Title: Revelation 8 (To the Philadelphia Church)
Contents Last week, I heard the word of the Holy Spirit delivered to the fifth church, Sardis. The Sardis church was a church that had been rebuked from the beginning. The content of the rebuke is that it is a church in name only. It looks like it on the outside, but there is something wrong with the inside. As can be seen from the expression of soiling clothes, the saints are not saintly, nor do they show the high Christian consciousness in ethical and moral aspects, but rather find those appearances, holiness, and wholeness that do not have any influence without any distinction. As a saint who cannot, it means that he is dead. In a way, it is not like the Korean church in a negative way today.
There are many churches boasting 10 million members and erecting high towers in various places, but rather, their image as a target of criticism from the world is only growing. If there is no effort to overcome the world, such as repenting and re-establishing solidarity, as we said to the church in Sardis, this warning (coming like a thief) will become a reality for us as well.
I hope that you will remember these words again and repent today without procrastinating, so that you and I can wear white clothes and be written in the book of life.
Today, we will be the sixth church, the Philadelphia Church. Philadelphia is on the way from Sardis to Laodicea, about 30 miles southeast of Sardis. The city was built at an elevation of 650 feet south of the Cogamus River, a tributary of the Hermus River, not very large and not very long. It is a commercial city called the “Gateway to the East” at the intersection of trade routes extending to the northeast region of Asia.
The city also had many Greek temples and many religious events. That's why it was sometimes called 'Little Athens'. And although this city was built on Greek culture, it can also be called “the city of missions” because Christianity entered and succeeded in Christianizing it. Since the surrender of the Turkish army in the 14th century, Christianity here has grown and developed greatly with complete freedom of religion, and today a third of the population of 15,000 are Christians, and Philadelphia has been called “the city of God”.
As evidenced later by history, the origins of the Philadelphia church are unknown, but it seems to have had the appearance of a very successful church at the time. If you look at today's words, just like the church in Smyrna, only praise continues all the time.
The Philadelphia church seemed powerless on the surface, but it was a faithful church. It is the opposite of the Sardis church.
So heresy could not break through, and even when various trials of faith came, this church did not falter at all and overcame reality with patience and sincerity. Because of this appearance, the Lord, who has the key to the heavenly gate, called the key of David today, has opened this door to them once opened and no one can close it.
Verse 8: “Behold, I have put a door before you, and no one can shut it. I know your deeds, and though you have little power, you have kept my word and have not betrayed my name.”
It is truly an unprecedented compliment and gift. This door is the door that can only be entered through the Lord, and it is the door through which you can enter the kingdom of God. So, these words given to this Philadelphia church are speaking of final blessings. This is proof that their lives were so excellent. Even though he had little power, he obeyed the word of the Lord and did not lose his faith.
So, what is important is not that the ability is big or abundant. It is saying that one talent, two talents, or five talents are not important. What is important to me is how much I followed the will of the Lord with what was given to me. Persevering in the midst of persecution and trials.
In this exemplary church, the Philadelphia church is now adding only the word of promise. The first is that the synagogue of Satan who tormented them, these liars and evildoers who call themselves Jews (religious deceivers who also appeared in the Church of Smyrna and oppressed the Church by colluding with Rome) will one day kneel before them (9). section). Through this work, he wants them to realize that they are the objects of the Lord's overflowing love. It is to give a reward in front of the enemy. This will be refreshing and exciting.
The second is that He will save us from the time of the final test that will come upon all the earth (verse 10). The Lord said that there would be great tribulation prior to the Second Coming (Matthew 24; Mark 13). This is the time of the testing of the end times, and they (the members of the Philadelphia church) obeyed the Word with the patience of the Lord. It is said that the Lord will protect you at all times. (I do not know exactly whether you want to avoid being tempted at all or to help you overcome the temptation.) It is a grace that guarantees you great things because you are faithful in small things. How comforting would that be?
These two things can be said to be the words of understanding the difficulties of reality.
And the next word of promise is that he is adding two more words to those who keep this faith and do not lose their crown until the coming of the Lord, and one of them is that he will make them a pillar in the temple of God (12). Verse “He who overcomes will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again”).
We know a lot about the meaning of this pillar, but don't we usually use this expression for church executives? Even though the Philadelphia church today seems weak (a church with little power), in the future these saints promise to take a firm and immovable position like the pillars of God's temple. It means that you will live near God forever. What greater grace can there be than face-to-face (22:4)? It is a promise of the amazing grace of God.
The other one also has the same meaning in the end, but if we were to engrave it, it is the words of verse 12 and below, right? “I will write on him the name of God, and the name of God’s city, the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.” Amen.
In short, the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and the name of Christ will be written on the victorious saints. Recording your name is a sign confirming that you are completely in your possession. Therefore, this means that the victorious saints will become the property of God and at the same time secure the citizenship of the New Jerusalem, and enjoy the glory of being the property of Christ.
Even the last promises of hope to the churches in the past sounded very grand, but today the church in Philadelphia has a stronger and more concrete feeling than those. It makes me think that the church that is praised that much is different.
The church in Philadelphia, which receives only praise and promises of hope without frills, is a truly exemplary church even though it has little power. Today, our Yulbuk Church will be perfect as a church that we should set as an example.
Dear saints, if at all possible, let our church receive only praise without receiving any rebuke. I pray in the name of the Lord that it will become a church that is praised and rewarded, a church that is built as a pillar close to God's possession, and that it is our Yulbuk church that you and I build.