Philadelphia Part Two
Scripture St. John 5:24-29 Verily, Verily I say unto you , He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and have given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
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.
Review Part 1: We learned that the Church at Philadelphia is about brotherly love, and that Jesus loved this church. Jesus told the one who overcomes that he will make him a pillar in the temple of God, and he shall go no more out: and Jesus will write upon him the name of God, and the name of the city of God, which is the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from God, and Christ will write upon the over comer His new name. Jesus says many things to Philadelphia church that he loves.
In part one of this lesson, we reviewed the promises he made to the church and the one who overcomes. He also made specific warnings to those who would not overcome. Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia: 10 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. The promise that Jesus made to this church shows the depths he will go through to make sure that this church does not suffer the way the world will suffer in the end times.
Revelation Chapter 14:6-13 tells us what this hour of temptation is: The Messages of the Three Angels 6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
Joel Chapter 2 and Zephaniah Chapter 1 also tell us these same things as well as 2nd Peter Chapter 3. Summary: We need to listen carefully to what Jesus is saying. If we are able to become the church that he loves as Philadelphia, we will not have to suffer when the hour of temptation comes about. We must keep God’s words, and trust God. We need to let God’s words be the roadmap for our lives. We must love God, love one another, and have the faith of Jesus.
Actions Needed to Overcome At Philadelphia:
- Continue showing brotherly love, singing praises and making melody in your heart to the Lord, and continue watching out for his sheep.
- Continue waiting faithfully for the Lord’s return.
Chapter 3:7-13
Philadelphia Test
- What was the church at Philadelphia instructed to do?
- What is the reward for overcoming at Philadelphia?
- Which Spirit is speaking to the church at Philadelphia?
- List the good things about the church at Philadelphia.
- List the bad things about the church at Philadelphia?
- What did the church at Philadelphia do wrong?
- What will God do to those at Philadelphia who do not
overcome? - What is the hour of temptation?
- Will the church at Philadelphia have to go through the
hour of temptation? - How was the city of Philadelphia founded?