REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 3.11
Gleanings from the Book of
Revelation:
A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION TO JOHN
(The Apocalypse)
LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
CHAPTER 3
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)
Continuing the study is the third part of the
letter to the church at Philadelphia from the Lord. Its application holds many
truths from God’s Word pertinent to our time and age.
5. The
Accusation - The
presentation of bad qualities
Similar to the church at Smyrna, outstanding to
the church of Philadelphia, there is not one word of rebuke.
6. The
Appeal – The application to change
(Verse 11)
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown.
OUR REMINDER
I come
quickly
Quickly means speedily, shortly, by surprise [Strong’s G5035];
like a thief in the night.
Subsequently, except for the third woe in
Revelation 11:14, there are six times Jesus prophetically announces He will
come quickly:
1. To the church at Ephesus (cf. Rev. 2:5)
2. To the church at Pergamum (cf. Rev. 2:16)
3. To the church at Philadelphia (cf. Rev. 3:11)
In the last chapter, before the benediction, final
reminders with blessings are also prophesied for those who are prepared,
watchful, and on guard for His imminent return.
4. Behold, I come quickly (cf. Rev. 22:7)
5. Behold, I come quickly (cf. Rev. 22:12)
6. Surely, I come quickly (cf. Rev. 22:20)
Question:
Why is this important?
Answer:
During the earthly ministry of Christ, whenever
something was stated and then restated, there was an urgency or immediacy to
what He was saying, and it would be of utmost importance. For instance: Verily, verily. By articulating I come quickly three times, in Chapter 22,
means with absolute certainty. So, listen carefully.
OUR APPEAL
Hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take
(snatch, take away, deprive you of) thy crown (stephanos or victory crown).
The objective of various crowns is discussed in
Revelation 2:10. Every believer is warned to be faithful to Jesus Christ, so our
earned reward crown is secured. By way of comparison, although crude, some in
the Bible had their position or rightful inheritances is taken away by God for
rejection and giving to another. For example:
1. Esau lost his birthright and blessing to Jacob (cf.
Genesis 25:24; 27:36)
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and
pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way:
thus Esau despised his birthright...And he said, Is not he rightly
named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he (Jacob) took away my
birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he
(Esau) said [to his father Isaac], Hast thou not
reserved a blessing for me?
2. Saul lost his crown to David (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1,
13)
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How
long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill
thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I
have provided me a king among his sons… Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and
anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
3. Judas lost his place to Matthias (cf. Acts
1:25-26)
That he (Justus or Matthias) may
take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression
fell, that he might go to his own place…And they gave forth their lots; and the
lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered
with the eleven apostles.
Even better comparisons are the honor awards given
to someone in the sports arena or beauty pageants where a person is chosen for
outstanding achievement in their field: Then, only to lose their title or
trophy due to moral misconduct, or some criminal activity.
7. The
Advice – The recommendation to
change
(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.
(Verse 13)
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the
churches.
To the overcomer, Jesus promises:
1. He will be a pillar in God’s heavenly Temple
2. He will no longer need to exit the Temple
3. He will have written on him God’s name
4. He will have written on him the name of God’s city
a. The New Jerusalem
b. (Coming down from Heaven)
5. He will have written on him His new name
1. A-Pillar in God’s Temple
Metaphorically, in the sanctuary of God’s heavenly
Temple, the faithful Christian (the overcomer) will be placed there as a
memorial pillar, never to be tarnished or removed.
By contrast, Peter, James, and John were
considered pillars of authority in the early Church. Paul writes:
Galatians
2:9 - And
when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed
to be pillars,
perceived the grace that was given unto me,
The idea of monumental pillars was common in the
ancient world and was usually placed in temples of their pagan gods. At the base was a commemorative inscription:
1. To honor pagan gods
2. To honor emperors or generals
3. To honor famous people
Christ uses this earthly imagery for His readers
to comprehend what lies ahead in the spiritual world.
Note: In the Gospel, Jesus refers to Himself as
the Temple when he reprimanded the Jews:
John 2:19
- Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
The church is the dwelling place of God and Jesus Christ
is the chief cornerstone. Also, note it is in the realm of the Spirit.
Ephesians
2:20 - And [the Church is] built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
2. And he
shall go no more out
Why travel? Security will be for eternity. The
phrase presumably indicates that there will be no need for fear, trials,
tribulations, and temptations, for Christ will be our permanent refuge (Jehovah Machsi):
Psalm 91:9
-
LORD, you are my refuge!" Because you chose the Most
High as your dwelling place (ISV),
Next, Jesus will inscribe on us three things:
1. His Father’s name
2. His city’s name
3. His new name
3. And I
will write upon him the name of My God
As a tribute, Jesus will write the name of God the
Father on a memorial plate at the pillar base of His faithful servants.
To Write
There are two words in the Greek language defining
the verb to write:
1. Epigraph, ōἐπιγράφω
[Strong’s G1924],
ascription, used in a figurative sense. For example:
Hebrews 8:10
- This is the covenant that I will make with
them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.
2. Graphō, γράφω [Strong’s
G1125], an imprint on a writing surface – The common
use of the word in the book of Revelation.
The Greek name of God as it appears throughout
Revelation is Theos, and its Hebrew equivalent means the Mighty One – the supreme deity over everyone and everything,
i.e., the Father, or Father God. In Revelation 1:8, the Almighty equitably identifies Christ as an integral part of this
Triune Godhead or Trinity.
4. He will
have written on him the name of God’s city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out
of Heaven
Presently, as a believer, we have a promised
residence in the kingdom. On earth, we are only sojourners passing through. The
name of the holy city will be known as the New Jerusalem (later detailed in chapter
21), and its name written on us will validate our citizenship.
5. He will
have written on him a new name for Himself
The third and last thing Christ promises to write is
His new name – A name no one knows yet.
Revelation
19:11-12 - And
I (John) saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that
sat upon him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His
head were many crowns; and He
had a name written, that no man knew, but He
Himself.
Instead of many names, the implication is that this
new name will be the embodiment of every name He has ever been called – A
revelation of Him that is only comprehendible in the heavenly realm. Assuredly,
it will be a name above all names.
In addition, He will wipe away any vestige of our
earthly habitation. Hence, we will be a new creature in a new creation with a changed
name. Nothing in the past will be brought to remembrance.
2
Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Revelation
21:5 - And He
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I
make all things new. And He said unto me (John), Write: for
these words are true and faithful.
(Verse 13)
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the
churches.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus openly spoke the following
to His listeners:
John 5:24
- 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.
However, upon reading the Philadelphian letter,
the advice will be spoken by the Holy Spirit as He speaks to us today. Our job
is to lend an ear.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the significance of having a crown?
2. How are crowns obtained?
3. When and how will Jesus come?
4. What do we know about the Temple?
5. What is significant about our identities?
6. Why will we be given a new name?
7. How does this section personally give you hope?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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