By C Gray Adams
The book of Revelation contains specific messages to seven churches, of which all but two, the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, are admonished for shortcomings. An earlier article, “Help Us Lord to Overcome,”[1] deals with the overarching admonition of Jesus for the believer, no matter what type of church they find themselves in, to overcome. As noted in that article, overcoming is best achieved by complete surrender to the Lord’s will, which He reveals to us through His Word as we maintain a prayerful attitude.
This article will focus on one specific church, the church in Philadelphia, which is eerily reminiscent of the remnant church we see today. More specifically, we will look at the condition of this church and the admonition of Jesus to ‘Hold Fast’ and how the faithful remnant, found within the end-times church, should deal with the signs that herald His soon return.
The Condition
Revelation chapter three describes the condition of the church in Philadelphia in great detail:
Revelation 3:7-13
“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 shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”[2] (emphasis mine).
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www.raptureready.com
The book of Revelation contains specific messages to seven churches, of which all but two, the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, are admonished for shortcomings. An earlier article, “Help Us Lord to Overcome,”[1] deals with the overarching admonition of Jesus for the believer, no matter what type of church they find themselves in, to overcome. As noted in that article, overcoming is best achieved by complete surrender to the Lord’s will, which He reveals to us through His Word as we maintain a prayerful attitude.
This article will focus on one specific church, the church in Philadelphia, which is eerily reminiscent of the remnant church we see today. More specifically, we will look at the condition of this church and the admonition of Jesus to ‘Hold Fast’ and how the faithful remnant, found within the end-times church, should deal with the signs that herald His soon return.
The Condition
Revelation chapter three describes the condition of the church in Philadelphia in great detail:
Revelation 3:7-13
“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 shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”[2] (emphasis mine).
More
Hold Fast :: By C. Gray Adams
The book of Revelation contains specific messages to seven churches, of which all but two, the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, are admonished for
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