Title: Pillars of the Temple
Contents
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1. The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land I will show you.
2. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3. Whoever blesses you I will bless, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples of the earth will be blessed in you.
4. So Abram went according to the word of the LORD, and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
5. And Abram, with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all that he had gathered and acquired in Haran, set out to go to the land of Canaan, and finally entered the land of Canaan.
6. Abram passed through the land and came to the oak of Moreh in the land of Shechem. At that time the Canaanites dwelt in the land.
7. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
8. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
9. Gradually moved to the south
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7. To the angel of the church in Philadelphia wrote: The one who is holy and true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open said:
8. Behold, I have put a door open before you, and no one can shut it. I know your works, that although you have little power, you have kept my word and have not betrayed my name.
9. Behold, I will give you some of the synagogue of Satan, those who claim to be Jews and are not, but lie, that they may come and bow down at your feet, that they may know that I love you
10. Because you have kept my word of patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation, which is to come when you come into all the world to test those who dwell on the earth.
11. I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, so that no one takes your crown.
12. The one who overcomes will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more.
13. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Content
Subject: Pillars of the Temple
Text: Genesis 12:1-9, Revelation 3:7-13
The main text is the book of Revelation, which marks the beginning of creation and the end of it. Today's Old Testament text is the beginning of the first Israel, and the New Testament text is the new Israelite church. The apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, receives a special revelation concerning the end of history. The beginning is a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor. These words remind us how important the role of the church is in the history of redemption. The spiritual meaning of the number was emphasized, and among them, the number seven stands out. ‘Seven stars,’ ‘Seven golden candlesticks,’ ‘Seven seals,’ ‘Seven trumpets,’ ‘Seven signs,’ ‘Seven plagues,’ ‘Seven bowls of wrath,’ ‘Seven new days,’ etc. The sender of the letter is not the Apostle John, but Jesus Christ, who makes a copy of what he has seen and heard (Rev 1:1), who takes care of the church while holding the messengers of the church in his right hand (Rev 2:1).
The Old Testament text (Genesis 12:1-9) called Abraham and declared the blessing of all mankind, and it is the beginning of the old church. The New Testament text (Rev 3:7-13) is the church we want to emulate as the church that has not been rebuked among the seven churches. The motive and name of the city are reminiscent of brotherly reconciliation. Especially because the Lord, who is the owner of the church, only blesses and encourages us without reproach, unlike other churches. “I know your works, that although you had little power, you kept my word and did not betray my name” (Revelation 3:8b). In a world where 'big things and many things' are the pride of the past and now, the phrase 'with little ability' sometimes feels fresh. It means that the talents or gifts given by God (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) are not that great. Still, I get compliments. The point of view of the Savior is different.
That's the story of praise. “You have kept my word and have not betrayed my name.” It is an image of faith that prays and obeys the Lord's word (Genesis 12:1-4). Rather than trying to achieve something greater than others with their own will and strength, it is a compliment and blessing given to those who depend on God and humbly live according to His word. “Not betraying the name of Jesus” is a sign of keeping the foundation of faith despite the constant dangers of betrayal both inside and outside the church. There was as much danger permeating the church as there was persecution outside the church. They claim to be “Jews” and disturb the church. This is a gathering of Jews who immigrated after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This was also the case in Smyrna Church (Revelation 2:9b). Jesus calls them “the synagogue of Satan” and “liars” (Revelation 3:9a).
For some of them, He promises a change of life along with discipline (Revelation 3:9b). “I will make you know that I love you,” and he continues. “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation, which is to come upon all the world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). It is reminiscent of the saying, “If you endure, you will also reign together” (2 Tim 2:12). “Hold fast what you have, so that no one can take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Those who overcome these trials become pillars of God's temple. Those who have become pillars of God's temple are guaranteed of eternal victory with the names of God's special possession. “He will never go out again” (Revelation 3:12). He says that there will be no panic after the earthquake.