Introduction
"The letters contained in the Book of Revelation to the Congregations"
Chapters 2-3 of the Book of Revelation contain the missionary letters to the 7 Congregations of Asia Minor at the time of the apostle John. However, the Bible is relevant at all times and those letters have had at least two different meanings in different eras. The Revelation of John is a prophetic/apocalyptic book, and because of that, I think the letters also tell about the development stages of the Messianic Congregations, in the past, in the present, and even until the end of the 1000-year peace period that lies ahead of us.
When we look at the Congregations in John's time and after, and how the places were named, it all tells us that Elohim has planned everything nicely.
Processing of the topic
Today we are studying Revelation chapter 3 and the mission letter mentioned only in the middle of the chapter to the Congregation in Philadelphia.
A letter to the Congregation in Philadelphia
From the seven Asia Minor Congregations this was one of the two in which could found nothing to blame, but contained a lot of good and exemplary activities!
>>7 "To the angel of the Congregation in Philadelphia write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: 8 'I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.
*) (Acc. to G. Lamsa) or: "suddenly" /// **) (Acc. to G. Lamsa) or: "your wreath"
9 Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan - who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying - Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon *). Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown **).
12 The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my Elohim and the name of the city of my Elohim (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my Elohim), and my new name as well. 13 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the Congregations.'<<
*) (Acc. to G. Lamsa) or: "suddenly" /// **) (Acc. to G. Lamsa) or: "your wreath"
Verse 7: Yeshua reports himself as Holy One and True One, who has the key of David and has the power to open up so that no one can close, and has the power to close so that no one can open. This means that this book cannot be opened through human wisdom or understanding, but only through the Holy Spirit's help.
Verse 8: Opening the door meant the success of taking the Salvation message into the environment for those who were without it. It meant that the door is also open to the eternal halls of heaven to those members of Congregation who have found the right mutual love, that is, learned to love each other despite their deficiencies.
Yeshua mentioned that mutual love is the only outwardly visible identification mark that can be used to recognize us as his disciples (John 13:35). Only doctrinal purity and the most complete theology are not enough, even though they are important. People primarily want to get and experience genuine love in words and deeds, and to be saved by Adonai Yeshua!
Verse 9: According to Yeshua and what was originally seen with the true eyes of our heavenly Father, some of the Jews in the community were spiritually evaluated 'Satan's synagogue' because they tried hard to stop them and made it very difficult for them to tell the Good Message of Salvation to all the people. However, Yeshua had not abandoned them, but promised to humiliate them and bring them to bow and kneel in front of the members of Congregation. In addition, this refers to kneeling of the all people before Yeshua's feet, because he is the only head of the Congregations!
Verse 10: Yeshua promises to reward those who obey him by protecting them from the very bad test that will come into the whole world. In my opinion, the prophetic promise is also hidden for the Rapture of Congregation in the end of the time, whose members will be saved from the moment of the test, that is, to be taken safety into heaven, before the 7-year period, when the great anxiety and anger will soon confront the world!
Verse 11: This also refers to Yeshua's sudden arrival, which has promised to encourage all Messianic generations, but is the most important for the true believers of the New Covenant in the end time! Only the winners will be promised the crown of life, to which Yeshua also referred to in the end of verse Rev. 2:10
Verse 12: Only the winners are promised permanent access to our Creator to the heavenly temple. 'Pillar' means appreciation and is a symbol of YHWH's power and strengthening (1 Kings 7:21). What other promise would have fit better for that little and "small" Congregation!
- In addition, he promised to write three different names on the winners: the name of his Elohim, the name of the New Jerusalem of the Elohim descending from heaven to earth, and his own new name. Anciently slaves were marked with their owner's name.
Verse 13: Believers in Yeshua are urged (again) to listen and to pay close attention to what the Holy Spirit says to all Congregations and also to us as individs!
Congregation in Philadelphia for short
§ Philadelphia means: "Brotherly love".
- With those three different names to be sealed the civil rights of all our Believers of the New Covenant, belonging to the eternal spiritual Israel, the right to the eternal Jerusalem, our royal right to be the children of YHWH Elohim and also the membership in the royal priesthood of Yeshua as it is written in verses Eph. 2:11-16 and 1 Pet. 2:9.
Verse 13: Believers in Yeshua are urged (again) to listen and to pay close attention to what the Holy Spirit says to all Congregations and also to us as individs!
- - -
Regarding local Congregations in general, I remember a Bible school principal (Ebbe Bolin, Sweden) who had preached in about 40 years in numerous local Congregations, in large and small. He had stated that if in the Congregation were only about 40-50 members, its members had the best conditions to grow in the inner knowledge of Adonai Yeshua and to actively bear responsibility in evangelizing and other work.Congregation in Philadelphia for short
(§ = meaning, + = pluses, - = minuses)
Also refers to the Congregation period 1750 - 2030 "Mission Parish" – It was located in Lydia, near Sardis, approx. 100 km (about 62 mi) northeast of Ephesus and was a border town.
§ Philadelphia means: "Brotherly love".
§ The city of Philadelphia was the youngest and its Congregation the smallest in size, but it was the most courageous to proclaim the name of Yeshua!
§ Some names of Yeshua: "Holy and True", "Holder of the Key of David".
§ The Congregation that is vigilant and keeps its soul pure will be taken to safety in the Rapture before the start of 7 years of tribulation and wrath.
§ The Congregation in Philadelphia functioned independently from the Congregations in Sardis and in Laodicea.
Pluses or minuses:
+ Doing deeds pleasing to YHWH / + Endurance despite little strength.
+ Obedience and reaching out according to the Word / + Recognition of the name Yeshua.
+ Promise to get new members / + Keeping the words of truth.
- (nothing).
/// The revivals of this 'Mission period' began in A.D. 1739 from George Whitefield, continuing through John Wesley, Charles G. Finney, and Dwight L. Moody, and many other chosen workers, in force until 1900, and have since diluted in many respects.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/tbr/tbr017.htm /// The above link does not take into account the tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit that occurred in the early 20th century and has continued as a charismatic movement with the goal of restoring all current local Congregations of Adonai Yeshua to the apostolic teachings, and also to operate using gifts of grace to guide the chosen believers to sanctification and prepare them to Rapture.
In addition, it should be mentioned that the times of these similar 7 Congregations continue spiritually and in outline until the beginning of the 1000-year peace era, with the exception of the immaculate "Philadelphia Congregation" (consisting of genuine watchful believers in many Congregations worldwide), whose members will be taken up already 7 years before that.
Introspection
Let's think about our local Congregation and ourselves as individuals, whether there are similar reasons for thanksgiving in it and in us as individuals? If we also find reasons for reproach, then let us humble ourselves to repent as a Congregation and as individuals, asking for leading in the Holy Spirit, praying for desire and strength from above!
Songs suitable for the topic
Morning Has Broken
Whispering Hope
Oh Gentle Shepherd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQD6L5icgyU
I WILL CELEBRATE; JEHOVAH JIREH
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