Revelation 3:7-13 Devotional

Revelation 3:7-13 "And to the angel (pastor) of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 "'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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Jesus presents Himself to this local pastor and church, that has little power in Philadelphia, as the holy, true and in charge God.  What Jesus opens no one can close and what Jesus closes no one can open.  The pastor and believers are being persecuted by Jews ruled by Satan (see John 8:44), yet they will not be snuffed out.  Jesus has opened the door for this local church to get the gospel message out in word and deed and the synagogue of Satan cannot close their ministry down.  The pastor and church obeyed the word of God to patiently endure and didn’t deny Jesus’ name. In return Jesus will keep them from the time of trial that will be coming upon the entire world population and make the persecuting people bow at their feet in defeat.  The command to the pastor and church is to hold fast to getting the gospel out, so that no one can seize their crown (reward) by making them stop telling people the good news of Jesus Christ.  The ones who conquers (overcomes by believing Jesus is the Son of God, 1 John 5:5) will be a pillar in New Jerusalem forever and have God’s name written on them (sign of ownership).  Those who have the ability to hear God (1 Corinthians 2:12) listen to what Jesus is saying to all the local churches.

Do you have the ability to hear what Jesus is saying?  You do if you have repented of your sins and believed the gospel (Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).  Listen to the message of Jesus to the Philadelphians that is for all of us who believe and obey what He says by faith.  Nobody can stop us from doing the will of God!  Go back over the message to the Philadelphia believers and make sure you practicing it in your daily life.