To the Church in Philadelphia

I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Open doors imply easy access. That sounds so much easier than having to climb to the mountain top. Also, once you enter, there is no need to close the door behind you. There is a sense of security in knowing the door is not there to keep out bad things.

I am comforted that this church does not assume the mantle of power like so many churches do. The real power belongs to God. Keeping His word is power enough.

Here is an interesting section about the synagogue of Satan being made to bow down before them. The purpose for that is to see God loves this church. That is powerful. In the very next sentence is a hope many of us cling to by faith, that we will not see the hour of that trial that is coming. Then those miraculous words, “I am coming soon.”

What we have seen in pass conquering rewards are found to be different here. Rather than a seat they are made to be a pillar. Pillars that hold up the roof must be strong and they will be seen by all that enter in. The name of God will be written on the pillar, and low and behold we hear yet another new thing. The New Jerusalem is introduced.

I am not sure who gets a new name. That will have to wait for another time.

Lots of good stuff here in Philadelphia. Blessed be the name of the Lord..

To the Church in Sardis

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

My tendency at this moment is to declare this as a wake up call.

1 Corinthians 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Mark 13:35-37 English Standard Version

35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

It is not like we haven’t been warned before but in this case He calls out Sardis by name. We would do well to remember the Lord said this applies to us all and not to add a disclaimer, “I am not from Sardis!”

Here again our Lord calls out the remnant. This is not the first or last time He makes reference to remnants.

Romans 11:5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

Isaiah 37:31 And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

Interestingly enough the word remnant can hold two meanings. What is left over and cut out of the same cloth. We shall wait on the Lord to receive those white robes to see it they are cut out of the same cloth.