Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 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.” “This verse is not actually claiming that these are literal Jews, no more than those who claimed to be Jews during the second church were literal Jews (Rev 2:9).” “Who then are these who “say they are…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 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.” The “little help” (Dan 11:34) or power that they were given is from a couple of different possibilities. The first possibility was that in this church the civil power had supported Luther and the other reformers. Previously they had not…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 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.” The “deeds” (or works) of this church are not mentioned. The simple statement, “I know your deeds,” implies that they were viewed with favor. The Lord then sets the door open for those deeds to continue without interruption. The statement…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “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” “This portion of Verse 7 asserts the sanctity and authority of Christ himself as the one and only true head of the Church. In marked contrast to Jesus—“the way, the truth, and the…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “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” “Philadelphia means brotherly love. Luther’s doctrine of Justification by Faith was so powerful a teaching as to change nearly everything. Among other things it changed the relationship among individual Christians. Because each man…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…” “Luther possessed extraordinary talents, uncommon genius, a copious memory, astonishing industry and perseverance, superior eloquence, a greatness of soul that rose above all his human weaknesses, and consummate erudition for the age in which he lived. Under this great reformer—who was ably seconded by other leaders and men of learning, such as Melanchthon, Carlstadt, and Zwingli—the course of history changed. An exemplary, very religious…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 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” HOW THE SIXTH CHURCH ANTICIPATES THE SEVENTH “The relationship between the sixth and seventh stages of the Church seems unique. In all of the chapters dealing with the sixth Church, the sixth Seal, and…