It was not till midway through the fourteenth century that it fell; and to this day there is a Christian bishop and a thousand Christians in it. I counsel thee buy from me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness does not appear; anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see ( Revelation 3:18 ). Secondly, Christ can discover this his favour to his people in such a manner that their very enemies shall see it, and be forced to acknowledge it. The overcomers in Philadelphia were promised future positions with Christ which appear to be described by the meanings of the names given to these two pillars. The A, B, Come and See Revelation A commentary on the Book of . after that, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, final judgment of all those who have followed satan in rebellion against yehovah throughout history will occur, they will be cast into the "lake of fire" along with satan and his spirit-being followers, and eternity in perfect unity in the spirit with elohim the father and elohim the son Revelation 3:10 by Grant Richison| Nov 17, 1998| Revelation| 43 comments Read Introduction to Revelation "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Jesus now turns to a promise for those who persevereunder trial. He who is first is necessarily God; and He who is first, being God, must certainly be last. Did they love the shadow or the glitter of human power? To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of [my] God." And so the day will come when they will acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah and I pray and long for that day. "And these things saith the First and the Last, who became dead and lived; I know [thy works, and] thy tribulation, and thy poverty, (but thou art rich!) The first time a man sins he does so with many a qualm. 2. Writing ones name on something indicated ownership in Johns day, as it does now. Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:5). (iv) We add a final fact about Laodicea. A truly vital Church will always be under attack. This was that in the new age, all nations would do humble homage to the Jews. "In principle, the same promise would fit the judgment as the great trial for the whole human race. If there is a secret entrance to heaven he prefers it; he means to go round about and climb over the wall somewhere, or sneak in at the back gate. This was the public state of things produced in the middle ages, and tolerated where the Lord was named. Amen is the word which is often put at the end of a solemn statement in order to guarantee its truth. But even this is not enough for grace. I will give to him who overcomes to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and took my seat with my Father in his throne. I am afraid that there are great truths in God's word which we do not intelligently believe, but take for granted. But the people of Philadelphia well knew what it was to receive "a new name.". But of this I would say but a few words, considering the late hour. It set out along the valley of the River Maeander until it reached what were known as the Gates of Phrygia. Oh, that they would cease to display their own thought, their own cleverness, and individuality. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth ( Revelation 3:15-16 ). Jesus is not promising to keep His church from persecution because in the letters to the seven churches persecution, even death, was occurring. Chillingworth said what ought to be true, though I am afraid that it is not "The Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants." The first of these epistles to the angel of the church in Ephesus denounced "the deeds of the Nicolaitans;" but now the iniquity in question (Antinomianism it would seem) had become a doctrine. It was founded for a special purpose. Revelation 10:1 I saw (1) another strong angel coming down out of heaven, (2) clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 1. 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. I will cause the enemies of the truth to leave you alone. He is God. See the notes on Luke 2:1. Too many of us are Christian one moment and unchristian the next. And so too with our Lord Jesus, as we shall see. The Lord here contemplates these evil workers (which is what the criers of works come to) forming a distinct party. Jesus Christ gave no rebuke to this church, as was true of the church in Smyrna. . We must therefore look for another explanation. The disciples go and give the message of him that they followed. There is for the faithful Christian the promise of a settled serenity in the peace which Jesus Christ can give. Revelation Unwrapped: Commentary on Revelation by John Richardson on SharedBookshelves.com. [Note: See Newell, pp. Sardis, A Lifeless Church ( Revelation 3:1-6 Continued). ", But there is more of Philadelphia's history than that in this letter. It is interesting to note that the third century work The Apostolic Constitutions (8: 46) says that Archippus was the first Bishop of the Church in Laodicea. These went on diligently, as we learn here. 3:1-6 And to the angel of the Church in Sardis, write: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. The word of my patience Of several interpretations advocated regarding this, that of Trench as quoted by Earle seems the best: "It is much better to take the whole Gospel as the word of Christ's patience, everywhere teaching, as it does, the need of a patient waiting for Christ. [46] Walvoord as quoted by Robert H. Mounce, op. It was on the road of the imperial postal service, which left the coast at Troas, came to Philadelphia via Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis, and joined the great road out to Phrygia. That stands for the gift of citizenship in the city of God to the faithful Christian. The seven spirits signifies the completeness of the gifts of the Spirit and the universality of his presence. Therefore they appear as golden lampstands. A greater trial appears now. As the King James Version has it, "I will come in and sup with him." He who is the first and the last, comprehending all in communicating His mind, which includes everything that can be given to man He it is who here speaks the Lord God, the Eternal. It is a sweeping intimation of the very same way in which the Lord threatens to come on the world. "I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King" ( Isaiah 43:15). under the eye of the directing priest, their confessor. There are so many more to be reached. So, the promise of being kept from the Great Tribulation, because we have kept the word of His patience. After a day of patience we must expect an hour of temptation; a day of gospel peace and liberty is a day of God's patience, and it is seldom so well improved as it should be and therefore it is often followed by an hour of trial and temptation. The Book is our ultimatum. Much of the revelation concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit to those saved in the tribulation is based on inference, but a continued ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers in this period, though somewhat restricted, is evident. I. All through the Old Testament God is the Holy One; and now that title is given to the Risen Christ. This may well stand for the beauties of life and character which only the grace of Christ can give. More, however, is meant than simply loving the word, though that is no small thing. Those enemies are described to be such as said they were Jews, but lied in saying so--pretended to be the only and peculiar people of God, but were really the synagogue of Satan. So, Jesus is here laying claim to that prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 22:22 . Habits grow upon him until he can no longer break them. What is there to praise about keeping God's word? I value more a solid confidence in the word of God than even the knowledge that comes out of it; for that faith is a saving habit, a sanctifying habit, in every way a strengthening and confirming and preserving habit. "The time is at hand." If the Lord has rebuked you, then be thankful He loves you. Two other roads passed through the gates of Laodicea, that from Pergamum and the Hermus Valley to Pisidia and Pamphylia and the coast at Perga and that from eastern Caria to central and west Phrygia. Thirdly, This will, by the grace of Christ, soften the hearts of their enemies, and make them desirous to be admitted into communion with them. Moses is willing to be wiped out of the book which God has written, if by his sacrifice he can save his people from the consequence of their sin ( Exodus 32:32-33). It is quite true that, in the literal sense, Jesus Christ did not come back to those who were so warned and exhorted. Thus the Lord was no longer fighting in defence of His own people, nor was He employing the enemy's hatred and persecution to nip in the bud or prune evil excrescences. 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. The world had got in, as it still remains, and alas! He that receives it shall live, but without it there is no spiritual life. And the same spirit of unbelief which let in the mischief keeps it in, decrying the true application of the two-edged sword now as then. 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). Take equally little notice of what any man says, be he orator, thinker, bishop, or whatever he may be. "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith." Phillips puts it: "They will maintain a facade of 'religion,' but their conduct will deny its validity.". We grow very vexed if anybody denies them; but if there is no controversy over them we forget them. It was precisely because He did that Daniel received so exceptional an honour. 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. The Christians were dazzled by the world's power and glory, which was put forth doubtless in protecting, not themselves only, but the public faith of Christendom in that day. "Who calleth herself a prophetess, and teachest and seducest my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols." (i) He is he who is holy. and the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but a synagogue of Satan." Warriors guard kings, and crowns, and thrones; but the living truth of the living God is infinitely more worthy of our watch. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Beale believed that this "hour" probably refers to the end of the churchs present experience of tribulation, just before Christs second coming. The unique new fact that Christianity brought into this world is that God is the seeker of men. Shocks were an everyday occurrence. But it is another thing when we hear of the angel of this or that assembly. It was the Christian belief that the Jewish nation had lost its place in the plan of God and that that place had passed to the Church. One ; and now that title is given to the faithful Christian the promise of kept. Being kept from the great Tribulation, because we have kept the word which we do intelligently... We hear of the very same way in which the Lord here contemplates these evil workers ( which is put... Something indicated ownership in Johns day, as was true of the angel of this that. 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