The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia - AWESOME!

[AdHoc]

@Vine Abider

Yeah. I jumped too many steps. The example is of course Israel. The conquest of Canaan took about 6 years. Each Tribe had their inheritance - more or less. Joshua was cracking the whip. Israel were at a high point. With Israel fighting fit and trim, with miracle after miracle leading to battles won, they were on a high. Suppose our Lord Jesus came the following years and offered them the Kingdom of Heaven?

We would not be studying the parable of the Vineyard. We would be among the lost because Israel would have followed Messiah. 900 or so years later the last of Judah was carried off to Babylon and the Messiah delayed another 500 years more. By the time He came, Israel was in total crisis. The mischief was because the King took a "long time".

I guess I could have used Saul, who couldn't wait a week, and sacrifices - taking upon himself the priests duty. He loses the line of the kingship because of that. A week is not long in the life and times of a spiritual man. But Saul saw circumstances and not God's WORD.

The Lord has delayed 2,000 years - and look at the Churches. The Overcomer of Philadelphia, I judge, is the man or woman who can keep his eyes on Jesus, though He tarry. It is "the WORD of my PATIENCE". In the Parables there was the indication that Jesus would tarry before He came in glory. The man who is counted worthy to miss the Great Tribulation is the man who watched every "hour" and was ready after many "hours" of watching without result.

A lot of good has come out of this thread.

[Marilyn C]

8 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I see the promise made to Philly as conditional, and not necessarily to everyone: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Rev 3:10

Will all Christians keep that command?

Good point to bring out. 

All true believers, (I believe) will be persevering, holding to the truth, and looking eagerly for the Lord to return. (Heb. 9: 28)

They are the overcomers who will rule with the Lord on His throne in the highest. (Rev. 3: 21)

The church of Philadelphia, I believe, is made up of all true believers before the coming of the Lord. 

 

[AdHoc]

4 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

That is well said and explained. Since the Tree of Life was brought up, it will also be in New Jerusalem, which will produce 12 varieties of fruit a month. I consider that tree a literal tree, possibly with some symbology attached. I am not clear about the Tree of Life; let me explain:

Adam and creation were not to taste death (immortal), until Romans 5:12 (KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

No carnivores in nature existed, and everything was in perfect harmony until Adam sinned. Adam nor Eve ate from the Tree of Life, yet God blocked access to that tree to prevent them from eating thereof.

Once again, we have the Tree of Life inside the New Jerusalem to eat freely in Revelation.

What was the purpose of the Tree of Life when Adam & Eve were in the Garden? Since it was there, why did they not eat from it? Did they not know what death was?

Lastly, with glorified bodies having eternal life in Christ, what purpose does the Tree of Life serve inside the New Jerusalem for those redeemed and glorified?

The only thing I can reconcile is that someone outside the New Jerusalem that is righteous will be allowed to enter the gates, and below will not be permitted entrance:

Revelation 22:15 (KJV) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

I suspect, possibly within view, the Lake of Fire may be visible.

 

I think that the Tree of Life is a Metaphor. If we study all the Trees, we find a consistent picture. A Tree in Parable is a king and his kingdom (Judges 9, Daniel 4, Ezekiel 31). The Tree of Life is Jesus. Our Lord Jesus can only be taken in by the mouth. Adam was commanded to eat. Israel eat the Lamb. The priests eat the Offerings. Jesus presents Himself as the water of life, Living water, true Manna, the bread of Life and breathable air. To be saved one must call upon His Name.

The Grand type of Jesus is the Good Land ... of milk and honey. Jesus is the Olive Root, and He is the True Vine. His Kingdom is a mustard bush.

In the Churches today, we are taught that a man must go through a series of experiences. Rebirth, Baptism, Gifts of the Spirit, giving, forgiving and believing. Finally, death comes and we go to heaven (to do nothing) - each a single event. But it is not so. The walk of a Christian is an ongoing dynamic organic union with Jesus. Romans Chapter 1 says that the things of nature show the things of God. Nature is never stagnant. It is seasons, hot and cold, drought and flood, plenty and little, joy and sadness. THUS, THE CHRISTIAN WALK IS A CONSTANT EATING - A CONSTANT TAKING IN OF LIFE OR DEATH. Take Psalm 16;

8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in sheol.; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore

Here is a summary of christian life. Remember, God first act was to put man in Eden which means "Pleasure". But man is cast out and sin, toil, trial, and tribulation come in. Verse 8 needs a rock, an anchor. Such is life

Verse 9 hopes in the resurrection.

Verse 10 applies to Jesus, but in our case the corruption is overcome by "incorruption" at resurrection

Verse 11 show our existence after resurrection. What causes the "Pleasures Forever more"? THE PATHS OF LIFE! The pleasures of LIFE with Jesus as the source. 12 fruits every month - what for? PLEASURE Paul loses ALL things and counts them dung for "the EXCELLENCY of the knowledge of Jesus". And in what way does He "KNOW" Jesus. By the fellowship of His sufferings - FELLOWSHIP ON A CONTINUAL CONSTANT INTIMATE COMPANIONSHIP.

If the path of suffering is "EXCELLENT", what then the "JOY" of the Lord? If the dusty road of persecution and rejection is excellent, what then the "Paradise of God"? Tonight we eat prime Angus filet. Next week we eat it again. Do we like it less? This month and next month the well-to-do Russian will eat Beluga Caviar and ice-cold Vodka - and never grow tired of it.

But what of those who never embraced Christ? What is their portion? The Book of LIFE decides. Those written in the Book of Life have access to the Tree, but if you never embraced Jesus you may only make use of the LEAVES. The Leaves of a tree are its covering. A Covering, or garment is one's works (Rev.19:7.8). The Nations need HEALING. Why? Because they do not have eternal life. They cannot die, not because they intrinsically possess LIFE, but because God has decreed it (Heb.9:27). They do not possess what we received at the moment of faith - LIFE. So, by the works of Christ they are kept alive.

And those not in the book of LIFE? For them it is, "The Second DEATH"! What is that. Vine defines "perdition" as a serious lack of well-being". Isaiah and Mark say "THEIR worm will not die and THEIR fire will not be quenched". And Matthew 10:28 says that God Himself torments the SOUL and the BODY. Isaiah 66:24 say that the men and women who end in the Lake of Fire are those who went against God actively. The Second Death is not passive separation from God. It is God actively dispensing RETRIBUTION.

So, on the one side of the scale is "pleasures for ever more" by a continued eating of Christ's LIFE and at the other end is "perdition". And Isaiah 66 assures us that we will see such men who went against God and men. We Christians have a wonderful future - eating.

[farouk]

3 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Good point to bring out. 

All true believers, (I believe) will be persevering, holding to the truth, and looking eagerly for the Lord to return. (Heb. 9: 28)

They are the overcomers who will rule with the Lord on His throne in the highest. (Rev. 3: 21)

The church of Philadelphia, I believe, is made up of all true believers before the coming of the Lord. 

 

The Lord preserves His people; I'm thinking also of the Godly remnant in Malachi 3.16.

[AdHoc]

3 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Good point to bring out. 

All true believers, (I believe) will be persevering, holding to the truth, and looking eagerly for the Lord to return. (Heb. 9: 28)

They are the overcomers who will rule with the Lord on His throne in the highest. (Rev. 3: 21)

The church of Philadelphia, I believe, is made up of all true believers before the coming of the Lord. 

 

Well said, but I think the point @Vine Abider wants to make is that they will be rewarded for their WORKS. The word "BECAUSE" shows that what they received had a 'cause'. To be sure they were "true believers". That qualified them to be in the Church, but to miss the "hour" of the Great Tribulation is be-cause they "kept His WORD of His Patience".

The Marine guard in Alaska is at his post in mid winter. He should be relieved after an hour - for the conditions are inhumanly cold. His sergeant is called to another part of the base and cannot collect him for four hours. The Marine is faithful and diligent. He stays awake and out in the cold to fulfill more than his duty. Next day the commanding officer hears of this and gives him a bottle of whiskey from the Officer's Mess. He is standing guard because he is a Marine, but his duty was over and above his mission. He is not rewarded for being a Marine. He is rewarded for exceptional duty.

[farouk]

5 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Well said, but I think the point @Vine Abider wants to make is that they will be rewarded for their WORKS. The word "BECAUSE" shows that what they received had a 'cause'. To be sure they were "true believers". That qualified them to be in the Church, but to miss the "hour" of the Great Tribulation is be-cause they "kept His WORD of His Patience".

The Marine guard in Alaska is at his post in mid winter. He should be relieved after an hour - for the conditions are inhumanly cold. His sergeant is called to another part of the base and cannot collect him for four hours. The Marine is faithful and diligent. He stays awake and out in the cold to fulfill more than his duty. Next day the commanding officer hears of this and gives him a bottle of whiskey from the Officer's Mess. He is standing guard because he is a Marine, but his duty was over and above his mission. He is not rewarded for being a Marine. He is rewarded for exceptional duty.

Unusual illustration............

[AdHoc]

4 minutes ago, farouk said:

Unusual illustration............

Aye. In 1st Samuel 17 David's first question is;

 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him

God prizes faith above all except love. But He loves to reward.

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, AdHoc said:

@Vine Abider

Yeah. I jumped too many steps. The example is of course Israel. The conquest of Canaan took about 6 years. Each Tribe had their inheritance - more or less. Joshua was cracking the whip. Israel were at a high point. With Israel fighting fit and trim, with miracle after miracle leading to battles won, they were on a high. Suppose our Lord Jesus came the following years and offered them the Kingdom of Heaven?

We would not be studying the parable of the Vineyard. We would be among the lost because Israel would have followed Messiah. 900 or so years later the last of Judah was carried off to Babylon and the Messiah delayed another 500 years more. By the time He came, Israel was in total crisis. The mischief was because the King took a "long time".

I guess I could have used Saul, who couldn't wait a week, and sacrifices - taking upon himself the priests duty. He loses the line of the kingship because of that. A week is not long in the life and times of a spiritual man. But Saul saw circumstances and not God's WORD.

The Lord has delayed 2,000 years - and look at the Churches. The Overcomer of Philadelphia, I judge, is the man or woman who can keep his eyes on Jesus, though He tarry. It is "the WORD of my PATIENCE". In the Parables there was the indication that Jesus would tarry before He came in glory. The man who is counted worthy to miss the Great Tribulation is the man who watched every "hour" and was ready after many "hours" of watching without result.

A lot of good has come out of this thread.

That is a very interesting and insightful take on the having patience/endurance aspect!  I'm just starting to realize that this time thing is definitely not what most of us would expect.  That is, you pray for someone and expect the answer within a short time, or maybe a year or so at most . . . and it doesn't happen then.  And then I hear someone say "I prayed for, and witnessed to, so-and-so for 25 years, and then the Lord moved in a way I least expected." 

Just like when it's said in 2nd Peter that the Lord "is not slack concerning His promises (as some count slackness), but is longsuffering" - why?  That more would not perish.  But it takes time . . . something we're not so patient with usually! 

[Vine Abider]

40 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Well said, but I think the point @Vine Abider wants to make is that they will be rewarded for their WORKS. The word "BECAUSE" shows that what they received had a 'cause'. To be sure they were "true believers". That qualified them to be in the Church, but to miss the "hour" of the Great Tribulation is be-cause they "kept His WORD of His Patience".

The Marine guard in Alaska is at his post in mid winter. He should be relieved after an hour - for the conditions are inhumanly cold. His sergeant is called to another part of the base and cannot collect him for four hours. The Marine is faithful and diligent. He stays awake and out in the cold to fulfill more than his duty. Next day the commanding officer hears of this and gives him a bottle of whiskey from the Officer's Mess. He is standing guard because he is a Marine, but his duty was over and above his mission. He is not rewarded for being a Marine. He is rewarded for exceptional duty.

That is exactly what I'm saying @Marilyn C.  There is a conditional promise made.  If we went through what characteristics the church in Philadelphia had, there was something they were doing which merited the Lord specifically rewarding them.  In fact, even though they had but a little strength, He said they already had their crown and to hold it fast, lest anyone take it.  They were doing it right - being "faithful in a few things" and demonstrating love.  This, I think, is His bullseye. 

[Marilyn C]

8 hours ago, AdHoc said:

 

May I return to New Jerusalem. I will be brief. There is one undeniable proof that New Jerusalem is on New Earth. That is, the Nations may go in and out (Rev.21:24-26). If New Jerusalem is in any part of heaven, then it follows that the Nations went to heaven.

 

• 
  
• I think you missed these scriptures..... 

 

Remember also that the Old Testament saints looked for the New Jerusalem, (Heb. 11: 16) and God`s word tells us that city is in the heavens.

`These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better, that is, a HEAVENLY country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a CITY for them. ` (Heb. 11: 13 - 16)

Every area of God`s great kingdom will have designated rulership under the Lord Jesus Christ, NOT just the earth.