REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 3.8
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
Chapter
Three
The
Letter to the Church at Philadelphia
(Continued)
Outline
1. The
Addressee – To whom the
letter is addressed (3:7)
2. The
Address – To where the letter is
addressed (3:7)
3. The
Addresser – From whom the
letter is addressed (3:7)
4. The
Approval – The acclamation
of good qualities (3:8-10)
5. The
Accusation – The
presentation of bad qualities (None)
6. The Appeal
– The application to change (3:11)
7. The Advice
– The recommendation to change (3:12-13)
4. The
Approval – The acclamation
of good qualities
(Verse 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.
Of the seven churches Jesus addresses, the
Philadelphia Church is the only one that held true to the Word of God. This is also
indicative of the Philadelphia Church Period in history, representative of Protestantism.
Despite any shortcomings, the Lord Jesus commends the Philadelphia Christians
for their works.
I know thy works
Works
Again, Jesus knows what they have accomplished in
His name, as opposed to the deficiency
of other churches. A Christian believer is evidenced by one’s works. To
distinguish between wolves in sheep's clothing and the true people of God, in
His Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns:
Matthew
7:20 - Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew
7:20 - Yes,
just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (NLT)
Works are coequal with faith. James explains:
James 2:18
- Another
person might say, "You have faith, but I do good things." Show me
your faith apart from the good things you do. I
will show you my faith by the good things I do. (GWT)
Having faith and knowledge of the truth is not
enough. Jesus desires faith to be put into action, the outward sign of a
sincere believer.
1 Timothy
4:15 – Meditate (practice, be diligent, think) upon these things; give
thyself wholly (devote, commit) to them; that thy profiting (progress) may appear to all.
Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut
it
Behold means to see (second person singular imperative),
or that you be aware or perceive.
An Open Door
As compensation for their actions, Jesus has set
before this assembly an open door, for continuing the Gospel on His behalf that
no one can shut.
Some church doors remaining open are as follows:
1. A door of
utterance (to proclaim the Word of
God)
Colossians
4:3 – [Pray]
also for us, that God would open unto us a
door of utterance, to speak the mystery of
Christ.
2. A door of
opportunity for ministry
2
Corinthians 2:12 - Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's Gospel, and a
door was opened unto
me of the Lord.
3. A door to study
and knowledge of Scripture
Psalm 119:18
– Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law
(instructions, teachings).
Deuteronomy
29:29 - The
secret things belong unto the
LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for
ever, that we may do all the Words of this Law.
4. A door to sharing
and witnessing
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
5. A door of
faith and works to the Jews and Gentiles
Acts 14:27
- And when they
were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God
had done with them, and how He had opened the door
of faith (exclusive to the Jew) unto the Gentiles.
Acts 3:16
- And His name through faith in His name hath
made this man strong (healed, whole).
Romans
2:9-11 – [God will
render] tribulation and anguish, upon every soul
of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace,
to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is
no respect of persons with God.
6. A door for
preaching the Word
1
Corinthians 16:9 - For a great door and effectual (for effective work) is opened unto me (i.e.,
Paul).
7. A door to
receiving the joy of the Lord
Isaiah
29:19 - The
meek (humble) also shall increase (augment) their joy (experience) in the LORD, and the poor (needy) among men shall
rejoice in the Holy One of Israel
(Jesus the Messiah).
An open door, and no man can shut
An interesting example is found in the Book of
Acts when God’s emissary Peter was incarcerated, even the prison doors were
opened by the Lord.
Acts
12:7-10 - And,
behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him
(Peter), and a light shined in the prison…and raised him up,
saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him…follow me…When they were
past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that
leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own
accord (by itself): and they went
out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from
him.
Acts 12:18
- Now as soon
as it was day, there was no small stir (a great commotion) among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
(Verse 8b)
For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast
not denied My name.
Listed are three commendations for the
Philadelphians:
1. They had a little strength
2. They kept His Word
3. They did not deny His name
1. They
had little strength
On the surface, this phrase may seem quite
demeaning, however, after careful exegesis, the revealed message becomes a
strong point for any church. The Lord is not insinuating weakness or a lack of inward
spiritual strength, but rather the opposite.
Some translations and the Greek render the phrase little strength in this fashion:
a. Little – Greek, μικρός
μικρότερος mikros, mikroteros (Strong’s
G3398); small
[in size, quantity, number, or (figuratively) dignity]: - least.
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Matthew 11:11 -
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women
there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that
is least in
the kingdom of heaven is greater than he
(John the Baptist).
b. Strength –
Greek, δύναμις dunamis [from which we acquire our
English word - dynamite, (Strong’s, G1411)], meaning power - specifically or
figuratively miraculous mighty power.
The familiar expression,
“Bigger isn’t always better,” may be
a label to a church and its congregation. Often pastors and church leaders are
caught up in numbers, buildings, programs, social and mass media presentations,
and productions. However, in God's eyes, a simple small effective spirit-filled
dynamic church (true to the Word of God) is more powerful in its witness for
Jesus by the aforementioned principles stated.
The Gospel message is
simple. When studying the Book of Acts, one can see how rapidly the Word spread
throughout the Roman Empire and beyond without the glitter, glamour, bells, and
whistles. Such was the Philadelphia Church. And they were commended for their
powerful witness.
In summary, the Apostle
Paul explains:
2
Corinthians 12:9 - And He said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
2. They kept His Word
According to the
Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy, the Bible is the inspired,
infallible, inerrant, and authoritative truth divinely revealed by God for the
Body of Christ – the Church. The historic little lampstand of Philadelphia held
true to this doctrine and did not waiver nor heed to human reasoning or
philosophical apostasy (religious Existentialism). They were dedicated and obedient to the
teachings of Scripture.
2 Timothy
3:16-17 - All
Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.
3. They
did not deny His name
The Word of God defines the name of Jesus Christ:
1. In His
Preeminence
Philippians
2:9 - Wherefore
God also
hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a
name (Jesus) which is above every name.
2. In Power
After the Apostle Peter, being filled with the
Holy Spirit, healed the lame beggar, the Sanhedrin asked:
Acts
4: 7- By what
power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Peter’s response was:
Acts
4: 10 - Be it
known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here
before you whole.
3. In Salvation
Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must
be saved.
A
warning, however, is given by Jesus:
Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
The
punishment is thus recorded by Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:12 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if
we deny Him, He also will deny
us.
Summary
In summation, the
Philadelphians were a devoted church, endured the name of Jesus Christ, and
were not ashamed. They modeled what was written and received its benefits –
truly a revived church!
Joshua 1:8 - This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.
A continuation of his commendation will follow in
our next discussion as the Lord, walking among the lampstands, makes promises
based on Philadelphia’s performance and faithfulness.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why are works essential?
2. Figuratively describe some open church doors.
3. Are Jews included in Christ’s promises?
4. Why?
5. Restate Peter’s prison experience.
6. Name three commendations to the Philadelphia
Church.
7. How does your spiritual experience align with Philadelphia?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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