Philadelphia: The Loyal Church Revelation 3:7-13 What is persecution? Persecution is hostility or mistreatment directed toward Christians because of their faith in Jesus Christ. This results in their death or imprisonment, the restriction of their religious freedom, the denial of their rights, or harm to their persons, families, churches, or communities. • Persecution is mentioned 40x in the NT. • Jesus said to the disciples, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well.” - John 15:20. Where is persecution happening? • According to persecution.com, 77 nations with an estimated 400 million Christians face high levels of persecution today. What would Jesus say to the persecuted church? • For the answer, we turn to Revelation 3, and His words to the church of Philadelphia. They are persecuted. They have done wrong. They just love Jesus, and for this reason alone they are persecuted. They have “little power” and “little strength.” They are outnumbered and overpowered. They have little influence and limited resources. No one sees them. No one helps them. • Jesus sees them and Jesus commends them. • They are faithful, they have kept His Word, and they have not denied Christ. • Jesus will reward them. 1. Christ opens and shuts doors for His church. Revelation 3:7 (NASB), “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.’” What is this open door? • There are 3 possibilities: 1. It may be a new opportunity to evangelize. 2. It may be new spiritual reward or power, or 3. This open door may be a way of escape. • One commentor said, “While the world seeks to imprison the church, Christ opens up full access to His kingdom and new opportunities in the world.” What is this “key of David”? • This phrase comes from Isaiah 22, where King Hezekiah’s servant, Eliakim, is given the key to David’s house and David’s treasures. • Jesus says He has the key now. Jesus has full authority over God’s house, God’s treasures, and God’s future kingdom. • Jesus holds the key. He will open doors for Christians in persecution. “Our very mission is called ‘Open Doors’ because we literally believe that any door is open, anytime and anywhere. Every door is open to go in and proclaim Christ – as long as you are willing to go and are not worried about coming back.” - Brother Andrew, God’s Smuggler • We pray the persecuted find the open door – the scholarships, the opportunities, the escape, safe Christian fellowship, and good jobs so that they do not need to depend on those who threaten and mistreat them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” - John 10:9 2. Christ will vindicate and keep His church. Revelation 3:9 (NASB), “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.” • Philadelphia means, “the city of brotherly love.” • But there is NO love between this church and the synagogue. Jesus makes it clear that the synagogue is instigating and persecuting the church. This makes the synagogue a tool of Satan – it is Satan’s lies, and Satan’s hatred of Christians that is behind this persecution. • Wherever there is persecution in our world, whether it comes from the state, or the synagogue, or the mosque, or wherever – we can know this – Satan’s lies are fueling it. • Notice the repetition, “I will make them” (3x). • Who’s them? The persecutors. • The persecutors of the church will bow before the persecuted church! • Jesus is quoting and applying a prophecy from Isaiah 60. • Isaiah 60:14, “The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you, And all those who despised you will bow down at the soles of your feet; And they will call you the city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” • Jesus will see to it that every knee will bow to Him and His bride. • The Church will be vindicated, and it will be kept, despite their testing and tribulation. There is a play on words here and a condition. • If the church keeps the Word, then Christ will keep the church. • Whether this is speaking of a small “t” tribulation, or the big “T” great tribulation doesn’t matter. • The issue is – Christ will keep His church as the church keeps His word. • Notice, the word here, is the “word of perseverance.” • This leads me to believe Jesus will not always take His church out of persecution but will keep it through persecution and tribulation by His word. 3. Hold firmly to God’s Word and crown. Revelation 3:11 (NASB), “I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus gives 7 promises and 1 command to this persecuted church. The one command is in v11, “...hold firmly to what you have” • In other words, don’t look at your losses, look at what you have gained. • Even in persecution, there is something to gain spiritually. • The wins are small and far between – but they are worth holding onto. • Hold firmly is a very common command in the NT for all believers. The 7 promises to the persecuted church are: Christ is opening a door for them. Their persecutors will bow before them. The church will be kept and preserved (in, through, or from) persecution. Jesus will come quickly. They will be pillars – permanent fixtures in God’s kingdom. Jesus will triple-name them with the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and a new name. This triple-tattooing means a triple-belonging. Jesus secures them forever in His unfailing love. The crown will be awarded to the persecuted if they hold firm. It symbolizes honor, victory, and loyalty to their King. For more information about Christian persecution see: • Voice of the Martyrs • Open Doors • Persecution.com