Messages To The Church Part 7

Message to the Church at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the city of brotherly love.  The name is taken from the Bible in the book of Revelation; one of the messages to the seven churches in Asia.  The name Philadelphia comes from the Greek word (Philadelpheia) that is the same as the word for Brotherly Love or Love of the Brethren (philadelphos).

Revelation 3:7-12 KJV  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;  (8)  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  (9)  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  (10)  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  (11)  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  (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.

Jesus said that He knew their works; their works were identified by their name.  They were followers of “The Way.”  Jesus is The Way; Jesus is God and God is love.  This church followed the admonition of Jesus; this is how men will know that you are my disciples, because you have love for one another; also because they kept the two great commands of Love to God above all and love to neighbor as oneself.  They were dedicated to the Gospel and the Apostles doctrine.  They had no problems with sexual immorality or foods sacrificed to idols.  They had a little strength that Jesus added to with the gift of the Holy Ghost.  As a form of all of these seven churches will be in existence at Christ’s return; Christians which exemplify the qualities of this church will be the ones that will be taken to a place of safety and escape the Great Tribulation.  Jesus says, behold I come quickly.

The word Rapture is not found in the Bible.  The following is the traditional view:

In Christian eschatology [Study of the End Times], the Rapture is a reference to "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when, in the End Times, the Christians of the world will be gathered together in the air to meet Jesus Christ.[1] Rapture is used in at least two senses, in the sense of pre-tribulation views in which a group of people will be "left behind" and as a synonym for the Resurrection generally.  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is clear that the Church of Philadelphia can be synonymous with overcoming.  That the end time church will also be a church of overcoming Christians.  All seven of the churches/.church eras/church attitudes were encouraged to overcome.  Jesus is very specific in regard to the rewards for overcoming.

Revelation 2:7 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:17 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:26 KJV And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Revelation 3:5 KJV   He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:12 KJV 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.

Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 3:12 KJV 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.

Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 21:7 KJV He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

WE HAVE A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD OF US FOR ALL ETERNITY.  LET US NOT NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION; BUT SEEK TO OVERCOME SIN AND THE WORLD.  AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID,”THIS WORLD IS NOT TO BE COMPARED TO THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE REVEALED IN US!”  BE FAITHFUL!