Taking Advantage of the Open Door (Rev. 3:7-13)

The church in Philadelphia was a model church. Our Lord Jesus commended them (1) for faithfulness with opportunities given to them (3:8a), (2) for spiritual competence (3:8b) – “thou hast a little strength” and so they depended all the more on Christ, (3) for faithfulness to the Word (3:8c), and (4) for evidence of their faith (3:8d). There are reasons why we can say they were a model church and that we could be as well.

A faithful church looks above at who Christ is (3:7). The saints at Philadelphia knew whom they served. But how could others see that? Rev. 3:8, 10 informs us that there were three ways, namely their "works," the remarkable labor though they had "little strength," and their "perseverance." How do these prove whom they served? The answer: what people saw is but the natural product of three graces abiding in every Christian. They could not see faith, love and hope (those divine graces given to every believer at his new birth and exercised by faithful believers who are looking above). However, they could see what each one produced. All three graces and their fruits are mentioned in 1 Thess. 1:3. “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV) In the case of the Philippian saints, their love for Christ produced good works (v. 8), probably meaning that they were involved in spreading the gospel to those around them. Jesus seems to be assuring them that their "open door" of opportunity was one of evangelism and that it would continue. Their faith in Christ transformed their weakness into power (v. 8; 2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 40:29). They realized that they must turn to Christ to find strength when their own natural strength was limited. Little strength is probably a reference to their numbers; they would not be weak spiritually since Christ would not open a door for spiritually weak Christians. Furthermore, they had hope in Christ because perseverance is always the result of Christian hope.

If you are faithful, you will give evidence of God-given Christian virtues. But it is also possible to pretend by producing, in your own natural strength, what you think those virtues will produce. It is critical that you look up; that you draw all your strength from Christ; that you make the distinction between faith in your faith (a subjective attitude) and faith in your Savior (an objective attitude). Likewise, also, your hope and love must be in Him, not in something you conjure up. This subject begs this question: What are you feeding? Your God-given faith, hope and love or your human, selfish pride that boasts of activities and forgets that Christ is the fruit inspector?

A faithful church looks around at what Christ is doing (3:8). They see what He is doing and they join in to assist Him in that work. Jesus commanded His disciples to do just that, “Look on the fields; they are ready to harvest” (John 4:35, 38, 41). The saints in Philadelphia saw this as an opportunity and a stewardship and so they entered the “open door.” They were “small” in number but not in spiritual strength. The world saw nothing attractive in them. However, the Lord was glorified in them because they “kept” the Word of God.

Too many of us Christians never see an open door. We never see opportunities for witness. That isn’t what happens when people first come to saving faith in Christ. They have zeal. They willingly leave their comfort zone. How sad it is that as the generations go on the zeal wanes in many lives! Here's a warning: men, by their arrogance and ecclesiastical or political position and actions, will strive to shut out true Bible believing believers from effective service. At such a time don't forget Christ’s power and authority. Men may bind us, as they did John and Paul, but God’s Word is not bound (2 Tim. 2:9). The Lord holds the key to opening doors to ministry as well as the door to the hearts of men. Where are we in the scheme of things? Are we witnessing? Are we trusting Christ for it?

A faithful church looks ahead at what Christ will do (3:9-11). When a person enters into a living relationship with Christ, he can count on several blessings. J. Hampton Keathley, III lists these in his lesson on Rev. 3:7-13.
(1) Comfort concerning their persecutors (3:9). The Lord refers to “the synagogue of Satan” in Philadelphia as the location of their persecution. Satan owned the synagogue whether the Jews recognized it or not. He was the head and the power behind the scenes. The Lord pointed this out in John 8:41-47 where He made it clear that merely calling themselves Israel did not constitute the Jews God’s people. To be a true Jew in the biblical sense one had to have the hope and faith of Abraham. Abraham was the possessor of faith in the promises of God to him and faith in the coming Messiah. Since faithful believers will reign with Jesus Christ and share in His throne, these persecutors will in essence have to fall down at the believer’s feet (Phil. 2:10-11; Heb. 2:13).
(2) Comfort concerning the Tribulation (3:10). Two very important items need to be emphasized. First, note that this is not a reward only to the faithful in Philadelphia, but to the church as a whole. This is clear from 3:13 which broadens this as a promise to the churches at large. All believers are to listen to these messages and their warning, exhortations, and promises and act accordingly. Second, the promise is “I will keep you from the hour …” i.e., from the Tribulation. This is very specific and carefully described in the Greek to emphasize and clearly teach the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. The preposition “from” has a special usage that means “escaping trouble you are not presently in.” See its use in Acts 15:29 and James 5:20. The promise of Rev. 3:10 is a two-fold guarantee: of not only being kept from the trials of the Tribulation but also from the very time period – “the hour.”
(3) Comfort concerning the imminent return of Christ (3:11). His coming is promised to be “quickly.” This means “suddenly, unexpectedly, without announcement” and not necessarily soon. It implies imminency and so the charge here is to “hold fast,” a warning against spiritual carelessness and carnality.

It helps to look ahead. We will then live in the light of His coming, and hold fast to Him in faith and service. His coming means examination and rewards. So, only those who look ahead will be ready for the exam. We’ve read the last chapter and so we do not have to fear the evils that are taking place today, as if God’s plans were being upset. What do you see ahead?

Verse for This Week: "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35)

Your Step for This Week: Develop a list of your activities this week that proves you are a faithful child of God.

Prayer for This Week: Help me, Lord Jesus, to be faithful as you are. Teach me how to order my life for faithful living.