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 something I didn't know.... from the easy English site.
Philadelphia was at the east end of a broad valley. The soil in the valley was good for agriculture. Philadelphia was on the main road from Sardis to the port near Smyrna. So, there was much trade in the city. Philadelphia was also famous for its many temples. The inhabitants of Philadelphia had many parties for their gods.
The name Philadelphia means ‘love of a brother’. There were two brothers, Eumenes II and Attalus II. One of them first built this city. Attalus so loved his brother that they called him Philadelphus (lover of his brother). The name of the city came from this name for Attalus.
The same commentary goes on.Jesus has opened a door for the Christians in Philadelphia. This door means the right to enter into the kingdom of God. Nobody can shut this door on them. Those who belong to Christ can go in there. And the Lord was also giving them the opportunity to tell other people about Christ. All who believe the gospel belong to Christ. It is as if they go through the door to eternal life.
The Jews in Philadelphia caused much trouble for the church. They were fierce enemies of the church. They denied the Lord Jesus and they spoke against him. The enemy of Jesus is Satan. So, Jesus called these Jews the synagogue of Satan. They said that they were real Jews. That was not true. They were lying. If they were real Jews, they would not oppose God’s work.
In Philadelphia there were earthquakes. Sometimes it was dangerous to remain in Philadelphia. The people had to leave the city and live in temporary homes.
Back when Jesus was still teaching.... before the tomb.... His own family wanted to throw Him off a cliff because they thought He was insane. They didn't have a lot of good brain drugs back then... so when someone went bonkers...they tossed them off the cliff and put them out of their misery. The earthly family of Jesus thought Jesus was bonkers. On top of that.... the people in town thought He must be insane too.... a carpenter's son from Nazareth could not be the Messiah... the Messiah was going to be a grand king... better than David... and the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem.
I find it interesting that Jesus said He would make His followers "pillars" in the church.... and the commentaries just let that drop. When John was writing this.... the Christians were in hiding.... or they were stuck on a deserted island..... or they were in prison.... or they were being murdered in an arena to the delight of the conquerors. They weren't the "pillars" of the church back then.... they were hunted like criminals... because they loved Jesus... and the Jews were afraid the Christians were going to piss off God.... and cause another Sodom event.... so they were murdering Christians wherever they were found.
HOWEVER.... Jesus told them to hang in there... because soon they would be the "pillars" of the church....
I've known a few "pillars" in my life. My grandmother was one.... she loved Jesus so much.... she raised the money to build a church up in the holler so they could have Sunday "go to meeting" days. I think she was a member of the "Church of God"..... I do know... on the days when the preacher couldn't make it up into the holler... my grandmother would lead the service. My grandmother was a "pillar".
There was a woman in the last brick and mortar church I attended regularly who was really a "pillar". She taught, she sang, she read, she was honest.... and she was "always" there. She was a "pillar". She held the church together.... and she never ever talked about herself. It was all for the Lord.... ti was all for the members of the church.... her daughter was always at her side.... and at her passing... her daughter took over the spot of "pillar" in that church.
Jesus said He would make us "pillars" if we Believe in Him. It's a natural, loving experience.... being a "pillar" is also a lot of work..... it keeps us busy.... it gives us a reason to get up in the morning. He says He's going to write a name on us..... I think it's going to be the heavenly version of "church pillar"......
Back in the days of John.... the town of Philadelphia was subject to a lot of earthquakes..... people had to evacuate their homes a lot. Strong "pillars" were helpful..... Jesus said He would make us "pillars".
Jesus said He opened the door.... I figure that door was the Christian Church..... and He said He would make us "pillars"..... "Pillars" had to hold the church together so those who decided to enter the Christian Church would be safe from the quakes..... Jesus told the people of the church at Philadelphia.... they would be ok.... they were His "pillars against the quake.... "
