Revelation Chapter 3:7-13 Series

Revelation Chapter 3

Vs. 7-13: to the church in Philadelphia

Rev. Bruce A. Shields

First Baptist Church

Tawas City Michigan USA

www.tawasbaptist.org

Key Verse; Revelation 1:19

“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”

Revelation Chapter 1: Things you have seen,

Revelation Chapter 2 & 3: The things which are,

Revelation Chapters 4 – 22: The things which shall be hereafter.

Chapter 2 & 3 – The Things that Are.

Chapter 1 – We see the Lord Jesus as the Glorified One.

Chapter 2&3 – We see the Lord Jesus as the Head over the Church.

Chapter 4-22 – We see the Lord Jesus as the Triumphant One.

We will see the Lords striking message to the seven churches of Asia.

They are applicable to the churches of today.

Before the vision of the Father in Heaven in Revelation Chapter 4, we have the vision and words of the Son, Jesus Christ in Chapters 1 – 3.

We must know the Son before we can know the Father. He is the only way to God.

THE REVELATION TO PHILADELPHIA

7a – Philadelphia is referred to as the Missionary Church, and had its beginning in about the year 1800, and continues today.

7b – He who has the key of David – refers to the fact that Christ has total authority.

8a – I have set before you an open door – This “open door” refers to the way being made for the Gospel to be sent to the entirety of the world.

We read in Genesis Chapter 11 that before the flood and after the flood there was only one language. This made communicating God’s word among all of those alive easy!

Although we do not know what language this was, we can assume it was Hebrew since the Israelites are God’s chosen people, this was probably Gods chosen language as well.

We talked about how Noah had 3 sons. One of them was Ham. Ham had 4 sons, one of them was Cush. And one of Cushs’ sons was Nimrod.

So Nimrod was the Great-Grand-Son of Noah.

According to the scriptures Nimrod led the first organized rebellion against God.

He built Babylon.

Genesis 10:8

“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the Earth.”

Nimrod and Babylon foreshadow the coming of the Antichrist and his city in the end times.

Genesis 10:9a

“He was a mighty hunter before the Lord…”

This has nothing to do with hunting animals, but rather his opposition to the Lord.

Genesis 10:9b

“Where-fore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.”

As it is stated, Nimrod instituted the first organized rebellion against the Lord, and thereby those who followed the Lord.

He “hunted” them down.

Babylon has always stood for every false religion, every false doctrine, and every false way.

That’s why it is referred to as the Great Whore…the mother of harlots and abominations to the Earth. (Revelations 17:1, 5)

We also know from scripture that Nimrod founded Nineveh as well. (Another evil city which needed to repent.)

Nimrod had commanded the building of the Tower of Babel.

We know that the Lord destroyed this tower and confused their languages.

Now it was difficult for the people of the world and future generations to receive the Word of God.

But God had a plan.

He allowed Rome to create a world government, and they also made Greek the international language of the world.

It was easy for the Gospel to be preached to all nations now, because nearly everyone spoke Greek.

8b – for you have little strength – “Little Strength” is not an indication of a spiritual state, but of few in number. How ever, these few [speaking of those who truly know the Lord] have touched the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

9a – they say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie – This statement proclaims the fact that God does not recognize the spiritual claims of national Israel.

9b – Behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you – This refers to the coming Kingdom Age, when Christ will rule Personally over the entirety of the Earth, (The Millennium age, or 1000 year reign), with Israel restored. Israel will then bow down at the feet of Christ, Whom the Gentiles accepted.

10 – …I will keep you from the hour of temptation… - The Church will be raptured out before the Great Tribulation.

11a – Behold, I come quickly – Refers to the Rapture.

11b – hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown – The Devil will use religious men to try to move us away from our faith in Christ and the Cross.