The Seven Churches- Philadelphia

 

 

Rev.3:7-13

 

 

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;

 

The message to the Philadelphian church was more positive and optimistic than the other churches. Christ is holy and we are to be holy (1 Pt.1:15). He is such an high priest who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. (Heb.7:26) Holiness is being set apart or separated from the world and the corruption therein (as it is used here-Lev.20:24-6). With Christ he was and is undefiled and sinless (Heb.4:15, 2 Cor.5:21) set apart from all others, given a name which is above every name in which every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord (Phil.2:9-10). And Christ is true. Which is not only to say he never lies nor is guile ever found in him (1 Pt.2:22), but that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col.2:3) He is the truth, (Jn.14:6) he is the focus of creation and its creator and upholder (Col.1:16-17, Heb.1:2-3). God is revealing himself through the person of his Son, he is gathering and subduing all things unto himself and through him God interacts with Creation. (Eph.1:9-10, Phil.3:21) And according to the flesh Christ is the Son of David and heir to his throne reigning over Israel forever (Rom.1:3, 9:5, Lk.1:31-5,Isa.9:6-7). God told David through Nathan the prophet “I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.” (1 Chr.17:11-14) God said further through Isaiah, “I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 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.  And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.” (Isa.22:21-3) The gates of Jerusalem will be opened continually (Isa.60:11,14) during his reign and no man can shut them. Likewise he exhorts us “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” (Lk.13:24-5)

 

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.

 

 Christ has set before them an open door in heaven (4:1, 1 Thes.4:15-17). For those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, the door opened in heaven is the way into the millennial kingdom as well. Note the warning in v11 “that no man take thy crown”, which would be for “power over the nations” from 2:26 (as kings Rv.5:10, 2 Tim.2:12, Lk.19:17). This church was promised deliverance from the tribulation (v10) whether the Lord tarried and they finished their course or whether the Lord comes quickly and they looking for the Saviour in his glorious appearing are delivered from the wrath to come. (1 Thes.1:10, Phil.3:20-1, Tit.2:13) The Lord commends their strength even though it was described as little. We know a little leaven can leaven a whole lump and a little fire can kindle a great matter, (Gal.5:9, Jam.3:5) so here it appears their little strength has produced a great matter before the Lord. Their little strength has caused them to keep his word and not deny him before men, even though it would divide them from their families (Mt.10:32-39). They confess Christ is come in the flesh by his Spirit even though the world despises them. (1 Jn.4:2-4, 3:13, Jn.15:18, 1 Cor.12:3, Jam.4:4)

 

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.

 

 It would appear they were particularly despised by those claiming to be Jews. This is to be expected since as Christ exposes here, they are liars of the synagogue of Satan (see comments under 2:9). They were being provoked to jealousy by these faithful Gentile believers (Rom.10:19, 11:14) who are Jews inwardly. He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Rom.2:28-9) Jesus rebuked those outward Jews in his day who were of their father the devil and declared that they were liars. (Jn.8:44, 55) Those of the synagogue of Satan will begin to cry to the Lord in jealousy “We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.” (Isa.63:19) And yet the Lord will make it known that he indeed loved these Gentile believers as his bride.

 Jesus does not declare that he will make them worship the church, nor cause men to be worshipped (Ex.34:14, Mt.4:10, Lk.4:8, Ac.10:25-6, 14:13-15, Rv.19:10, 22:8-9) in the sense of glory belonging only to God. But there is a use of the term that is to show great respect and submission to one having great authority. It is rarely used that way in our language and it is rarely used that way in scripture, but here are the places I am aware of- Dan.2:46, Lk.14:10, 1 Chr.29:20. See also ‘bowing’ as worship involves bowing many times - Gen.37:9-10, 42:6, 19:1, Ruth 2:10, 2 Sam.24:20, etc. These liars will be forced to accept the truth concerning the church as the bride of Christ and humble themselves and prostrate themselves before this church either in this world or in the world to come.

 

10-11 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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

 

 This church had been faithful and watched and were accounted worthy to escape the hour of temptation and all these things which shall come to pass with the beginning of sorrows until the pinnacle of tribulation after those days. (Lk.21:9,36, Mt.24:29) In their patience they had possessed their souls through the trying of their faith and they were perfect and entire wanting nothing. (Jam.1:3-4, Lk.21:19) There was a door opened before them that no man could shut; they would indeed escape. They did not know whether they would be alive and remain when he came quickly, or they depart to be with Christ after finishing their course, and neither do we. These things are written unto the churches (v13) and so we had better watch (Mk.13:33-7, 1 Pt.4:7, Jam.5:8-9). The promise of his appearing to deliver us from the wrath to come is to comfort us (1 Thes.1:10, 4:18). Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. (Tit.2:13,Phil.3:20) We are to gird up the loins of our mind, be sober, and hope to the end (1 Thes.5:8) for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, who is our life, who when he shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. (1 Pt.1:13, Col.3:4, 1 Jn.3:2) The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thes.3:5) We can likewise be counted worthy to escape when sudden destruction breaks out upon them that dwell upon the earth as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. (Lk.21:36, 1 Thes.5:1-3)

 They did receive that final admonition however to “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown”. They still needed to hold fast those treasures laid up for them in heaven. (Mt.6:20) As John likewise instructed “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (2 Jn.1:8) We see the elders in chapter 4 casting their crowns before the Lord upon his throne, acknowledging that they know that without him they could be or do nothing. (Jn.15:1-5) It is quite an honor to be called unto his glory and virtue and not something to lightly esteem. Can you imagine how Mephibosheth (2 Sam.9) must have felt when he was honored by David for Jonathon his father’s sake, when he was called to eat at the king’s table? How would he have been viewed if he despised the king’s invitation and ignored it? And those naming the name of Christ treat crowns as though they are extra credit that they are not interested in acquiring. What are we to think of this? It would appear this is a crown of righteousness for Paul informs us this is for those finishing their course and all those who love his appearing, (2 Tim.4:7-8, 1 Jn.2:28) which would match this context.

 

12-13 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

 This promise to the overcomers is of the millennial inheritance, as there will be no temple in the new heavens and the new earth (Rv.21:1,22). Unless here you make a figurative application as the temple is Christ (v22, Jn.2:21) and we are part of him (1 Cor 12:27). In the church on the earth, which is his holy temple (Eph.2:20-2, 1 Pt.2:5) only the very chiefest of the apostles, Peter, James and John were noted to be pillars. (Gal.2:9) In that day it will be as the prophecy “and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” (Zech.12:8) He shall be of note, of reputation among the resurrected saints. ‘He shall go no more out’ meaning he will not be caused to leave the temple (as here Am.9:15), not that he will be unable (as here 2 Sam.21:17, Dt.31:2). But he will have access into the holiest of all, where Christ sitteth upon his throne reigning over the whole earth.

 To write his name upon us would indicate his ownership of us and the right of our partaking of his diving nature. Jesus declared the name of the Father (Jn.17:6, 26); the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (Jn.1:18). He revealed the character of God as his Father. A name represents the nature and character of the person. (Gen.3:20, 16:11-15, 22:14, 25:30, 27:36,32:27-8, 35:10, Ex.2:10, 3:13-15, 6:2-3, 15:23, 23:21, 34:14, Lv.22:2, 32) God would place his name in Jerusalem meaning he chose to reveal himself there for worship. (Dt. 12:5,11,21,14:23-4, 16:6,11, 18:5,7, 28:58, Jos.7:9) For God to write his name upon us would be for him to choose us as a vessel through which his nature and character would be glorified. His name would not be tattooed upon our flesh as our modern age would insist, for that is described as ‘printing marks upon’ us (Lev. 19:28, inferring an impress as Job 13:27,19:23-4, Jn. 20:25). Whether his name be written upon our forehead (Rv.14:1) or written upon our hearts, or both (Prv.3:3, 7:3, Jer.17:1, 31:33, 2 Cor.3:3) is not indicated here. But Christ who gives eternal life (Jn.17:2-3) will be the one writing his Father’s name upon us.

The question naturally arises regarding the name of God. What name will he write upon us; and what name is associated with the revelation of himself, the name of Christ’s God (1 Cor.3:23, 11:3, Lk.9:20)? Our overcoming is a testimony to the power and grace of God since we are kept by his power through faith accessing his grace (1 Pt.1:5, Rom.4:16, 5:2). God will make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles (Rom.9:23-4). God’s great power and grace are made known by our salvation with eternal glory. When we trust his power for our salvation we can as Paul be persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom.8:38-9) Even as the children of Israel were brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand (Dt.4:34, 5:15, 26:8) revealing the saving power of the name of God to all the earth. God told Moses “I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.” (Ex.6:2-3) Indicating that the meaning of that name had not been revealed but was about to be through his deliverance of Israel from bondage of Pharaoh (v5-8) to all nations on the earth. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth. (Psa.83:18) For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. (Isa.26:4) When this powerful deliverance unto salvation was revealed the meaning of God’s name was unveiled. Moses and all Israel sang “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation:” (Ex.15:2) Isaiah links the same thought here: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” (Isa.12:2) The meaning of this name is related to God’s saving power and grace. This is what God wants known about himself through Christ, that he is mighty to save and his arm will deliver from all sin and death. (Eph.1:3-10, 17-22) We will be vessels of his great grace and saving power and glory will be given him in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end (Eph.3:21). It is outside our scope here to discuss the debate between the Hebrew Yehovah (and its Anglicized equivalent Jehovah) versus Yahweh (https://www.nehemiaswall.com/origins-yahweh) but suffice it to say here that the debate should not settle on empirical probability of science falsely so called.

 Further promised is that ‘New Jerusalem’ will be written upon us. It shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her (Gal.4:26). And by having a part in the new Jerusalem from where Christ himself shall reign, we shall reign with him (Rv.1:5-6, 2:26-7, 20:4, Rv.21:22, 22:1, 2 Tim.2:12). This is what is meant by him writing his new name upon us for the name he was given after he was highly exalted was Lord (Phil.2:8-11, Ac.2:36, Eph.1:20-23). Let us hear what exceeding great and precious promises are given us by the Spirit.