2 years ago

101

7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION – Philadelphia
Pastor Nathan Deisem - “The Key of David”
Revelation 3:7-13

o Philadelphia – “The Church That Endures”
 Philadelphia is another smaller city on this large and lucrative trade route. It was named after an ancient king of Pergamum, “Attalus Philadelphus” who’s last name is a cognate for the Greek word Philadelphia which means “Brotherly Love.” A weird thing is that they changed the name of this city twice. It was on a geological fault line and very susceptible to earthquakes (having been destroyed at least twice). In AD 17 it was destroyed by an earthquake (so was Sardis) and the Emperor provided significant funds to rebuild it and for a time they took to calling it Neo Caesarea “New City of Caesar.” [Homer Gudelsky Park = “Stinky Beach”] Found in the contemporary Roman province “Asia” (now called Asia Minor – Modern Day Turkey). Chief Deity (long with Zeus and the Cult of Caesar) was Dionysus the God of wine – because the region was very fertile and primarily agricultural (especially for growing wine grapes). 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)

Revelation 3:7-13
Description of CHRIST:
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, WHO HAS “THE KEY OF DAVID,” who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”

• Isaiah 22:15-24 A Message for Shebna

COMMENDATION:
8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, which no one is able to shut. I know that YOU HAVE BUT LITTLE POWER, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

• Open Door of opportunity? (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3)
o LITTLE POWER - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
 “Synagogue of Satan” Revelation 2:9 – Smyrna (slander/lies)

CORRECTION: NONE!!!

COUNCIL:
11 I am coming soon. HOLD FAST what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

• HOLD FAST – like Smyrna – Be faithful onto death!
o “Seize your crown” ??? – Laurel Crown of the victorious athlete (Revelation 2:10)

COMMISSION:
12 The one who conquers, I will make him A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

• A Pillar – Name on a commemorative pillar – Week but now strong!
• NEW NAME ~Pergamum ~
 Revelation 2:17 “…a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
o Write on him:
 Name of My God – Belonging to God - Intimacy
 Name of the City of My God – “New Jerusalem” – Citizen (Revelation 21:9)
 My (Jesus’) New Name – Identity
• New Name – Forehead [[[ How many Name changes? 57 ]]]
o Isaiah 62:2
The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
o Ezekiel 9:4-5
4 And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
o Revelation 7:2-3
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
• Mark of God is greater than the mark of the beast!