Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

Hello Christianity Oasis, All...

Blessings!

Greetings in the Name of the Lord my most precious brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus...As I was writing my review of Dr. David Jeremiah's new book on our catching away, (rapture), I came upon the scripture, Revelation chapter 3, verse 10. It quite literally jumped off the page into the eyes of my understanding. And, at that point I realized that I had not been paying significant attention to what the Spirit had to say to the churches, especially that one word that defined the the Church of Philadelphia...patience... the single most significant characteristic that separated them from all the other 6 churches our Lord spoke to, saying, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Which begs the question, are we hearing what the Spirit had been saying to us? He that hath an ear let us hear what the Spirit has been saying to us? That phrase is repeated 7 times in chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation. No where else in the Bible are we told to hear what the Spirit has been saying to us. In that, it is the most pregnant phrase of God ever given to us. Let us hear what the Spirit has been saying to us.

Now on that note we return to Rev. 3 vs. 10. There our Lord commends the Church of Philadelphia for "keeping the word of his patience." Not just any patience, mind you, but the word of his patience; a phrase so pregant and powerful our Lord promises to keep them from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell on the earth. Why? Because they have kept the word of his patience. How, then, is it made possible for us to escape that dreaded hour that comes upon the whole world? By keeping the word of our Lord's patience. That means whether our Lord comes for us pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib, we must continually keep the word of our Lord's patience. Why? Because in so doing our Lord will keep us from that dreaded hour of temptation that comes upon the whole world.

So how best must we define that phrase? In researching scripture I found and believe that the Apostle James defines it best.

Jas.5
[7] Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. We do not know the day or the hour of the coming of our Lord so it is through patience we will be caught up to meet him in the air.

Jas.1
[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
[4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Satan has the power to make our lives a living hell. But if, through patience, we endure that nightmare we will be purified as silver and be made a mighty man of valor.

Rev.3
[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. Sometimes we are thrust into a situation that is pregnant with the trial of our faith. It begs the question, "Are we willing to refuse denying our Lord's name?" Knowing this, that if we refuse to deny our Lord's name we will suffer persecution.

Rev.3
[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. Such begs the question, "When is that hour of temptation that will come upon the whole world?" It is when all must take the mark of the beast in order to buy or sell. Our Lord promises to keep us from that hour if we have the strength to, (1), keep his word, (2), do not deny his name, (3), keep the word of his patience.

Rom.2
[7] those who through patience in well doing are seeking glory and honor and immortality and are assured the gift of eternal life. This scripture is pregnant with the promise in that through patience we are assured of glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.

Rom.8
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The Church of Philadelphia had no comdemnation. They walked after the Spirit who repeatedly said to them, "He that hath an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches.

Rom.8
[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. True hope stands tall, looks down the road, and sees the end of our patience, which is glory, honor, eternal life.

Rom.5
[1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
[2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
[3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;[b] Tribulation is one thing. The hour of trial to come upon all the earth is quite another.[/b]
[4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
[5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Our patience introduces the love of God into our hearts, shed abroad there by the Holy Ghost.

2Tim.4
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Amen, come Lord Jesus, must be our daily longing, and eagerly looking for, and then forebearing, (remaining calm, being sensible, and persevering), through patience so that we may obtain the prize of being caught up to meet our Lord in the air and obtain glory, honor, eternal life, and also where we will be given a crown of righteousness. Let us hold fast, then, that no one may take our crown from us...amen...come Lord Jesus.


Blessings!
Love, in Christ Jesus, Saint701.