No, all Christians will experience transformation at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). It was so before when He was here below in grace, and now He must resume its power and glory and judgment, than which one can hardly conceive a greater and more solemn rebuke on the condition of those who ought to have been His witnesses. (2.) If God is the God of Amen, he is utterly to be relied upon. Next, we may be sure that they loved the word of God. Truth does not die through being buried. "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest on my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. In no other place do we find anything akin to this. (b) It is just possible that there is a reference to the custom of branding a slave with the initials of his owner to show that he belongs to him. A man should live every day as if it were his last. That is what the Philadelphian Church would see, at least in its beginnings, if its members were faithful. Saul lost his place to David ( 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:13). Take equally little notice of what any man says, be he orator, thinker, bishop, or whatever he may be. This clearly is what He was on the earth. This wicked Jezebel not only persecuted the true saints of the Lord, but sought universal supremacy a world-wide dominion over souls. You might as well establish another religion on Mother Goose rhymes or something, or Aesops Fables. I am looking forward to the Lord confessing my name before His Father. 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. If you will now begin to talk to others about that which you love so well, you will be astonished to find how gladly they will receive it from you. This effect of placing the faithful in Philadelphia (and hence, the faithful in all the churches; cf. 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. "Blessed is the man whom thou dost chasten, O Lord, and whom thou dost teach out of thy law" ( Psalms 94:12). Go ahead! To try them That is, such persecutions will be the means of trying and proving those who profess Christianity, and showing who were sound and thorough Christians and who were not. A city with a history like that knew what the Risen Christ was talking about when he said: "Watch!". We read of the saints in one place or another. The beginning of the third chapter introduces the protestant state of things. Revelation 10:3 a loud voice Like Christ, the angel spoke with a loud or great voice ( Rev. Hot is zestos ( G2200) ; and it means hot to boiling point. (i) They will be clothed with white raiment. "In him," says Paul, "all things were created" ( Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:18). A particular assembly, or even the assemblies of a district (Galatians 1:1-24), may be addressed. Yet, alas! John 12:27). It [ Rev 3:10] is a promise, not to all the church, but to a certain clearly-defined portion of itthose who keep the doctrine of Christ's second advent, and its hope of rapture. Tacitus (see Wetstein, in loco) mentions an earthquake that sank twelve cities in Asia Minor, in one night, by which, among others, Philadelphia was deeply affected; and it is possible that there may have been reference here to that overwhelming calamity. God has promised all Christians deliverance from that outpouring of His wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). I may be a fool, and an old-fashioned bigot, but I am not a turncoat, and I cannot quit the word of the Lord. He gave the Christians five promises instead. It is not merely that He died this is not what He says here, though it is said elsewhere, and very truly. Jesus Christ gave no rebuke to this church, as was true of the church in Smyrna. Search us, O Lord, know our hearts, try us, O God, know our thoughts, if there is a way of unrighteousness, if there is a way of deceitfulness, God help us that we would not deceive ourselves, and be blind to the truth. Thus whether it be the depraving of souls or the forming sects after an earthly mould among those who were heavenly according to Paul, or whether it be the taking them away from the life of Christ, and from walking as He walked and simply putting them under Jewish ordinances, the Fathers, I fear, as a class, fully earned the awful distinction here assigned by the Lord. They are thus carefully ushered in, but in that prophetic method which was morally fitting, in a series of visions which John saw. I am at this pass, I can sooner die than yield the gospel. Now, I shall speak for myself and for you, and I know that we can bear witness that this promise is true. A new evil appears. The devil himself does not trouble him much, for he knows that he will do no harm to his kingdom, let him talk as he likes. How is it that we here miss that character of direct dealing with us that immediateness of address which is found elsewhere? It is the hope of the Psalmist that the wicked will be blotted out of the book of the living ( Psalms 69:28). At any rate, the great Head of the church did not think it unwise to say to the church at Philadelphia that he thought well of it because it had kept his word. The hour of temptation A time of sore and peculiar trial which might have proved too much for their strength. "The last day is a secret," says Augustine, "that every day may be watched." No other religion has the vision of a seeking God. I do not doubt that all this is symbolically expressed. I believe that is something that God is going to do. Now there are many today who are not watching for the return of Jesus Christ. But the drift is plain enough where the conscience is not blunted. Revelation 2:10 c, 25; Revelation 3:4). Studying the book of Revelation 3; shows a significant summary of the history, time and relevant details according to the bible's acts based onBenson Joseph - Bible Commentary and reading parallely the bible's version New American Standard Bible 1995 with Strong Numbers. That in itself would have been enough to make Laodicea one of the great commercial and strategic centres of the ancient world. This is an echo of an expectation of the Jews which finds frequent expression in the Old Testament. Here the Lord seems to me to notice its working at the same time that God was in a measure using for good those that were faithful in the heathen persecutions. Discipline your son and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart" ( Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 29:17). Shebna lost his place to Eliakim ( Isaiah 22:15-25). People may not be true to their principles, and often are not. Revelation Unwrapped: Commentary on Revelation by John Richardson. May every church of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it have little strength or much, be concerned to be steadfast in the faith loyal to King Jesus firm in the truths which Christ has taught us by the Holy Ghost. Laodicea, The Church Condemned ( Revelation 3:14-22). I will be glad to share with you and become one with you just open the door.". "I became dead (records John), and, behold, I am alive unto the ages of the ages." If all that a man has to meet life with is wealth, he is poor indeed. He is seen in His glorious return to this earth in defeat of His enemies. Accordingly the division of the next chapter (Revelation 3:1-22) seems to be happy at this point. The Sardians had thought themselves too safe to need a guard; and so Sardis fell. Those who are holding to the Word of God. Galatians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-10). It is manifest that all carries out the same solemn impression. Gaping cracks appeared in the walls of the houses. (iii) Laodicea prided itself on its famous eye-salve; but the facts of the case show that it was blind to its own poverty and nakedness. for thou hast a little strength ( Revelation 3:8 ). To this purpose are saints sent into the world to keep this treasure of the church against all adversaries. When Talkative came up to gossip with Christian and Hopeful, he chattered away upon all sorts of topics, and they were wearied with him. Do you not in this merely sink to the world's level? "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow yon; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you" ( Isaiah 45:14). This is exactly as we would have it. Whichever picture is behind this, the sense is that the faithful ones will wear the unmistakable badge of God. (b) He must be absolutely honest, so that he repeats with accuracy that which he has heard and seen. "So then because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last." ], Fifth, Jesus Christ will identify with His faithful people. Townsends article, just cited, refuted Gundrys interpretation of this verse. (i) He is he who has the seven Spirits of God. Their approach is silent and unobserved, until a man finds himself without warning facing eternity. Thus then it is with the seven golden lampstands. In a very different form it is the topic of John everywhere: we may trace Him as going up to heaven, where Paul above all contemplated Him glorified; but John's task is ever to point to Christ in connection with what He was here below. In the ancient world to be stripped naked was the worst humiliation. Observe, First, The greatest honour and happiness any church can enjoy consist in the peculiar love and favour of Christ. We must therefore look for another explanation. One like the Son of man is next seen "in the midst of the seven candlesticks," which, as we are told, were the seven churches, but these viewed according to the Lord's mind about them as a standard of divine righteousness. Tepid is chliaros ( G5513) . [49] G. R. Beasley-Murray, op. How can it surprise those who are ever awaiting Him? The Book of Life is a conception which occurs often in the Bible. Revelation 3 KJV. we're increased with goods, we have need of nothing; you know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked ( Revelation 3:17 ): Interesting how the church observes itself and how Jesus observes the church. But it is not at all wonderful as occurring here, where we do find what is extraordinary. There the king of Lydia ruled over his empire in oriental splendour. (b) The things a man must do lie to his hand. This indifference can be broken down only by the actual demonstration that Christianity is a power to make life strong and a grace to make life beautiful. There are many who in the church mock the idea of the Lord returning and interrupting history. One can understand their passing through the scene of his power, but to be dwelling there is significant. We eat our way into the word of God, we live upon what we learn, tunnelling through the truth with receptive minds. It is "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him." Where was the labour of love? It means that He wants to become one with you. "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Hence it is that the Lord introduces Himself to them as the Amen, the end of every thing human, where all the security is in the faithfulness of God. (iv) Repeatedly the New Testament urges the Christian to be on the watch for the coming of his Lord. Pharaoh honoured Joseph by clothing him in vestures of fine linen ( Genesis 41:42). There is an open door before you which no man can shut. recurring minor shocks drive them to sheer panic. "[49] The looming persecution against the church is starkly evident in all the New Testament books, and hardly any of them failed to address the situation. This seems to imply His own willingness to die, as indeed He became what did not belong to Him personally, and what in short seemed extraordinarily incongruous with the glorious person that had been already described. Good men in the dark days of Popery found out the truth, but they only lived, perhaps, in some quiet village, or shut up in a monastery, and the most they could do was to write down what they knew and so keep it. For a year Antiochus besieged him; then a soldier called Lagoras repeated the exploit of Hyeroeades. People do not care about knocking their heads against brick walls, or fighting against pillars of iron; and when they see that you are firm and unmoved, they will say, "We must let him have his own way." There the word of God had been kept away, because the clergy and the word of God can never go together thoroughly. I cannot but think that this state of things is referred to here: "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." At the same time there is the most careful guard against the supposition that he was not in the full enjoyment of his own place in Christ. Does anyone in his senses think so? Thus the Lord was no longer fighting in defence of His own people, nor was He employing the enemy's hatred and persecution to nip in the bud or prune evil excrescences. More, however, is meant than simply loving the word, though that is no small thing. Recall from Revelation 1:9, perseverance, or patience comes through trial and tribulation. When the church was seeking the place of public glory, the encouragement to faith was the hidden manna. Blessed shall he be who only wanted to know the Lord's will that he might do it unquestioningly, caring nothing what the will of other people might be in the matter. iii. Another thing is observable, when one looks into what is said here. The Irvingites used to talk about the Lord having a little Zoar. The A, B, Come and See Revelation A commentary on the Book of . Here is your anchorage. I have added it all up, and I count the reproach of Christ to be greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt." As Beasley-Murray said, "This is not a designation of a period of time, but of the trial itself. We shall never grow stronger by leaving the eternal word. This book then is the revelation of Jesus Christ, "which God gave unto him." Their character is plain. Are you not just taking advantage of an earthly position to escape part of what Christ calls you to? It is remarkable that after the greatest persecutions, when Christendom and even Christians had been seduced into accepting the patronage of the world, up to that point there remained real faithfulness in refusing all efforts to deny the deity of Christ Under the same Constantine, who was the instrument of thus casting the world's shield over Christianity, was the battle fought and won against the Arian foe. I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. Sardis, The Threefold Promise ( Revelation 3:1-6 Continued). What He is is the main point. But how are we to describe or understand "the word of God"? If the Lord has rebuked you, then be thankful He loves you. The reader is encouraged to "have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches", even down to our own day. . They came out, but not far enough. John begins his gospel by saying of the Word: "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made" ( John 1:3). "The things which are" present the prolonged condition set forth in the addresses to the seven churches. The Protestant reads the Bible more at liberty, which is a real good and precious boon; but for this very reason, the Protestant incurs no light responsibility. First, their Jewish antagonists would eventually have to acknowledge that the Christians were the true followers of God (cf. Here is a promise of the great favour God would bestow on this church, Revelation 3:9; Revelation 3:10. The Sardians had forgotten their lesson. I should like to see a few more of such Protestants. The subject-matter of this epistle, where. [Note: Thomas, Revelation 1-7, p. The only possible way I can understand of exempting any from the time is by taking them out of the scene. All eye-salves in the ancient world caused the eyes to smart at their first application, and Laodicea had no wish to see itself as it was. Show yourself watchful, and strengthen what remains and what is going to die. It was theirs, they read it and searched it and made it their own. The people of Philadelphia knew all about taking a new name. This we have had already in the Pauline epistles, where the proper sphere of the Christian as a member of Christ's body is treated especially, and indeed only there. A bee knows the nearest way. Hence it is not said here that He walks in the midst of the seven lampstands: that was ecclesiastical strictly. As for others it is all over with them. Strabo describes the scene. In this life even the best of us is sometimes bad. , , , , , the word of my patience, I also will keep thee, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. How comes this remarkable introduction of God to Jesus, then from Him through an angel to one servant, who sends to other servants? Spiritually speaking, the Risen Christ declares that there was not a more poverty-stricken community. Many of Jesus' disciples today have "lost their first love," which is Jesus himself (Rev 2:4). The Christian is under continual attack by the powers which seek to seduce him from his loyalty to Christ. It is not only, be it observed, that they will not be in the place, but they will be kept out of the hour, of that coming temptation. Believe it when circumstances seem to make it questionable; believe it when your own heart fails you; believe it when your sin and corruption rise within you like a fountain of foul waters: thus shall you give glory to the God of truth. We have already come upon this strange phrase in Revelation 1:4. To those who have been faithful comes the threefold promise. Overstreet, pp. Here is the picture of Jesus Christ as the one who has the final authority which no one can question. God could no longer recognise them as His own. It is another and a remarkable difference. The mind of man sends forth pure water and impure, and it is hard to discern between the two; but from the heart of God there wells up, undiluted and unmingled, a stream of living truth which is more for man's benefit than all else out of heaven. And this is seen to be the occasion of the letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. Clarke's Revelation 3:10 Bible Commentary The word of my patience - The doctrine which has exposed you to so much trouble and persecution, and required so much patience and magnanimity to bear up under its attendant trials. There are only two of the seven churches which receive no censure or rebuke from Jesus Christ; and of these two - viz., the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia - the former receives but little praise though much sympathy. 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