The letters to the churches of Philadelphia
and Laodicea will bring our study on the Seven Letters to the Seven
Churches of Revelation 2 and 3 to a conclusion.
To the Church in Philadelphia (Rev.
3:7-13)
“To the angel of the
church in Philadelphia write: Philadelphia means
brotherly love.
In the chronicle of church history,
Philadelphia represents the evangelical church born in the 1800′s
during the 2nd Great Awakening. (The first took place about 100
years earlier primarily in the Northern colonies.)
For centuries scholars had taught an
allegorical interpretation of scripture, especially prophecy, but in
the mid 1800’s the rank and file was energized by a return to the
literal interpretation. The pre-tribulation rapture and 1000 year
reign of the Lord on Earth, views that were prevalent during the 1st
century but abandoned with the allegorical interpretation were once
again popular. The church was born again.
(Title)
These are the words of
him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens
no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Jesus is the Messiah who holds the keys to
the Davidic Kingdom. He alone has the authority to grant and refuse
entry.
(Commendation)
I know your deeds. See, I
have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know
that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have
not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of
Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I
will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that
I have loved you.
The open door is the one through which John
will enter heaven in chapter 4 to stand before the Throne of God, a
type of the Rapture. The Church in Philadelphia, receiving no
criticism, is also granted admission. This is symbolic of the fact
that for those saved by grace through faith, it’s as if they’ve
never committed a single sin.
God made him who had no
sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God (2
Cor. 5:21)
In the 1st Century Philadelphia, like other
gentile churches of the day, was beset by “Judiazers.” They insisted
that before a Gentile could become a Christian, he had to become a
Jew and keep the law. They’ll be forced to admit that the path to
Christianity did not lie through Judaism, but went straight to the
foot of the cross.
In the latter days, the advocates of
Replacement Theology (those believing the church has replaced
Israel) and other groups claiming Israel’s inheritance as the
favored children of God, will also be required to bow down before
the true church and admit the error of their ways.
(Admonition)
Since you have kept my
command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of
trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who
live on the earth.
This the Lord’s promise of a pre-trib
rapture. The Greek word translated “from” in this passage literally
means “out of altogether” and excludes us from the time, place, and
cause of the end times judgments. Only one “hour of trial” is
prophesied to be world-wide, and only one is designed for the Earth
dwellers. It’s the Great Tribulation. Throughout the balance of
Revelation the church is referred to as those who dwell in Heaven.
(Call)
I am coming soon. Hold on
to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Here’s one of those places that distinguishes
the free gift of salvation from the crowns we’ll earn as prizes for
things we do in the Lord’s name out of gratitude for His gift. One
of those crowns is reserved for those who long for His appearing (2
Tim. 4:8) and that describes the attitude of the
Church in Philadelphia perfectly.
The Greek word translated soon in the NIV
actually means speedily. When He comes, He’ll come suddenly, without
warning. Don’t let anyone talk you out of the promise of His coming.
Don’t lose hope!
(Challenge)
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 out of heaven from
my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
Who is it that overcomes the world, John
asks? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (1
John 5:5) Through out the seven letters, the
overcomers are those who resist the additions and deletions mankind
has made to the Lord’s salvation equation and remain steadfast in
the belief that we’re saved by grace alone.
The New Jerusalem is the home of the church.
Nothing impure can ever enter it, only those whose names are written
in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Rev.
21:27) With all that identification, there will be
no doubt as to who is authorized to live there.
(Promise)
He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Once again we’re admonished to stick to the
basics of the Gospel. Keep to His Word. Don’t deny His name. Hold on
to your convictions. Keep looking up.
It was a clear and beautiful day when we
arrived in Philadelphia, modern Alashehir, just after lunch. Perfect
timing, I thought, since historical sites in Turkey often close at
3:00 PM. We spotted the signs pointing the way to the church site
and arrived without difficulty about 1:30. It was a quiet
neighborhood and the site itself was like a park, green and clean.
The sign on the gate told us we were there
during visiting hours and, like the other sites we had visited,
there was a little office for collecting fees and distributing
literature. The door was open and we entered the site. But
unlike every other place, though we stayed for almost an hour, we
saw neither visitor nor employee. It was as if everyone from the
Church in Philadelphia had disappeared, just like the Lord promised.
To the Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)
“To the angel of the
church in Laodicea write:
Laodicea means “the people rule.” The
Laodicean church represents the apostate church at the end of the
age. Many in the New Age and Emergent Church movements are part of
this church.
(Title)These
are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler
of God’s creation.
He’s letting them know that they don’t rule
the church, He does.
(Criticism)
I know your deeds, that
you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the
other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about
to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired
wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are
wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
The church in Laodicea receives no
commendation, only this criticism, rich in symbolic sarcasm.
Laodicea got its water from nearby Heiropolis, a hot spring resort
that still flourishes today, now called Pamukkale. The water came
across the valley in an open aqueduct. Having begun its journey
fresh from the hot springs, it was luke warm by the time it arrived.
Too cool to be used for cleaning or bathing, and too warm to be
refreshing, it was unfit for use until it could be either heated up
or cooled down.
The fire of the Spirit had gone from the
Church in Laodicea leaving its members engaged in “form without
substance” ritual. Not that they minded. They were happy as clams
with their no commitment, no responsibility religion. So it is in
much of the emergent church today. They look like a church and do
some things that a church does, but you won’t detect the power of
the Holy Spirit there and the gospel of our salvation is only
obvious by its absence. Even though their congregations are often
large and well financed, their spiritual condition is one of
poverty.
(Admonition)
I counsel you to buy from
me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white
clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve
to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Laodicea was a prosperous regional banking
center, also famous for a rich black wool cloth its residents
produced, and a soothing salve that helped reduce the painful
effects of eye strain caused by astigmatism. They were rich in the
worldly sense but poor in the things of the Spirit, thought
themselves well dressed in their shiny black wool, but lacking the
white robes of righteousness they were actually naked, able to see
all the opportunities for worldly gain, but in need of a healthy
dose of the Lord’s eye salve to restore their eternal perspective.
Sound like anyone you know? The Church of Laodicea is alive and
prospering in the 21st Century.
(Call)
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and
repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he
with me.
Often called the great evangelistic call,
this passage screams out one extraordinary fact. The Lord’s standing
outside! He’s knocking on the door trying to get in, hoping (dare I
say praying?) that someone, anyone, will hear His voice and invite
Him in. If they do, He’ll say, “Better change your mind about your
need for a savior. Time’s about up.”
(Challenge)
To him who overcomes, I
will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame
and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Right up until the time of the Rapture,
anyone in the Church of Laodicea can recognize his or her need for a
savior and look to the Lord for salvation. And even if it makes them
the very last member of the Body of Christ they’ll receive full
rights and privileges. The number’s almost complete. If you’re a
Laodicean reading this, you just may be the one we’re all waiting
for.
(Promise)
He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
There’s a bit of the Laodicean in all of us.
Some part of the Word we’re lukewarm about, some area of our life
where we think we’re self-sufficient, some sin we’ve blinded
ourselves to. Let’s get right about it while there’s time.
As we stood beside the Greek amphitheater
that morning (Laodicea has both Greek and Roman amphitheaters) it
was clear that the Laodiceans did not hear the Lord knocking at
their door. What remained of the church was but an empty shell.
Let’s Get Personal
As you sit in your seat each Sunday,
regardless of the sign on the church door, you’re joined by folks
from Thyatira. They’re the ones who add to the Gospel: Jesus plus
someone or something else, grace plus works, scripture plus
tradition. There are also some from Sardis. They subtract from the
Gospel. “You don’t need to be born again, just join the church, give
some time and money, you’ll be fine.” And then there’s the group
from Laodicea. “Jesus was a great man and teacher, and lived a life
of such gentleness and grace that it’s ALMOST as if he was God. Just
love everybody like he did. The good life you live is an obvious
sign of your favor with God, and everyone knows there’s no real
heaven, I mean come on.”
But if you know you’re a sinner and have
given your heart to Jesus because He gave His life for you, then
you’re from Philadelphia. There may be some others there with you,
but you’ll never really know for sure how many till you all vanish
together some day soon. And don’t be surprised when you’re joined by
some who’re Catholic, some who’re Protestant, some conservatives,
some liberals, and even some who didn’t appear to attend any church
at all. After all it’s not what you say you are, but what you
believe in your heart that matters.
Next time we’ll begin part three of the
Revelation, “the things that will be after this.” See you then.
