More Letters to the Churches

Rev. 3:3

Remember then, what you received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

 

Jesus identifies Himself as the one who has the 7 spirits of God [the perfect Holy Spirit] and the 7 stars [the churches true identity]. He comes to these people as the revealer of their true identity. Jesus declares that they have a reputation for life, but in truth are dead. He wants them to wake up and strengthen what is left before it dies. Sadly, at this point, their works are not complete in the sight of God. If they do not repent and keep the word that they have been taught, Jesus will come in judgment like a thief in the night, unexpected and devastating.

Yet He knows there are a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, saints that walk with the Lord in white declaring them worthy. Why white? How worthy? Those who conquer will be clothed in white garments and their names will never be blotted out of the book of life. Jesus will confess their names before the Father and His angels. It is all because of Jesus. He clothes His saints in white. His righteousness makes us worthy. Once again, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

It makes me wonder what the response of the church was. Were the only ones who truly heard and comprehended those who were already walking with the Lord? Hopefully, those who still had something to strengthen did.

 

Lesson for Me: Repent, keep the Word, be a conqueror so I am completely His for eternity and be presented to the Father and His angels.

 

 

 

Rev. 3:10

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on earth. 

 

Jesus identifies Himself to the Philadelphian church as the holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one will open. Jesus has all sovereign power to open and shut, to allow entrance and to deny entrance. As the sovereign Lord, Jesus knows the works of this church that they have little power but have kept the word and never denied His name. He will cause the enemy [those of the synagogue of Satan who claimed to be Jews but were not-liars] to bow down before the true believers and see Jesus' great love for this church, for all those who love Him.

This church has kept the word, patiently enduring. Because of this Jesus will keep them from world-wide tribulation. Whether this means Jesus will take them out of the world to heaven or leave them in the world but protect them from any harm is not clearly stated. Whatever Jesus has for His own will always include His protection and His love.

Jesus declares His soon arrival and encourages them to hold fast to what they have so that no one may take their crown, to conquer to the end. To the one who conquers, Jesus will make him a pillar in the temple of God [the Spirit is in me now making my body His temple. But this will be a totally clean and sin free temple], and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from God out of heaven, and my own new name. The conqueror will always be in the presence of God! Jerusalem will be home! God's presence will be where it should be!

 

Lesson for me: Conquer till the end. Hold fast. Listen. Repent and be ready for Jesus' arrival.

 

Father,

How hard it must be for us humans who have so many mind games. We fool even ourselves into believing lies. Open my mind, my heart, and my eyes to see what is really there. I want no surprises when Jesus comes. Father, take me down the path of a conqueror through the power at work within me, Your Holy Spirit.

In His name,

Amen