The Faithful Church
Revelation 3:7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. [Rev 3:7]
We have previously noted in the prior letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis that Jesus revealed Himself in a Personal way to each Church and referenced certain aspects of His full revelation to John in Chapter 1.
Beginning with Philadelphia, however, there is a fresh vision of Jesus not revealed in Rev 1. So why the change?
Notice in Rev 3:7 and Rev 3:14 the new revelations to Philadelphia and Laodicea, respectively, which are not in Rev 1. Also notice that these two churches are very different. Philadelphia is faithful with no rebukes, while Laodicea is lukewarm with no commendations.
Certain Bible students feel that these letters are messages for the Modern Day Church [A.D. 1648 – present]. It will be one part faithful and one part lukewarm, and will co-exist up to the Lords return.
It is interesting to observe references to the Tribulation [Rev 3:10], Millennium [Rev 3:12, 21], and New Jerusalem [Rev 3:12]. All three come after the conclusion of the Modern Church, which ends at the Rapture [ref. 1 Thes 4:16-18; 1 Cor 15:50-55].
These new revelations are new because they unfold in the midst of todays Modern Church. Some feel that it is the reason why these new visions are not in the full revelation to John in Rev 1.
This morning we will look at the letter to the Philadelphia Church, the Faithful Church. If the interpretation of it being one side of our Modern Day Church is correct, then it is the side that we want to be on.
May we be faithful, and never lukewarm.
