A LITTLE STRENGTH
Revelation 3:7-11 NKJV
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”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 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. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
This message to the church in Philadelphia is worth another look. This is the only church that Jesus does not rebuke or correct. He encourages this church so then we can see what it is they did right.
The Lord declares that He is holy and true and has the key of David. The key of David would refer to a passage in Isaiah 22:22, where God has given the Lord the key to the house of David. Keys represent authority, so Jesus is the authority over the kingdom of David referred to in Isaiah 9:7. And of this kingdom there will be no end.
I also love the fact that Jesus is the one who opens and shuts, and when He does, no one can or will reverse that. The Lord tells the church at Philadelphia that He has set before them an open door, and no one can shut it. Paul mentioned something very similar in 1 Corinthians 16:9, that a great and effective door had been opened to him in Ephesus. Paul also noted that there were many adversaries. But the adversaries are not able to shut the door; only the Lord can do that.
Jesus tells this church in Philadelphia that the open door was related to the fact that they had a little strength. The little strength of this church was evidenced in that they kept the word of the Lord and did not deny His name. I think we have made keeping God’s word too difficult. Jesus said all it takes is a little strength. In the fifth chapter of First John, the apostle declares that God’s commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Jesus says it takes a little strength to keep His words and not deny His name. I believe it will help us to believe that we have what it takes to obey the words of the Lord and not deny our relationship with Him, despite those who think of us as foolish or ignorant for believing in Jesus.
One of my challenges with the book of Revelation is that it contains so much that I just don’t know. So I prefer to key in on what I do know. I don’t know about the lying false Jews from the synagogue of Satan. But I do understand Jesus making it obvious that He loved this church. I don’t know about the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. But I do know that there are big benefits to staying consistent and persevering in our faith. I don’t know how someone could take the crown that belongs to me, but I do know that not backing away from what I believe and holding onto what I have been taught is always the right play. I don’t know what the Lord’s timetable is. I do know that He is coming quickly and that His quickly is different from man’s quickly.
We still have a great deal of mystery with this passage, but we also have some understandable universal principles that apply throughout the ages. Keep God’s word. Don’t deny the relationship we have with Jesus. Keep holding fast to the faith and looking for the return of the One who will rule and reign forever! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!