The lifelessness of the Church at Sardis had a strange effect. (iii) The Christian must be on the watch against temptation "Watch and pray," said Jesus, "that you may not enter into temptation" ( Matthew 26:41). This, I think, is meant. As long as true apostles were on earth, Satan was never able to have Judaism recognized in the church of God. An angel setting forth representation (human or not), an ideal representative of each assembly is meant. We so believe it, as to treat it as a matter of fact, valuable for everyday use; this is the surest way to keep in, even to the end. A Church which is so lethargic as to fail to produce a heresy is mentally dead; and a Church which is so negative as to fail to produce opposition is dead in its witness to Christ. Their approach is silent and unobserved, until a man finds himself without warning facing eternity. We grow very vexed if anybody denies them; but if there is no controversy over them we forget them. [Note: For a study of the references to the temple in Revelation from a Reformed perspective, see Simon J. Kistemaker, "The Temple in the Apocalypse," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43:3 (September 2000):433-41. By implication, this deliverance will coincide with Christs return mentioned in the very next verse: I will come soon (Revelation 3:11). To use that door of opportunity is at once our privilege and our responsibility. They may not know it as a whole, having never read it save (?) (i) He is he who is holy. Explore high-quality books by self-published authors. Temptation waits for our unguarded moments and then attacks. So many Jews emigrated here that the Rabbis inveighed against the Jews who sought the wines and baths of Phrygia. How stand the facts? Heresy is always the product of the searching mind; it is, in fact, the sign of a Church that is alive. The problem is that to so many Christianity and the Church have ceased to have any relevance and men regard them with complete indifference. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. Also, both churches received their opposition from the Jews.He who carries the key of David has the authority to allow people into or shut them out from the city of David, which here is symbolic of the new Jerusalem, the kingdom of Jesus Christ (7; cf. Truth does not die through being buried. Persistent faithfulness and devotedness still characterised them at Ephesus. The hour of temptation A time of sore and peculiar trial which might have proved too much for their strength. "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right land, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." We must leave out "and unto." (a) They had received and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is now Christ Himself, and this as One that faith discovers in new beauty, not dependent merely on visions of glory which had been seen before, but Christ as He really is in Himself "He that is holy, he that is true." Laodicea prided itself on three things; and each is taken in turn and shown at its true value. But the drift is plain enough where the conscience is not blunted. "Hark! Pharaoh honoured Joseph by clothing him in vestures of fine linen ( Genesis 41:42). Such is the strength of the promise and the blessedness of it, that the Lord promises His own to be kept from the time. There is an unwritten saying of Jesus: "He who is near me is near the fire." But what an affecting change took place at length! When this earthquake devastated it, Tiberius was as generous to Philadelphia as he had been to Sardis. Is not this exactly what Romanism does? At the same time, if we do not start with the Old Testament revelations of Babylon or Jerusalem, or the instruction derived from the prophets generally, we are not prepared for appreciating or even understanding the Apocalypse as a whole. recurring minor shocks drive them to sheer panic. When God judges the ungodly, Christ will protect those who have remained loyal to him. towards rebuilding and Sardis recovered itself by the easy way. How comes this remarkable introduction of God to Jesus, then from Him through an angel to one servant, who sends to other servants? "Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore, despise not the chastening of the Almighty" ( Job 5:17). If, then, you are not on the watch, I will come as a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. First I would remind you that our text has in it A WORD OF PRAISE. It is the great fact, in contrast with the inspired epistle, that you find even among the ante-Nicene Fathers. For a considerable period of human life, it may be, God does not give to all of us a field of usefulness, but he provides a field of trial. Hold on to what you have, that no one may take your crown. Is not this a very serious fact? To have one's name written in the book of life is to be numbered amongst the faithful citizens of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ perfectly satisfied these conditions. Nevertheless, they will be aware of the next event including the end of the horrible counter attack represented by the sixth trumpet of Revelation 9:13-21 and 11:7-13 that corresponds to Daniel 11:40-43. But we must never forget that he is looking for our love, our loyalty and our service. Why espouse a book that you can't trust or is not true? There might not be energy of faith for this, but at any rate fidelity to Christ was not lacking, and where this was "To him that overcometh," says the Lord, "I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which none knoweth save he that receiveth it." The ground of such a thought lies in the fact that the introduction to Sardis indicates the Lord beginning again a new state of things. We all know of what small account He was on earth; and so it is with Philadelphia. He did not like spiritual conversation, neither do any of the breed. This was that in the new age, all nations would do humble homage to the Jews. He who is first is necessarily God; and He who is first, being God, must certainly be last. The mind of man sends forth pure water and impure, and it is hard to discern between the two; but from the heart of God there wells up, undiluted and unmingled, a stream of living truth which is more for man's benefit than all else out of heaven. Search us, O Lord, know our hearts, try us, O God, know our thoughts, if there is a way of unrighteousness, if there is a way of deceitfulness, God help us that we would not deceive ourselves, and be blind to the truth. But nay, this will not do for Christ. It is a false principle therefore that we can only be profited by that which concerns ourselves, and supposes us to be in the actual circumstances described. Joab and Abiathar lost their places to Benaiah and Zadok ( 1 Kings 2:25). For the posttribulational interpretation, see Mounce, p. 119; aand Ladd, p. THE LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA ( Revelation 3:7-13 ). When another subject is about to open, the first voice which he heard as of a trumpet talking with him said "Come up hither;" there is no question then of a voice behind. If you have nothing but nature, it would be intelligible; but if you have seen the Son of God and believed in Him, if by grace you have the same life which was in Him, so that this thing is true of Him and of you, no possible standard can suit for you as a Christian short of Christ Himself. It was a greater proof of fidelity when all was out of course to stand faithful than to be faithful when all things were regular. Doubtless the infidels hope to gain the day, as the superstitious are very confident on their part; but the truth of it is that the devil will get the upper hand to the destruction of them both, and then find that the Lord will appear in His day for His own judgment of all the adversaries. Sin is the killer of life's loveliness. There may be three pictures here. Men who deserve praise can bear it, and some of them even need it. The Jews lost their place to the Gentiles ( Romans 11:11). For justification this is manifest; for a rule of life it is not so apparent, but it is just as real a denial of the gospel. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Peter and James and John were the pillars of the early church in Jerusalem ( Galatians 2:9). The writer to the Hebrews urges patience, for soon he that shall come will come ( Hebrews 10:37). There are opportunities before you now which were not there before: these are placed before you especially because you have been tried, and have been proved faithful. It was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a missionary of Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia; and so well did it do its work that by A.D. 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own language and were all but Greeks. To some it might appear a small thing not to deny Christ's name, but nothing is more precious to the Lord. Such was the love of Attalus for his brother Eumenes that he was called Philadelphos, and it was after him that Philadelphia was named. In Paul's last address to the elders of Ephesus he warns them that grievous wolves will invade the flock from outside and from inside men will arise to speak perverse things. I hold one single sentence out of God's word to be of more certainty, and of more power, than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages. I know your works; I know that you have a reputation for life, but that you are dead. The reader is encouraged to "have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches", even down to our own day. For every position we are set in, no matter where it is or what, there is always the gracious power of God as our resource; but it is to sustain the person walking in consonance with the relationship in which God has been pleased to put him. Behind this there is an Old Testament picture. It may be that gold tried in the fire stands for faith for it is thus that Peter describes faith ( 1 Peter 1:7). Do not throw away the best for the sake of getting something that may be newer, but that must be far inferior. He stands at the door of the human heart and knocks. This is one of the main sources of confusion on the subject of the Apocalypse to this day. A church may have a very short muster-roll, and yet it may be very dear to God, who thinks more of quality than of quantity, more of obedience than of numbers. In the Christian life there must be unceasing vigilance against it. God has promised all Christians deliverance from that outpouring of His wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Assemblies that worship God in spirit and in truth are the Israel of God; assemblies that either worship false gods, or the true God in a false manner, are the synagogues of Satan: though they may profess to be the only people of God, their profession is a lie. The world had got in, as it still remains, and alas! ", It often happens that, when a great earthquake comes, people meet it with courage and self-possession, but ever. 98. The solid truth of revelation, the doctrine of the Holy Ghost, a divine experience given to you by that Holy Ghost all this is the treasure of the church, and you are doing a holy thing when you guard it against every adversary. This to me is treason against sovereign truth. At the same time there is the most careful guard against the supposition that he was not in the full enjoyment of his own place in Christ. (iii) We see human responsibility. He must, therefore, be ever on the watch. But when they have observed how you stand to the truth, how solid, and how steadfast you are, they will give over disputing with you, and come to inquire what your views really are. Laodicea, The Wealth That Is Poverty ( Revelation 3:14-22 Continued). (d) It has been suggested that the white robes stand for the resurrection bodies which the faithful will some day wear. It was a sure token that all was over for the present, for any immediateness of communion between God and His people. One like the Son of man is next seen "in the midst of the seven candlesticks," which, as we are told, were the seven churches, but these viewed according to the Lord's mind about them as a standard of divine righteousness. The problem of modern evangelism is not hostility to Christianity; it would be better if it were so. The time came when the narrow space on the top of the plateau was too small for the expanding city; and Sardis grew round the foot of the spur on which the citadel stood. We are bound in everything to yield to the best authorities. A pillar of the Church is a great and honoured support. We are told afterwards what those meant. It is remarkable that after the greatest persecutions, when Christendom and even Christians had been seduced into accepting the patronage of the world, up to that point there remained real faithfulness in refusing all efforts to deny the deity of Christ Under the same Constantine, who was the instrument of thus casting the world's shield over Christianity, was the battle fought and won against the Arian foe. They had little talent, but they kept God's word. What does it mean? There was akratisma, breakfast, which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine. I want to suggest to you that if you have done this for some time the era has now arrived when you may go forward to somewhat more. In summary, the posttribulational position in Rev 3:10, as articulated by Gundry, seems unlikely because (1) it assumes a simplistic (and etymological) force for the preposition , and (2) it does not take into account the force of the total construction of verb + preposition. But habitually God's messengers were sent to Israel, even when prophets were raised up. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." In typical scripture, as well as in prophecy, seven is the regular known sign of spiritual completeness. True grace, though weak, has the divine approbation; but, though Christ accepts a little strength, yet believers should not rest satisfied in a little, but should strive to grow in grace, to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. It is manifest that all carries out the same solemn impression. It is a setting aside of man altogether; and the reason is that Laodicea is the glorification of man and of man's resources in the church. "I have set before thee an open door, and none can shut it: for thou hast a little strength." Wake up to holy energy. It was rich and had acquired wealth and had need of nothing--so it thought. my beloved is knocking. Laodicea, The Church Condemned ( Revelation 3:14-22). Let me hear each one of you say, "I am not going to take any corners, or twists, or windabouts; but, straight away, what God bids me to do I am going to do; what he bids me believe I am going to believe; and if there is anything to be suffered for it, all right. Tell them that this or that is to be found in the Bible, and they look amazed. The real meaning is that the promise is to those who have practised the same kind of endurance as Jesus displayed in his earthly life. 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