Revelation 2-3 Seven literal churches in Asia minor; but what we have come to see is that they represent church eras throughout the last 2,000 years as well as attitudes that can be found within the church.
Brief description of Laodicean
End time era
God will vomit them out of His mouth
Everyone now wants to be a Philadelphian
How can we tell the difference between a Philadelphian and a Laodicean?
Asking the question is a good start
But Laodicean is blind (Revelation 3:17); they do not know they are Laodicean.
One more lens that we can look through in terms of viewing Revelation 2-3 is an individual one.
Revelation 3:6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
[We should apply everything to us and where we are found wanting we should apply it]
We are not consigned to an era in the end because of time…but because of attitude
Although they are sequential and overlap we can find all of these attitudes
Everyone doesn’t want to be considered a Laodicean and wants to be a Philadelphian but it requires more than just saying or wanting.
I would like to begin looking at what it takes to be a Philadelphian by using the verses in Revelation 3 as a template.
Revelation 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID, HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS“:
Description of Christ: the assumption is that it is germane to the Philadelphians
Your Works
Revelation 3:8 “I know your works.
This is the way that He starts each letter to the churches
Very important
Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
This is how we can tell if we are Philadelphians – examine the fruit that you are bearing.
James: be doers not just hearers; faith without works is dead; works are necessary and we have been given the green light as Philadelphians
Open Door
Revelation 3:8…See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;
Given the opportunity, now must walk through it and do works
Go boldly because no one can shut
You have an “open door” set before you. Each person has an important job to do; I want you to realize this – really know this and believe it!
Because you have to walk through the open door in front of you.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 12:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
1 Corinthians 12:15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 12:19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
1 Corinthians 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
1 Corinthians 12:23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
1 Corinthians 12:24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Do you value the opportunity that you have? Think about many places in the world where you cannot do this? We have a great opportunity set right in front of us…an open door…now all you need to do is walk the walk through it.
Little Strength
Revelation 3:8 …for you have a little strength,
This shows our condition but also the power of God to accomplish things through us
John 6:28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
This comes by God’s work in you by the power of the holy spirit. Nothing that we did.
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
1 Corinthians 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
1 Corinthians 1:28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
1 Corinthians 1:29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
1 Corinthians 1:31 that, as it is written, “HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD.”
We lack in so many ways it’s almost too many to number. But God has given us a gift that we are to use to His Glory – not ours to show how great we are, but as Philadelphians we are to show how great God is by allowing God to work through us in our little strength and remain faithful in that.
Keeps His Word
Revelation 3:8 …have kept My word
lives by EVERY word
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ “
not most every – but all
cant leave out A,B,C which many today are doing
Notice the context as we pass by
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
2 Timothy 4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
How conscientious are we about keeping the word that has been delivered to us?
From τηρός teros to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; ; which is properly to prevent escaping; implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), to detain
Is this what we are doing, is this how we are treating this most precious gift that we have been given?
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Because there is a time coming….
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
Amos 8:12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.
Doesn’t Deny Christ’s Name
Revelation 3:8 …have not denied My name.
Not necessarily talking about making an oath, I deny the name of Christ or I deny Christ
Notice how it is defined in Titus
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
It is to deny everything that He is which is everything that we are to do.
He taught from His being His character
2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
2 Timothy 3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
2 Timothy 3:9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
Luke 12:8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
Luke12:9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
But the Philadelphian does not do this
Synagogue of Satan
Revelation 3:9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
You will have to resist this type: members and ministers as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Not spiritual Jews; not converted; not Philadelphian.
And in time they will worship at our feet…when we are members of the God family
Perseverance
Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere,
What we will have to go through
1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
1 Corinthians 4:11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
1 Corinthians 4:13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
1 Corinthians 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
Sounds like some of those from the synagogue of Satan
Matthew 24:10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Matthew 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
We have to win today AND we have to win tomorrow!
Luke 21:19 By your patience possess your souls.
We cannot give up no matter what we are going through
Conclusion
Revelation 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Caveat: Having seen what I have seen and heard what I have heard about the state of the church as a whole and knowing that it is in line with Revelation 3. I have a great concern for you.
Let’s continue to make ourselves ready
Part 2
In the end time there will be two prominent eras and attitudes that will exist within the church
And no one wants to be one of them. That is the Laodicea.
I have never heard someone say that they want to be a Laodicean.
Revelation 3 describes them as the one that God says He will vomit out of His mouth and are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — in need of rebuke, chastening, zeal and repentance.
Of course EVERYONE wants to be a Philadelphian, but what does it mean to be a Philadelphian.
What does Philadelphian mean?
When put together these two words literally mean brother-loving; brotherly love; love your brother as yourself – or better
It is a bond of true love and fellowship that exists in this church among true Philadelphians.
Wanting to be Philadelphian is a good thing considering:
We are admonished to be Philadelphians
Peter probably has more to say on the subject than most
2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
2 Peter 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
2 Peter 1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness [philadelphia], and to brotherly kindness love.
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you [like we are doing today] always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. [these twiggy issues are distracting us from what is really important]
Philadelphos “loving one another like brothers” [same thing; same concept]
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren [philadelphia], love one another fervently with a pure heart,
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love [philadelphia] continue.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
Even if we are doing it, we need to do it more!
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly love [philadelphia] you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
1 Thessalonians 4:10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
Brotherly love a Hallmark
Define Hallmark: an official mark or stamp indicating a standard of purity, used in marking
gold and silver articles assayed by the Goldsmiths’ Company of London at their Hall; any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.
Brotherly love is a hallmark that indicates that we are church members and we are of the Philadelphian era.
We are defined by this:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What do others say about you / us? Are we known by our love for one another? Is that how your group or any of the others you know are defined?
John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Do we see this as a command like all the other “thou shalts?” 1000+ Do we live by every word
John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
How did Jesus Christ love us?
Showing brotherly love
philanthrōpia (love of man)
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Christ Our example
To what degree
Christ made Himself of no reputation by comparison
He gave up his eternal life and Godhead; came as a human, gave that up too; FOR US as we are to do for others; to our own hurt
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
We are to once again follow Christ’s example and love as He did:
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Jesus Christ made a substitutionary sacrifice “in our stead”
This was the life he lead and the example that He set for us to follow
How do we lay down our lives in the same way and to that extent?
We lay it down for everyone, especially the brethren – this is brotherly love!
What do we sacrifice? Our own interests, our own selves – rather we put others first doing that which we do not naturally want to do.
This is the greater value to God
Christ died through no fault of His own
Are we willing to serve the brethren, putting their needs first, even to our own hurt?
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us [even to the point of death], leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
1 Peter 2:22 “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”;
1 Peter 2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
As a Philadelphian, God has not asked you to give up your life physically, but He is asking you to give it up spiritually, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ gave up His life for you, and is now asking you to follow His example and do the same for others, to give up your life for others, to demonstrate the same love for others that Christ has, to show your brotherly love, to identify yourself as a Philadelphian by sacrificing yourself!
Being a living sacrifice
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This is how we can know and know that we know the will of God.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Killing the old man
Replacing it with the new man
We are raised in newness of life from our burial and we live a life of giving
We are to present our bodies for … service
The sacrifices that we are to make are for the improvement of our relationship with God and our fellow man
Of course Christ exemplified this by living by every Word of God and completely doing His Will as well as physically and spiritually laying down His life for us.
Use the Gifts you have been given
Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
Romans 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
Romans 12:7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
Romans 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
How we are to act and walk as Christians using the gift that we have been given? Paul tells us to be a Philadelphian.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love [philadelphia], in honor giving preference to one another;
Love not your life
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Are we willing to give up our life and die every day as Paul said he did? If we do then we will counted among the Philadelphians.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
1 John 3:12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
1 John 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
The protection
Revelaton 3 Philadelphians are kept from the hour of their trial
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
“them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held”
How important will it be to stand up for what is right even if it costs you your life. Especially if others will see and come to conversion because of it.
A comforting promise this is, that Jesus will keep the Philadelphia Church from this great time of trouble!
Hold Fast to your crown
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
What Philadelphian Christians have to hold fast to is that which God gave them that body of doctrine is what they have to guard, and protect, and hold fast to.
The pain of a trial is short lived even though we don’t think so at the time
John 16:21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
What we endure now is will seem like a blip in the scheme of things. Keep the end in sight and eye on the goal. Endure to the end and it will be worth it.
Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Overcoming
Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes…
The Philadelphian still has to overcome as is the message to all the other churches. They are to continue growing more and even more in their love towards the brethren.
Conclusion
God will send the trials to test us. We need to continue in the path set before us…the one that we are walking in…one of love towards our fellow brethren
This is a VERY important subject. We cannot just say it, want it or even believe that we are a Philadelphian!
We must produce the fruits. We must ACT as a Philadelphian to be a Philadelphian.