reminds us to live in the light of His coming, to hold fast to Him in faith and service. For when He comes it will mean examination and rewards. He will not forget our service on His behalf, but we must hold fast to the hope and expectation of His coming for us or we will live carelessly, indifferently to our calling and purpose as believers. When that happens we lose our crowns, rewards for faithful service. So the Spirit quickly adds, “that no one take your crown.”
The Counsel (3:12)
In verse 12, then, the believer who overcomes is promised three specific things:
First, he will have as a reward a special ministry as a permanent and prominent fixture in the temple of God (Eph. 2:21f). All believers are in the spiritual building and household of God (Eph. 2:21-22), but some will be pillars as special rewards. To be a pillar is a sign of special reward with a permanent position of honor and responsibilities in the millennium and eternal state. Pillars stood for stability, ornamentation, and service.
Second, he will never be removed from this place of preeminence in the eternal temple. The overcomer has a fixed eternal place of honor in the sanctuary of God. “He will not go out from it anymore.”
Third, he will have three special names: he will have written on him God’s name and the name of the new Jerusalem along with Christ’s own new name. This would all signify the priestly dignity and prominence given to the victors.
Conclusion
Look at the attributes of Christ mentioned in verse 7. He is holy one; He is the true one. What message does it brings to us? Are these attributes of God reflects in our daily lives? Do we kept the word of God in the midst of challenges, trials, and hardship in our lives. Do we zealously proclaim or share the gospel to our family, to our friends, to our neighborhood? The point is this: since Christ is coming and coming soon, the faithful church must do something. It must hold on:
• to its evangelistic zeal
• to the Word of Christ
• to confessing and living for Christ and never reject Him.
We must hold on, must hold on fast. Remember the promise of God: When Christ comes in all His majesty and glory and conquers all, we shall be marked at His servants and share in His glorious triumph. He will gain the victory for us, the victory over all enemies including the most terrible enemy of all – death and hell.
