Jesus' Message to the Faithful Church of Philadelphia

Jesus’ Message to the Faithful Church of Philadelphia

 

The church in Philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches where Jesus sent His messages.  Jesus was not pleased with the actions of some of the other churches and He gave them warnings to turn from their sins.  But Jesus doesn’t condemn anything that this little church in Philadelphia had done.   In fact, Jesus gave many wonderful promises to the Christians who belonged to the church of Philadelphia!  What were these Christians doing that caused Jesus to rejoice over them and bless them?  Let’s read Jesus’ message to the Philadelphia church and find out.  Here is His message.

 

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  “This message is from The One who is holy and the One who is true, and the One who has the key of David, and the One who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.  

 

I know your works.  See I have set before you an open door.  And no one can shut it.  For you have a little strength.  But you have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name.  Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie – indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.

 

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 live on the earth.  Behold, I am coming quickly!  Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

 

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God.  And he shall go out no more.  I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.  And I will write My new Name on him.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelations 3:7-13

 

Jesus begins His message describing Himself as: “The One who is holy and the One who is true, and the One who has the key of David, and the One who opens, and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.” (Revelations 3:7) This description of Jesus emphasizes His holiness, His sovereignty, and His authority.   And Jesus describes Himself as the One who shuts and no one opens and opens and no one shuts. 

 

The citizens of Philadelphia at that time (95 A.D.)  were expected to bow down and worship other gods. The town of Philadelphia and all of Asia Minor was under Roman rule and many were ordered to worship the Roman emperor.  As Christians, they refused to worship or serve any other than the Lord their God.  And this often-cost Christians their jobs and sometimes their lives.

 

 These persecutions could leave frightened Christians feeling out of control of their lives. But Jesus is reminding them that He is in control of their lives. That He is the One who holds the power over their lives.  And that all things work together for good to those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) He (Jesus) alone can shut and open doors.

 

  I believe that Jesus’ comforting words to those early Christians who loved Him are the same for us today who love Him.  That our lives are not out of control.  That our steps are ordered by the Lord and He alone shuts and opens our doors.     

 

We wondered what these Christians in Philadelphia were doing that caused Jesus to rejoice over them and bless them.  When we read through Jesus’ message to them we find that Jesus says: “I know your works,…you have a little strength, and have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name. “(Revelation 3:8)

 

 The church of Philadelphia was weak in some respects, yet they have kept His Word and obeyed it and have not denied His Name as Savior and Son of God.  Because of this, the Lord promises them an “open door” of blessing.  Some Christian churches today have stopped keeping His Word, since it isn’t fashionable.  And some believe they are too smart to trust in His Name.  

 

Jesus also praises the Philadelphia church for keeping on and holding fast to their faith during their long trial. He says: “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,…”  (Revelations 3:10 -11) The church’s faithful endurance would serve as a blessing.  Jesus would take them to be with Him before the coming tribulation. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

 

Jesus’ letter also condemns the enemies of the Philadelphian believers: “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, …to acknowledge that I have loved you.” (Revelation 3:9) The church of Philadelphia would be victorious over its enemies. 

 

Jesus gives a final promise to the believers in Philadelphia: to Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.  Never again will he leave it.  I will write on him the name of my god and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from out of heaven from my God: and I will also write on him my new Name.” (Revelation 3:12) Jesus promises that He will give them (and us) a new name in Glory and He will make these faithful Christian pillars in the spiritual temple of God, the New Jerusalem.  (Galatians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Ephesians 2:19-22)

 

Jesus calls on the Philadelphia church to hold fast. And He calls us to hold fast also. All of us who have struggled with weakness but still hold fast to our Biblical faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, may be made everlasting pillars in the house of God.  Jesus’ words of comfort and love must have been a blessing to the beleaguered church in Philadelphia.  Those Christians faithfully stood for Christ in their pagan culture.

 

  Jesus is still watching over His believers today and over His many churches here in our pagan world.  He rejoices over some believers and cries over others.  He walks among us warning and comforting and loving and blessing us, and He always has much to say to us.  But are we listening?  He calls us to listen.  Each of His letters to the churches always ends with these words: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”  (Revelation 3:13)  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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Sardis - The Dead Church

Sardis – The Dead Church

 

“I know your deeds, that you have the reputation of being alive, - but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1) Jesus begins His message to the church in Sardis by saying that they are dead. The year was approximately 95 A.D. and Jesus had appeared to John the Apostle in a vision and had given John messages for seven Christian churches in Asia Minor, (Turkey today). Jesus had praises and warnings for all the other churches.  But only the Sardis church was singled out and told that they were dead!    

 

Sardis was built in an area surrounded by mountains, and these mountains protected the city from invaders.  And even better, gold, silver and semi-precious stones like fire opals and agate was discovered in the hills and rivers surrounding the city of Sardis.

 

Sardis became famous for minting gold and silver coinage and for fashioning beautiful jewelry from the gold, silver and gemstones taken from the surrounding environment. Because of these benefits and blessings, Sardis grew to be a very wealthy city where its’ rich citizens could indulge themselves.  A temple for the goddess Artemis was built in Sardis as well as a large bath-gymnasium complex.

 

John or Paul or one of the other disciples, through the power of the Holy Spirit, had planted a Christian church in Sardis – a Christian fellowship that had one time been on fire for the Lord, but now was cold and dead.  Here is the message that Jesus sends to the church in Sardis.

 

 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a reputation for being alive, - but you are dead.  Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works completed in the sight of my God.  Remember therefore how you have received and heard: and hold fast and watch.  I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.  You have a few believers even in Sardis who have not soiled their garments: and they shall walk with Me.  He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:1-6)

 

We read in Revelation 1:20 that the seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches.  It seems that each church had an angel watching over it.  Does that mean that perhaps every church today also has an angel watching over it? I would think so.

 

When Jesus tells the church in Sardis “I know your works” it shows us that God is watching us and what we do for Him.  Even when it seems that no one notices what we do, God knows and cares. 

 

Jesus tells the church in Sardis that they have a reputation for being alive, but really, they are dead.  Perhaps their fame or their reputation for being alive was not from God but from the world.   Perhaps they were so busy showing off their wealth and making money and serving the world that they stopped serving God.  Scripture says that we cannot serve two masters, that we cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24) Since Sardis was a wealthy city, perhaps it was tempting for the Christians living there to trust their lives to the money they were making instead of trusting it all to God, their heavenly Father. 

 

Perhaps the Christians in Sardis had lost their first love for God their Savior.  Perhaps there was still a lot of church activity going on that made them appear to be alive, but they were just going through the motions.  They may have had a form of godliness without the power. (2 Timothy 3:5)

 

  Perhaps many people attended the Sardis church because the message did not offend them.  And perhaps the word “sin” was never mentioned and the sins that were fashionable at that time were celebrated in the church. Perhaps the church members didn’t really love or care for one another.  The important people just showed up at the church to be seen by the other important people.  Wear their robes and lighting their candles.

 

Jesus tells the church in Sardis that He has “not found your works completed in the sight of My God.”   Does that mean that our work can be incomplete – or not enough – in the sight of God?  God wants us to reactivate our passive faith and do new work for Him. To allow God’s river of life and His love to flow out of us to others. Scripture says that we are responsible for each other.  We need to encourage one another to keep the Faith and to love one another and do good works.  (Hebrews 10:23-24)

 

Jesus said that there were a few Christians that were still spiritually alive in Sardis among all the “dead” church goers.  Did the real Christians just stay in the dead church to be a living example and hopefully evangelize the others?  The other six churches that Jesus sends messages to are all dealing with persecution and immorality and false teachers trying to destroy them. They are all struggling with these problems it seems -, except for the church in Sardis!  No one in the Sardis church was being cast into prison or martyred for following Jesus!  Was this Sardis church so dead that Satan didn’t even need to bother with it anymore?  

 

 Jesus calls the Sardis church to “Hold fast and watch”. (Revelation 3:3a) To hold fast to the Truth that they had received and heard. Jesus is the Truth. He calls them to watch out for the sin that will water down this precious living Truth.  They were letting go. Re-writing the Truth to say what they wanted it to say. Re-writing their music to praise a different and pagan god. Putting their own will above God’s will. Throwing out Jesus who is Life and Truth.

 

  Jesus cries out for all the spiritually dead churches (and spiritually dead people) to come back to Him, whether they be dozing, asleep or outright dead.  He calls and begs them to let Him bring them back to life while there is still time. He warns the dead church in Sardis that He won’t put up with letting them be spiritually dead forever!   He says: “I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”  (Revelation 3:3b)

 

 Jesus is Life, and He alone can bring us back from the dead, - whether we are physically or spiritually dead! If we are spiritually dead, He alone can make us alive again, if we are willing!  Jesus longs for us to be alive and awake enough to be responsive to His Spirits’ nudges and promptings.  Alive enough to hear His still small Voice. He wants us to be awake enough to pray and believe that God will answer. And open enough to believe and love God and love others in our hearts and not just with our words. 

 

Jesus will give us the faith to believe and love - if we are willing to receive from Him.  He has so much life to give us, if we will receive.  If we are willing to let go of the sin that makes us dead. Willing to let Him change us.  He stands there calling to us.  Do we hear His call? Are we willing?   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Thyatira the Corrupt Church

Thyatira – The Corrupt Church

 

The date is approximately 95 A.D. and Jesus appears in a vision to John the apostle and gives him letters or messages to seven of the Christian churches in Asia Minor. (Revelations 1:9-20) Jesus’ messages were written in love.  But also, messages with concerns and warnings.  And  messages of hope and comfort. Today we will go over what Jesus has to say to one of these churches - the church in Thyatira.

 

Thyatira was a small industrial city in 95 A.D. with many trade unions or guilds.  There were trade guilds for textile workers and tanners, potters, bakers and bronze-smiths.   Each trade  guild (or labor union) would adopt an idol or god to bless their business and the all the workers in the trade guild were expected to worship their patron god.  

 

Many of the Christians who belonged to the church in Thyatira also belonged to one of the cities’ trade guilds where they worked. If a Christian member of the trade guild refused to go along with the others when they worshipped the trade guild’s idol god, then that Christian could be blamed when something went wrong at work.  Or blamed when the trade guild didn’t sell as many of their items as they thought they should. Perhaps the god was angry because everyone in the guild wasn’t worshipping him. The Christian could lose his or her job if he didn’t bow down to the idol god who was supposed to bless their work. There was a price for following Jesus!   

 

 The temple to the sun god Apollo stood in the center of Thyatira, and the town sponsored many frequent idolatrous feasts and sexual orgies around the altar. Everyone was expected to be there.  Of course, this caused a problem for all the Christians in Thyatira since God calls us to  worship only Him and no other. (Exodus 20:3-6) And, God also calls Christians to “flee sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)   

 

Thyatira is still around today!  It is a small modern city in Turkey. But the stones and pillars from the ruins of that ancient city of Thyatira, can still be seen today. If we travel there today we can walk where those early Christians walked – the Christians in the church of Thyatira who received Jesus’ message.  And the messages and warnings Jesus had for these Christians in Thyatira so long ago are for us too.  We too will not always fit in with the crowd.  We too will have to set ourselves apart and not worship the idols that our modern culture worships.  Or indulge in any type of porn or sexual immorality that is all around us.  

 

Here is the message recorded in Revelations 2:18-29 that Jesus sent to the church in Thyatira so long ago.  “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:  These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and His feet like fine brass:  I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience: and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 

 

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

 

Indeed, I will cast her into a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  ‘

 

Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast to what you have until I come.  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.

 

He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessel.  As I also have received from My Father, I will give him the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  (Revelations 2:18-29)    

 

Jesus begins His letter by describing Himself as “the Son of God, with eyes like a flame of fire and feet like brass”.  Jesus is not only our humble suffering Savior, but His eyes are like a flame of fire as He will judge the world as the almighty Son of God.  Jesus praises the Christians in the church of Thyatira for their love, service, works, faith and patience.  He sees everything they (and you) do for Him. 

 

But Jesus also calls the church of Thyatira out for tolerating the cult of idolatry and immorality.  Christians are not to be tolerant of false teachers! A teacher Jesus calls “Jezebel” has been allowed to teach in this Christian church in Thyatira and Jesus is angry.  Christians are to reject any false teaching or any practice that allows worshipping other gods or any practice allowing sexual immorality among God’s people.  And evidently “Jezebel” has been allowed to teach these evil heresies in the church in Thyatira. And the Christians tolerated it!!  Christians are required to be faithful to Christ, never putting anything before Him, as well as being faithful to their spouse and their marriage vows.  Jesus was angry.

 

Purity and restraint are underrated!  Sexual immorality and pornography bring a burden, but faithfulness and purity bring a blessing.  God gives us the gift of sex to bond us together in marriage and family.  But sexual immorality drains our ability to connect and destroys our family relationships.

 

  Jesus says in His letter to the church in Thyatira that those who follow Jezebel’s teachings will suffer. Instead of romance, true love and couples faithfully and joyfully sharing their lives together, there will be broken families, poverty, disease, loneliness, jealousy, and isolation. Parents abandoning their children.

 

 Jesus says that sexual immorality will bring sickness to those who practice it and death to their innocent little children. (Revelation 2:22-23) It seems the children always suffer most for their parent’s sins. No wonder Jesus is so angry. He calls His followers to turn around – to repent. Jesus speaks to the rest of the Christians in Thyatira- all those who do not follow Jezebel’s teachings of unfaithfulness to God and to one another.  Jesus calls those who are listening to Him to “Hold Fast”.  To Hold Fast until He comes. (Revelations 2:25)

 

 Jesus gives promises too wonderful to completely comprehend to those who “Hold Fast’ and stay faithful to the Christian faith.  He says:  ” To him who overcomes, and keep My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.”  (Revelations 2: 26) The overcomer – the one who “holds fast” – that one will share in Christ’s triumph over evil and will share in His messianic rule.  (Psalm 2:8-9)   

 

Jesus also promises to give the “Morning Star” to those who “Hold Fast.”  And He ends his letter to the church of Thyatira with:” He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  (Revelations 2:29) Let’s hear what the Spirit is saying to us today.  Like the Christians in Thyatira we live in a time where the temptations of sexual immorality are all around us and where the world calls us to put other things before God.  Let’s listen to the Spirit and stay pure and faithful to God and to our marriages.  And “Hold Fast” until He comes. 

 

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The Compromising Church

Pergamum - the Compromising Church

Revelation 2:12-17

 

Jesus sends a letter to the Christians living in Pergamum, a church that was compromising the truth.  Pergamum was a large impressive city in Asia Minor in 95 A.D. when Jesus sent his letter to the Christians (the church) living there.

 

 The great temple and altar to the god Zeus, a significant architectural monument, was in Pergamum and everyone in town was under intense pressure to join in the temple worship of the god, Zeus. Also, the citizens of Pergamum were expected to burn incense before a statue of the divine Caesar.  The city of Pergamum was part of the Roman empire and the Roman emperor, Caesar, was considered a god.  Worshipping pagan gods and worshipping the emperor was what everyone did in that day. 

 

 A Christian believer named Antipas lost his life for refusing to worship other gods and the believers in the church in Pergamum were afraid that they might be killed too if they didn’t go along with what was expected of them.  Some professing Christians asked questions like, “Can’t we all just get along?  If we don’t believe in worshipping Caesar or Zeus as a god, why not just go through the motions and burn the incense?  Why not compromise and keep out of trouble? 

 

It seems that Jesus did not agree with this way of thinking.  Here is Jesus’ letter to the church in Pergamum.  “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: “These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword.  I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.  And you held fast to My Name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

 

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.  Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate.

 

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”  (Revelations 2:12-17)

 

Jesus praised the church in Pergamum for being faithful and holding fast to Him even when great persecution had come.  Even when one of them was martyred for his faith.  But Jesus was also concerned that some of the church members in the Pergamum church held to the doctrine of Balaam!  They were worshipping other gods along with worshiping our one true God.

 

The story of Balaam is in the Bible. (Numbers 22,23,24) The name “Balaam” means “devourer of the people”. Balaam was from the land of Moab and he had been given a gift from God – the gift of prophecy.  The king of Moab tried to pay Balaam a lot of money to curse the nation of Israel and even though Balaam wanted the money, God wouldn’t let him curse Israel.   

 

So, Balaam cursed Israel another way.  He invited and encouraged some of the Jewish men to come with him to a fun party with their neighbors, the Moabites. What was so wrong with that?  Some of the Jewish men left home to join in the good times.    

 

 Fires lit up the night at the wild parties and sex orgies of the Moabites as they sacrificed and worshipped their heathen gods. The exciting loud drum beat and dancing, trances, drugs, food, alcoholic drinks, and lots of sex with the temple prostitutes always went along with the pagan worship to their gods. For days the Jewish men partied and even brought some of the wild women home with them.  Balaam’s influence had cursed the Jewish people after all. 

 

Jesus was warning the Christians in Pergamum that they couldn’t mix their faith in God with a little pagan worship.  That what they let into their lives usually will overcome them. Jesus tells them that even though they “live where Satan’s throne is” that he expects them to stay faithful to God alone.

 

 Bible scholars believe that when Jesus spoke of “Satan’s throne” He was talking about the “Temple of Zeus” which was right there in Pergamum.  These pagan gods or idols were backed by demons.  God’s people were always throughout Scripture forbidden to have anything to do with worshipping  other gods or religions.  And we are too.  

 

The first and second commandment in the Bible commands us: “You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourselves a carved image – or bow down to them or serve them, for I am the Lord your God, a jealous God …(Exodus 20:3-4-5)  It is all important to our heavenly Father that we never worship other gods.   Scripture teaches that Jesus is the only Way to God the Father.  (John 14:6, John 1:17, Ephesians 2:18, John 1:4) 

 

Jesus ends His letter to the church in Pergamum calling them to repent and turn away from worshipping other gods.  To purge all un-Christlike accommodations in their lives.  Jesus was calling this little church to walk in the Narrow Way.  And He calls all of us to walk in the Narrow Way as well. (Matthew 7:13-20)  He rewards those who make every decision with the Word of God.  (Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 28:13, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)   

 

Dangers lurk in our own culture today that threaten to corrupt our church or already has.  Perhaps our own church may be compromising the Christian faith like the church in Pergamum did.  Jesus’s call to the Christians in Pergamum so long ago is still His call to all Christians today.  To stay true to Him even when we are living “where Satan’s throne is”.  (Revelation 2:13)   Can we do it?

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

    

 

  

 

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