Monday, November 13, 2006
Revelation 3:7-12 ~ Jeff Ludington
Revelation 3:7-13 “Philadelphia”
“A Key, a Door, and Pillars – Our Opportunities”
Recap:
· 7 letters to 7 real churches
· Jesus reveals Himself in specific ways
· Each way is relevant to the needs of the church
Good Example:
Pergamum (2:12-17)
· Pergamum is struggling with false teaching
· Jesus says he has the words “of Him who has the sharp double-edged sword”
· Jesus says that He is the truth, that He is the defining line, and that the truth cuts both ways
Jesus is who we need, when we need Him!
Read Revelation 3:7-13
Pray
Philadelphia:
· What does the name mean?
· Same as it does here in USA
· City of Brotherly Love
AD 17:
· The city was destroyed by earthquake
· Even though it was rebuilt by the time this was written in AD90
o Many had left the area due to fear of the quakes
· This city was small
· The church was most likely small also
Notice all the struggles with Earthquakes
· Remember the verses that Dispensationalists use about end-times signs
Luke 21:9-11
When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
· Notice that it says that the end is still a ways away
· This is going on today
· People are still saying that this means the end is near
· But, the verse says this is still not the end
Remember:
· This was written to a church 1900 years ago
· Not to warn them of a coming destruction or rapture
· But to tell them how to live a life of worship then, and now
How do we live a life of worship today?
What does this church teach us about worship?
The answer: A Key, A Door, and Pillars
· We are heading through this verse, forward, then backwards
· Buckle up!!!
Vs. 7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
· Key of David
· Reference to Isaiah 22
Isaiah 22:20-24
In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father. All the glory of his family will hang on him.
· Eliakim was given the authority over the whole house of King Hezekiah
· He had the key to the doors, and decided who got in to see the king
o And, who didn’t
· He had the authority
Just like Jesus has the authority over all Heaven and Earth.
· Just like Israel called David in this metaphor
· Heaven is opened up by Jesus, and only by Jesus
· Jesus is “Holy and True”
· The door He opens, no one can shut
So we have an image of a KEY – that is Jesus
Vs. 8a
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
· Jesus keeps starting with “I know your deeds”
· If Jesus told us He knew what we were doing
o Some of us would be worried and guilty
o Some of us might be affirmed
o Only you and Jesus know
· That is how it goes with the 7 churches
o Some are doing very poorly
o Some are doing very good
· Either way, Jesus says, “I know your deeds”
An Open Door:
· Now enters the picture of the door
· The door is used over and over in Scripture from OT to NT
· It is normally presented as a DECISION
· Now, with each decision comes OPPORTUNITY
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.
· Just before Cain decided to kill his brother Abel
· God told him he had a door (decision) and that sin was crouching at
· The OPPORTUNITY was where he said Cain could master it
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
· Those who are seeking God’s truth are said to be at the “door”
· The DECISION comes with following the answer
· The OPPORTUNITY is in whether or not we follow Jesus
Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
· This door comes with the DECISION of obedience
· The OPPORTUNITY is in being able to see Heaven
Jesus says:
“I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut”
· Jesus is telling them that they have an opportunity
· And the opportunity is to share Him with others
· We will expand on this at the end
Vs. 8b
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
· Little in strength most likely came from them being small in size
· YET: they kept Jesus’ word
· AND: didn’t deny Him to others
Under persecution, this small but faithful congregation, remained faithful to the Name of Jesus.
· What an amazing compliment
Vs. 9
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars — I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
· Again with the Synagogue of Satan
· We talked about this before
· It is a reference to the Jews that were persecuting Christians
I am going out on a limb here:
· What is the major difference between the Jews of 90ad and Christians of 90ad?
o Same God “Yahweh”
· Jesus is the difference
What is the major difference between us and most of America today?
· God bless America is fine
· But, Jesus Saves…
· Not so OK!
We are surrounded by what Jesus calls the Synagogue of Satan:
· He describes those who are “for God” but “anti-Jesus” as Synagogue of Satan
o Not good people that don’t know Jesus
o Not “close but not quite there”
o As the Synagogue of Satan!!!
· Side note:
o Every time Jesus gets serious about talking about Hell
o He is talking to His followers
o He isn’t yelling and screaming at non-Christ-followers
What does this tell us?
· Jesus says that you will either die IN HIM or NOT IN HIM
Matthew 12:30
He who is not with me is against me, he who does not gather with me scatters.
We need to remember, that either someone is for Jesus, or they are against Jesus, and that is going to be important tonight when we tie it all together.
Vs. 10a
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
· You have been faithful
· You have endured
· You have been patient with others
· You have stood your ground
Because of this…
“I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”
· The word “keep” here means protect you in the midst of
· NOT: take you out of the situation
This is not a good eschatology verse for dispensationalists
· It doesn’t mean take away from the trouble
· It means keep you through it.
Jesus promises to protect us from the evil of the world while we are in it.
John 17:11-16
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name… while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
Jesus wants us in the world, so that the world might know about Him!
· Where will a dieing world turn, if we aren’t there to tell them?
· This is the opportunity we have!
So far we have a Key and a Door:
· The door that is open and can’t be shut is the Gospel
· And, the key to that door is Jesus Christ
· The Synagogue of Satan is those who allow talk of God but don’t
SHARE THE GOSPEL HERE:
Vs. 11-12a
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
· Jesus tells us He is coming soon
o The command is to “hold on to what you have”
o And, to overcome
· Jesus never tells us to stand still, in fact that is the problem with next weeks church
· Jesus tells us not to lose what we have, and to overcome, or press forward
We are called to not only keeping our walk with Him active, but to be sharing it with others.
· Those who share in the Gospel and participate in others coming to faith
· Are called PILLARS
· A pillar is the strength of a structure, stability
Those who had seen the destruction by the earthquake of AD19, knew that the pillars of the temple were earthquake proof!!!
· Do you want to withstand the trials in front of you?
· Begin by giving away your faith!
· It will make you a pillar of strength
Vs. 12b-End
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
· Here we are with words of future glory
· What does it all mean?
· We don’t know it all
Here is what I keep hearing from Jesus:
· New names
· New bodies
· New lives
· New hope
· We get it all!
· All that we don’t enjoy here on Earth, is gone in Heaven
· All is new!!!
· All is Perfect!!!
He who has an ear, let him/her hear what the Spirit says to the Church!
John 17:1-4
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
· The DOOR is open to Heaven, and the opportunity is set before us
· The KEY is Jesus, the only true and holy one of God
· The PILLAR of our faith, is us confessing Jesus to others.
“A Key, a Door, and Pillars – Our Opportunities”
Recap:
· 7 letters to 7 real churches
· Jesus reveals Himself in specific ways
· Each way is relevant to the needs of the church
Good Example:
Pergamum (2:12-17)
· Pergamum is struggling with false teaching
· Jesus says he has the words “of Him who has the sharp double-edged sword”
· Jesus says that He is the truth, that He is the defining line, and that the truth cuts both ways
Jesus is who we need, when we need Him!
Read Revelation 3:7-13
Pray
Philadelphia:
· What does the name mean?
· Same as it does here in USA
· City of Brotherly Love
AD 17:
· The city was destroyed by earthquake
· Even though it was rebuilt by the time this was written in AD90
o Many had left the area due to fear of the quakes
· This city was small
· The church was most likely small also
Notice all the struggles with Earthquakes
· Remember the verses that Dispensationalists use about end-times signs
Luke 21:9-11
When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
· Notice that it says that the end is still a ways away
· This is going on today
· People are still saying that this means the end is near
· But, the verse says this is still not the end
Remember:
· This was written to a church 1900 years ago
· Not to warn them of a coming destruction or rapture
· But to tell them how to live a life of worship then, and now
How do we live a life of worship today?
What does this church teach us about worship?
The answer: A Key, A Door, and Pillars
· We are heading through this verse, forward, then backwards
· Buckle up!!!
Vs. 7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
· Key of David
· Reference to Isaiah 22
Isaiah 22:20-24
In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father. All the glory of his family will hang on him.
· Eliakim was given the authority over the whole house of King Hezekiah
· He had the key to the doors, and decided who got in to see the king
o And, who didn’t
· He had the authority
Just like Jesus has the authority over all Heaven and Earth.
· Just like Israel called David in this metaphor
· Heaven is opened up by Jesus, and only by Jesus
· Jesus is “Holy and True”
· The door He opens, no one can shut
So we have an image of a KEY – that is Jesus
Vs. 8a
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
· Jesus keeps starting with “I know your deeds”
· If Jesus told us He knew what we were doing
o Some of us would be worried and guilty
o Some of us might be affirmed
o Only you and Jesus know
· That is how it goes with the 7 churches
o Some are doing very poorly
o Some are doing very good
· Either way, Jesus says, “I know your deeds”
An Open Door:
· Now enters the picture of the door
· The door is used over and over in Scripture from OT to NT
· It is normally presented as a DECISION
· Now, with each decision comes OPPORTUNITY
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.
· Just before Cain decided to kill his brother Abel
· God told him he had a door (decision) and that sin was crouching at
· The OPPORTUNITY was where he said Cain could master it
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
· Those who are seeking God’s truth are said to be at the “door”
· The DECISION comes with following the answer
· The OPPORTUNITY is in whether or not we follow Jesus
Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
· This door comes with the DECISION of obedience
· The OPPORTUNITY is in being able to see Heaven
Jesus says:
“I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut”
· Jesus is telling them that they have an opportunity
· And the opportunity is to share Him with others
· We will expand on this at the end
Vs. 8b
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
· Little in strength most likely came from them being small in size
· YET: they kept Jesus’ word
· AND: didn’t deny Him to others
Under persecution, this small but faithful congregation, remained faithful to the Name of Jesus.
· What an amazing compliment
Vs. 9
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars — I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
· Again with the Synagogue of Satan
· We talked about this before
· It is a reference to the Jews that were persecuting Christians
I am going out on a limb here:
· What is the major difference between the Jews of 90ad and Christians of 90ad?
o Same God “Yahweh”
· Jesus is the difference
What is the major difference between us and most of America today?
· God bless America is fine
· But, Jesus Saves…
· Not so OK!
We are surrounded by what Jesus calls the Synagogue of Satan:
· He describes those who are “for God” but “anti-Jesus” as Synagogue of Satan
o Not good people that don’t know Jesus
o Not “close but not quite there”
o As the Synagogue of Satan!!!
· Side note:
o Every time Jesus gets serious about talking about Hell
o He is talking to His followers
o He isn’t yelling and screaming at non-Christ-followers
What does this tell us?
· Jesus says that you will either die IN HIM or NOT IN HIM
Matthew 12:30
He who is not with me is against me, he who does not gather with me scatters.
We need to remember, that either someone is for Jesus, or they are against Jesus, and that is going to be important tonight when we tie it all together.
Vs. 10a
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
· You have been faithful
· You have endured
· You have been patient with others
· You have stood your ground
Because of this…
“I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”
· The word “keep” here means protect you in the midst of
· NOT: take you out of the situation
This is not a good eschatology verse for dispensationalists
· It doesn’t mean take away from the trouble
· It means keep you through it.
Jesus promises to protect us from the evil of the world while we are in it.
John 17:11-16
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name… while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
Jesus wants us in the world, so that the world might know about Him!
· Where will a dieing world turn, if we aren’t there to tell them?
· This is the opportunity we have!
So far we have a Key and a Door:
· The door that is open and can’t be shut is the Gospel
· And, the key to that door is Jesus Christ
· The Synagogue of Satan is those who allow talk of God but don’t
SHARE THE GOSPEL HERE:
Vs. 11-12a
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
· Jesus tells us He is coming soon
o The command is to “hold on to what you have”
o And, to overcome
· Jesus never tells us to stand still, in fact that is the problem with next weeks church
· Jesus tells us not to lose what we have, and to overcome, or press forward
We are called to not only keeping our walk with Him active, but to be sharing it with others.
· Those who share in the Gospel and participate in others coming to faith
· Are called PILLARS
· A pillar is the strength of a structure, stability
Those who had seen the destruction by the earthquake of AD19, knew that the pillars of the temple were earthquake proof!!!
· Do you want to withstand the trials in front of you?
· Begin by giving away your faith!
· It will make you a pillar of strength
Vs. 12b-End
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
· Here we are with words of future glory
· What does it all mean?
· We don’t know it all
Here is what I keep hearing from Jesus:
· New names
· New bodies
· New lives
· New hope
· We get it all!
· All that we don’t enjoy here on Earth, is gone in Heaven
· All is new!!!
· All is Perfect!!!
He who has an ear, let him/her hear what the Spirit says to the Church!
John 17:1-4
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
· The DOOR is open to Heaven, and the opportunity is set before us
· The KEY is Jesus, the only true and holy one of God
· The PILLAR of our faith, is us confessing Jesus to others.
