Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about the church in Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:7
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":
Jesus appears as He who has the key of David to do three great things as follows.
We are learning the third thing.
Revelation 3:10
3:10 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.
In the last days, towards Jesus' second coming, all men in the world will face trials that increase until the reign of antichrist for three years and a half in the earth. These trials cannot be overcome by smartness, richness, position, et cetera. It can only be overcome by the key of David.
These trials have been experienced by Joseph, and also by Daniel.
Daniel experiences trials related to three things as follows.
The aim of the trials sent by Satan or antichrist is so that Daniel enters the den of lions, meaning being dry and dying spiritually, not being enthusiastic anymore in the ministry. It is even until one enters the second death in the everlasting hell.
Whatever our bustle in this world is, never limit our ministry to God.
Jesus appears as the One who has the key of David to protect us from trials that are going to destroy us. Even He is willing to obey God until He dies on the cross to get the key of David.
Our attitudes are as follows.
If we have perseverance and obedience, we will become the servant of the living God. Thus, Jesus as the living God will stretch out His good and merciful hands, the hands that have the key of David, to all of us. We live from the goodness and mercy of God whatever our condition is. The results are as follows.
God blesses us.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about the church in Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:7
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":
Jesus appears as He who has the key of David to do three great things as follows.
- [Revelation 3:8] To open the door that no one can shut.
- [Revelation 3:9] To give us victory over the synagogue of Satan.
- [Revelation 3:10] To keep us from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.
We are learning the third thing.
Revelation 3:10
3:10 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.
In the last days, towards Jesus' second coming, all men in the world will face trials that increase until the reign of antichrist for three years and a half in the earth. These trials cannot be overcome by smartness, richness, position, et cetera. It can only be overcome by the key of David.
These trials have been experienced by Joseph, and also by Daniel.
Daniel experiences trials related to three things as follows.
- Trials related to physical matters, that is job, study, health, finance.
Daniel 6:4
6:4 So the governors and satraps sought to find somecharge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he wasfaithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Antichrist will take control the financial matter in the world and create financial crisis. It becomes a snare to men, including the servants of God. Men rely to antichrist and worship him. They no longer worship God.
Which servant of God can worship antichrist?- The servant of God who ministers by aiming the physical matters.
- The servant of God who is stingy and greedy.
Being stingy means being unable to give for the work of God and the others who are in need. This kind of life cannot be used for building the body of Christ.
Being greedy means seizing the right of the others and God (the tithe and special offering).
- The servant of God who ministers by aiming the physical matters.
- Trials about spiritual matters, that is the ministry to God.
Daniel 6:5
6:5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find itagainst him concerning the law of his God."
2 Timothy 3:12
3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Satan or antichrist will threaten, torture, and persecute the servants of God who minister Him. It is so that they transgress against Him, meaning leaving the ministry and being unwilling to serve Him anymore.
Jeremiah 2:8
2:8 The priests did not say, 'Where isthe Lord?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things thatdo not profit.
A pastor transgresses against God if he is unfaithful in doing his task, that is feeding the sheep (the congregation). If a pastor transgresses God, the priests will do so, and the congregation will be scattered.
Therefore, do not choose a ministry that is comfortable for the flesh. Later, one who chooses this kind of ministry will not be able to bear the acts of antichrist.
A true ministry is marked with flesh suffering and sacrifices, so we will be able to withstand the antichrist. We can be faithful and fervent in spirit in the ministry until the end line. - Trials about marriage (a room).
Daniel 6:10-11
6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
6:11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Antichrist tries to destroy the marriage of the servants of God, so they cannot enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God or the perfect marriage in the glorious clouds. It means being left when Jesus comes a second time and destroyed forever.
Therefore, we must be watchful about a marriage.- The truth of a marriage must be watched. It must be according to the true teaching Word.
If a pastor rejects a wrong marriage, actually he still helps it. - The purity of a marriage must be watched by the work of the sword of the word of God.
We must pay attention to the sword of the Word during the courtship and betrothal period. - The unity of a marriage must be watched by the strength of the cross of God, that is confessing and forgiving one another.
- The truth of a marriage must be watched. It must be according to the true teaching Word.
The aim of the trials sent by Satan or antichrist is so that Daniel enters the den of lions, meaning being dry and dying spiritually, not being enthusiastic anymore in the ministry. It is even until one enters the second death in the everlasting hell.
Whatever our bustle in this world is, never limit our ministry to God.
Jesus appears as the One who has the key of David to protect us from trials that are going to destroy us. Even He is willing to obey God until He dies on the cross to get the key of David.
Our attitudes are as follows.
- Persevering in waiting God.
Revelation 3:10
3:10 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.
It means perseverance in the shepherding pen, or perseverance in three main services as follows.- Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in the General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of Showbread refers to perseverance in the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. We have fellowship with the Son of God in the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ.
- Golden Altar of Incense refers to perseverance in the Prayer Service. We have fellowship with Father God in His love.
6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
The peak of a ministry is perseverance in worship prayer, as it was done by Daniel. Worship prayer is a process of tearing the flesh with all its will. The objectives are as follows.- We will not fall into temptation.
James 1:13-15
1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
The will of the flesh draws and entices so one walks out from the will of God or the true teaching Word. Outside the will of God, temptations and problems will come. If it is continued with doing sins in temptations, it equals to fall in the death up to eternal perdition. - We can be obedient to the will of God.
- Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in the General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Obeying the Word of God. We obey it whatever the risks are, until the flesh does not sound anymore.
Revelation 3:10
3:10 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.
It equals to stretching out both our hands to God.
Daniel 6:19-22
6:19Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
If we have perseverance and obedience, we will become the servant of the living God. Thus, Jesus as the living God will stretch out His good and merciful hands, the hands that have the key of David, to all of us. We live from the goodness and mercy of God whatever our condition is. The results are as follows.
- The good and merciful hands of God are able to care our life miraculously wherever, whenever, under any situations. We keep living until the day of antichrist.
- The good and merciful hands of God are able to solve all our problems even the impossible ones.
Daniel 6:23
6:23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. - The good and merciful hands of God are able to lift up our life, to raise us right in His time.
Daniel 6:28
6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Being lifted up means we are used by God in the building of the perfect body of Christ. God makes our life beautiful and successful in His time.
Being lifted up also means we are sanctified and renewed until we are perfect as Him. We are lifted up to the glorious clouds to meet Jesus, and we are lifted up to the throne of Heaven forever.
God blesses us.