WE ARE ONE
Revelation 3:7-12 (KJV)
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;
8 I know thy works: 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.
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.
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.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh 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.
DISCUSSION OF ABOVE SCRIPTURES
Verse 7
The "angel " is the human messenger, the pastor of the church. This is His method for all churches mentioned in Rev.2-3
JESUS IS HOLY.
Always Holy from birth to His death and now His current ministry as our Great High Priest and evermore.
Luke 1:
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Unto death and His resurrection Acts 2:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Our Holy High Priest Heb.7:
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
HE THAT IS TRUE John 14:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 6:
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
HE HAS THE KEY OF DAVID Luke 1:
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
HE OPENS THAT NO MAN SHUTS AND SHUTS THAT NO MAN OPENS
Matt. 28:
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Verse 8
Our church, Philadelphia, is the one which is true to the word of God. It cannot be named by any named church of our day. It represents ALL churches, world over, which are true to the word of God.
"I know thy works" (saving faith produces works)
Eph.2:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
"I have set before you an open door"
This could be to the joy of the Lord. It is also to the knowledge of Scriptures. He has opened this door and He intends us to go through it. This open door is for witnessing and proclaiming the word of God.
I believe both walk together through that door.
"For thou has a little strength"
We are not big shots! We are humble believers ever dependent on Jesus and certainly not blowing our horns all over with HOW MANY WE GOT SAVED! OR HEALED OR WHATEVER! We meet here in Cyberspace and come from all types of situations. Are we getting out The Word? God does the counting! When we get into His presence He will tell us all about our service.
"And has kept my word"
We live in perilous times and a day where many who profess Jesus Christ deny the inspiration of all Scriptures. In Philadelphia we do not!
"And has not denied my name"
We believe in the deity of Christ. He IS the God-man and in His substitutionary atonement (death) for ALL sinners. We preach the "whosoever will come" Gospel! Every lost sinner can receive pardon through belief in Jesus Christ no matter their sins. But they must receive the Gospel and believe. ALL CAN COME. ALL WILL NOT. We serve all and God reaps all who believe.
Verse 9
The Jews who rejected Jesus were now in a false religion. They were no longer true Jews. This still applies today. The true Israelite is the one who turns to Christ since Pentecost.
" behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
The Lord says here that He will make the enemies of Philadelphia to know that He loves this church! He will do it His way.
Verse 10
" 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."
2 Thess.3:
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
1 Thess.4:
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Titus 2:
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Heb.6:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
John 5: (No time of Judgement for Philadelphia living before the 7 year EVER INCREASING! Judgment period of Great Tribulation : SEE Revelation chapters 6-19)
24 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.
"I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth"
Verse 11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
He does NOT mean "SOON". He is plainly saying to be ready. He will come at a time we know not. It will be SUDDEN. We are to be looking for Jesus (DAILY) and NOT for the Great Tribulation Period. (see again Titus 2:13)
Verse 12
Him that overcometh 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.
The passport to Heaven : "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."
This is our passport, our visa to the entire universe! All Galaxies, uncountable! (The Wonder of It All) Our citizenship in Heaven will provide these great travel and ministry blessings.
He will write upon us HIS NAME! He is saying He has a new name for Himself that He will give to each of us. This new name represents a personal relationship we will have with Him!
In Conclusion
What more can we say... WE ARE (NOT) THE WORLD (as the pop song said years ago). WE ARE THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA ALL OVER THE WORLD
Chaim, least
Photo: PearlOfGreatPrice : Brother GIO (google+)
