Don't let the title fool you, this isn't a battle of one church against another. This is a comparison of the similarities and the differences of these two churches. Just the fact that there are two churches that know and teach the same truth gives the first clue that there must be special and important differences between these two churches, else there would only be a need for one church that was symbolic of those who know and teach certain truth.
Similarities
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty,
(but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they
are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Christ knows their works, not just in this age but their works from
the last age as well.
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan,
which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make
them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved
thee.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but
thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews,
and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Well, that's where the similarities end. Even though Christ does not specifically say that these churches also know and teach who these fake "jews" are, it is implied that the churches would understand who these fake "jews" are. This familiarity of who these fake "jews" are would be due to these churches teaching who they are.
No other letter to the other five churches makes any mention of these fake "jews". Why? Because they simply wouldn't truely understand because they don't teach it.
Now, on to the differences, what makes these churches different and
unique from each other. One is no better than the other, but there are
differences that we must be made aware of.
Differences
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that
hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth;
and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Christ has opened the way for these people and no one can shut or block this path. He has the key of David and HE has opened the door and no one can shut it or lock it. This assurance is not given to Smyrna for whatever reason God saw fit. This doesn't exactly mean that they aren't given an open door as well, but there is a reason why it was written to one church and not the other. (This can also be thought of as the truth in our minds, that once our eyes are opened by Christ that no one can shut them.)
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an
open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and
hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
These have never denied Christ and have always kept his word. Think deeper, back to the first age as well as this age.
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan,
which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them
to
come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved
thee.
Woah! This is quite an honor. These shall be sit so near to Christ that when the Kenites bow before Christ and worship him, they will also be worshipping before them. Not worshipping to them but right in their presence.
The word before means in their direct presence.
1799
1799 enopion {en-o'-pee-on}
neuter of a compound of 1722 and a derivative of 3700;; prep
AV - before 64, in the sight of 16, in the presence
of 7,
in (one's) sight 5, in (one's) presence
2, to 1, not tr 2; 97
1) in the presence of, before
1a) of occupied place: in that place which is before,
or over against,
opposite, any one and towards
which another turns his eyes
Smyrna knows of these fake "jews" but they aren't given the same privilege concerning this worshipping. Why not? I'm not sure, but I believe it has something to do with the first age and what we earned in our works. Remember that Christ knows the works of each church which goes all the way back to the first age. It is there than we earned our places in this life, and that is why someone is of one or the other church.
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I
also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
This is an important difference between the churches. Philadelphia is kept from the temptation, which means they won't be tried or tempted.
Temptation
3986
3986 peirasmos {pi-ras-mos'}
from 3985; TDNT - 6:23,822; n m
AV - temptation 19, temptations 1, try 1; 21
1) an experiment, attempt, trial, proving
1a) trial, proving: the trial made of you by my
bodily
condition, since condition
served as to test the love of the
Galatians toward Paul (Gal.
4:14)
1b) the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue,
constancy
1b1) an enticement to sin,
temptation, whether arising from
the desires or from the outward circumstances
1b2) an internal temptation
to sin
1b2a) of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert
Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand
1b3) of the condition of
things, or a mental state, by which we
are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and
holiness
1b4) adversity, affliction,
trouble: sent by God and serving to
test or prove one's character, faith, holiness
1c) temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men
1c1) rebellion
against God, by which his power and justice
are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show
themselves
They won't suffer this experiment to get them to rebel against
God by accepting satan as christ. Why? Because satan knows they won't
accept him, as they had already refused him in the last age.
Philadelphia
Revelation3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Try
3985
3985 peirazo {pi-rad'-zo}
from 3984; TDNT - 6:23,822; v
AV - tempt 29, try 4, tempter 2, prove 1, assay 1, examine 1,
go about 1; 39
1) to try whether a thing can be done
1a) to attempt, endeavour
2) to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining
his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will
behave himself
2a) in a good sense
2b) in a bad sense, to test one maliciously,
craftily to put
to the proof his feelings
or judgments
2c) to try or test one's faith, virtue, character,
by
enticement to sin
2c1) to solicit to sin,
to tempt
1c1a) of the temptations of the devil
2d) after the OT usage
2d1) of God: to inflict
evils upon one in order to prove his
character and the steadfastness of his faith
2d2) men are said to tempt
God by exhibitions of distrust,
as though they wished to try whether he is not justly
distrusted
2d3) by impious or wicked
conduct to test God's justice and
patience, and to challenge him, as it were to give proof
of his perfections.
This is the word that the word temptation came from. It means to try to tempt someone to test his loyalty to something, or in this case someone (the true Christ).
Basically those who go through the hour of temptation will go through a rigorous testing, where satan will try to get them to accept him rather than the true christ, by any means possible. Philadelphia is kept from this hour of temptation which means satan wont be directly trying to get them to switch their loyalties from the true Christ.
Smyrna, however, shall be a major target of this hour of temptation.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
behold,
the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be
tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
This word tried is 3985, the same word as the word try in Revelation 3:10.
This word tribulation means to be pressured, or one could even go as far as saying it's a serious form of peer pressure.
2347
2347 thlipsis {thlip'-sis}
from 2346; TDNT - 3:139,334; n f
AV - tribulation 21, affliction 17, trouble 3, anguish 1,
persecution 1, burdened 1, to be afflicted
+ 1519 1; 45
1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure
2) metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits
This is the root word
2346
2346 thlibo {thlee'-bo}
akin to the base of 5147; TDNT - 3:139,334; v
AV - trouble 4, afflict 3, narrow 1, throng 1, suffer tribulation 1; 10
1) to press (as grapes), press hard upon
2) a compressed way
2a) narrow straitened, contracted
3) metaph. to trouble, afflict, distress
These shall be tried/tempted, and have a short but intense tribulation
where they shall be pressured to accept satan. This will take place during
the hour of temptation, the 5 month period.
So, Smyrna goes through the tribulation and tempting but Philadelphia is kept from going through it.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death,
and
I will give thee a crown of life.
If these are faithful through their tribulation they shall be given a crown of life, which means they haven't earned it as of yet. These were not judged to life in the first age or else they would have these crowns already.
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown.
These have the crown of life already and are warned to be careful not to lose it, or more accurately not to let anyone take it, namely satan. Do not allow satan to steal your crown of life! They earned it in the first age when they stood against satan and were judged there by God to eternal life. The only way to lose a crown of life once you have it is to commit a sin that is unforgivable or to completely forsake God and be a traitor by accepting satan. I highly doubt any of Philadelphia shall commit either of these sins.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second
death.
There is a further reward for Philadelphia when they overcome, that
isn't extended to Smyrna.
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
These shall become the symbolic pillars in the temple of God. This is a high honor, but one that is justly earned. The temple is not a literal building but is actually the Father and the Son in a spiritual sense.
Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord
God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Did you notice that it said he shall go no more out?
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
The out is going out of the temple.
Leviticus 21:10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren,
upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to
put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Leviticus 21:11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile
himself for his father, or for his mother;
Leviticus 21:12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary,
nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil
of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
The high priests do not go out. Those of Philadelphia are the
high priests, otherwise known as the Zadok, the 7000.
Ezekiel 40:46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is
for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these
are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the
LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 42:14 When the priests enter therein, then shall
they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there
they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy;
and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which
are for the people.
Ezekiel 48:11 It shall be for the priests that are
sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept
my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel
went astray, as the Levites went astray.
That concludes the comparison of the two churches. Certainly no one
could deny there is a greater reward for those of Philadelphia, but since
our works in the first age decide where we belong in this age we cannot
complain nor envy one another. It is a great honor to serve Christ and
stand against satan, no matter what church we symbolically belong to. Each
has an important role in Gods plan and each are worthy of their rewards.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Corinthians 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the
eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
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