Revelation 3:7 The Four Aspects of Jesus

Revelation 3:7   And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:   These things said He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, he who opens, and no man shuts, shuts and no man opens.

    

 The Philadelphia church was located in the center of Greek civilization.  This church remained an influence until the l4th century, when it was conquered by the Turks.    Philadelphia means "brotherly live."

    

 Not one word of condemnation was spoken against this church by Jesus.

   

  Four aspects of Jesus character are revealed to the Philadelphia church.  Jesus is holy.  1 Peter 1:16 says, "Be ye holy; for I am Holy."Jesus wants us to be separated from the world and live holy lives.  The second characteristic:  Jesus said he was true.  John l4:6 says "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. "True" means perfectness and completeness.  Jesus is the true bread from heaven.  John 6:32-35  The third characteristic, Jesus has the Key of David.  This refers to the future when Jesus will rule the world. 

 We are looking for the second coming of Jesus when He will return to earth with all the saints returning with Him.  (1 Thess. 3:13 and Zech l4:5)    Jesus returns as King of King and Lord of Lord.   (Revelation 19: l6).  The fourth characteristic: Jesus opens and no man can shut, He shuts and no man can open. It is our duty to be obedient and follow Jesus.  He has everything under control.

Revelation 3:5-6 God Gives Promises To He Who Overcomes

Revelation 3:5-6   He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.  He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

   

  The church, as a whole, might not heed the Lord's call, but there will always be a remnant who will be faithful to Jesus.  It is to those who stay true to Jesus and obey His words that Jesus promises a white garment.  Jesus makes this promise in Revelation 3 verse 4 and 5.  When a verse is repeated it is to emphases the importance of this promise.  This white garment is given to us by Jesus because we overcame the world through the blood of Jesus.  Jesus gives us His righteousness. 

 I John 2:l5-l6 says "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

 Jesus promises the "over comers", "I will confess your name before the Father and before His angel. Jesus tells us "Open your ears and listen when the Holy Spirit speaks to us.  Jesus sent the Holy spirit into the world to help us continually day and night.

Revelation 3:3 Remember that God is Good!

Revelation 3:3  Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.  Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

     Jesus is saying, "Remember how you heard and believed the gospel, keep on remembering day and night.  Never allow yourself to forget the enthusiasm you had when you first heard the message of the good news of the gospel.  We must remember the cross and the great gift of salvation Jesus gave us through His death on the cross.  Jesus died for our sins to give us life for ever and ever.

    

We are to keep the commandments of the gospel, walking always, day and night in the love of Jesus.  We can not be Christian one day and un-Christian the next day.  We are commanded to be ready and to watch for His second coming.  He could come at any moment in the twinkle of the eye. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)   We are to make every effort to be ready for His second coming.  He will come as a thief in the night.  (I Thessalonians 5:2.)  We do not know when a thief will come for this reason we do all we can to protect ourselves all the time.

    

Jesus is saying make this same careful preparation for His second coming.  We must not allow the trials of life to damper our love for Jesus.  We must not go through the motions of worshiping Jesus, but worship him in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

Revelation 3:3 Jesus is Coming Again!

Revelation 3:3  Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.  Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

     Jesus is saying, "Remember how you heard and believed the gospel, keep on remembering day and night.  Never allow yourself to forget the enthusiasm you had when you first heard the message of the good news of the gospel."  We must remember the cross and the great gift of salvation Jesus gave us through His death on the cross.  Jesus died for our sins to give us life for ever and ever.

    

 We are to keep the commandments of the gospel, walking always, day and night in the love of Jesus.  We can not be Christian one day and un-Christian the next day.  We are commanded to be ready and to watch for His second coming.  He could come at any moment in the twinkle of the eye. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)   We are to make every effort to be ready for His second coming.  He will come as a thief in the night.  (I Thessalonians 5:2.)  We do not know when a thief will come for this reason we do all we can to protect ourselves all the time.

    

Jesus is saying make this same careful preparation for His second coming.  We must not allow the trials of life to damper our love for Jesus.  We must not go through the motions of worshiping Jesus, but worship him in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

Revelation 3:1-2 The Spiritually Dead Church

Revelation 3:1-2      And unto the angel of the church in Sardis;  These things says He that hath the seven Spirits of God; and the seven stars.  I know your works, that you have a name that you live, but you are dead.  Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 

   

  Jesus introduced himself to the church at Sardis as the one who has the seven Spirits of God.  Isaiah 11:1-3 tells us that the seven spirits would rest upon Jesus.   Seven is the number of completeness and perfection, both physically and spiritually.  The number seven is used in the book of Revelation and throughout the Bible over and over. 

    

Jesus also holds the seven stars in His hand.  The seven stars represent the seven angels or ministers of the Church.  Jesus said, "I know your works that you have a name that you live, but you are dead."  Sardis was a very active church, but the Holy Spirit, from God, was not in the church.  We are to seek God's will for our church, and work to fulfill this will.

    

The church at Sardis believed they were alive, but they were spiritually dead.  Jesus urged them to strengthen all the things that remained, but were about to die.  Sardis is like so many of our churches today.  They were going through the motion of serving Jesus; but Jesus is not in the worship service.  They appeared to be spiritually alive but they were dead.

Revelation 2:24-29 Jesus KING of KINGS and LORD OF LORDS

Revelation 2:24-29   "now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast  what you have till I come and he who overcomes, and keeps my works, until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.  He will rule them with a rod of iron,  They shall be dashed to pieces like the Potter's vessels" as I also have received from My Father: and I will give him the Morning star.  he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

   

  The letter to Thyatira ends with a series of threats and promises.  The first part of this promise has to do with the return of Jesus to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to reign and rule on the earth with a rod of iron for one thousand years.  This is speaking of the millennium reign of Jesus  on the earth.  We will be with Jesus and help Him in the millennium reign of Jesus on the earth.  No persecution of any kind will exist and Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for the thousand year reign of Jesus.

    

Jesus gives the church just a small glimpse of things to come.  These promises are made to the overcome.  It is the overcome who rules and reigns with Jesus.  The overcome will assume their royal position as kings and priest.  We will rule and reign with Jesus as He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   Revelation 22:16 says "I am the Root and offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.

Revelation 2:22-23 Receive the Mercies of God!

Revelation 2:22-23   Indeed I will cast her into a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her into  great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 

    

The woman Jezebel had been given all the freedom that divine mercy could give her.  If she does not repent she will be cast into a bed of sickness and her followers will share the same fate. 

    

 Even now Jesus is extending mercy and grace and giving us a chance to repent.  Jesus died on the cross to be able to offer forgiveness to everyone no matter what we have done.  Jesus offered Jezebel that same forgiveness.  If we repent we will live forever with Jesus.  If we do not repent we will face death, without hope for ever and ever.  Jesus said, "All the churches will know I look at the mind and heart.  Everyone will be rewarded according to their works."