Honolulu Bible Church
Morning Worship Service
April 27, 1997

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

THE CHURCH'S TRIUMPH THROUGH CHRIST

Sermon #10 - Christ's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia - Revelation 3:7-13

INTRODUCTION - As we continue with Christ's letters to the churches we remind ourselves again that these letters are written to literal churches, whose messages, though applicable to the congregations of that day, still continue to speak to us as we examine ourselves and our churches in light of what the Spirit says. In Philadelphia we shall find a struggling yet vital church, and like the church at Smyrna, the Lord has nothing bad to say about this fellowship.

1) THE GREETING TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - Revelation 3:7 - "Philadelphia" means "brotherly love" and the city got its name from the founder who was greatly devoted to his brother. It was a prosperous city, surrounded by grape vineyards, and so its population worshipped Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, as one of their idols. Like all the cities of Asia, emperor worship, paganism, and Judaism abounded and attacked Christianity.

2) THE DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST - Revelation 3:7 - Here we find that Christ does not refer back to a characteristic description of Revelation 1, but draws some new references concerning Himself. He is the "holy" one, a title which designates His divinity, for God is the Holy One (Isaiah 40:25). Christ is "sacred, separate, and perfect" which are the characteristics of holiness. Jesus is also the "true" one. In comparison to the false Judaizers in Philadelphia, Christ stands as the true Messiah and Lord. The Jews were teaching that Christ was false, but Christ calls them liars (Revelation 3:9). This brings us to the next description of Christ as "the one who has the key of David, having the ability to open and shut." In order to understand this image, we have to go to the Old Testament to Isaiah 22:15-22. Hezekiah is king and Shebna is his unfaithful steward. God is going to judge Shebna by taking away his position and giving it to another man, named Eliakim. As the new man takes over, he is described as being given "the key of David" and having the ability "to open and shut." Bringing the story into Revelation 3, we see that Christ is the "Eliakim" of the New Testament. He is the faithful steward who holds the key to the kingdom (Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18). This image shows us that Christ is in complete control and has all power and authority in the kingdom of God. Yet who is the New Testament "Shebna"? Who is the unfaithful steward who loses his office? This would refer to those mentioned in Revelation 3:9 - the Jews of the synagogue of Satan. They had once been given the kingdom, but they are now removed from that office (Matthew 21:43-45). Therefore, like Shebna, they have lost their position, and like Eliakim, Christ has taken over the keys and has given those keys to the church.

3) THE PRAISE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - Revelation 3:8,9 The Christians in Philadelphia had remained faithful. There was no idolatry or immorality in their midst. It was a faithful church, keeping the Word of God and not denying the name of Christ. As a result, Christ had given them "an open door." As Christ holds the key to the kingdom, so it is His prerogative to open and close as He pleases. He has the ability to conquer the hearts of men and to allow the church at Philadelphia, and all of our churches, to go forth into victory with the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is this open door which Christ gives to us? It is a door of opportunity to preach the Gospel to the hearts of men (Acts 14:27; I Corinthians 16:8,9; II Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). Like Paul, we should pray for this open door, that Christ would open the hearts of men around us so that when we preach we will see the glory and victory of the kingdom going forth. Christ is able to conquer even the hardest heart in our midst. Let us be ready with His Gospel and let us pray for opportunity through His open doors!

Christ also shows us what He thinks of Judaism and today's Jews. They should have followed Christ, but instead, they hated and rejected Him. Thus, the Lord rejects them, calling them liars and devil worshippers. They are not the people of God. They are not the chosen ones. We must pray for the Jew of today for they must repent of their wickedness and turn to Christ. Jesus tells the Philadelphian Christians that these Jews will come and "worship before their feet, and know that I have loved you." Christ will bring the Jews before the church. If a Jew is to find the kingdom today, if he is to have forgiveness, cleansing and salvation, he must come to the church! He must bow before the church and if he does this, he will see that Christ loves the church. If the Jew does not come to Christ, he will still bow before Christ and the church, yet he will also face the wrath of the King. Today's Jew is called, just like the Gentile, to come to the church of Christ and to listen to its message of forgiveness and grace through Christ.

4) THE REBUKE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - There is no rebuke to be found in this letter, and though it is not a perfect church, it is still doing very well as it struggles to remain faithful to Christ.

5) CHRIST'S PROMISES TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - Revelation 3:10,12 - The first promise is that Christ will keep this church "from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world." Some have tried to say that this is some Great Tribulation which has not happened yet and that the this verse is teaching that the church will be raptured away from this trial which comes upon the world. Yet it is impossible to get this interpretation from the text. Christ is writing to a local church in the first century. To say that He is speaking of a tribulation hundreds of years in the future would be meaningless to these people. Christ wouldn't have to "keep them" from it, for they would be dead before it even happened. Nor does the language of verse 10 imply a "taking away", rather it is a "preserving through" the trial. We must understand that Christ is speaking of a contemporary trial which will come upon the world of the early church and that Christ promises to take the Philadelphian church safely through it. What was that trial? Though we shall develop this theme further in the weeks ahead, for now, let us understand that two great catastrophes were about to hit right after the writing of Revelation - the destruction of the Jewish Temple and the fall of the Roman Empire. Christianity would go through this worldwide trial, but would come out of both judgments unscathed - more of this later. The second blessing on the church (Revelation 3:12) is that since the old Temple and city of Jerusalem were abandoned by God, the church has become the new Temple and New Jerusalem (Ephesians 2:21; Revelation 2:9,10). The Christian becomes a pillar in God's temple, strong and permanent. No more shall he wander but will have the name of God on him, showing that he is the Lord's.

6) CHRIST'S WARNING GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - Revelation 3:11 He comes quickly, not referring to the second judgment, but to His discipline of the church (Revelation 1:5,16; 3:3) and judgment upon Jerusalem and Rome. Let us prepare for Him and be ready, for the Christ of Revelation quickly comes to His church to discipline and bless.

7) CHRIST'S EXHORTATION TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA - Revelation 3:13 - Are we listening to what Christ says to the Christians at Philadelphia? Here is a good and faithful church. As a result, despite its persecution, Christ has opened a door for this church to go forth victoriously with the Gospel. It is a strong temple in the world and it is encouraged to remain strong. Are we such a church? Will Christ bless us with such an open door? Let us pray that He does this for us in Hawaii and let us be faithful to preach the Gospel of His glorious kingdom!

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