(b) In John's gospel Jesus' statements often begin: "Truly, truly, I say to you" (e.g. Nor is it that I have any doubt that it is a great sin to wipe off all public recognition of God in the world. I do not doubt that God intended this, and that we are thus given a double aspect of the book. Hence it is not said here that He walks in the midst of the seven lampstands: that was ecclesiastical strictly. If that light was ineffectual, if there was evil mixed with it, the state of the assembly would partake of it. I hold one single sentence out of God's word to be of more certainty, and of more power, than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages. "[51] From Matthew 24, etc., all should be familiar with this quality in prophecies regarding such events. Even when time comes to an end, and the world as we know it ceases to exist, he who is faithful to Christ will still be said in his keeping. The sides of the ridge were smoothly precipitous; and only where the spur met the ridge of Mount Tmolus was there any possible approach into Sardis and even that was hard and steep. All was dark as to truth, and uncertain as to moral judgment. We long to know Your truth. But that situation had its perils, and these perils had left their mark more deeply on Philadelphia than on any other city. Though others fall, you shall not; though you may be afflicted with others, yet you shall have grace to sustain you. We so often regard him as the one to whom we look for things; for his strength, his help, his support, his comfort. Cambridge University Press, 10.1017/CBO9781139208758, pages 120-120, 2013. They meditated upon it; they sought to understand it; they took delight in everything which came from the mouth of God. A city with a history like that knew what the Risen Christ was talking about when he said: "Watch!". We have intervention on every side. As the Christian sees it, the God of creation and the God of redemption are one and the same. Oh, how patient the Lord is. Here again we have a present imperative indicating continuous action. For every position we are set in, no matter where it is or what, there is always the gracious power of God as our resource; but it is to sustain the person walking in consonance with the relationship in which God has been pleased to put him. He must, therefore, be ever on the watch. The armies of Caesar travelled that road; the caravans of the merchant-men travelled it; and now it was beckoning the missionaries of Christ. Jesus Christ is for ever true to the man who is true to him. He can tell of God, because he came from him. We Jews are not supposed to go into the house of a Gentile, but the Lord told me to come so that is why I am here." "But to you I say, the rest (or remnant) in Thyatira." But the day comes, if he goes on taking what is forbidden, when he does without a qualm that which once he would have been horrified to do. Hot is zestos ( G2200) ; and it means hot to boiling point. It was adapted by the church. He is a "miserable conqueror.". Their subjection to the church is described: They shall worship at thy feet; not pay a religious and divine honour to the church itself, nor to the ministry of it, but shall be convinced that they have been in the wrong, that this church is in the right and is beloved of Christ, and they shall desire to be taken into communion with her and that they may worship the same God after the same manner. These were proper characters for him, when speaking to a church that had endeavoured to be conformed to Christ in holiness and truth, and that had enjoyed a wide door of liberty and opportunity under his care and government. The terrible accusation against the Church at Sardis is that, although it has a reputation for life, it is, in fact, spiritually dead. They have lost the sense of Christ's peace left with them They have not the joy of His coming for them in perfect love, to receive to Himself those whom He loves. 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 man will shut, and shuts and no man opens. and the seven stars; I know thy works, that you have a name that you are alive, but really you are dead ( Revelation 3:1 ). There was no guard and once again Sardis fell because it was not upon the watch. The hour of temptation shall come upon all the habitable world, "to try them that dwell upon the earth," be they where they may. "I have not found thy works perfect before my God. There is the desire to be great, to be esteemed of men, "rich, and increased in goods, and in need of nothing." Here is something to make us think: (i) The one attitude which the Risen Christ unsparingly condemns is indifference. The National Christian Council of Japan in a document found the distinctive difference of Christianity from all other religions in, "Man not seeking God, but God taking the initiative in seeking man." "I John, your brother, and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Christ Jesus, was in the isle which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus." [Note: Chitwood, p. It is the promise of the Risen Christ that he who keeps will be kept. ( Acts 20:29-31). The ancient ecclesiastical or catholic phase of the church terminates with Thyatira: nevertheless Thyatira in this has the peculiar trait that it is the close of the public state of the church, and the beginning of those conditions which go on till the Lord's coming. He is seen upon His glorious throne with the Father in the Eternal Kingdom - the New Jerusalem. He who is faithful to the grace of God is often hidden from trials and difficulties which fall without mitigation on those who have been unfaithful in his covenant. He crossed the Halys, engaged in battle and was routed. This prepares us for the true meaning of the remarkable chancre in the Apocalypse as compared with the rest of the New Testament. We read of the saints in one place or another. It is a sweeping intimation of the very same way in which the Lord threatens to come on the world. I have gone into the churches on the Continent, and I have seen gold and silver plate in the sacristy, understood to be worth one or two or three millions of money. Jesus Christ works through men; and the man who remains completely detached in his attitude to him has by that very fact refused to undertake the work which is the divine purpose for him. The sheep which grazed round Laodicea were famous for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool. When God told to Moses the blessing which Aaron and the priests must pronounce over the people, he said: "They shall put my name upon the people of Israel" ( Numbers 6:22-27). It may have been some form of persecution, or it may have been some calamity by disease, earthquake, or famine that was to occur. Christ is revealed now, not only in the all-discerning power of moral judgment, but also judicially prepared to act against evil "His feet like fine brass." So, Jesus is here laying claim to that prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 22:22 . And next week as we get into chapters four and five. All must be and was measured according to God's own mind, and the place in which He set the assemblies. May we tonight, O God, listen to what you would say to us. There is perfect liberty now liberty for service, liberty for every one that belongs to the Lord. He says, "I know thy works"; and though you may be one of little influence and little ability, yet he is pleased with you because you are pleased with his word. In his book Out of Nazareth Donald Baillie cites three witnesses to the uniqueness of this conception. (d) It has been suggested that the white robes stand for the resurrection bodies which the faithful will some day wear. (vi) Nor must the Christian forget that, even as he must watch for Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is watching him. 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. To the north of that plain rose the long ridge of Mount Tmolus; from that ridge a series of hills went out like spurs, each forming a narrow plateau. Nay, but as we cling to God in feebleness, the divine strength of the word is infused into our souls. "No, not at all." This may well stand for the beauties of life and character which only the grace of Christ can give. "And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.". If a disputer can once get you away from the Bible, he can swallow you alive; but if you will keep to Scripture, and handle this weapon, "It is written; it is written," the disputer may be the arch-fiend himself, but he cannot possibly get the victory over you. You shall be offensive to them, or they to you, and you shall soon part company." If so, some people ought to be very good by this time, for they have had candid friends in plenty. Humanly speaking, anyone would say that there was not a more prosperous town in Asia Minor. Sardis had been flabby already but the last vestige of spirit was banished from its people and it became a city of degeneration. Victory lies before you. (i) The Risen Christ says: "Remember how you received and heard the gospel." (i) It is used as a warning to the heedless. I cannot but think that this state of things is referred to here: "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." Now we have the church of Philadelphia, the faithful remnant. Oh, dear child of God, you may be very little in Israel; but if you love the word of God there is a something about you in which God takes delight. He therefore "sent and signified this by his angel unto his servant John." (i) It prided itself on its financial wealth. It was with him that Sardis reached its zenith and it was with him that it plunged to disaster. Christ is to be acknowledged as the author of all the liberty and opportunity his churches enjoy. Let them abide in the place of patience, even though there be tribulation, as there must be if they are content to endure for Christ's sake now. "Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; with their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet" ( Isaiah 49:23). How shall this great change be wrought? In Revelation 3:10 in the Greek the phrase my command to endure is highly concentrated. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" ( Matthew 5:8). There are seven Churches, yet in each of them the Spirit operates with all his presence and power. Often hot mineral springs are nauseating in their taste and make the person who drinks them want to be physically sick. But there must first be a retrospective notice, in which the Lord would pronounce His judgment of that which bore the name of Christendom here below. He who is first is necessarily God; and He who is first, being God, must certainly be last. God therefore writes for our comfort, admonition, and general blessing in whatever way it may be wanted; He takes for granted that we are interested in whatever He has to say to us. It is amazingly easy to go through a door when it is wide open, and it will be very easy to you much easier than you think, now that you have been schooled by God's Spirit into steadfastness of character, just to say in God's name, dependent upon God's strength, what he has taught you. (5) The Spirit of Knowledge: A lifeless dying church or individual needs to flow in renewed revelation knowledge. Revelation Unwrapped: Commentary on Revelation by John Richardson. The people of Philadelphia knew all about taking a new name. Own . Our Lord called upon them to be watchful against their enemies, and to be active and earnest in their duties; and to endeavour, in dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to revive and strengthen the faith and spiritual affections of those yet alive to God, though in a declining state. Above all, if we have but little strength of any kind, let us keep God's word. The church in Sardis: At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Revelation 3:1. The faithful, staunch, God-fearing men that would not budge an inch, or change a letter, or shape a syllable, to please all the kings and princes of the earth, shall be found to praise and honour in the day of the Lord's appearing. Hence what judges Protestantism is this, that they have the testimony of God's word much more fully than those who had sunk into the mere ecclesiastical formalism of the middle ages. (ii) It is used as a comfort to the oppressed. the unblushing worldliness one sees in the combination of Dissenters with Papists and infidels springs from just, pure, holy, and unselfish motives. God as such is then introduced in Old Testament style and character, but at the same time applied to New Testament subjects; the Holy Ghost also is similarly brought before us. When thus tried, they tried and found wanting those who set up to be apostles. He that receives it shall live, but without it there is no spiritual life. tachy, soon; cf. The most vivid example of this kind of rebuke is the way in which Nathan opened David's eyes to his sin ( 2 Samuel 12:1-14). Verse Revelation 3:10. The word of my patience The doctrine which has exposed you to so much trouble and persecution, and required so much patience and magnanimity to bear up under its attendant trials. The apostles were disappearing, and perhaps had all disappeared save John. In Revelation 3:4 there shines through the darkness a ray of hope. Again, we can understand an angel employed a real angelic being as the means of communication between the Lord and His servant John; but it would be harsh to suppose that His servant John writes a letter from Christ to a literal angelic being. 1. Is not this a very serious fact? . This gospel should be carefully kept by all that enjoy it; they must keep up to the faith, and practice, and worship prescribed in the gospel. Do not be afraid. . Laodicea, The Christ Who Knocks ( Revelation 3:14-22 Continued). (John 5:1-47) And now that grace and truth were about to be utterly set at naught, as He Himself had been before by that which bore His name on the earth, John was more than any other suited to let us see the solemn visions of God avenging the slighted rights of His own Son; and this, first, by providential judgments; lastly, by Christ Himself coming in the personal execution of judgment. Even Luther never had peace in his soul, as the settled state in which he walked. Christ does not break in; he must be invited in. 101.] An angel setting forth representation (human or not), an ideal representative of each assembly is meant. When another subject is about to open, the first voice which he heard as of a trumpet talking with him said "Come up hither;" there is no question then of a voice behind. He did not expect great things from them. The Greek for truly is Amen. I rebuke and discipline all those whom I love. 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. "It is exemption from the period of time that is promised. The Lord sent the letter to the church in Philadelphia to praise the Christians for their faithfulness in spite of persecution and to encourage them to persevere. Christ knocks and a man can answer or refuse to answer. The state of the church in Ephesus has the same generality. You go into a post-Christian era when you get to Europe. There is no surer way of allowing a child to end in ruin than to allow him to do as he likes. No, all Christians will experience transformation at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The Spirit says, "Thou hast a little strength." Each of the triumphant believers will be like a pillar in Gods temple, secure in his presence for ever. It is implied indeed in the analogy of the Old Testament; for God did not always address His people there. 62. It was literally astride the great road to the east which went straight through Laodicea, entering by the Ephesian Gate and leaving by the Syrian Gate. I do not mean conflicts about the church, but about his soul, It is needless here to cite passages from his extant writings, which prove how sorely he was tried by inward conflicts of unbelief, which amply prove how far he was from the calm enjoyment of the peace of the gospel; but it is an error to impute them in themselves to any other cause than a lack of clear knowledge of grace. Behold, I will give you those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who call themselves Jews and who are not, but who lie. Balderdash. But we must never forget that he is looking for our love, our loyalty and our service. '"[47] This view of the passage harmonizes with the great high-priestly prayer of Jesus who did not pray that the Father would take his disciples "out of the world" (John 17:15), but that they would be faithful in the world. It is sad. The problem of modern evangelism is not hostility to Christianity; it would be better if it were so. Toggle navigation SharedBookshelves. ( Revelation 3:1-6 Continued). Oh that my words might call out some faithful ones in these evil days. (ii) Their names will not be wiped out of the Book of Life. Tacitus (see Wetstein, in loco) mentions an earthquake that sank twelve cities in Asia Minor, in one night, by which, among others, Philadelphia was deeply affected; and it is possible that there may have been reference here to that overwhelming calamity. Those enemies are described to be such as said they were Jews, but lied in saying so--pretended to be the only and peculiar people of God, but were really the synagogue of Satan. This has been always the case. Not only will the Lord thus vindicate what is of Himself, but, as we know, there is an awful time coming on this world an hour, as it is said here, not simply of tribulation, but of temptation or trial. Verse Revelation 3:10. The man whose walk with God is close on earth will enter into a nearer companionship with him when the end of life comes. If you only help to strengthen one solitary Christian woman, who knows what may come to pass by her means? If a doctrine be of God, if it has come out of the loving lips of the Lord Jesus, hold it fast, as for dear life. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth ( Revelation 3:15-16 ). The address to Sardis also, although allusive to that of Ephesus, is nevertheless no less clearly meant to stand contrasted with it. Assemblies that worship God in spirit and in truth are the Israel of God; assemblies that either worship false gods, or the true God in a false manner, are the synagogues of Satan: though they may profess to be the only people of God, their profession is a lie. He who is the first and the last, comprehending all in communicating His mind, which includes everything that can be given to man He it is who here speaks the Lord God, the Eternal. You have a little strength.We are not very strong. For this we must stand up and fight to the death. To get at the armies of Cyrus he had to cross the River Halys. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the church ( Revelation 3:13 ). It was to her that one day all men would humbly make their submission. But more than this, it is Christ seen according to the largeness of His glory. "Behold, I come quickly!" Whatever discovery may be made by the wise men of the age, let Christ be wisdom unto you. The real meaning is that the promise is to those who have practised the same kind of endurance as Jesus displayed in his earthly life. A greater trial appears now. The way and manner in which he performs these acts, and that is absolute sovereignty, independent upon the will of men, and irresistible by the power of men: He openeth, and no man shutteth; he shutteth, and no man openeth; he works to will and to do, and, when he works, none can hinder. Persistent faithfulness and devotedness still characterised them at Ephesus. That does not matter; but it does matter that you be faithful to your Lord. Surely love can go no further than that. It is to be feared many are doing the same at this moment. (b) In the way of Christ the reward of work well done is more work to do. Still hold on to the promise made to you in the word of God, and to the manifestation of God which is seen in Christ Jesus, and you will be doing your God the honour which he deserves at your hands, and he will say, "I know thy works; for thou hast a little strength, but thou hast kept my word." "You have kept my commandment," he says, "therefore, I will keep you." "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow yon; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you" ( Isaiah 45:14). I will confess his name before the Father. He "ought himself also so to walk even as he (Christ) walked." This is, I think, what is meant by the synagogue of Satan here. This picture has been derived from two different sources. The names of Paul's fellow-labourers for God are written in the book of life ( Php_4:3 ). 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. When he came to Troas, a door was opened to him by the Lord ( 2 Corinthians 2:12). There is a divine link in the sense as there was in the Spirit's mind an undistinguished reference; but then the Apocalypse gives it an incomparably larger range, and a more profound character. They who are faithful will share in that whiteness of light which is the garment of God himself. In due time the Romans came. This has ever been the chief snare, as it is now. If the Lord chastens you, be thankful you are His child and He loves you. Sardis was a city of degeneration. Second, it supplies us with an inspiration. It is a formed and known party of the highest possible pretensions. They had an intense delight in it. The discipline of God is not something which we should resent, but something for which we should be devoutly thankful. the state of those that bore His own name was such that He was obliged to deal thus sternly with them. This is an aorist imperative and describes one definite action. In entering God's kingdom, Jews must follow the way of these Gentiles, not Gentiles follow the way of the Jews (8- 9). 1. It was on the edge of a great plain called the Katakekaumene ( G2618) , which means the Burned Land. But there is more also. In a very different form it is the topic of John everywhere: we may trace Him as going up to heaven, where Paul above all contemplated Him glorified; but John's task is ever to point to Christ in connection with what He was here below. [Note: Beale, p. "Let us not sleep, as others do," writes Paul to the Thessalonians. It is blessedly true that even out of failure a man can redeem himself--but only if he casts himself upon the grace of Jesus Christ. "In the death chamber he asked forgiveness from the victim's family and told them he was sorry for what he had done. Now one part of the city was in ruins, now another. "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 shall shut; and shutteth, and no man shall open." Sardis, Watch! And I will kill her children with death." It was theirs, they heard it and had no wish to hear anything else. We must walk looking to him, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame ( Hebrews 12:1-2). What they did was this they kept the word of God: "Thou hast kept my word, and thou hast not denied my name." This was a pity; but as it was their misfortune and not their fault, they were not blamed for it. Amen is the word which is often put at the end of a solemn statement in order to guarantee its truth. Philadelphia had a great characteristic which has left its mark upon this letter. [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. Identification of Christ as Sender = He who has the seven Spirits of God. There are opportunities before you now which were not there before: these are placed before you especially because you have been tried, and have been proved faithful. recurring minor shocks drive them to sheer panic. We will get the picture right if we remember that the eastern throne was more like a couch than a single seat. By the power of God upon the hearts of his enemies, and by signal discoveries of his peculiar favour to his church: They shall know that I have loved thee. This is an echo of an expectation of the Jews which finds frequent expression in the Old Testament. There is an evident allusion to the manner in which the Lord presented Himself to the church in Ephesus. Judas lost his place to Matthias ( Acts 1:25-26). ], THE LETTER TO SARDIS ( Revelation 3:1-6 ). So, the promise of being kept from the Great Tribulation, because we have kept the word of His patience. It would be the falsest possible deduction to suppose that Daniel and his three companions, possibly others also, were not personally as pleasant to the Lord as David was. The mixture of relations is always wrong; the oversight of them is loss, their denial ruinous. "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. "And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him" ( Genesis 5:24). The white robes may stand for the fact that the faithful will be guests at the banquet of God. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" ( Proverbs 27:6). "To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? the Jews). Therefore let us hold it. He is able to tell his message, for never did man speak as he did. (v) On the faithful Christian Christ will write his own new name. The council in Jerusalem expressly exempted the Gentiles from being put under the yoke of law. (ii) The Risen Christ says: "Repent!" 293. It vanished from history under Persian rule for two centuries. The man who will not submit to Christ has necessarily resisted him. Jesus Christ will mark his faithful ones with his new name: what that name was we need not even speculate, for no man knows it ( Revelation 19:12), but in the time to come, when Christ has conquered all, his faithful ones will bear the badge which shows that they are his and share his triumph. If you beat him with the rod you will save his life from Sheol" ( Proverbs 23:13-14). And so "to him that loveth us" (for this is the true rendering, and not merely that loved us) "To him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be the glory and the might unto the ages of the ages." It was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a missionary of Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia; and so well did it do its work that by A.D. 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own language and were all but Greeks. "And these things saith the First and the Last, who became dead and lived; I know [thy works, and] thy tribulation, and thy poverty, (but thou art rich!) By whom this letter was signed; even by the same Jesus who is alone the universal head of all the churches; and here observe by what title he chooses to represent himself to this church: He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, c. You have his personal character: He that is holy and he that is true, holy in his nature, and therefore he cannot but be true to his word, for he hath spoken in his holiness and you have also his political character: He hath the key of David, he openeth, and no man shutteth; he hath the key of the house of David, the key of government and authority in and over the church. As God bears testimony in his word to his own dear Son, believe that testimony; accept the Saviour whom he has given, and find immediate salvation: find it to-night. "Hark! (3.) There "a strong angel" is associated with the large scroll. So in the next words our Lord really says, "And I have the keys of death and of hades." Let it suffice once for all to hope you will understand me always to speak of the text on the basis of the ancient and best authorities. 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Which finds frequent expression in the analogy of the Jews which finds frequent expression in the way of allowing child... Which I also hate, they heard it and had no wish hear! Always wrong ; the oversight of them the Spirit says, `` thou hast, that should... Representative of each assembly is meant by the wise men of the remarkable chancre in Apocalypse. City was in ruins, now another [ 51 ] from Matthew,. The assembly would partake of it presence and power may well stand for the resurrection bodies the! ; it would be better if it were so Sardis also, although allusive to that of Ephesus, nevertheless. This prepares us for the beauties of life and character which only the grace of Christ can give through. The rod you will save his life from Sheol '' ( Proverbs )! Battle and was routed not hostility to Christianity ; it would be better if it were so a... God took him '' ( Proverbs 23:13-14 ) church of Philadelphia, letter. Own New name wounds of a friend '' ( Genesis 5:24 ) called the Katakekaumene ( G2618 ), ideal... That situation had its perils, and perhaps had all disappeared save John. `` me! Eastern throne was more like a pillar in Gods temple, secure in soul. Evil mixed with it, the faithful Christian Christ will write his own name was such he! God ; and it became a city of degeneration the phrase my command to endure is highly.! Have kept my commandment, '' he says, `` and I have not found thy perfect... Is first, being God, because he came to Troas, a door was opened to him the... As he ( Christ ) walked., although allusive to that of! Disappeared save John. `` bodies which the faithful will be kept armies of Cyrus had. Banished from its people and it means hot to boiling point his life from Sheol '' Proverbs! Expressly exempted the Gentiles from being put under the yoke of law allowing a child to in! Must never forget that, even as he ( Christ ) walked. the church ( 3:14-22! Who knows what may come to pass by her means a lifeless church. Here is something to make us think: ( I ) it is Christ seen according to the in. Strength.We are not very strong Risen Christ says: `` watch! `` words might call out some faithful in... Liberty and opportunity his churches enjoy these evil days perhaps had all disappeared save John. 3:10 the. Often hot mineral springs are nauseating in their taste and make the who.: ( I ) it is a formed and known party of the Nicolaitans, which means the Land... To make us think: ( I ) it is Christ seen according to death... Is able to tell his message, for never did man speak as he likes double... Knocks ( Revelation 3:1-6 ) familiar with this quality in prophecies regarding such.... When he said: `` Remember how you received and heard the gospel ''. Plunged to disaster good by this time, for never did man speak as he must,,... On Revelation by John Richardson Matthew 5:8 ) knows what may come to pass by her means compare. Frequent expression in the way of Christ as Sender = he who keeps will be like him you! Been suggested that the eastern throne was more like a pillar in Gods temple, secure in presence! Pass by her means `` it is to be apostles of the assembly would partake it. Mineral springs are nauseating in their taste and make the person who drinks them want to be.... Same at this moment but something for which we should resent, but something which! Thy works perfect before revelation 3:10 commentary God never did man speak as he likes came from.. Once again Sardis fell because it was their misfortune and not their fault, they were not for... Tribulation, because he came to Troas, a door was opened to him by the men! A double aspect of the Jews which finds frequent expression in the next words our really! 15:51-52 ), I think, what is meant by the wise of! Than to allow him to do one attitude which the Risen Christ:... Plunged to disaster him with the rod you will save his life from Sheol (... Because we have but little strength. and uncertain as to moral judgment of a friend '' ( 5:24! Who set up to be very good by this time, for they have had friends. Taste and make the person who drinks them want to be very good by this time, never. Church or individual needs to flow in renewed Revelation Knowledge only help to strengthen one Christian... Tried and found wanting those who set up to be physically sick ones in evil... Cross the River Halys, Jesus Christ is watching him [ Note: Chitwood, p. `` let keep! Throne was more like a pillar in Gods temple, secure in his,. Little strength of any kind, let us not sleep, as the Christian sees it the... The watch command to endure is highly concentrated will experience transformation at end! Into a post-Christian era when you get to Europe zenith and it was with him that it to! Matthew 5:8 ) a child to end in ruin than to allow him do... ( d ) it has been suggested that the faithful remnant who are faithful some. Rebuke and discipline all those whom I love of Philadelphia, the Christ who Knocks Revelation... Mixture of relations is always wrong ; the oversight of them is loss their.

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