STEPH: Welcome to Episode 6 in our series "Revelation Expectations." Thank you for joining us. This is Apostle Charles Wright, and this is Stephanie Wright.
STEPH: We are on a journey through the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in the Bible. Today, we continue our study of the seven churches with Chapter 3 of Revelation and the Church of Philadelphia.
STEPH: We encourage you to listen to this series' first podcast or YouTube presentation to establish a foundation for future episodes. Revelation is a powerful book that reveals Jesus’ love and mercy to us and the unsaved. He prolongs his return because God does not want any to be lost. If you do not know Him, now would be a good time to invite Jesus into your heart as your Savior and Lord.
CHARLES: We are reminded that the spirit of these seven churches is in the earth today. We should examine ourselves and not only focus on these historical churches but also reflect on our own lives and Jesus’ words in Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
CHARLES: And remember, the seven churches are addressed by Jesus (all red letter) before we are told in the later chapters of what is to come, the warning of the wrath of God. But not for those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
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CHARLES: Let's get started
Revelation 3
STEPH: As in previous episodes, we point out that each church follows a similar pattern: Jesus’ title is first introduced, then He tells what the church did and did not do, He gives them a charge or command, He tells them what the punishment will be for failure to follow the charge; each church has an adversary; and each church was told, “I know thy works,” and to “hear what the Spirit says.”
STEPH: Starting in Verse 7*
*Verse 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;
Here Jesus’ title or identification is alive for this Church of Philadelphia as we will see in the following scriptures. It seems to be more defining for this church than the other churches we have studied.
STEPH: *Verse 8 I know thy works: as in other churches the same phrase is repeated, “I know your works.” And because I know your works, he tells them:
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.
Here is the scripture that makes Jesus’ title or identification alive. His title as referenced in verse 7. An open door and no one can shut it. Why? Because it is time for them to go through that open door. They have kept His Word and not denied His Name, and in so doing, they now have little strength.
When it is time to go through the door of deliverance, God will open it, and no one will be able to shut it. Let’s make this relevant to the here and now. When it is time for deliverance from the pain of disappointment, He opens the door that says it’s time to turn things around for you and no one has the power to shut that door; when it is time to be delivered from this life to eternal life, you will step across that threshold and no one can stop you. ASK CHARLES FOR COMMENTS
CHARLES: *Verse 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.
Here we see the adversaries of the Church at Philadelphia, “them of the synagogue of Satan...
The reward for their overcoming those of the synagogue of Satan who are liars is, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee. [SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN ARE PERSECUTORS, SAME AS CHURCH OF SMYRNA REVELATION 2:9; WORSHIP MEANS “BOW DOWN” WE DO NOT WORSHIP MAN, ALSO SEE REV. 22:8-9 WHERE JOHN TRIED TO WORSHIP THE ANGEL AND THE ANGEL TOLD HI TO WORSHIP GOD
CHARLES: *Verse 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. WORD OF MY PATIENCE MEANS “YOU HAVE ENDURED” AND “THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION REFERS TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION or CONSIDER OUR ENDURING SUFFERING AND HOW GOD DELIVERS US IN THIS PRESENT DAY THROUGH TESTS AND TRIALS.
A further reward: I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation
STEPH: *Verse 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Jesus also says He comes quickly in Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 22:7, 22:12, and 22:20. He did not say He was coming soon. When He comes, we must be ready not getting ready. Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. However, if you interpret it as “soon,” remember, a day with the Lord is as 1000 years, and vice versa 2 Peter 3:8. Thus, “soon” is relative to God’s timing.
We have to “hold fast to [our] calling” so no man takes the crown that is waiting for us because Jesus said He is coming like a thief in the night, in the twinkling of an eye. So, be ready. Revelation 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) I Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.(An article I read said a twinkling is 1 BILLIONTH OF A SECOND)
*Verse 12 Him that overcometh will (1) I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will (2) write upon him the name of my God, (3) and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and (4) I will write upon him my new name.
Four rewards in addition to the open door. We can contrast this to those who will receive the mark of the beast in their forehead or in their right hand. We will study this in Chapter 13:16-17 of Revelation. Instead, these in Philadelphia are rewarded with notable designations that align them with God, God’s Holy City Jerusalem, and Jesus.
CHARLES: Verse 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This admonition was repeated to all seven churches along with, “I know thy works.” And back to Revelation 1:3. Why do we need to hear? Because “the time is at hand.”
Remember, we must reflect on what is said to the seven churches as they apply to us. Are you a member of the Church of Philadelphia? Good, if so. If not, then “hear” what the Spirit of God says .