The Church of Philadelphia

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Hello Christianity Oasis,


Blessings!

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-church-of-philadelphia

The Book of Revelation lists 7 churches the Spirit judges, but of those 7 churches only 2 go without rebuke, and only one receives the promise to be kept from the trial to come on all that dwell on the Earth. The first church to go without condemnation was Smyrna, and the second was Philadelphia. Our topic of discussion today is the Church of Philadelphia.

However, before we begin I would like you to notice something very important about both the Church of Smyrna and the Church of Philadelphia. Both churches are considered truly Jewish and are compared to Jews that say they are but are not. The comparison made between the 2 churches raises some interesting questions, but it is in this article we will answer them.

Rev.3
[7] And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
[8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
[9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
[10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
[11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
[12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
[13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To begin with our Lord tells us that He has the key of David. Well, what is that? The answer lies in the following scriptures.

Isa.22
[22] And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Isa.9
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The key of the house of David is the government of God over all that are truly Jewish. The Church of Philadelphia understood their place under Heaven and were obedient to the leading and guidance of the Spirit. They were truly Jewish in that respect. What does it mean to be truly Jewish? The Apostle Paul defines what it means to be truly Jewish in the following manner.

Rom.2

[29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Phil.3
[3] For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Deut.30

[6] And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Paul’s description of a Jew contains more wisdom and understanding than most might think. Imbedded in Paul’s description of a Jew we find a comparison between the circumcision of the flesh and the circumcision of the heart. Both the penis and the heart are reproductive organs, and out of both come seeds, one natural, and the other spiritual.

The circumcision of the flesh was declarative. In the negative sense it declared that those that were not of the circumcision were unclean, and their seed corruptible. In the positive sense the circumcision of the flesh foreshadowed or declared a time would come when there would be a circumcision of the heart, of the Spirit. Paul tells us that it is the circumcision of the heart that defines the true Jew. For only a circumcision of the heart, of the Spirit, is capable of sewing the incorruptible seed of Christ, which is the Word of God.

Another comparison between the flesh and Spirit is the birthing of a child. In the flesh a child is born unclean and must be circumcised in order to be viewed by God as clean. In the Spirit one is born again of the incorruptible (Word) seed of God and therefore clean at birth. And if clean at birth, the born again babe of the Lord arrives already circumcised.

However, in both cases one factor many, many denominations fail to consider is that in the flesh and in the Spirit years of growth must take place before one’s reproductive organs are capable of producing seed. Of consequence we find babes of the Spirit in authority all over Christendom. Paul warns us about placing a novice in authority in the following scripture.

1Tim.3

[6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
[7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

But who in authority these days pays much attention to the wisdom and understanding of Paul? Sadly, very few.

Our Lord commended those in the Church of Philadelphia for keeping His Word of patience and for having a little strength. Of consequence our Lord had opened up a door to Heaven for them. Our Lord blessed them with an open door to Heaven. His blessing upon them refers us back to Rom.2:29. Their praise was not of men, but of God.

Rom.2

[29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Another thing that I would like for you to note here is how Paul defines the Kingdom of Heaven.

Rom.14

[17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Luke.17
[21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.

Such was true of those in the Church of Philadelphia and the apparent reasons for our Lord’s blessing upon them, but there was more. Here is what our Lord said to all of us mindful enough to keep and do His words. The Church of Philadelphia had kept the WORD OF HIS PATIENCE. Those that were truly Jewish in the Church of Philadelphia loved our Lord. Those that were not truly Jewish did not love Him. In fact they could not love Him, because they were not born of the Spirit of God. They weren’t Jewish because they were not circumcised in the heart.

John.14

[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Another blessing of our Lord upon those of the Church of Philadelphia came in the form of a promise. Because they loved Him and because they kept the Word of His Patience, and because they had the strength of spirit and soul to do so, our Lord promised to keep them from the time of trial yet to come upon all that live on the Earth.

Have you been born again and filled with the Spirit of God? Do you love the Lord? Do you keep and do His sayings? Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus? Do you understand what it means to be truly Jewish?


Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, saint.


Suggested by the author

THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
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