Philadelphia Part One
CHAPTER 3:7-13
PHILADELPHIA
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write: These things says the Holy One, the True One, the One having “the key of David,” “the One opening, and no one shuts; and shuts, and no one opens:” Isa. 22:22 8 I know your works. Behold, I have given a door being opened before you, and no one is able to shut it, for you have a little power and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I give out of the synagogue of Satan those saying themselves to be Jews, and they are not, but they lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they shall know that I loved you. 10 Because you kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is going to come on all the habitable world in order to try those dwelling on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold what you have that no one take your crown. 12 The one overcoming, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out any more. And I will write the name of My God on him, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Review The Message to Philadelphia (To the Angel and the Church) A. Spirit – The Holy One, The True One, The One having the Key of David, The One opening and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. B. Accomplishments – Keeps Christ’s true teachings, has not denied Christ’s name, patience, works till exhaustion. C. Failure – None D. Commandment – Hold what you have that no one take your Crown
Judgment
- Reward for Overcoming – a) Christ will make those of the Synagogue of Satan bow down before your feet; b) Christ will keep you from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole habitable world; c) Christ will make you a pillar in the temple of God and you will not go out anymore; d d) Christ will write on you: the name of God, The City of God which comes down from Heaven, and Christ will write on you, His new name.
- Judgment for Failure : Suffer in the tribulation that will come on the world.
LESSON:
Philadelphia was established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II who named the city for the love of his brother. Christ’s character of the church at Philadelphia tells us why he loves this church: “These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens.”
The church of Philadelphia possessed the character of David. David was a shepherd, harpist, poet, psalmist, tribesman, outlaw, friend, king, husband, and sinner. He fought many wars. David’s primary strength was that he was very repentant with the Lord and loved God. Although he loved God dearly, he was often self willed and disregarded God’s words in order to fulfill his own desires. A prime example of this is when God told David not to do a census and he did one anyways. On first glance, we would think that the Church of Philadelphia had no faults but Jesus gives a message for the one who overcomes.
It is not enough to just have the key of David. The key must be used to open doors for those whom God sent us to protect and love. David loved God and God loved David because David always repented and begged forgiveness when he had done wrong. David was not perfect. David’s choice to choose his own desires over the commandments of God cost him what he wanted most, to build a Temple for God.
We need to be careful that we do not make the same mistakes as David. David with one sin broke many commandments. When David slept with Uriah’s wife, he committed adultery, he was covetous of his neighbor’s wife, he did more evil in the sight of God and had Uriah killed. David repented, but God would not let him build the temple. Jesus tells the over comer, “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.”
We must love the Lord with all our minds, body, soul, and strength, and we must love our neighbors as ourselves. This is the key of David. To love the Lord, is to keep his words and believe not what we want to believe but believe that what He says is true. God is a spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth. This is the worship that God seeks.
If we do not believe what Jesus tells us, then our religion is in vain, and we will be held accountable on Judgment Day. We are not to follow the doctrine of men. We are to follow Jesus. Jesus loves the church at Philadelphia, and in order to remain in this church, we must believe that God is true. He sent his Son to give us his truth and to save us. If we deny Jesus’ words, we deny God. Jesus is the pillar that holds God’s temple up. If we believe Jesus’ words, then we have life, and if we do not, then we are of the synagogue of Satan. Our goal is to be like the church that he loves and we will strive to attain this goal.