Conclusion on the
Seven Churches
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Begin Text:
Last month we ended
our study at the church of
Philadelphia. I have a few more
things to say about the at
Philadelphia, so let’s begin
with verse 10:
Revelation 3:10
Since you have kept my command to endure
patiently,
I will also “keep” (tereo:
preserve you) you from (during) the
hour of trial that is going to come
upon the whole world to test those
who live on the earth.
Revelation 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you
have, so that no one can take your
crown.
Revelation 3:12
Him who overcomes I will make a
pillar in the temple of my God. Never
again will he leave it. I will write
on him the name of my God and the
name of the city of my God, the new
Jerusalem, which is coming down out
of heaven from my God; and I will
write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:13
He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the
churches.”
The church at
Philadelphia, like the church at
Smyrna, was suffering persecution
from the Romans. In addition to this
grievous problem, the church was
embroiled in a bitter conflict
between Jewish converts and Gentile
converts. This conflict is called
“the synagogue of Satan”
conflict and this controversy also affected
the church at Smyrna.
In a nutshell, Jewish
converts to Christianity insisted
that Gentile converts must be
circumcised; observe the feast days
and other Levitical laws if they were
to be children of Abraham and heirs
of the promise given to Abraham.
Remember, this is A.D. 95 and
Christianity was struggling with its
Jewish roots and baggage. One of the
reasons that God scattered the
Christians from Jerusalem in A.D. 70
was to prevent Christianity from
becoming Jewish!
This is why Jesus
said:
“I will make
those who (boast about their Jewish
heritage, but)are of the synagogue of
Satan, who claim to be Jews though
they are not, but are liars – I
will make them come and fall down at
your feet and acknowledge that I have
loved you (instead of them).”
Wow! As far as far
as the King of the Jews is concerned,
calling yourself a Jew does not make
you a Jew! God hates self-righteous
and self-importance.
I need to be perfectly
clear on this subject.
Self-righteousness and
self-importance is a common human
characteristic. It is a powerful
component in our selfish fallen
nature. Some people have a capacity
for more self-righteousness and
self-importance than others. Some
people are just full of it!
Self-righteousness and
self-importance is that part of the
curse of sin that God hates the most
– because a self-righteous
sinner magnifies his self-importance
to the place that he takes the place
of God.
A self-important and
self-righteous person likes to give
orders. He likes to be the boss; he
likes to be up front and out front.
He seeks and wants attention and
adulation. As a matter of fact, a
pompous self-righteous sinner is a
perfect reflection of Lucifer. The
devil became so pompous and
“right” in his own thinking
that God became inferior.
Bad news:
Self-righteousness is an inseparable
component of religion because
self-centeredness is the core of our
carnal hearts. Every person and every
religion on Earth has a problem with
self-righteousness.
Proof: No
religion will admit that another
religion knows more about God than
itself. Self-righteousness is an attitude
of superiority….
I know most
I know best
I am better off
than…
And the clergy, those
of us who preach or teach are cursed
with a double portion of
self-righteousness. Here’s why: It
is a contradiction in terms for a
person be a seeker of truth and at
the same time, a defender of the
faith.
On the other hand, it
is possible for a person to have the
humility of a child. Jesus said:
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