seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Here's where I found my study guide.I want to share one paragraph out of that study guide.
“The citizens of Philadelphia lived an unsettled and tremulous life. Whenever the earthquake tremors came, and they came often, the people of Philadelphia fled from the city out into the open country, to escape the falling masonry and the flying stones which accompanied a severe earthquake shock. Then, when the earth was quiet again, they returned. In their fear the people of Philadelphia were always going out and coming in; they were always fleeing from the city and then returning to it.” (Barclay)
When I first read this... and even this morning... I was thinking "I don't want to be a pillar of stone, stuck in church, with people writing on me?". Then I read the commentary this morning and I learned that Philadelphia is really prone to earthquakes. According to the commentary, the people of Philidelphia had to evacuate the town to avoid being crushed by stones flying. When it was safe... they would go back to their homes. Generally, only those huge pillars were the only thing left of massive buildings after a quake. Verse 10 is an outstanding promise.
Revelation 3:10 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
It doesn't really say Jesus will take us up to Heaven before He goes to war against Satan and his minions. It says He will keep us "from" the hour. If all the people just disappeared before Jesus shows up... wouldn't that tip off Satan and his minions?
Oh dash.... I thought I was going to get out of here. Wait.... this is a translation of a translation... so maybe Jesus really "meant" I won't have to "endure" the hour. Maybe I will just watch it from afar. Some of my relatives packed a picnic lunch to watch a major battle during the Civil War. They survived. Maybe that's what I'll do. Maybe it will be thrilling to see Satan get his due. Maybe that's what it means.
At any rate... I'm going to be protected. Jesus says there will be an open door. I can go through that door.
Maybe Satan just doesn't believe the Bible. Maybe Satan shuns the idea that Jesus can keep us safe and make mincemeat of Satan and his minions at the same time. Maybe Satan wouldn't even notice an exodus of all the Believers. Maybe he's watching the wrong group. Maybe he's watching the pew renters instead of the Christians.
Jesus didn't have anything bad to say about the church in Philadelphia. He just told them to hang in there. He just told them to keep on with their evangelical work. They would make it.
