Letter From God – Part 6: Hold On To What You Have

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown”. – Revelation 3:11 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION

For the past few weeks, we have journeyed through the powerful letters in the book of Revelation—messages from Jesus Himself to the early churches of Asia Minor, now modern-day Turkey. As we explored the first five letters, we were reminded that God, the Alpha and Omega, sees not only our deeds but also the consequences of our actions and inaction.

What’s striking is how the spiritual struggles of these ancient churches mirror the challenges facing the Church today. Though centuries have passed, human limitations remain unchanged. With so much wisdom, instruction, and warning already given in these letters, one must ask: Do we truly need new messages from God, or should we be paying closer attention to what He has already spoken?

In today’s article, we turn to the sixth letter—addressed to the church in Philadelphia, a city about thirty miles from Sardis, founded by King Philadelphus of Pergamum. This is the same Pergamum that received the third letter and the same Sardis that received the fifth. These churches, though distinct, shared a common spiritual landscape, much like churches today.

This letter, like the ones before it, follows a clear pattern: a description of the church, a diagnosis of its spiritual state, and a divine prescription for revival. It was sent by the same Author—Jesus Christ—delivered through the same messenger, John the Revelator, and addressed to the same recipient, the angel or pastor of the church.

As we delve into this letter, may our hearts be open to the timeless truths it holds. What was written to Philadelphia may very well be a message for us today.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

This letter begins with the following introduction “This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.” -Revelation 3:7.Surprise!

The other letters had begun with the introduction of Christ using symbols from the vision John had in Revelation 1:12-16. But this was different. This was an introduction that went beyond a recent vision, back to an ancient prophecy that pointed to Christ.

One of the issues the early church in Philadelphia faced was the relationship between the Jews and Gentile converts, and the status of the latter in the temple. For several centuries, non-Jews could go only as far as the outer courts of the temple, not inside it. They were uncircumcised, regarded as second-class children of God. Some were not even thought to be of any consequence at all to God.  – But this partition and segregation ended when Christ declared with His last breath on the cross of Calvary: “it is finished.”

Many Jews did not believe in Jesus as Messiah, but this did not stop them from trying to keep some gentile converts out of the temples. They believed that they held the keys to God’s salvation and grace, and attempted to shut out those who did not have the tickets of circumcision that made them eligible to walk through.

As a result of these challenges the early churches faced, Jesus ascribed to Himself the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 22:22 in the introductory part of His letter to this church.  No longer were these gentile believers subject to Jewish traditions and customs that were applied to keep them from the throne of God’s grace. The “door” Himself, who had the key of David, had sent them the important message in Revelation 3:7 & 8.

As believers, the Philadelphia church needed no further introduction of the author of their letter. They knew that it was Jesus Christ the Lord, being the One who can rightfully describe Himself as “Holy and True.” They were also familiar with the prophetic key of David and how it had unlocked first, the salvation of the world, then thereafter, daily blessings of sustenance, protection, guidance, and others that man enjoys. This same God, who some of their Christian brethren had said did not regard uncircumcised believers favourably, now sent a special message to them that He presented before them an open door no one could shut.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF PHILADELPHIA CHURCH

What was it about this church then that made Jesus bestow such a blessing on them?  Surprisingly, unlike the earlier churches that had been diagnosed with spiritual conditions that were either killing, or had killed them, this was not the case with the Philadelphia church. They had no spiritual sickness, only spiritual viruses that could make them sick.

Their troubles were from within, in the form of fierce opposition from those who claimed to be on a spiritually higher plane than them, achieved only by their cultural heritage of Jewish ancestry. The Jerusalem Council of Church Leaders had sent important messages that no one should trouble the new believers – Acts 15: 23-29, but the decision had not been able to fully protect them from the overbearing Jews insisting on circumcision.

Jesus knew all they had gone through. He also knew the surrounding circumstances. These, He summarized in His diagnosis: “You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not – to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.”– verses 8-9.

 

PRESCRIPTION FOR THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

The holy and true God did not find any complaint against this faithful church. He knew that their past record and present faithfulness would not save them in the future.  He also knew that they could lose their faith, following the constant oppression of those Jews in their midst who belonged to Satan’s synagogue. Yet, the church was ready to be used, though it had little strength. So, He offered them the prescription for the future.

“Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. – v.10-11.

And to keep their eyes on the reason of their faith and the Christian race they had to run, Jesus added the reward for not only the Philadelphia church, but all Christians:“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of My God, and they will be citizens in the city of My God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them My New Name.” – verse 12.

They were not to be any longer in doubt about their faith. Or whether their lives and Christian service was acceptable to God. He who knew their deeds and saw everything; He who is a just rewarder of every work under the sun, the holy and true God had assured them that not only were they accepted on earth, if they remained faithful, they would have citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom. They would also have the names of Christ and God written on them. And they would be given permanent pride of place in the Temple of God in heaven, though men sought to exclude them from the one on earth.

 

A WARNING TO 21^ST CENTURY BELIEVERS

This letter, like the others, closes with a warning: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”– v.13. Its message is not only for Philadelphia, but for all believers living in this day and age, who are facing opposition from among brethren, and within the church. Take heart that nothing you do passes the scrutiny of the holy and true God. He bids you hold on, because neither your opponents, nor the form of their opposition will sweep you away and keep you from your crown.

The book of Revelation, and indeed the Bible, closes with the message: “Look, I am comingsoon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” –Revelation 22: 7.The only thing we can do is to prepare ourselves and be ready. He has said: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”– Matthew 24: 36, 42

Think About this: Ellen White, the great 19^thCentury American writer said: Those who are preparing for the coming of Christ should be sober, and watch unto prayer, for our adversary, the Devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; whom we are to resist steadfast in the faith.”

Stay Blessed!

Please note that the preaching program on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.

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