By Pastor Carl Gallups
(PASTOR CARL: I have added my explanatory comments. in brackets. They are based upon extensive word studies and scholarly insight from many others who have written about this passage)
Take Heed...
To the Church in Philadelphia [GK - the church that loves each other like true brothers and sisters, of one family]
7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you AN OPEN DOOR [of Gospel opportunity] that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have KEPT MY WORD and have NOT DENIED MY NAME.
9 I will make those who are of the synagogue ["assembly" or "meeting place"] of Satan, who claim to be Jews [those who were attempting to turn the early church away from Jesus and BACK to the "law" - the Judiazers] though they are not, but ARE LIARS—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
10 Since you have kept my command to ENDURE PATIENTLY, I will also KEEP YOU FROM [GK "preserve in the midst of"] the hour [relatively short time] of trial that is going to come on THE WHOLE WORLD [sound familiar?] TO TEST the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am COMING SOON. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, WHICH IS COMING down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
13 WHOEVER HAS EARS TO HEAR, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
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If your pastor has run to the hills. If he has closed your church. Get out!
Quickly, get in a church that's obedient (Hebrews 10:23ff), not denying the name and power of Jesus, not living in a demonic grip of fear - a church that stands IN THE WORD - not afraid to address the issues of our day, right out of the Word of God. A church that is not ashamed of the Gosple, or the NAME OF JESUS!
DO NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER. Don' say, "I don't need the church" or "I don't have to go to church." Nowhere will you find that lie of Satan in the Word of God.
This is the TIME OF TESTING, people. It is coming upon the whole world. Daniel said, it would eventually come "like a flood." Jesus said, it would be like the Days of Noah and the Days of Lot.
It's time to be real. Because it's now "getting real".
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