The church of Philadelphia

Revelation of 

Jesus

'...These things saith he that is holy, he that is true. he that that the key of David, he that openeth ,and no man sutteth and shutteth ,and no man openeth.'(Rev3:7)

The revelation of Christ is according to the character and state of the church. He is both holy and true. Only a church that understands the truth which is in Christ Jesus, can preserve its holiness. He expects us to be holy even as He is holy, and faithful, even as He is faithful.

'Key of David': key speaks of power and authority. Jesus told His disciples after His resurrection,'...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth'(Matt28:18).It is called the 'Key of David' in a type. David was the greatest king in Israel and God gave him His power and authority. But Christ is the real King. He is 'King of kings and Lord of lords' (Rev19:16).

Exhortation

'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' (Rev3:8)

'I know thy works': He is not ignorant and unmindful of anything we do in His name and for His name. Because this Church has used the little strength she had and has kept His word, and has not denied His name, the Lord who has the key of David, has set before her an open door. Our strength is little , but if we keep His word and not deny His name, we shall go from strength to strength and be found perfect in Zion.' Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go form strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God' (Ps84:5-7)

'Hast not denied my name': This speaks of the abiding life.' I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing (John15:5)

'Because thou hast kept he 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'(Rev3:10)

The word of God is called the Word of His patience. We must patiently abide in Hid word and the Lord will keep us.

'Behold, I Come quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown' (Rev3:11)

There are three crowns that are given as rewards for the saints mentioned before.

(1) The  crown of life-for those who keep their lives faithful unto death(Rev2:10)

(2) The crown of righteousness-for those who preserve their righteousness in view of the coming of the Lors(IITim4:8)

(3) The crown of glory -for the faithful shepherds to whom their cheep turn out to be for their glory(IPeter5:4)

In all these cases the church has to hold fast that which is given to it.

Reward

'A pillar in the temple of my God': There is no visible temple in new Jerusalem.'.....The Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it' (Rev21:22) This temple is invisible and that is why John says that he saw no temple in new Jerusalem. The temple formed by the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are invisible, and therefore, the pillar in that temple is also invisible. unless we are unified with the Father and the Son, we cannot be pillars of this temple. Therefore Jesus prayed, saying, 

'Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou ,Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me' (John17:20-21)

'I will write upon him the name of my God': The name of God is written upon who is wholly surrendered to God. About the 144.000 on Mount Zion, it is said that the Father's name is written on their foreheads. They 'Follow the Lamb whitersoever he goeth'. So when a person decides to do the will of God, God claims him as His own.

'The name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem': when the name of the city of God is written upon a person, it means that that person is part of that city(Rev21:9-10).Therefore while we are still in the world , we must live by faith in new Jerusalem and become part of that city, remembering that we are the Bride of  Christ.

'My (Christ's) new name': He was given this name, the name above every name-when He humbled  Himself.' And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name;'(Phil2:8-9) we must likewise humble ourselves if we are to have this name written upon us.