Thoughts on Revelation 3:7-13...
Jesus addresses the Philadelphian church, "And to the Philadelphian church's angel write, 'These things says the Holy One, he that has David's key. He that opens and shuts and no one will shut and open."
Jesus calls himself the Holy One. Jesus' God's Holy One, free from weakness, God with God from eternity, perfect in holiness. He has David's key; as a David-son according to the flesh, he has established his kingdom here on earth.
This description prepares for Jesus to say, "I know your works; I've given before you a door opened, which no one can close, because you've a little strength, and you've kept my Word, and haven't denied my name."
Jesus' acquainted with the church's circumstances; in their work for God they were being aided by the fact that David's son had opened a door before them, a door through which many might still enter into Jesus' kingdom.
Jesus had given to this church facilities for preaching the faith among outsiders, the chance for extending the Gospel. The reason why Jesus chose this church for this work's indicated by him when he says that they'd a strength.
Without power before people, these missionaries still had might's sources, namely, Jesus' Word, to which they'd clung in spite of enmity; Jesus, whom they'd not denied, in spite of their enemies' attempts, renewed their strength.
It's he who gives power to his Word. A promise regarding the foes, "Lo, I'll make false Jews fall down at your feet." There were deceitful foes who belonged to Satan and who'd been Satan's pupils in persecution.
Jesus intended to save some foes. Foes would come, overcome by the Word, and they'd do homage before the Church, convinced that God was with his Church, and that only he that accepting this love brings joy.
Jesus adds a promise, "Because you've kept my patience, I also will keep you from temptation which's bound to come upon the world." The Gospel teaches how patiently Jesus suffered, how he showed forbearance.
This Word Philadelphia's church had kept. In return Jesus promises to keep them that are his from the last day's temptations, when false missionaries, false prophets and the Antichrist would arise and fight against him.
That hour would be a time of testing the missionaries in distresses. In these trials, Jesus promises to keep his. But, he calls out, "I'm coming; hold what you have, lest someone take your crown."
Through his Word Jesus gains and keeps souls. So the church's told to hold on to to the Gospel. Their crown, salvation's message in which spiritual gifts are jewels, must be held with the power at their command.
Through unfaithfulness this crown's lost. If missionaries let themselves be seduced, then the foes will triumph, then they'ill capture life's crown. These words are to be taken as an admonition through which Jesus strengthens them.
Missionaries are kept by God's power. Jesus states, "They that conquer, I'll make them pillars in God's temple, and God will nevermore go forth, and I'll write upon him God's name, God's city's name and my own new name."
Here steadfastness' reward in the Kingdom's described, as it's given to those who overcome the foes and their flesh. The building of the Church will in New Jerusalem be completed, the missionaries being the pillars, adorned with glory.
God has now become Jesus' God and our God, reconciled to us through his atonement. A name the missionary will then bear, that of God, of New Jerusalem, and of Jesus. Every missionary's God's child; having put on Jesus in Baptism.
The New Jerusalem's name, they bear, to indicate that they've their citizenship above, where there'll be joy. Even in Jesus' new name they'll share.
He's the kings' King and the lords' Lord. Those, so, that confessed Jesus' name unto the end will govern with Jesus world without end. The prize's worth the effort, and we'll do to heed Jesus' call.
