The effect went on; the spring was gone. God has put us in trust with the gospel, and we will sooner part with all that we have than be false to our trust. As the King James Version has it, "I will come in and sup with him." The Gospel; so called because it gives an account of the patience of Christ, in the midst of all his outward meanness and humiliation; and because it is a means of implanting and increasing the grace of patience, which God is the efficient cause of, and Christ is the example of; that patience, which bears a resemblance to his, in enduring afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, desertions, and temptations, and in waiting for his kingdom and glory; and because both the preachers and professors of the word have need of patience, and should exercise it in like manner as Christ did. Of all the cities Philadelphia receives the greatest praise and it was to show that it deserved it. There was deipnon ( G1173) ; this was the evening meal; the main meal of the day; people lingered over it, for the day's work was done. It is a setting aside of man altogether; and the reason is that Laodicea is the glorification of man and of man's resources in the church. When Talkative came up to gossip with Christian and Hopeful, he chattered away upon all sorts of topics, and they were wearied with him. On the day when a Roman triumph was celebrated, all the citizens clad themselves in white; the city itself was called urbs candida, the city in white. The brethren needed all their strength concentrated on their home work, for they were few, and the miss of one or two from home evangelization and edification would be greatly felt. The devil himself does not trouble him much, for he knows that he will do no harm to his kingdom, let him talk as he likes. On the other hand, to be clothed in fine raiment was the greatest honour. We have most of us heard what conflicts he had, and not merely at the beginning of his career but to the end. Did they like to be near a throne, although it were the throne of Satan to dwell there? It is not now to bring them whether or not servants out of that position or even worse, and entitling them to take the place of children of God. "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos" comes a very different message. Cyrus initiated the siege of Sardis, waited for fourteen days, then offered a special reward to anyone who would find an entry into the city. The promise of Jesus is to keep the Church from this horrible trial that is still coming in the future. If you have nothing but nature, it would be intelligible; but if you have seen the Son of God and believed in Him, if by grace you have the same life which was in Him, so that this thing is true of Him and of you, no possible standard can suit for you as a Christian short of Christ Himself. But how are we to describe or understand "the word of God"? Revelation 2:1-29. the unblushing worldliness one sees in the combination of Dissenters with Papists and infidels springs from just, pure, holy, and unselfish motives. "Why not?" 58. "Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I am coming to thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou shalt repent." It would seem that Archippus was somehow failing in his duty. The Lord thenceforth puts the promise first, and this apparently because there is no use longer to expect the church as a whole to receive it. Clericalism came in rapidly after this. Temptation waits for our unguarded moments and then attacks. For in Him was life: yea, He was that eternal life which was with the Father before the worlds were. To those who have been true the promise is that they will walk with God. Furthermore, in addition to the inner possession and the hearty belief of the truth, we must be ready to adhere to it at all times. Isaiah 43:2-4; John 10:27-28; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 6:18-19). The overcomers in Philadelphia were promised future positions with Christ which appear to be described by the meanings of the names given to these two pillars. "Hereafter" gives vagueness: "after these" makes it precise, and is the plain literal meaning. The stars stand for the Churches and their angels. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. I dare say that some of us remember when people used to fly to Canada in order to escape "the great tribulation" which they expected to fall on the empire of the beast. 102. Antiochus, who became the ruler of the area in which Sardis stood, was at war with a rival called Achaeus who sought refuge in Sardis. Thus the Lord speaks with exceeding tenderness of those that were true to His name. At the same time it is useless to blink the fact: energetic as he was and used of God largely, he was far behind in the understanding both of the church and of the gospel. However other Scriptures make it clear that God will catch up all Christians, faithful and unfaithful, at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). It is the hope of the Psalmist that the wicked will be blotted out of the book of the living ( Psalms 69:28). Why, there are great folk among us that never care to believe according to God's word at all. That is a door which no man can ever shut and it is one which Jesus opened when he assured men of the seeking love of God the Father. Here the Lord seems to me to notice its working at the same time that God was in a measure using for good those that were faithful in the heathen persecutions. It is a recommencement, and so far is analogous with that to Ephesus: still, the manner in which the Lord is presented is quite new. Thus have I explained what the Philadelphians did. He will reward them at his return (10-11). Now we have the church of Philadelphia, the faithful remnant. The statement does not refer directly to the rapture. It was Jesus' promise that, if a man confessed him before men, he would confess him before his Father; and if a man denied him before men, he would deny him before his Father ( Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9). The words of men are trifling in value; it takes a mass of them to come to the value of a farthing; but any one word of the Lord is worth a mint of gold. They have exercised this influence in all ages, and this is where, as I judge, their formation as a system is stigmatized by the Lord Jesus Christ. In particular the temple was the centre of a medical school which was transferred to Laodicea itself. ], "Probably the most debated verse in the whole discussion about the time of the Churchs rapture is Revelation 3:10." the beginning of the creation of God ( Revelation 3:14 ); Or who was in the beginning of God's creation. More, however, is meant than simply loving the word, though that is no small thing. But the Lord will compel the recognition of His own testimony. I may be a fool, and an old-fashioned bigot, but I am not a turncoat, and I cannot quit the word of the Lord. This is a strange title and may go back to either of two origins. ." 1-888-672-6657. (ii) Laodicea prided itself on its clothing trade. From the hour of temptation - The season; the time; the period of temptation. Verse 2: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and hisleft footon the earth, The King James and Revised Standard Versions speak of eye-salve. ISBN-13 9780952489429 ISBN-10 0952489422 Num total owners: 3 God was announced in His own everlasting being; the Holy Ghost in His fulness of governmental power; the Lord Jesus in that which was connected with the earth, even if He were risen from the dead; and this put in the last place, because He is viewed only in an earthly point of view. He was not in the least worried, for he thought that all he had to do was to retire to the impregnable citadel of Sardis, recuperate and fight again. We need not make a choice between these various meanings; we may well believe that they are all included in the greatness of the promise. What does Revelation 3:10 mean? But that cannot happen if every day a man lives in the presence of Christ; he who walks hand-in-hand with Christ cannot be taken unawares by his coming. Revelation 3:13) in a position of safety presupposes that they will have been removed to another location (i.e., heaven) at the periods beginning. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Originally Laodicea had been a fortress; but it had the serious handicap that all its water supply had to come by underground aqueduct from springs no less than six miles away, a perilous situation for a town besieged. Revelation 3:10-11 New King James Version 10 Because you have kept [ a]My command to persevere,I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come uponthe whole world, to test those who dwellon the earth. Most of the population lived outside the city in huts and feared even to go on the city streets lest they should be killed by failing masonry. Judas lost his place to Matthias ( Acts 1:25-26). This then would describe the lasting honour which Christ pays to his faithful ones. I am inclined to think that the hour of trial embraces the whole Apocalyptic period; that is, not merely the awful time when Satan in a rage is expelled from on high, and when the beast, energised by him, rises to his full head of power, but the previous period of trouble, seduction, and judgment. I have added it all up, and I count the reproach of Christ to be greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt." The condemnation of Laodicea begins with a picture of almost crude vividness; because the Laodiceans are neither cold nor hot, they have about them a kind of nauseating quality, which will make the Risen Christ vomit them out of his mouth. People in Philadelphia well knew what security lay in a promise that "they would go out no more. In fact, the principal burden of the great prophecies about to be unveiled was that of strengthening and encouraging the church against that very event. In the Christian life there must be a decisive moment, when a man decides to be done with the old way and to begin on the new. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the church ( Revelation 3:13 ). To this purpose are saints sent into the world to keep this treasure of the church against all adversaries. He who overcomes will be thus clothed in white raiment and I will not wipe his name out of the Book of Life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. Examine the use of woman symbolically, and you will find, I believe, that this is true. 7 "If Gundry's view of Rev. Possibly you have not much strength as to influence: your sphere may be very narrow, and your power in it very slight. That which had produced the mighty results was no longer active, nor could be. He is the new and living way into the presence of God. The following example shows the process from tribulation to patience: The disciples go and give the message of him that they followed. Two other roads passed through the gates of Laodicea, that from Pergamum and the Hermus Valley to Pisidia and Pamphylia and the coast at Perga and that from eastern Caria to central and west Phrygia. There is another warning here. It set out along the valley of the River Maeander until it reached what were known as the Gates of Phrygia. John stands in a position analogous to Daniel; he becomes now the object of the communications of the Lord Jesus, not that which still bore the name of the Lord here below. Laodicea prided itself on three things; and each is taken in turn and shown at its true value. Observe, First, The greatest honour and happiness any church can enjoy consist in the peculiar love and favour of Christ. The motives, taken from the speedy appearance of Christ: "Behold, I come quickly. It has been said that Sardis stood like some gigantic watch-tower, guarding the Hermus valley. No, all Christians will experience transformation at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). I do not say when, where, or how; but as surely as He lives, will the Lord vindicate the truth He has given, and the testimony He has raised up for His name. May every church of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it have little strength or much, be concerned to be steadfast in the faith loyal to King Jesus firm in the truths which Christ has taught us by the Holy Ghost. In the sentence, "You have kept my word, and have not denied my name," both the verbs are in the aorist tense, which describes one definite act in past time; and the implication is that there had been some time of trial out of which the Philadelphian Church had emerged triumphantly true. That which is not in Holy Scripture is not to be received as matter of faith in the Christian church; but that which is there is to be received and held with that stern steadfastness, that incorruptible faith, which no more changes than the unchanging truth which it has grasped. "Mission for God exists because worship of God doesn't." -John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad Introduction: And the same spirit of unbelief which let in the mischief keeps it in, decrying the true application of the two-edged sword now as then. Often these attacks are subtle. We have taken them with the words which precede them. (iii) The Risen Christ says: "Keep the commands of the gospel." The connection of the Son with creation is frequently made in the New Testament. 176-91.]. "I rebuke and discipline all those whom I love." In Greek there are two words for true. This Philadelphian church had won the commendation, "Thou hast kept my word." Yet in a world swiftly growing callous, true purpose and meaning are fading. He may call others. 2. And the apostle Paul showed that it was really to annul Christ to fall from grace if the law, introduced either for justification or for a rule of life, were imposed on the Christian. In the gospel John may speak, but he speaks as one who had seen the Lord, as one who could bear his own personal voucher for whatever he utters. Directly opposite Laodicea, on the other bank of the Lycus, and in full view, stood Hierapolis, famous for its hot mineral springs. 149. Still they become a witnessing body more or less in spirit, apart from that which set up the highest pretension but in profoundly wicked communion with Jezebel, as the Lord judged and stigmatized what man called "our mother, the holy Catholic, church." When a bushel is full of wheat the good corn keeps the chaff out of the measure. 3. But here He has the seven Spirits of God. He opens a door of opportunity to his churches; he opens a door of utterance to his ministers; he opens a door of entrance, opens the heart; he opens a door of admission into the visible church, laying down the terms of communion; and he opens the door of admission into the church triumphant, according to the terms of salvation fixed by him. Here, perhaps, all that is implied is, that the trial would be very extensive or general - so much so as to embrace the world, as the word was understood by those to whom the epistle was addressed. Hold on to what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 10 Commentary Interval before the seventh trumpet (10:1-11) During the lengthy interval before the blowing of the final trumpet, John has several other visions. 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 hour seems to refer not to any of the vials which will be poured out on the antichristian states, but to some affliction and distress which will befall the reformed churches, and will light upon the outward court worshippers among them It seems to be the last struggle of the beast of Rome, and to denote some violent and sharp persecution, such as what Daniel mentions, that never was before nor since; but it will be but short, but one hour, the twenty fourth part of a prophetical day or year, perhaps about a fortnight; yet it will be very extensive; it will reach all the world, the whole Roman empire, and all that dwell upon the earth, that are called by the name of Christians, and will try them, whether they are so or not; Christ will now have his fan in his hand, and purge his floor of all his formal professors and hypocrites; and it will be known who are his true churches, and pure members; and these he will keep close to himself, and preserve safe amidst all the distress and confusion the world will be in. marie judith kumerow, Known as the King James Version has it, `` Probably the most debated verse in the of! 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