Faithfulness vs. Lukewarmness #1

Jesus said to his disciples, I have meat/food to eat you know nothing about John 4:32.
Meat for the Household is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Faithfulness vs. Lukewarmness #1

Revelation 3:10 (NKJV) 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

The Greek word Philadelphia, meaning “brotherly love,” which occurs seven times in the Bible (Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7[twice]; Rev. 3:7). Only here is it used of the city itself. Christian testimony continues in the city in this present century.

Christ described Himself as the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, and who is able to open or shut a door which no one else could open or shut. The holiness of Christ is a frequent truth in Scripture (1 Peter 1:15), and being holy He is worthy to judge the spiritual life of the Philadelphia church. “The key of David” seems to refer to Isaiah 22:22, where the key of the house of David was given to Eliakim who then had access to all the wealth of the king. Christ earlier had been described as the One who holds “the keys of death and hades” (Rev. 1:18). The reference here, however, seems to be to spiritual treasures.

As in the messages to the other churches, Christ stated, I know your deeds. In keeping with the description of His authority to open and close doors (v. 7), He declared, See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. There is no word of rebuke, though Christ said, I know that you have little strength. These words, however, become a basis for His commendation that you have kept My word and have not denied My name.

Philadelphia was a faithful church that Christ’s Word and did not deny him. They had endured opposition from the world and resisted conforming to the evil trends of other churches, yet had persevered in loyalty to Christ and the truth of the NT gospel. Because of their persevering faithfulness, God promised to deliver them from the hour of trial. Christ’s promise to the faithful in Philadelphia from the hour of trial is identical to Paul’s promise to the Thessalonians that they would be rescued from the coming wrath.1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV) 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. The promise is extended to all of God’s faithful throughout the ages see verses 13,22. This is a reference to the Great Tribulation that will occur after the “Catching Away of the Faithful Church”.

The Philadelphia and Smyrna churches were they only ones of the seven that did not receive a rebuke from Christ for some kind of spiritual break down. The Smyrna Church members gave-up their lives for the trust and belief in Jesus Christ, thus they became the first persecuted church. The Philadelphia church is the prototypical church that will be Raptured, taken up Heaven by Christ.

Our next study will feature the Lukewarm Church.