The reference of the voice behind is exclusively to the seven churches. This is the characteristic day of the Christian; it is the birthday of his distinctive blessing, and it assuredly ought to be the especial joy of his heart, not the less because it is the first day, the resurrection day of grace and new creation, not the seventh day of creation rest and law. In the introduction to this letter the Risen Christ is described in two phrases. The conclusion of this epistle, Revelation 3:12; Revelation 3:13. (c) He must have the ability to tell what he has to say, so that his witness may make its true impression on those who hear. Dead Protestantism. Tacitus (see Wetstein, in loco) mentions an earthquake that sank twelve cities in Asia Minor, in one night, by which, among others, Philadelphia was deeply affected; and it is possible that there may have been reference here to that overwhelming calamity. "Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore, despise not the chastening of the Almighty" ( Job 5:17). In truth, the moral reason lay in this: that Christ, if rejected as the object of faith, and the only channel of grace, becomes an executor of judgment. If, then, you are not on the watch, I will come as a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. The Christian is under continual attack by the powers which seek to seduce him from his loyalty to Christ. I am inclined to think that the hour of trial embraces the whole Apocalyptic period; that is, not merely the awful time when Satan in a rage is expelled from on high, and when the beast, energised by him, rises to his full head of power, but the previous period of trouble, seduction, and judgment. The faithful, staunch, God-fearing men that would not budge an inch, or change a letter, or shape a syllable, to please all the kings and princes of the earth, shall be found to praise and honour in the day of the Lord's appearing. The angel is a term that suits such a prophetic book as the Revelation. In the Spirit he must be, both to shut out every impression from external objects, and to give him an entrance into all that God was about to reveal; but first of all we should recognise the fact that it was on the Lord's day; and next that, before he was shown what was before, he must turn to the voice behind him and learn what the Lord judged of that which bore His name on the earth. I don't see a super church, or super saints. Townsends article, just cited, refuted Gundrys interpretation of this verse. They had here relaxed, but not in their works. But the man who says, "I am going straight for glory, and if anybody is in my way so much the worse for him, for I am bound to take the right road;" such a man will find a pretty clear track. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. The combination of the verb and the preposition in Greek in this verse clearly means that He would keep them out of it (the pretribulation position). There may be individual reality even where the associations are miserably untoward. The percentages are down around fifty to sixty percent that don't believe in these things. Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 49:23; Ezekiel 36:23; Ezekiel 37:28; Zechariah 8:20-23). It is expressly so taught in John's own gospel. He will make them pillars in the spiritual temple of God, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22; cf. God as such is then introduced in Old Testament style and character, but at the same time applied to New Testament subjects; the Holy Ghost also is similarly brought before us. If people despise the truth possessed by those who are waiting for the Lord, they are in danger of falling into the awful condition that is here set forth. For this we must stand up and fight to the death. Sardis was a city of degeneration. Therefore, as it is a holy thing, a heavenly thing, a priceless thing, keep you God's word. It was a time of drunkenness and feasting and the giving of gifts and celebration as the sun past through the winter solstice. We must leave out the word "Amen" it is spurious, and only mars the sense. This is exactly what is not true of Philadelphia, which is rather formed after a rejected Christ. The gospel of Christ is the word of his patience. In Revelation 3:20 we have one of the most famous pictures of Jesus in the whole New Testament. You wonder why they are ministers. It is no small privilege so to be taught of the Holy Ghost as to have a taste for the gospel, a deep attachment to the truths of the covenant. Some would get a few copies of the New Testament, and go about and sell them in their baskets; and so they kept the truth. Beasley-Murray regarded the hour of testing as a designation of the trial itself rather than as a period of testing (cf. The hour of temptation will catch them, no matter where they may hide. 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 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRIBULATION THE CHURCH WILL EXPERIENCE, AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION. We need not make a choice between these various meanings; we may well believe that they are all included in the greatness of the promise. I cannot give them up, therefore; and especially because as I read, and the more I read, I perceive these things to be written in the word of God, and therefore I must hold them. They have been firm and steadfast in their confession of the faith once delivered unto the saints, and the Lord who gave them the grace to be so will give them yet more grace as the recompense of their fidelity. "How do I know that they will accept it?" ], Fourth, God promised that He will not just honor overcomers by erecting a pillar in their name in heaven, as was the custom in Philadelphia. It has been said that in the New Testament the Coming of Christ is continually used for two purposes. Some think it a great thing to be members of a popular sect, but when the great curtain rolls up, and all things are seen as they are, and not as they seem, do you not think that that church will be most commended which was truest to the teaching of the Holy Spirit in everything? The once great Sardians were soft, and twice they had lost their city because they were too lazy to watch. This effect of placing the faithful in Philadelphia (and hence, the faithful in all the churches; cf. The solid truth of revelation, the doctrine of the Holy Ghost, a divine experience given to you by that Holy Ghost all this is the treasure of the church, and you are doing a holy thing when you guard it against every adversary. And though Catholics are miserably deluded, Protestants do not understand justification to this day. Before they begin the Christian is heard, as also the bride after they close. We read s of twelve members of it that suffered with Polycarp. Nobody cares a button about him. ", F. The letter to the church in Philadelphia 3:7-13. "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true." A bee knows the nearest way. What Christ promised is safety through trials, not exemption from trials. Many understand by the hour of temptation the persecution under Trajan, which was greater and more extensive than the preceding ones under Nero and Domitian. And I turned to see the voice which was speaking with me. tachy, soon; cf. I do not speak of justification by faith; for even Luther, as I think, never got thoroughly clear as to the truth of it. The world's authority brought in worldly objects, and now the ministry became a clergy, a more or less profitable profession. says the Holy One" ( Isaiah 40:25). This was a new kind of evil altogether. Take equally little notice of what any man says, be he orator, thinker, bishop, or whatever he may be. Many a time men act as if the Church belonged to them, but it belongs to Jesus Christ and all in it are his servants. If the thought of the age happens to be right, well and good; but it is not upon temporary opinion that we rest. In the time of Vespasian Philadelphia was in gratitude to change its name again to Flavia, for Flavius was the Emperor's family name. It is quite true that, in the literal sense, Jesus Christ did not come back to those who were so warned and exhorted. There are two possible pictures here. This too is special. Indeed the same remark will be found true of all the use that is made of Old Testament citations and allusions in the Apocalypse. Where are they to be found? It is true that neither of these new names lasted and "Philadelphia" was restored. God has put us in trust with the gospel, and we will sooner part with all that we have than be false to our trust. Paul says that his converts in their pre-Christian days were dead through trespasses and sins ( Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5). There is an old Latin saying that "the gods walk on feet that are wrapped in wool." By keeping the gospel they are prepared for the trial; and the same divine grace that has made them fruitful in times of peace will make them faithful in times of persecution. It is a church state in responsibility though not in real power, being an ecclesiastical body which presents horrors in the Lord's eyes, but not without a remnant dear to Him. John stands in a position analogous to Daniel; he becomes now the object of the communications of the Lord Jesus, not that which still bore the name of the Lord here below. It was rich and had acquired wealth and had need of nothing--so it thought. It was in an area where there was a very large Jewish population. 1. Observe, First, The greatest honour and happiness any church can enjoy consist in the peculiar love and favour of Christ. When John wrote his letter to Sardis, it was wealthy but degenerate. Third the endurance of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of his sympathy with us when we are called upon to endure. It signified becoming one with the other person. This is an echo of an expectation of the Jews which finds frequent expression in the Old Testament. A particular assembly, or even the assemblies of a district (Galatians 1:1-24), may be addressed. The truth is too great for us ever to absorb it all, but daily and hourly we live upon it. May God grant to us that whatever form of temptation may come upon the face of the earth, we may stand fast for his truth, so that none of us may perish like Judas, the son of perdition. It is a setting aside of man altogether; and the reason is that Laodicea is the glorification of man and of man's resources in the church. "What shall be after these" must be owned as the true translation of the words. Let them abide in the place of patience, even though there be tribulation, as there must be if they are content to endure for Christ's sake now. But nay, this will not do for Christ. Search us, O Lord, know our hearts, try us, O God, know our thoughts, if there is a way of unrighteousness, if there is a way of deceitfulness, God help us that we would not deceive ourselves, and be blind to the truth. Nor is it that I have any doubt that it is a great sin to wipe off all public recognition of God in the world. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. "Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." And have we not seen it ourselves? The godly remnant of Jews, having to do with a special and most fierce but circumscribed tribulation, have only to flee to the mountains in order to escape till Jesus appears in glory, to the confusion of their foes. But no man knows when eternity will invade his life and God will bid him rise and come; and that must warn the careless to prepare to meet his God and cheer the oppressed with the thought of the coming glory of the faithful soul. Revelation 3:3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. 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. "Let us keep awake and be sober" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:6). You have been steadfast; therefore I will employ you." What He is is the main point. (a) There may be a heathen background. We have a little strength. Mr. Moody would say, "Make a bee line for heaven." (iv) There is the command to watch. It was a greater proof of fidelity when all was out of course to stand faithful than to be faithful when all things were regular. Satan's synagogue. Revelation 3:10 Because of what will be happening at the end time, "persevering" or "courageously enduring" without compromising will certainly be no small accomplishment. These foes claimed to be the true followers of God, but they were not, having rejected Jesus Christ (cf. "Behold, I come quickly!" The sides of the ridge were smoothly precipitous; and only where the spur met the ridge of Mount Tmolus was there any possible approach into Sardis and even that was hard and steep. (c) In any land and time white is the colour of purity, and the white robes may stand for the purity whose reward is to see God. He was not in the least worried, for he thought that all he had to do was to retire to the impregnable citadel of Sardis, recuperate and fight again. "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 shall shut; and shutteth, and no man shall open." Solomon named one of these pillars Jachin, meaning establish, and he named the other pillar Boaz, meaning strength (1 Kings 7:13-21). Another thing is observable, when one looks into what is said here. He is forward going to look into the future. All was dark as to truth, and uncertain as to moral judgment. The word for beginning is arche ( G746) . If anything is to be rescued from the impending ruin of the Church in Sardis the Christians there must wake from their deadly lethargy and watch. When the church was seeking the place of public glory, the encouragement to faith was the hidden manna. 11 [ b]Behold,I am coming quickly!Hold fast what you have, that no one may takeyour crown. That does not matter; but it does matter that you be faithful to your Lord. Reuben, unstable as water, lost his place to Judah ( Genesis 49:4; Genesis 49:8). (ii) It has been suggested that the door which is set before the Philadelphians is none other than Jesus himself. The seven Spirits therefore refer, as I believe, to the Holy Ghost acting in the way of government. We know how many scholars have dared to insult the book in their folly, as I think we may say, with the justest rebuke of their offensive language. No one goes to hades before he dies death being in relation to the body, hades to the separate spirit. This figures prominently in the theories of millennialists, who take the passage as emphasizing that Christians shall be delivered from not through the great trial, "implying the rapture of the church before the time referred to as "the great tribulation. Your book matters, let's make it your way! But that situation had its perils, and these perils had left their mark more deeply on Philadelphia than on any other city. A Jew in God's sense of the term was not one who could claim racial descent from Abraham but one of any nation who had made the same venture of faith as he had ( Romans 9:6-9). The Book is our ultimatum. He is seen in His glorious return to this earth in defeat of His enemies. Remember how Mr. Bunyan pictures it. Matthew 24:29-30), and because the generation to whom John wrote these words has long since passed away, Philadelphias representation of not just the other six churches of Asia but also of the church universal throughout the present age is evident . "Blessed is the man whom thou dost chasten, O Lord, and whom thou dost teach out of thy law" ( Psalms 94:12). I am sure Luther is one from whom we may all learn much; whose courage, faithfulness, self-renunciation, and endurance are edifying and instructive. As it is said here, "Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess." And then, thirdly, we shall speak upon a word of promise which is in the text in the tenth verse: "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." "I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King" ( Isaiah 43:15). How can it surprise those who are ever awaiting Him? It is sad. 6:10). It is "he that openeth, and no man shall shut." Why, these are the treasures of men, and they shall pass away. The Lord sets before us an open door of opportunity and no man can shut it. Good men in the dark days of Popery found out the truth, but they only lived, perhaps, in some quiet village, or shut up in a monastery, and the most they could do was to write down what they knew and so keep it. Because you have kept my command to endure, I, too, will keep you safe from the hour of testing, which is to come upon the whole inhabited world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. Read full chapter Footnotes You may never become more numerous, or more influential; but do let it be true of you, that you have kept God's word. (iii) Hard as it may sound, the meaning of this terrible threat of the Risen Christ is that it is better not even to start on the Christian way than to start and then to drift into a conventional and meaningless Christianity. I have added it all up, and I count the reproach of Christ to be greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt." It was not that Croesus was not warned where Sardis was heading. Let them cry "Lo here, or lo there," but believe them not. ( Revelation 3:1-6 Continued). A straggling few may reckon themselves to be the majority when they stand alone with God, for HE counts for more than all the myriads of the earth put together. . Sardis was still a wealthy city. The road from Ephesus to the east and to Syria was the most important in Asia. But says He who has eyes like a flame of fire, "I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give to each according to your works.". It is Christ coming in judgment. For a considerable period of human life, it may be, God does not give to all of us a field of usefulness, but he provides a field of trial. [46] Walvoord as quoted by Robert H. Mounce, op. Often hot mineral springs are nauseating in their taste and make the person who drinks them want to be physically sick. I believe that God has blinded their eyes until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. The insistence on the Son's part in creation was due to the heretics who explained sin and disease by saying that the world had been created by a false and inferior god. The Lord returns into his servants' bosoms that which they render to him: he gives keeping for keeping. The fact that we have been patient and submis sive may be regarded as proof that he will give us grace that we may be patient and submissive in the trials that are to come. What is still more in John the significant point, they lost all the truth of a real life given to us in Christ. (ii) He is he who is true. The armies of Caesar travelled that road; the caravans of the merchant-men travelled it; and now it was beckoning the missionaries of Christ. To those who have been true the promise is that they will walk with God. To try them that dwell upon the earth - To test their character. Two of them were called Zeuxis and Alexander Philalethes. (b) There may be a reference to the old story of Enoch. Thus have I explained what the Philadelphians did. 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 . The ground of such a thought lies in the fact that the introduction to Sardis indicates the Lord beginning again a new state of things. Next, we may be sure that they loved the word of God. There is a doctrine known as the manifested sons of God that advocates the super sainthood. About; Guide; API; Contact; Login | Join. There is another warning here. On the day when a Roman triumph was celebrated, all the citizens clad themselves in white; the city itself was called urbs candida, the city in white. "Therefore," he says, "watch!" Jesus doesn't care. One knows how readily the heart can thus escape from what is really the blessedness of the witness which the Lord has placed in our hands. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience - My word commanding or enjoining patience; that is, thou hast manifested the patience which I require. Revelation 10 Commentary Interval before the seventh trumpet (10:1-11) During the lengthy interval before the blowing of the final trumpet, John has several other visions. And that isn't to say that God doesn't call people as He did to the Jews, but He has not called me. This picture has been derived from two different sources. Nor is it confined to prophecy, for the same force holds good wherever symbol is employed. Offensive against Himself, they were wholly opposed in principle to grace. 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