Philadelphia - Rumor notes 16

Revelation 3

7 "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:

8 "I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name.

9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.

12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.

13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

6 – Philadelphia	Other Assemblies
He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens (A true king presides over judgment to settle disputes)	3 – Pergamum – the sharp two-edged sword (Recall Solomon calling for a sword to divide the living baby in judgment to settle a dispute between two mothers)
He who is true	7 – Laodicea – the Faithful and True Witness
I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut	3 – Pergamum – you dwell, where Satan's throne is 7 – Laodicea – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.
You have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name	3 – Pergamum – you hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith – Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells
I give of the synagogue of Satan	2 – Smyrna – those who are a synagogue of Satan
Those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie	1 – Ephesus – those who call themselves apostles, found them false 2 – Smyrna – the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not 7 – Laodicea – you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you	2 – Smyrna – the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, you will have oppression
You kept my command to endure	1 – Ephesus –You endured for my name's sake and have not grown weary 4 – Thyatira – I know your endurance
I also will keep you from the hour of testing	2 – Smyrna – the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, you will have oppression for ten days
I am coming quickly	3 – Pergamum – Repent, or else I am coming to you quickly 5 – Sardis – I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come
Hold firmly that which you have	3 – Pergamum – you hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith 4 – Thyatira – hold firmly that which you have, until I come 5 – Sardis – keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away
So that no one takes your crown	2 – Smyrna – be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life
I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God	2 – Smyrna – those who are a synagogue of Satan
I will write on him the name – my God, the city, my own new name	3 – Pergamum – I will give him a white stone, on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it 5 – Sardis – you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead you have a few names that did not defile their garments I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels

An Open Door

What does a door represent?

Access through a wall designed as an obstacle to otherwise prevent entrance to some area.

The control mechanism by which to regulate access, usually overseen by a doorkeeper.

Metaphor for access to a heart, i.e., regulation of who has access to our affections and devotion.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this." (Revelation 4:1)

I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night."

I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them? My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him. I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left; and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn't find him. I called him, but he didn't answer. (Song of Solomon 5:2-6)

Here is seems clear that the door is the access to our own heart, where Jesus needs our permission before being able to come into intimacy with us. But how does this relate to the door mentioned to Philadelphia? Jesus says that door is one that no one can shut.

Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut. Yahweh said to me, This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut. (Ezekiel 44:1-2)

Thus says the Lord Yahweh: The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. The people of the land shall worship at the door of that gate before Yahweh on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. (Ezekiel 46:1-3)

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.

(Matthew 28:1-2)

Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. (John 10:7-9)

Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2)

What door are these passages referring to here? Access to where? For whom?

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. (Acts 14:27)

By comparing this message with a very similar one to those in Smyrna, I think we can discover something even more significant relating to this door. It may well be referring to the door opened by the death and resurrection of Jesus, a door impossible for anyone, including Satan himself, to shut. Think about all the passages in Scripture relating to this issue, that talk about Jesus never again dying, about Satan refusing to release any of his captives, etc.

You Have a Little Power

Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual [burnt offering], and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits]. Those who are wise among the people shall instruct [many]; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. (Daniel 11:31-35)

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Kept My Word

"Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

(Revelation 22:7)

One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who doesn't love me doesn't keep my words. The word which you hear isn't mine, but the Father's who sent me. (John 14:21-24)

Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)

I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. (John 17:6)

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Didn't Deny My Name

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me; lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God; but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9)

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

(Acts 3:13-14)

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn't have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)

For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

Synagogue of Satan

We studied this synagogue in depth when we looked at the message for Smyrna. However it is good to note an important comparison between these two messages.

With Smyrna, what followed was a warning and an admonition to not be afraid of the suffering that was coming, instigated by the devil. They were to remain faithful all the way to death.

Here there is a contrasting future predicted. Many of the same elements are listed as with Smyrna, only this time with quite a different turn of events. There are the same two groups, a testing, the need for faithful endurance and a crown of life. But this time their enemies will come and worship at their feet while the testing will happen to those who dwell on the earth while those who are faithful will be spared. Let's compare these two visually to see the parallels more obviously.

Synagogue of Satan
Smyrna	Philadelphia
who was dead, and has come to life	I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut
I know your works, oppression, and your poverty	you have a little power
blasphemy of those who say they are Jews	kept my word, and didn't deny my name
blasphemy	know that I have loved you
who say they are Jews, and they are not	those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie
blasphemy	lie
Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer	kept my word, and didn't deny my name (perfect love casts out all fear)
the devil is about to throw some of you into prison	I will make them to come and worship before your feet
you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days	I also will keep you from the hour of testing
oppression for ten days	the hour of testing
you may be tested	test those who dwell on the earth
Be faithful to death	you kept my command to endure Hold firmly that which you have
I will give you the crown of life	so that no one takes your crown

What can we condense out of these comparisons; what are the underlying issues involved here?

Testing. But what is the test over? What is being tested?

Fear of death.

Blasphemy. Lies.

Keeping the word and command of Jesus and not denying His name.

Knowing that Jesus loves them.

What seems to be the focal issue that all of these things revolve around is belief in God's love personally, and tenaciously clinging to that truth and reflecting it instead of living in fear. It seems that the lies mentioned are not merely about whether or not the opponents are really Jews, God's chosen people, but includes why they are acting as persecuting enemies. Since they are of the synagogue of Satan, and Satan is the great accuser and the father of lies, then the testing is likely over an attempt to get God's true children to believe Satan's lies about themselves and about God.

In the message to Smyrna which comes first, the test come to those who are struggling to cling to the truth about God's attitude towards them, that He really loves and cares for them even when the world is doing everything possible to treat them as if He doesn't care about them. Thus we see more clearly how the intent of the world's system that is under Satan's domination, is to convince everyone that it is not enough to rest in God's love for us. The synagogue of Satan is from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which represents double-mindedness, especially in how we view God. The Tree of Life represents single-mindedness, trusting that we are loved by God and resting from any and all attempts to work to change His mind about us or impress Him with any righteousness of our own.

The lies of those who belong to Satan's church/religion/synagogue not only involve claiming that they are on God's side, but include all sorts of beliefs that involve adding requirements that people must do in order to achieve salvation. Again, the war is over whether resting in the truth of God's love is enough to overcome evil and maintain order and peace in society, or if there is need of fear and force in order to keep evil in check and maintain law and order. Religion and societies alike in this world all claim that there must be a mixture of fear and enticements for rewards in order to effectively achieve harmony and peace in the world. Yet Jesus came to establish a kingdom where total freedom is respected and obedience is based purely on appreciation and reflected love for the trustworthiness of God. The conflict is always over what we will believe about how God should govern and how obedience should be achieved, and thus the core issues of contention will always be God's character rather than our righteousness.

I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you

If indeed the first testing is on God's children to harden their grip on God's love for them in the face of intense contradiction of liars and proponents of Satan's accusations against God and His children, then this prediction that they will come and worship before the feet of God's true followers is ripe with implications we should explore. Again, the core issue that Jesus identifies is the issue that Jesus has loved them, those who are tested over this very thing by Satan and his followers. Evidently there comes a time when those who have oppressed all who are clinging to their faith in God's love for them overcomes all the evidence to the contrary being used to discourage them, and their opponents feel compelled to admit that they have been wrong and become willing to come to the feet of those they have persecuted to worship.

What I have to wonder about is the deeper meaning of this prediction of worship. What kind of worship is this referring to? Does this mean that all the enemies of God's children will suddenly abandon the lies they have believed and join God's true children in worship of the God who they now see loves them too? Do some of them, but not all of them, do so? What kind of worship do they do at the feet of God's true children? Are they worshiping the true God with suddenly awakened love and appreciation for His truth and trustworthiness, or do they worship in fear that if they don't worship they might be punished for not doing so? If this is the case, they would still be in double-mindedness which according to James would mean they still could not receive anything from God because they remain unstable in all their ways and thinking.

you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth

I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more

I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, and my own new name