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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur - To enjoy fellowship with Christ in the kingdom and throughout eternity is sufficient blessing beyond all comprehension. But Christ offers more, promising to seat believers on the throne He shares with the Father (cf. Matt. 19:28+; Luke 22:29–30+). That symbolizes the truth that we will reign with Him (2Tim. 2:12+; Rev. 5:10+; Revelation 20:6+; cf. 1Cor. 6:3+). (See Revelation Commentary) Charles Swindoll - Just as Christ overcame sin and death to sit at the right hand of the Father, believers in Christ will one day rise from the dead and sit with Christ on His throne in the future earthly kingdom (Rev 2:26–27+; Revelation 20:6+). (See Insights on Revelation) R L Thomas says this promise to overcomers "is an extension of the promise that Christ made to the Twelve while on earth that they would not only eat and drink with Him in His kingdom, but also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (cf. Mt. 19:28+; Lk 22:29–30+). Paul expanded the promise to include all Christians as rulers and the broadened domain of the world, not just Israel (cf. 1Co 6:2+). The implementation of this promise is a central focus as the message of the Apocalypse progresses, culminating with Christ’s reign in the millennial kingdom (cf. Rev 5:10+; Rev 11:15+; Rev 20:4+). (See Revelation Exegetical Commentary) John Stott - This prospect exceeds in glory all the other promises to the victor. A throne is a symbol of conquest and authority. Jesus had promised the Twelve that “at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,” they who had followed him would “also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt 19:28+). This pledge is now given to every faithful and overcoming Christian. As Christ overcame the world and the devil, and was exalted to the Father’s right hand, so the Christian who overcomes shall also be honoured. As Christ shares the Father’s throne, so Christians will share Christ’s. Exactly what authority will be entrusted to them is not disclosed, but in some way they will be given responsibility in the kingdom of heaven. (Borrow What Christ thinks of the church : insights from Revelation 2-3) Lehman Strauss - As Christ shared the Father's throne, both before His incarnation in eternity past (John 17:5+), and after His ascension (Revelation 3:21+), so the Christian will share Christ's throne in the coming manifestation of His kingdom. Dare we assume that association with Christ in His kingdom is for some of the redeemed only and not for all? We dare not assume any such thing because there is no scriptural authority for it. This promise is not given to those who successfully struggle to the end; it is assured every one who has been born again into that kingdom. In that day Christ's prayer will be answered, namely, that all believers may be one (John 17:21+). The throne of Christ will be shared with all His followers....These promises to the overcomers form the fullest description to be found in all the Word of God of those things which God has prepared for His redeemed ones. They open to us the bright prospects of the life to come for all the saved. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7+), a statement set in contrast, not with failing Christians, but with the "unbelieving" who "shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8+). Let all who read these words and who have not yet yielded to Jesus Christ, receive Him at once. The dispensation of grace is coming to a close. Do not delay your decision to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. (Borrow The Book of the Revelation: Outlined Studies) Herbert Lockyer - A "throne" is the sign and symbol of royal authority and dominion, and the Laodicean conqueror was promised association with Christ in His Kingdom and glory. Overcomers are to share Christ's throne, even as He shares His Father's throne. On the difference between the two thrones mentioned in this portion,
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MacArthur writes that "Like the ship in Coleridge’s “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner,” which had corpses to row and steer it, the church at Sardis was being operated by members who were spiritually dead. The city of Sardis was synonymous with wealth. The expression “rich as Croesus” comes from the extreme wealth of King Croesus, who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Lydia, of which Sardis was the capital. But the superficial activities of the church there could no more keep it spiritually alive than the great wealth and reputation of the city could keep it politically alive. Both city and church went out of existence shortly after New Testament times. When a church substitutes programs, activities, ceremonies, and human issues for the Lord and His work, it becomes a spiritual corpse, despite its appearance of vitality. It has no spiritual life because God is not there. It becomes an Ichabod, because the glory of the Lord departs from it (see 1Sa 4:21+). When lovelessness, immorality, empty ritual, and self–satisfaction overcome a church, the result is spiritual lifelessness. The few believers in Sardis who had “not soiled their garments” were encouraged by the Lord with the promise of one day walking with Him in white in His glorious heavenly kingdom (Rev. 3:4+). That faithful remnant prevented the church as a whole from losing its lampstand and falling into oblivion. (See Ephesians Commentary) In The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Coleridge wrote, “Corpses man the ship; dead men pull the oars; dead men hoist the sails; dead men steer the vessel.” I know (oida/eido is used in all 7 introductions - Rev 2:9, 13, 19+; Revelation 3:1, 8, 15+) and "speaks of absolute, beyond the peradventure (chance) of a doubt knowledge, a knowledge that is self-evident...a positive knowledge...to know absolutely and finally...to know absolutely...a sure knowledge, a positive knowledge...an absolute acquaintance with something." (Wuest) Oida/eido is the perfect tense of the obsolete verb eido (stem = eid- in Latin - "video") which means to see, so literally it means "have seen" hence to know something. Someone has said this verb for know "emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass." The use of this verb (eido) indicates that Jesus is intimately acquainted with every aspect of this church (and all 7 churches). He has perfect knowledge of this church. Nothing is hidden from Him. 🙏 THOUGHT - Do you live with a sense that your every thought, word and deed is seen/known by Jesus? One way to describe this lifestyle is Coram Deo living. Do you live with the idea that we should be motivated by a desire to please an audience of One? Do you rely on Him (His Spirit, rest in Him and respond to Him in unhesitating obedience cf 1Sa 15:22+)? This truth applies to all of us. Jesus sees perfectly into our heart, and knows our every thought whether we speak it or not (See what Jesus sees/knows in Ps 139:1-4+). He knows every motive, even for our "good deeds." (cf 1 Cor 4:5+) "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare ("naked and exposed" = Heb 4:13+NET+) to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do ("to Whom we must render account" - cf 2 Cor 5:10+)." (Heb 4:13+, cf Eccl 12:14+) The reality of this truth should give us cause to pause when we are being tempted to stray (Jas 1:13, 14+), because we can never stray from or hide from His perfect, piercing, righteous gaze! This truth should motivate us, enabled by His Spirit (Php 2:13NLT+), to "to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:12+) As an aside, Sardis and Laodicea are the only two of the seven churches that have no mention of conflict with spiritual foes either internally or externally. Sardis William Cowper “Write to Sardis,” saith the Lord, “And write what He declares, He whose Spirit, and whose word, Upholds the seven stars: All thy works and ways I search, Find thy zeal and love decay’d; Thou art call’d a living church, But thou art cold and dead. “Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive, And strengthen what remains; Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend, Former times to mind recall, Lest my sudden stroke descend, And smite thee once for all. “Yet I number now in thee A few that are upright; These my Father’s face shall see, And walk with me in white. When in judgment I appear, They for mine shall be confess’d; Let my faithful servants hear,— And woe be to the rest!” Angel (messenger)(32) aggelos/angelos [gg in Greek is pronounced ng] possibly from ago = to bring) literally means a messenger (one who bears a message - Lk 1:11+, Luke 2:9+, etc or does an errand). Most of the NT uses refer to heavenly angels (messengers) who are supernatural, transcendent beings with power to carry out various tasks. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are masculine gender (the feminine form of aggelos does not occur.) Vine writes that aggelos refer to "an order of created beings, superior to man, Heb 2:7+; Ps. 8:5, belonging to Heaven, Mt. 24:36+; Mark 12:25+, and to God, Luke 12:8+, and engaged in His service, Psa. 103:20. Angels are spirits, Heb. 1:14+, i.e., they have not material bodies as men have; they are either human in form, or can assume the human form when necessary, cp. Luke 24:4+, with Lk 24:23+, Acts 10:3+ with Acts 10:30+." Aggelos in the Revelation 76x/72v (out of 172v in NT) - Rev. 1:1+; Rev. 1:20+; Rev. 2:1+; Rev. 2:8+; Rev. 2:12+; Rev. 2:18+; Rev. 3:1+; Rev. 3:5+; Rev. 3:7+; Rev. 3:14+; Rev. 5:2+; Rev. 5:11+; Rev. 7:1+; Rev. 7:2+; Rev. 7:11+; Rev. 8:2+; Rev. 8:3+; Rev. 8:4+; Rev. 8:5+; Rev. 8:6+; Rev. 8:8+; Rev. 8:10+; Rev. 8:12+; Rev. 8:13+; Rev. 9:1+; Rev. 9:11+; Rev. 9:13+; Rev. 9:14+; Rev. 9:15+; Rev. 10:1+; Rev. 10:5+; Rev. 10:7+; Rev. 10:8+; Rev. 10:9+; Rev. 10:10+; Rev. 11:15+; Rev. 12:7+; Rev. 12:9+; Rev. 14:6+; Rev. 14:8+; Rev. 14:9+; Rev. 14:10+; Rev. 14:15+; Rev. 14:17+; Rev. 14:18+; Rev. 14:19+; Rev. 15:1+; Rev. 15:6+; Rev. 15:7+; Rev. 15:8+; Rev. 16:1+; Rev. 16:5+; Rev. 17:1+; Rev. 17:7+; Rev. 18:1+; Rev. 18:21+; Rev. 19:17+; Rev. 20:1+; Rev. 21:9+; Rev. 21:12+; Rev. 21:17+; Rev. 22:6+; Rev. 22:8+; Rev. 22:16+ Seven (2033) hepta (For discussion of imagery of seven click here and gotquestions.org) is the indeclinable number 7 (a cardinal number) denotes sufficiency. In Jewish usage hepta often designated a round or complete number. W E Vine notes hepa- is found in "English words beginning with "hept," and corresponds to the Hebrew sheba' (which is akin to saba', signifying "to be full, abundant"), sometimes used as an expression of fullness, e.g., Ruth 4:15+ ("better to you than seven sons"): it generally expresses completeness," See Tony Garland's comments on Seven: Perfection, Completeness. Hepta in the Revelation - Matt. 12:45+; Matt. 15:34+; Matt. 15:36+; Matt. 15:37+; Matt. 16:10+; Matt. 18:22+; Matt. 22:25+; Matt. 22:26+; Matt. 22:28+; Mk. 8:5+; Mk. 8:6+; Mk. 8:8+; Mk. 8:20+; Mk. 12:20+; Mk. 12:22+; Mk. 12:23+; Mk. 16:9+; Lk. 2:36+; Lk. 8:2+; Lk. 11:26+; Lk. 20:29+; Lk. 20:31+; Lk. 20:33+; Acts 6:3+; Acts 13:19+; Acts 19:14+; Acts 20:6+; Acts 21:4+; Acts 21:8+; Acts 21:27+; Acts 28:14+; Heb. 11:30+; Rev. 1:4+; Rev. 1:11+; Rev. 1:12+; Rev. 1:16+; Rev. 1:20+; Rev. 2:1+; Rev. 3:1+; Rev. 4:5+; Rev. 5:1+; Rev. 5:5+; Rev. 5:6+; Rev. 6:1+; Rev. 8:2+; Rev. 8:6+; Rev. 10:3+; Rev. 10:4+; Rev. 11:13+; Rev. 12:3+; Rev. 13:1+; Rev. 15:1+; Rev. 15:6+; Rev. 15:7+; Rev. 15:8+; Rev. 16:1+; Rev. 17:1+; Rev. 17:3+; Rev. 17:7+; Rev. 17:9+; Rev. 17:10+; Rev. 17:11+; Rev. 21:9+ MARVIN VINCENT ON ''SEVEN'': The number seven was regarded by the Hebrews as a sacred number, and it is throughout Scripture the covenant number, the sign of God’s covenant relation to mankind, and especially to the Church. The evidences of this are met in the hallowing of the seventh day; in the accomplishment of circumcision, which is the sign of a covenant, after seven days; in the part played by the number in marriage covenants and treaties of peace. It is the number of purification and consecration (Leviticus 4:6, 17+; Leviticus 8:11, 33+; Numbers 19:12+). “Seven is the number of every grace and benefit bestowed upon Israel; which is thus marked as flowing out of the covenant, and a consequence of it. 1). The priests compass Jericho seven days, and on the seventh day seven times, that all Israel may know that the city is given into their hands by God, and that its conquest is a direct and immediate result of their covenant relation to Him. 2). Naaman is to dip in Jordan seven times, that he may acknowledge the God of Israel as the author of his cure. 3). It is the number of reward to those who are faithful in the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:7+; 1 Samuel 2:5+); of punishment to those who are froward in the covenant (Leviticus 26:21, 24, 28+; Deuteronomy 28:25+), or to those who injure the people in it (Genesis 4:15, 24+; Exodus 7:25+; Psalms 79:12). All the feasts are ordered by seven, or else by seven multiplied into seven, and thus made intenser still. Thus it is with the Sabbath, the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, of Tabernacles, the Sabbath-year, and the Jubilee.” Similarly the number appears in God’s dealing with nations outside the covenant, showing that He is working for Israel’s sake and with respect to His covenant. It is the number of the years of plenty and of famine, in sign that these are for Israel’s sake rather than for Egypt’s. Seven times pass over Nebuchadnezzar, that he may learn that the God of his Jewish captives is king over all the earth (partly quoted and partly condensed from Trench’s “Epistles to the Seven Churches”). Seven also occurs as a sacred number in the New Testament. There are seven beatitudes, seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer; seven parables in Matthew 13; seven loaves, seven words from the cross, seven deacons, seven graces (Romans 12:6-8+), seven characteristics of wisdom (James 3:17+). In Revelation the prominence of the number is marked. To a remarkable extent the structure of that book is molded by the use of numbers, especially of the numbers seven, four, and three. There are seven spirits before the throne; seven churches; seven golden candlesticks; seven stars in the right hand of Him who is like unto a son of man; seven lamps of fire burning before the throne; seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb; seven seals of the book; and the thunders, the heads of the great dragon and of the beast from the sea, the angels with the trumpets, the plagues, and the mountains which are the seat of the mystic Babylon, — are all seven in number. Write (1125)(grapho from root graph- = primarily means to scratch on or engrave as on an ornament, reports, letters, etc; English = graph, graphic, etc) means to engrave or inscribe with a pen or stylus characters or letters on a surface which can be wood, wax, metal, leather, stone, parchment, dirt (John ), paper, etc. Note that John is given 12 commands to write what he SAW (NOTE: THIS IS A VERY "VISUAL" BOOK!) - Rev 1:11, 19+; Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18+; Revelation 3:1, 7, 14+; Revelation 14:13+; Revelation 19:9+; Revelation 21:5+) and one command to not write (Rev 10:4+). Grapho - 30x in 29v in Revelation - Rev. 1:3+; Rev. 1:11+; Rev. 1:19+; Rev. 2:1+; Rev. 2:8+; Rev. 2:12+; Rev. 2:17+; Rev. 2:18+; Rev. 3:1+; Rev. 3:7+; Rev. 3:12+; Rev. 3:14+; Rev. 5:1+; Rev. 10:4+; Rev. 13:8+; Rev. 14:1+; Rev. 14:13+; Rev. 17:5+; Rev. 17:8+; Rev. 19:9+; Rev. 19:12+; Rev. 19:16+; Rev. 20:12+; Rev. 20:15+; Rev. 21:5+; Rev. 21:27+; Rev. 22:18+; Rev. 22:19+ Church (1577) ekklesia/ecclesia from ek = out + klesis = a calling, verb = kaleo = to call) literally means called out (but see note by Louw-Nida below) and as commonly used in the Greco-Roman vernacular referred to citizens who were called out from their homes to be publicly assembled or gathered to discuss or carry out affairs of state.
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MacArthur - Christ addressed the command to the faithful remnant of true Christians at Sardis; there is no point in talking to those who are dead. If their church was to survive it desperately needed life. Christ laid out for them the path to spiritual restoration by giving them five steps to follow. Ray
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MacArthur - Exodus 32:33+, it is argued by some, supports the idea that God may remove someone’s name from the Book of Life. In that passage the Lord tells Moses that “whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” There is no contradiction, however, between that passage and Christ’s promise in Revelation 3:5+. The book referred to in Exodus 32:33+ is not the Book of Life described here, in Philippians 4:3+, and later in Revelation (Rev 13:8+; Revelation 17:8+; Revelation 20:12, 15+; Revelation 21:27+). Instead, it refers to the book of the living, the record of those who are alive (cf. Ps. 69:28). The threat, then, is not eternal damnation, but physical death. In John’s day, rulers kept a register of the citizens of a city. If someone died, or committed a serious crime, their name was erased from that register. Christ, the King of heaven, promises never to erase a true Christian’s name from the roll of those whose names were “written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain” (Rev 13:8+). (See Revelation Commentary) James Allen - The blotting out of names is certainly an OT truth. However the idea must be physical death in the two passages where the expression occurs: Exod 32:32+ with respect to Moses and Ps 69:28 with regard to the wicked. Thus in the OT to “blot out a name” is a metaphorical way of speaking of physical death. Alan
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MacArthur - The comforting truth that true Christians’ salvation is eternally secure is the unmistakable teaching of Scripture. Nowhere is that truth more strongly stated than in Romans 8:28–39: Herbert Lockyer - As warriors of the cross, may grace be ours to fight on, never halting until victory is complete, and that eternal reward crowning a life of warfare is ours. The white raiment speaks of perfect purity, more perfect than the undefiled garments of a Jew in Sardis. Yes, and the white raiment speaks of reward becoming a conqueror, and priestly array. No speck or stain shall rest on the garment of white. "The book of life" mentioned here is not the same to be found in Revelation 13:8+, in which the names of true believers are recorded. In the promise before us "the book of life" is the record of Christian profession—not the record of reality as in Rev 13:8+. In the former true and false are found: in the latter the true only. Many who have not persevered and overcome will find their names erased in the register of Christian profession when life's records are to be scanned by the all-searching eye of the Lord of the churches. If we never shrink from confessing His name, He will not be ashamed to single us out in the august presence of the Father and His angels and confess our name before the grand assembly. (Borrow All the promises of the Bible) Related Resource: The Book of Life - Tony
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MacArthur adds "This is a direct reference, by the way, to Isaiah 22:22, where speaking of Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, it refers to him as the one who had the key to all the treasures of the king. He was the one who could open up the door and let people into the treasure. He had authority over the royal treasury. He could open it up and let its riches out, and he could lock it up and keep them in. The key of David is the key over royal riches. The key of David is the key over the divine treasury, over the kingdom of God, the kingdom of salvation. Jesus has the key to all the divine treasure. That is to say, He is in ultimate authority. He decides who gets in and who is shut out, who is blessed and who is cursed. He opens and closes its riches to everybody. So there is no higher authority. He has all holiness, all truth, and all authority. There’s no one else to appeal to. (Revelation 3:7-11 Divine Blessing for a Faithful Church, Part 1) Lehman Strauss on true - The angel said to Mary, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32–33+). Christ is the absolute Ruler in His kingdom. The key to the house of David is His by legal right and by lineage. He is sole Heir to the throne of David, and until He comes again to reign, the Jews can have no true sovereign. The key is the symbol of His authority, and this authority was given to Him over Heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18+).(The Book of the Revelation: Outlined Studies - BORROW) Danny Akin sees the open door as "The door to salvation swings open and closes at the discretion of Jesus and Jesus alone. Mohammed has no control over this door. Buddha has no control over this door. No pope, priest, guru or self-appointed cultist determines who walks through salvation’s door. This door belongs only to Jesus and He shares His authority with no one. At one time the door was slammed shut, sealed up by our sin. But by the blood of the cross and His glorious resurrection the door has been opened and anyone who will approach it with faith in Jesus will find it already opened wide to them." Adam
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MacArthur says "Their salvation was secure; their entrance both into the blessings of salvation by grace and into Christ’s future messianic kingdom was guaranteed. The picture of Christ’s opening the door also symbolizes His giving the faithful Philadelphia church opportunities for service. Elsewhere in Scripture an open door depicts freedom to proclaim the gospel....Their city’s strategic location provided the Christians at Philadelphia with an excellent opportunity to spread the gospel. (See Revelation Commentary) (Bolding added)
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MacArthur explains the book of Revelation - BORROW) John Walvoord quoting Tait - "The most inveterate enemy of the Church of Christ were the Jews. We read of them in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-11+), in Smyrna, and here in Philadelphia; and in every case most hostile and embittered against Christians. In Palestine, they were the sole persecutors of the Church; and, elsewhere, if they did not directly oppose the gospel, they instigated others to do so. In Smyrna, the same term, “Synagogue of Satan,” is applied to them as here." Tait goes on to note, however, that their very opposition to Christ some-times led them to faith. We have seen in the history of the Church, many who were its greatest enemies—who were infuriated against it—led to the feet of Jesus. Nothing is too hard for the Lord." David Guzik is may gives a disclaimer regarding the name synagogue of Satan, writing "In this, Jesus did not speak against all Jewish people. It would be entirely wrong to speak of the Jewish people as a whole as the synagogue of Satan or those who say they are Jews and are not. Jesus spoke of this specific group of Jewish people in Philadelphia who persecuted the Christians during that period." Who say that they are Jews (Ioudaios) and are not, but (present tense - habitually) lie (pseudomai) -- NJB = "those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are liars." It is important to point out that Jesus (a Jew Himself) is not being "anti-semitic!" As liars these "Jews" would present a direct contrast with the Jewish Jesus Who was true (Rev 3:7+)! What are two ways these Jews might falsely claim to be Jews? (1) They are actually Gentiles by race who are Jewish "wanna be's" but (2) More likely they were literal, physical Jews but not born again, spiritual Jews (Ro 2:28-29+). They were physical descendants of Abraham, but not spiritual descendants of Abraham (which occurs only by faith as in Ge 15:6+, see the Jews arguing with Jesus in John 8:37-44+). Bruce Barton on the Jews and are not, but lie - These people, descended from Abraham and Jews by birth, vehemently opposed and persecuted the Christians for their belief that Jesus was the Messiah. Because of their opposition, Christ considered them as belonging to Satan. True Jews (God’s people) have accepted Jesus as Messiah and Savior (see Romans 2:28–29+; Galatians 3:29+; Gal 6:16+). (Borrow Life application New Testament commentary) Hampton Keathley - They were not children of God regardless of their claims and religiosity. They had rejected God’s Son and revelation of God, they were of their father the Devil, as Christ plainly told them. 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.(The Message to Philadelphia) Gotquestions - The synagogue of Satan say they are Jews (the people of God), and they persecute those who believe in Jesus the Messiah (the true people of God). In reality, by rejecting the Jewish Messiah (ED: CP JESUS OWN DESCRIPTION IN Rev 3:8+ "HE...WHO IS TRUE."), they have renounced their status as “true” Jews, and that is why Jesus calls them “liars.”....Internet searches of “synagogue of Satan” produce quite a few links to sites that claim the “synagogue of Satan” refers to the Jewish people today and that promote all kinds of conspiracy theories about how the Jews run the world. Quite frankly, this is a misinterpretation and misapplication of the verses in Revelation. (Bolding added) ADVERSARIES HUMILIATED SAINTS VINDICATED (Behold - idou) I will make them come and bow down (proskuneo - "worship") at your feet, and make them know (ginosko - recognize, acknowledge) that I have loved (agapao - aorist = past completed action) you - Note for some unknown reason the NAS fails to translate the second "behold" which is in fact present in the Greek text. ESV = "behold, I will make them come and bow down before." This is a sad verse for Jesus, a Jew Himself, because He will be forced to force these non-believing Jews to bow down and know He had love for these saints at Philadelphia, saints these Jews had almost certainly persecuted and harassed regarding their belief in Yeshua. Bow down (proskuneo) can mean to worship, but would not have that sense here for Jesus would never have men worship men! To bow down at someone's feet depicts total submission. Thus this is more a picture of these Jews being forced to subjugate or humble themselves before the church at Philadelphia (contra Php 2:10-11+ when they will bow down and be forced to worship Jesus). In the future when the Jews see the redeemed saints of Philadelphia in the Kingdom, they will know that Jesus loved them. The tragedy is that He would have shown the same love to these Jews, had they bowed their knee to Him during their life. In sum, Jesus is saying to the saints at Philadelphia that they would one day be vindicated. The self-righteous Jewish persecutors would clearly see that Jesus' followers were correct in their belief. Hampton Keathley - 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 in “operation footstool” (Phil. 2:10–11+, Heb. 2:13+). (The Message to Philadelphia) Note that some commentators interpret bow down as God giving the church Jewish converts from the synagogue of Satan. Guzik quoting Mounce writes "God promised Israel that Gentiles would honor them and acknowledge their God (Isaiah 45:14). Now the tables were somewhat turned, and these Jewish people “will play the role of the heathen and acknowledge that the church is the Israel of God.” (Mounce) It should however be noted that the church at Philadelphia may have had a significant number of Jewish believers, which would have accentuated the persecution by the non-believing Jews. Swindoll on the probable Jewish persecution - In fact, so strong was this Jewish influence that within a couple decades the church in Philadelphia would find itself battling a false teaching in which the Old Testament law was exalted above the New Testament gospel (ED: JUDIAZER). (The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians - see chapter 6) Philadelphia had both Opportunities but also Obstacles. Unbelief sees the Obstacles, Faith sees the Opportunities. -- Brian Bell Other ways the Jews could have been opposing the church at Philadelphia include excommunicating Jews from the synagogues who had believed in Jesus and by blaspheming or slandering the true believers. This passage reminds me of Peter's exhortation "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles (AND IN PHILADELPHIA'S CASE AMONG THE JEWS!), so that in the thing in which they slander (katalaleo) you as evildoers (cf "THE BLASPHEMY BY THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE JEWS, AND ARE NOT, BUT ARE A SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN" Rev 2:9+), they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1Pe 2:12+) The Jews from the synagogue of Satan will one day see that the saints at Philadelphia were right in believing in Jesus as the Savior of the world but as the passage below notes, at that time it will be too late. Jesus' description also reminds me of His words of warning and condemnation in Luke 13 to the Jews after He called for them to strive to enter through the narrow door... “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 “Then you will begin to say, ‘We (JEWS) ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves (JEWS WHO WERE NOT JEWS) being thrown out. “And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 “And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.” (Lk 13:24-30+) William Barclay quotes Tertullian “What sight shall wake my wonder, what my laughter, my joy and exultation? As I see all those kings, those great kings . . . groaning in the depths of darkness! And the magistrates who persecuted in the name of Jesus, liquefying in fiercer flames than they kindled in their rage against the Christians!” Brian Bell He will avenge them (SAINTS AT PHILADELPHIA) of their enemies. One day the Jews in name only will have to eat humble pie and acknowledge the Christians were right. Bow down or worship is not in the strict sense but in the military sense. To bow or kneel in defeat. If we take care of God’s work, He will take care of our battles. -- Charles Swindoll Synagogue (4864) sunagoge from sunago = lead together, assemble or bring together) refers to a group of people “going with one another” (sunago) literally describes a bringing together or congregating in one place. Eventually, sunagoge came to mean the place where they congregated together. The word was used to designate the buildings other than the central Jewish temple where the Jews congregated for worship. Historically, the Synagogues originated in the Babylonian captivity after the 586 BC destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar and served as places of worship and instruction. Sunagoge was the name of a group "Synagogue of the Freedmen" (Acts 6:9). Synagogues should have been (and frequently were) a place of teaching and proclamation of the Gospel (Mt 4:23+, Matthew 9:35+, Matthew 12:9+, Matthew 13:54+, Mk 6:2+, Lk 4:15, 16+, Lk 4:44+, Luke 6:6+, Luke 13:10+, Jn 6:59+, John 18:20+, Acts 9:20+ = Paul immediately "began to proclaim Jesus," Acts 13:5+ = Paul proclaimed "the word of God," Acts 14:1+ = place Paul, et al, spoke and where "a large number of people believed," Acts 17:17+, Acts 18:4+, Acts 18:19+, Acts 19:8+ = Paul, et al reasoned with various audiences in synagogues). Sunagoge is used a second time in Rev 3:9+ "Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie–I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you." Satan (4567)(satanas transliterated from Hebrew Satan - see 07854 and Aramaic sātānâ) literally means Adversary, the evil antagonist who offers opposition, hostility, resentment, etc and is an enemy who continually contends, opposes, and resists. In English dictionary an adversary is one who hates or opposes another person and tries to harm them or stop them from doing something because of hatred and malice. Satan is the inveterate, implacable, relentless, ruthless, remorseless, merciless, heartless, pitiless, cruel, hard, harsh, hardened, incorrigible, dedicated enemy of God and man. Satan is not a myth or a fable, but a created, fallen angel who is a real, supernatural evil being (Mt 16.23+; 1 Th 2.18+). Satan is not divine but is subject to the divine Creator Jesus (John 1:3+, Col 1:16+). He was the tempter of Jesus and sifter of men like Peter (Mt 4.1+, Lk 4:2+, Mk 1:13+, Lk 22:31+). Satanas in the Revelation - Rev. 2:9+ = "a synagogue of Satan"; Rev. 2:13+ = "I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is...where Satan dwells"; Rev. 2:24+ = "have not known the deep things of Satan"; Rev. 3:9+; Rev. 12:9+; Rev. 20:2+; Rev. 20:7+ Lie (5574) pseudomai from pseudo = to cheat, defraud, falsify) means to communicate what is false, with the evident purpose of misleading. The Greek term and the English equivalent ‘to lie’ involve more than simply telling what is not true, for this could occur without an intent to deceive or mislead. It means means to tell a falsehood, attempt to deceive by lying, to speak falsely or deceitfully. Pseúdomai therefore involves not only the communication of a falsehood but also the intent to deceive. Pseudomai - 12v - Matt. 5:11+; Acts 5:3+; Acts 5:4+; Rom. 9:1+; 2 Co. 11:31+; Gal. 1:20+; Col. 3:9+; 1 Tim. 2:7+; Heb. 6:18+; Jas. 3:14+; 1 Jn. 1:6+; Rev. 3:9+ QUESTION - What is the synagogue of Satan in Revelation? ANSWER - The synagogue of Satan is mentioned twice in Revelation, once in Jesus’ letter to the first-century church in Smyrna and once to the church in Philadelphia. In both cases, the synagogue of Satan is opposed to the mission and message of the church. To the church in Smyrna, Jesus says, “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9+). To the church of Philadelphia in Asia Minor, Jesus says, “I will make those who 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” (Revelation 3:9+). In short, the synagogue of Satan was a group of unbelieving Jews who were persecuting Christians. These groups were guilty of slandering the church in Smyrna and opposing the church in Philadelphia in some way. The majority of the persecution the New Testament church faced came from the Jewish community. Even most of the Roman persecution was an effort to appease the Jewish authorities. This is true of Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus (John 19:1–16+) and Paul’s imprisonment by the Roman governors Felix (Acts 24:27+) and Festus (Acts 25:16+). This pattern held true throughout the Roman world in the first century. As long as Christians were considered a sect of Judaism, they were exempt from the required observance of certain aspects of Roman state religion. However, as Christians were expelled from synagogues and denounced by the Jewish leadership, Rome began to see Christianity as a new religion that did not have these same exemptions. Therefore, Christians outside the protective umbrella of the synagogue were open to Roman persecution. The synagogue of Satan say they are Jews (the people of God), and they persecute those who believe in Jesus the Messiah (the true people of God). In reality, by rejecting the Jewish Messiah, they have renounced their status as “true” Jews, and that is why Jesus calls them “liars.” This distinction between ethnic Jews and faithful Jews is also seen in Romans 9:6+ (“Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel”) and Romans 2:28–29+ (“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter”). By their persecution of the true people of God, these unbelieving Jews had become a synagogue of Satan—a gathering of people who were actually following the devil’s priorities. Both churches are promised victory over the synagogue of Satan. This promise echoes Isaiah 60:14: “The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet.” In the context of Isaiah 60, an oppressed Jerusalem will be vindicated. Those who oppress her will bow down at her feet and will have to admit that she is indeed blessed by God, and—in the language of Revelation 3:9+—that God loves her. But Isaiah 60:14 applied to these Jews and the Church is something of a reversal. In Isaiah 60, the oppressing Gentiles will bow down at the feet of Jews and admit that God loves them. In Revelation 2—3, oppressing Jews will bow down at the feet of the persecuted Church (with a significant population of Gentiles in it) and admit that God loves them. This is a striking role reversal. Internet searches of “synagogue of Satan” produce quite a few links to sites that claim the “synagogue of Satan” refers to the Jewish people today and that promote all kinds of conspiracy theories about how the Jews run the world. Quite frankly, this is a misinterpretation and misapplication of the verses in Revelation. The synagogue of Satan refers to specific Jewish communities in Smyrna and Philadelphia that were persecuting the church, not to any modern situation. Likewise, no modern situation should be used as an interpretive tool to explain a passage firmly rooted in the first-century Roman world. GotQuestions.org Revelation 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. BGT Revelation 3:10 ὅτι ἐτήρησας τὸν λόγον τῆς ὑπομονῆς μου, κἀγώ σε τηρήσω ἐκ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦ τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ὅλης πειράσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. KJV Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. NET Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. CSB Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth. ESV Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. NIV Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. NLT Revelation 3:10 "Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. NRS Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. NJB Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my commandment to persevere, I will keep you safe in the time of trial which is coming for the whole world, to put the people of the world to the test. NAB Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. YLT Revelation 3:10 'Because thou didst keep the word of my endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of the trial that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the earth. BBE Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you from the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth. RSV Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. NKJ Revelation 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. ASV Revelation 3:10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. the word: Rev 1:9+ Revelation 13:10+ Revelation 14:12+ I also will keep you from the hour of testing: Mt 6:13+ Matthew 26:41+ 1Co 10:13+ Eph 6:13+ 2Pe 2:9+ upon the whole world: Mt 24:14+ Mk 14:9+ Lu 2:1+ Ro 1:8+ to test: Isa 24:17 Da 12:10+ Zec 13:9+ Jas 3:12+ 1Pe 4:12+ Revelation 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KEPT OUT OF THE HOUR OF TESTING Because (term of explanation) you have kept (tereo) the word (logos) of My perseverance (hupomone) - NLT = "have obeyed my command to persevere." NET = "endure steadfastly" ESV = "have kept my word about patient endurance." Note the play on words as Jesus repeats tereo promising because they kept His word, He would keep them! Leon
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MacArthur adds that "Unbelievers will either pass the test by repenting, or fail it by refusing to repent. Revelation 6:9–11+; Revelation 7:9–10, 14+; Revelation 14:4+; and Rev 17:14+ describe those who repent during the tribulation and are saved, passing the test. Revelation 6:15–17+; Revelation 9:20+; Revelation 16:11+; and Rev 19:17–18+ describe those who refuse to repent, failing the test." Swindoll on hour of testing - Although there are several possible interpretations of what it means to “keep” the believers from “the hour of testing” (Rev 3:10+), it is most commonly understood as a reference to the expected period of coming wrath that God will send to judge the world in preparation for the return of Christ. Similarly, Paul said that Christians are waiting for Christ to come from heaven to rescue them “from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10+). (See Insights on Revelation) Hampton Keathley - “Hour” is metaphorical for a shortened period. Because of the clause that follows, this clearly refers to more than the general trials or testings or temptations which people today may encounter. The hour is defined in three ways: (1) It is “the” hour of trial. The presence of the Greek article [tes] specifies this as a very specific time of testing. (2) It is to come upon the whole world. The term translated “world” is oikoumene, meaning “the inhabited earth,” but modifying it is the adjective, holos, “whole, complete.” The testing is worldwide. (3) Finally, it is designed to test a certain category of people defined as “those who dwell upon the earth.” The verb “dwell” is katoikeo from kata, “down” and oikeō, “dwell, live.” Katoikeo means “to live, dwell, reside, settle (down),” or it can mean “inhabit.” The construction of the Greek (a substantival present articular participle) describes the inhabitants as those who are characterized as earth dwellers. As used in Revelation, “those who dwell upon the earth” is basically a technical term for unbelievers because they are earth dwellers, i.e., people bound only to this life and what it can give (Rev 6:10+; Revelation 8:13+; Revelation 11:10+; Revelation 13:8, 14+; Revelation 17:8+; Isa. 24:17f). In contrast to believers who are to think and live as sojourners or aliens, the earth dweller is quite at home on earth. “The hour of trial,” sometimes referred to as “the Tribulation,” refers to the time of wrath or judgment described in chapters 6–19. This is the same as Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:27+) and the time of Jacob’s trouble described by Jeremiah as unprecedented in its judgment (Jer. 30:7+). (The Message to Philadelphia) Tony Evans on the hour of testing - The “hour of testing” is the Tribulation. Jesus used this terminology to describe the Tribulation because He was saying the church is going to be kept from the very time frame in which the Tribulation will occur. To be kept “from,” or “out of,” a situation is different than being kept “through” it. The preposition translated “from” in Revelation 3:10+ suggests the church will not be around when the Tribulation breaks loose. (See The Best is Yet to Come: Bible Prophecies Throughout the Ages) Rod Mattoon - If the Lord intended that the Church go through the Tribulation, the Greek preposition en which means "in" or dia which means "through" would have been the appropriate word to use." John MacArthur offers this summary “Because the believers in Philadelphia had successfully passed so many tests, Jesus promised to spare them from the ultimate test. The sweeping nature of that promise extends far beyond the Philadelphia congregation to encompass all faithful churches throughout history. This verse promises that the church will be delivered from the Tribulation, thus supporting a pre-tribulation Rapture. The Rapture is the subject of three passages in the New Testament (John 14:1-4+; 1Co 15:51-54+; 1Th 4:13-17+), none of which speak of judgment, but rather of the church being taken up to heaven. There are three views of the timing of the Rapture in relation to the Tribulation: that it comes at the end of the Tribulation (posttribulationism), in the middle of the Tribulation (midtribulationism), and the view that seems to be supported by this text, that the Rapture takes place before the tribulation (pretribulationism). Several aspects of this wonderful promise may be noted. First, the test is yet future. Second, the test is for a definite, limited time; Jesus described it as the hour of testing. Third, it is a test or trial that will expose people for what they really are. Fourth, the test is worldwide in scope, since it will come upon the whole world. Finally, and most significantly, its purpose is to test those who dwell on the earth – a phrase used as a technical term in the book of Revelation for unbelievers (cf. Rev 6:10+; Revelation 8:13+; Revelation 11:10+; Revelation 13:8, 12, 14+; Revelation 14:6+; Revelation 17:2,8+). The hour of testing is Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:25-27+), the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7+), the seven-year tribulation period. The Lord promises to keep His church out of the future time of testing that will come on unbelievers." (See Revelation Commentary) Danny Akin adds "Along with John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Tim LaHaye, Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Vines, and Billy Graham, I too am convinced the Lord will deliver the church and keep us from the Great Tribulation. In addition to the promise of this verse, I would also add the following additional evidence: (1). The church is not appointed to wrath (Ro 8:9+; 1Th 1:9-10+; 1 Thessalonians 5:9+). The context of this promise, especially in 1Th 5:9+, is the Great Tribulation. The church, therefore, should not expect to enter “The great day of His wrath” (Rev. 6:17+) which is directed toward unbelievers. (2). The chronology of the discussion in 1Th 4:13-5:11 argues for a pre-tribulation rapture. The rapture discussion in chapter 4 precedes the Day of the Lord discussion in chapter 5. This would indicate that the rapture takes place before the Day of the Lord. (3). In 2 Thessalonians 2, the believers were alarmed that the Day of the Lord was upon them, which does not appear to be consistent with the belief that they would not go through the Tribulation. By assuring them that they were not in the Day of the Lord, Paul encouraged them in their pretribulationism. (4). In Rev. 19:11-21+, the saints are viewed as “coming with” Christ at His Second Coming, not “waiting for” Him. Furthermore, the Church is in heaven prior to the Second Coming for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:1-10+). Thus they must at some time have been gathered to Him prior to both of these events. This would be consistent with pretribulationism (ED COMMENT: TO ADD TO DR AKIN'S POINT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OBSERVE THAT AFTER THE 7 MENTIONS OF THE CHURCHES IN REVELATION 2-3, THERE IS A TIME PHRASE IN REVELATION 4:1+ "AFTER THESE THINGS." AND THERE IS "STRANGELY" ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF THE CHURCH UNTIL Rev 19:7+ WHEN JOHN DESCRIBES "THE BRIDE" OF THE LAMB. WHY IS THERE NOT ONE PASSAGE IN REVELATION 6-REVELATION 19 THAT MENTIONS THE CHURCH DURING THE TIME OF GREATEST DISTRESS THE WORLD HAS EVER EXPERIENCE? THE MOST OBVIOUS ANSWER IS THE "BRIDE" HAS ALREADY BEEN SWEPT AWAY BEFORE THE POURING OUT OF GOD'S WRATH ON THE SINFUL WORLD). (5). The New Testament emphasizes the imminent return of Christ. The exhortation to look for “the glorious appearing” of Christ to His own (Titus 2:13+) loses its significance if the tribulation must come first. Believers in that case should look for signs. This is the strongest argument for pretribulationism. Warren
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MacArthur adds that "Pillars can also represent honor; in pagan temples they were often carved in such a way as to honor a particular deity. The marvelous promise Christ makes to believers is that they will have an eternal place of honor in the temple of God (heaven). To people used to fleeing their city because of earthquakes and enemies, the promise that they will not go out from heaven was understood as security in eternal glory. (See Revelation Commentary) John Stott - If, then, we become a pilgrim in this life, we will be a pillar in the next. If we dare to go out through the door of service, we will never go out of the security of paradise. If we risk our name for Christ in this world, then on our pillar in the next, three names will be permanently engraved. (BORROW What Christ thinks of the church : Revelation 1-3 expounded) Brian Bell - Pillar - The symbolism here would be very meaningful to people who lived in constant danger of earthquakes. Because pillars are known for the stability. [no need to go out of a city that nothing could destroy] Names - Ancient cities often honored great leaders by erecting pillars w/ their names on them. William Barclay describes the scene - (After) Shocks were an everyday occurrence. Gaping cracks appeared in the walls of the houses. First one part of the city was in ruins, then another. Most of the population lived outside the city in huts and were afraid even to go on to the city streets in case they should be killed by falling masonry. Those who still dared to live in the city were considered mad; they spent their time shoring up the shaking buildings and every now and then fleeing to the open spaces for safety. These terrible days in Philadelphia were never wholly forgotten, and people in the city were always waiting subconsciously for the ominous tremors of the ground, ready to flee for their lives to the open spaces.
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MacArthur adds that Amen "is a unique title. And it probably reflects a Hebrew origin. Isaiah 65:16 says, “The God of truth (amen).” Amen is Hebrew for truth or affirmation or certainty. God was called the God of truth, the God of certainty, the God of affirmation. Whatever God says is so, whatever God says is true, whatever God says is certain; therefore, He’s the God of amen. Amen is often used in Scripture as a word to affirm the veracity of a statement. Sometimes it is used before a statement...usually translated “verily, verily,” or “truly, truly,” but in the Greek is “amen, amen.” You often see before a significant statement “amen, amen” to affirm the truthfulness of what is to be said. (ED: 25x AND ONLY IN GOSPEL OF JOHN - E.G., Jn 1:51+, John 3:3, 5, 11+; Jn 5:19, 24, 25+, etc) Sometimes you see amen at the very end....to seal the certainty of what has been said. Amen means firm, fixed, certain, faithful, unchangeable....How is Christ the Amen? We could say that He is the Amen in the sense that He is God....He is the Amen because He is true, He is the Amen because He is certain....Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:20+ “For all the promises of God in Him are amen.”....That means that all God’s promises and all God’s covenants are guaranteed and affirmed by the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, God said, “I will forgive your sins.” God could never do that if it were not for the person and work of Christ. Right? Because forgiveness was purchased by His atoning death....So that everything that God ever planned or purposed for man, everything that God ever promised for man, finds its amen in Jesus Christ. (The Lukewarm Church part 1) The faithful (pistos) and true (atethinos) Witness (martus) - Jesus' testimony is supremely credible based on His past earthly life of perfect obedience to His Father, for He was loyal (faithful) to the point of death.. Jesus did not dilute the truth (faithful) nor distort the truth (true). In simple terms this title of Jesus says we can trust Him implicitly and fully to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! The phrase faithful and true occurs only 4 times in the entire Bible and all 4 are in this last book (Rev 3:14+, Revelation 19:11+, Revelation 21:5+, Revelation 22:6+), twice referring to Jesus Himself and twice to refer to His Word, an association which makes sense because ultimately Jesus is the living Word (Jn 1:1+)! And in Rev 1:5+ He is the "faithful witness." Clearly the Spirit wants the church to be fully confident and convinced that Jesus' Word is trustworthy, and everything He is saying is absolutely true (inerrant). Laying hold of these attributes of Jesus strengthens our faith. He said it, that settles it, whether I can fully understand it or not (and some things in the Revelation are difficult to understand)! Faithful conveys the basic idea of trustworthiness and describes Jesus as reliable, worthy of belief and totally dependable.
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MacArthur - The picture of Christ outside the Laodicean church seeking entrance strongly implies that, unlike Sardis, there were no believers there at all. Alan
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MacArthur - They needed gold that was free of impurities, representing the priceless riches of true salvation. Peter wrote of a “faith … more precious than gold” (1Pe 1:7+), while Paul defined saving faith as “rich in good works,” having the “treasure of a good foundation for the future” (1Ti 6:18–19+). Christ offered the Laodiceans a pure, true salvation that would bring them into a real relationship with Him. R C H
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MacArthur- Laodicea’s famed black wool symbolized the filthy, sinful garments with which the unregenerate are clothed (Isa. 64:6; Zech. 3:3–4). In contrast, God clothes the redeemed with white garments (Rev 3:4–5+; Revelation 4:4+; Revelation 6:11+; Revelation 7:9, 13–14+; cf. Isa. 61:10+), symbolizing the righteous deeds that always accompany genuine saving faith (Rev 19:8+). Leon
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MacArthur - Some argue that the language of Christ’s direct appeal to the Laodiceans in verse 19, those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, indicates that they were believers. Verses 18 and 20, however, seem better suited to indicate that they were unregenerate, desperately in need of the gold of true spiritual riches, the garments of true righteousness, and the eye salve that brings true spiritual understanding (v. 18). (See Revelation Commentary) John Stott writes - There can be no glossing over this charge. The Christ who warns them that he will spit them out of his mouth if they do not stir themselves, nevertheless loves them. Indeed, it is because he longs to save them from final judgment that he now reproves and chastens them. They must be earnest and repent. The tenses change significantly. Let them repent at once and irrevocably; then let them continue always to be fired with zeal. To repent is to turn with resolution from all that is known to be contrary to God’s will. Like the Laodiceans we have to renounce the old life of easy-going complacency. Smug self-satisfaction is not appropriate in one who bears the name of Christ. Shallow piety never saved anyone. There will be no hypocrites in heaven. So we have to break with these things. We must spit them out of our mouths lest he spit us out of his. I (Borrow What Christ thinks of the church : Revelation 1-3 expounded) Those whom I love (phileo) - John 3:16+ indicates God loves the unredeemed, but the verb in this famous verse is . I (present tense - continually) reprove (elegcho) and present tense - continually) discipline (paideuo) - Jesus is continually convicting them (in concert with the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit - Jn 16:8+ also uses elegcho). There are some writers who feel Jesus' use of this particular verb supports their presumption that the lukewarm are just believers who need a little child training. That is a weak and specious (superficially plausible, but actually wrong) argument because even the first NT use of paideuo refutes that manner of argumentation, for Luke 23:16+ records the words of Pilate declaring "Therefore I will punish (paideuo) Him and release Him.” In 2Ti 2:25+ Paul uses the same verb instructing Timothy "with gentleness correcting (paideuo) those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth." Finally, in the Septuagint in Leviticus 26:18+ we read ‘If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish (paideuo) you seven times more for your sins." Yes (paideuo) does refer to "child training" but it also refers to punishment, and in the present context is used by Jesus to encourage the lukewarm nominal professers to become true children of God and possessors of eternal life! MacArthur - To reprove means to expose and convict. It is a general term for God’s dealings with sinners (cf. John 3:18–20+; John 16:8+; 1 Cor. 14:24+; Titus 1:9+; Jude 15). Discipline refers to punishment (cf. Luke 23:16, 22+) and is used of God’s convicting of unbelievers (2 Tim. 2:25+). Thus, the terminology of verse 19 does not demand that Christ be referring to believers. (See Revelation Commentary) Therefore be zealous (zeloo) and repent (metanoeo) - Jesus then gives two commands to this lukewarm church and the first is to be zealous or "hot" for Jesus and the present imperative calls for this mindset to be their habitual practice. The verb zeloo is a bit ironic for He is commanding these slothlike lukewarm professors to be burning with zeal, fervent in spirit, "boiling hot" for Jesus, the antithesis of their current indifferent, self-sufficient attitude. Then He calls them to repent (metanoeo) where the aorist imperative demands they do this immediately, even with a sense of urgency, lest He vomit them out of His mouth! They need to have a Spirit energized change of mind that results in a new life in Him. As John Stott says "If the first step is repentance, the second is faith," which Stott feels is what Rev 3:20+ alludes to. MacArthur - But in order for the Laodiceans to be saved, they would have to be zealous and repent. That is tantamount to the attitude of mourning over sin and hungering and thirsting for righteousness of which Jesus spoke (Matt. 5:4, 6+). While repentance is not a meritorious work, the New Testament call to salvation always includes it (e.g., Matt. 3:2, 8+; Matthew 4:17+; Mark 6:12+; Luke 13:3, 5+; Luke 15:7, 10+; Acts 2:38+; Acts 3:19+; Acts 8:22+; Acts 11:18+; Acts 17:30+; Acts 20:21+; Acts 26:20+; Rom. 2:4+; 2 Cor. 7:10+; 2 Tim. 2:25+; 2 Pet. 3:9+). In repentance, the sinner turns from his sin to serve God (1Th 1:9+). (See Revelation Commentary) John Stott - "Whether the Laodicean church heeded this warning we cannot say (ED: BUT SEE COUNCIL OF LAODICEA IN 364 AD SUGGESTING AT LEAST SOME VESTIGE OF THE CHURCH REMAINED). Certainly the city, once prosperous and complacent, is now a miserable waste. “Nothing can exceed the desolation and melancholy appearance of the site of Laodicea” says a nineteenth-century traveller.4 Archbishop Trench vividly portrays the scene: “All has perished now. He who removed the candlestick of Ephesus, has rejected Laodicea out of his mouth. The fragments of aqueducts and theatres spread over a vast extent of country tell of the former magnificence of this city; but of this once famous church nothing survives.” (Borrow What Christ thinks of the church : Revelation 1-3 expounded) Love (5368) phileo from phílos = loved, dear, friend) means to be a friend to another, to be fond of (have a liking for) an individual or an object, to have or show affection for. In some contexts it means to kiss another as a mark of tenderness for that person. Phileo denotes personal attachment and is more a matter of sentiment or feeling. It is devotion based in the emotions distinguished from agapao which represents devotion based in the will. Stated another way phileo is chiefly of the heart whereas agape is chiefly of the head. Phileo is a love which is the response of the human spirit to what appeals to it as pleasurable. Phileo is a love which consists of the glow of the heart kindled by the perception of that in the object which affords us pleasure. Phileo is the response of the human spirit to what appeals to it as pleasurable. The Greeks made much of friendship. Phileo was used to speak of a friendly affection. Phileo is a love called out of one in response to a feeling of pleasure or delight which one experiences from an apprehension of qualities in another that furnish such pleasure or delight. Phileo is friendship love, this "friendship factor" sadly often missing in marriages. In Scripture phileo is used to describe the love of God the Father and the Son, of Jesus and Peter, and of Jonathan and David. Phileo love is basically emotional. Phileo cannot be commanded but it can be developed in relationships. Phileo is based on the qualities in another person that you find admirable or attractive. Phileo is a fellowship type love manifested in a living and growing relationship between two friends. Phileo love does feed on response, and it cannot survive long without response from the other. Friendship love requires attention. Phileo - Matt. 6:5+; Matt. 10:37+; Matt. 23:6+; Matt. 26:48+; Mk. 14:44+; Lk. 20:46+; Lk. 22:47+; Jn. 5:20+; Jn. 11:3+; Jn. 11:36+; Jn. 12:25+; Jn. 15:19+; Jn. 16:27+; Jn. 20:2+; Jn. 21:15+; Jn. 21:16+; Jn. 21:17+; 1 Co. 16:22+; Tit. 3:15+; Rev. 3:19+; Rev. 22:15+ Reprove (convict, expose) (1651) elegcho is a primary verb but is related to elegchos = bringing to light) means to bring to the light (to reveal hidden things) with the implication that there is adequate proof of wrongdoing. To expose, to convict, to reprove, to shame or disgrace and thus to rebuke another in such a way that they are compelled to see and to admit the error of their ways. To show someone that they have done something wrong and summon them to repent. Gary Hill on elegcho - properly, to convince by solid, compelling evidence which especially exposes what is wrong or right....preeminently used of the Holy Spirit producing conviction in the heart. The Holy Spirit produces inner conviction, i.e. convinces people about what: misses God's mark ("sin"); has His approval ("righteousness"); and the eternal consequences of this (for everlasting punishment or reward). We constantly need the Holy Spirit to convict us about what is right as well as what is wrong so we don't hate what is wrong . . . more than love what is right! Elegcho - 17x/17v - convict(2), convicted(2), convicts(1), expose(1), exposed(2), rebuke(1), refute(1), reprimanded(1), reprove(4), reproved(1), show...fault(1). Matt. 18:15+; Lk. 3:19+; Jn. 3:20+; Jn. 8:46+; Jn. 16:8+; 1 Co. 14:24+; Eph. 5:11+; Eph. 5:13+; 1 Tim. 5:20+; 2 Tim. 4:2+; Titus 1:9+; Titus 1:13+; Titus 2:15+; Heb. 12:5+; Jas. 2:9+; Jude 1:15+; Rev. 3:19+ Discipline (chasten, correct, educate, instruct, teach, punish) (3811) paideuo from país = child) refers primarily to the training or discipline of children (whether in the schools of men - Acts 7:22+, Acts 22:3+ or in the school of God, Titus 2:12+, et al), at one end of the spectrum training by teaching, instructing, educating or nurturing and at the other end of the spectrum utilizing correction and punishment if necessary (which it usually is for children) as a part of the training or child rearing process bringing them to maturity (this end of the spectrum conveyed by English words like chastise or chasten - see below - as morally disciplining an adult, correcting them and giving them guidance). In that regard we will briefly look at some of the most common English words used to translate paideuo and will attempt to draw out the sometimes subtle differences in meaning. From this introduction, you can see that the meaning of paideuo is dependent on the context. Paideuo - 13v - Lk. 23:16+; Lk. 23:22+; Acts 7:22+; Acts 22:3+; 1 Co. 11:32+; 2 Co. 6:9+; 1 Tim. 1:20+; 2 Tim. 2:25+; Tit. 2:12+; Heb. 12:6+; Heb. 12:7+; Heb. 12:10+; Rev. 3:19+ Be zealous (2206) zeloo from zelos = zeal in turn from zeo = boil; source of our English word "zeal") properly, to bubble over from getting so hot (boiling) and figuratively to burn with zeal (or intensity), to be fervent, to "boil" with envy, to be jealous. It can be used commendably to refer to a striving for something or showing zeal. Zeloo is (an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of boiling water! The idea is to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire – 'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon' Acts 7:9+; Acts 17:5+; 1 Co. 12:31+; 1 Co. 13:4+; 1 Co. 14:1+; 1 Co. 14:39+; 2 Co. 11:2+; Gal. 4:17+; Gal. 4:18+; Jas. 4:2+; Rev. 3:19+ God’s Heart Revealed As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. —Revelation 3:19+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ It’s easy to think of God as a divine fly-swatter, just waiting for you to land so that—whap—He can nail you for your sins. But that’s not what we see in Revelation 2–3 in His letters to the seven churches. The pattern of the letters demonstrates God’s loving heart for wayward people. Jesus began many of these letters by affirming the good things His people had done. This shows us that when we do what is good and right, the Lord is pleased. But Jesus is also concerned about the faults in our lives. His commendation in these letters was often followed by clear words of reproof. And while it’s not comfortable to hear Him say, “Nevertheless I have this against you” (2:4; see vv.14,20), He reveals what needs to be changed in our lives to keep us from self-deceit. This moves us to the real heart of the matter—repentance. When the Lord told these churches to repent, He was revealing His love for wayward saints. His goal was not to condemn but to restore them to intimate fellowship with Him. And don’t miss the fact that each letter ends with a specific promise for the “overcomers.” Clearly God desires to reward those who live lives that are pleasing to Him. What’s He saying to you today? Joe Stowell To live a life that pleases Christ, It’s crucial to obey His voice; When He reveals our sin to us, Repentance is the wisest choice. —Sper Repentance restores and renews our intimacy with the Lord. Crooked House As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. —Revelation 3:19+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-20+ When Robert Klose first moved into his 100-year-old house, its strange sounds were disconcerting. A carpenter told him the house was crooked. Klose admitted, “I could see it in the floors, the ceilings, the roofline, the door jambs, even the window frames. Drop a ball on the floor and it will roll away into oblivion.” Seventeen years later, the house is still holding together and he has gotten used to it and even grown to love it. In Revelation, Jesus confronted a church that had become accustomed to its crooked spirituality and had even grown to love its inconsistencies. Laodicea was a well-to-do city. Yet that very wealth led to its delusion of self-sufficiency. This had bled into the culture of the church and produced a crooked, “we don’t need Jesus” type of spirituality. Therefore, Jesus rebuked these believers, calling them “lukewarm, . . . wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (3:16-17). He rebuked them because He loved them and still wanted an ever-deepening communion with them. So He gave them opportunity to repent (v.19). If self-sufficiency has skewed your fellowship with Jesus, you can straighten it through repentance and a renewal of intimate fellowship with Him. By: Marvin Williams Not to the world is the portion Of fellowship sweet with God, But to the humble believer Who trusts in His faithful Word. —Anon. Repentance is God’s way of making the crooked straight. Revelation 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. BGT Revelation 3:20 Ἰδοὺ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ κρούω· ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν, [καὶ] εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. KJV Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. NET Revelation 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. CSB Revelation 3:20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. ESV Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. NIV Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. NLT Revelation 3:20 "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. NRS Revelation 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. NJB Revelation 3:20 Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share a meal at that person's side. NAB Revelation 3:20 " '"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. YLT Revelation 3:20 lo, I have stood at the door, and I knock; if any one may hear my voice, and may open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me. GWN Revelation 3:20 Look, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together. BBE Revelation 3:20 See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man's ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me. RSV Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. NKJ Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ASV Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. MIT Revelation 3:20 Pay attention: I have taken my position at the door, and I am knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter for fellowship with him and for dining with him and he with me. I stand: Song 5:2-4+ Lu 12:36+ I will: Joh 14:21-23+ will dine: Rev 19:9+ Lu 12:37+ Luke 17:8+ Revelation 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "The Light of the World," William Holman Hunt, 1851-56, Manchester City Art Gallery. JESUS OFFER TO DINE WITH ANYONE "The Light of the World" Painting - "In its heyday in the early 20th century, the painting “The Light of the World” (1851-53) was probably more famous than any of the works of the great masters of the Renaissance. As difficult as it is to imagine today, millions of people around the world flocked to see what was known as the “SERMON IN A FRAME.” The allegorical painting that captured the imagination of so many was created by the English artist William Holman Hunt, who began the work at the age of 21 and finished it when he was 29. The painting illustrates the biblical passage in Revelation 3:20+. Jesus, carrying a lantern, is depicted knocking at a door with no handle on the outside. The door is overgrown with weeds, and the nails and hinges are rusted, implying that the door has never been opened.The message: it is up to the person on the other side of the door to let Jesus in....The painting went on a world tour from 1905 to 1907, visiting the hometowns of millions of people in Canada, South Africa, and beyond. On its tour of Australia, it’s estimated that 4/5 of the population of the country saw it. The industrialist Charles Booth purchased the painting from Hunt and Hughes and donated it to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London where it hangs today. According to St. Paul’s, the painting is “the most traveled art work in history.” (Aleteia) Behold (idou) - Listen! = NET, CSB, NRS; Look! = NLT, NJB; See! - Behold is an attention getting command! This church desperately needed to hear and heed this command for there were no believers in the entire church! I stand at the door (thura) and knock (krouo) - What door? Not so much the "door" of one heart (as is commonly thought), but the door of the entire church. The Head of the church is not even in the church! He is knocking at the door of the church and will enter if ANYONE hears and opens! Remember that although Jesus has the keys that open and shut, He will not force His way in! Stand is in the perfect tense indicating He took His position and is still standing there ("I stand and continue to stand"). Knock is present tense indicating Jesus continues to knock (even today!) As noted above John Stott - says they have taken the first step (repent) in Rev 3:19+ and now they are to take the second step of faith (cf Jesus' words in Mk 1:15+). Stott writes "This is a personal appeal. Although the words are addressed to the church, they apply to individual members of the church. If anyone …, Christ says. Our heart or soul is likened to a dwelling. Each of us likes to rule our own roost and be king of our own castle. But the living Christ comes to visit us. He who threatens that he may have to spit us from his mouth now stands on our front doorstep. He knocks. He wants to be admitted. It is a visit from the lover of our soul. The love scene in the Song of Songs repeats itself. “Listen! My beloved is knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one …’ My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my beloved” (Song 5:2, 4, 5+). (Borrow What Christ thinks of the church : Revelation 1-3 expounded) MacArthur - The picture of Christ outside the Laodicean church seeking entrance strongly implies that, unlike Sardis, there were no believers there at all. (See Revelation Commentary) Gotquestions.org - In Revelation 3:20+, Jesus is not pleading with an individual to be saved; He’s seeking admittance to a church! It’s alarming to think of Jesus standing outside of the church and knocking, but that’s the position He was in. The Laodicean church had shut the door on the Head of the church; they were smug in their prosperity, but Jesus was left standing in the cold. He was an outsider to the hearts of the entire congregation. Christ’s appeal was heartfelt and urgent: “Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20+NET). The Lord’s plea was also personal. He spoke to individuals using singular words like anyone, his, him, and he. He was inviting everyone in the church to experience intimate fellowship with Him. And even though His desire was for the whole church to respond and open the door to Him, ultimately it was up to the individual to decide. Jesus knows that not everyone will answer His invitation and open the door to a relationship with Him. Many, like those living in Laodicea, will choose to reject His call. Lukewarm, and with hardened hearts, they will remain blind to the fact that they have accepted a false righteousness (Hebrews 3:7–8+). To these Jesus will say, “I never knew you, depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23+). Sadly, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. If anyone hears (akouo) My voice and opens (anoigo) the door (thura) - Jesus gives two conditions that must be met - hears and opens. Is it possible to hear His voice and yet not open the door? Note that all of the words in the Greek text after "Anyone..." are singular, and none are plural. The point is that while Jesus is speaking to the entire church, He is also speaking to any single male or female in that church that hears (active voice = a choice of one's will) His message and opens (active voice = a choice of one's will) the door figuratively speaking. One is reminded of Lydia from Thyatira who was "listening (same verb akouo and in active voice) and the Lord opened (dianoigo) her heart to respond (NOTE: GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION = HE OPENED THE DOOR! WOMAN'S RESPONSIBILITY = LYDIA RESPONDED! = MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES!) to the things spoken by Paul." (Acts 16:14+) I will come in to him and will dine (deipneo) with him, and he with Me - Come in in context would be through the "figurative" door, but spiritually when one believes on Jesus, He comes to live within His Temple (Col 1:27+). Will dine speaks of close communion and fellowship and is the verb deipneo used twice elsewhere in the context of the Passover feast. So in a sense Jesus is inviting this "anyone" to participate in a meal with the Passover Lamb (1Co 5:7+). MacArthur - Christ’s offer to dine with the repentant church speaks of fellowship, communion, and intimacy. Sharing a meal in ancient times symbolized the union of people in loving fellowship. Believers will dine with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9+), and in the millennial kingdom (Luke 22:16, 29–30+). Dine is from deipneo, which refers to the evening meal, the last meal of the day (cf. Luke 17:8+; Lk 22:20+; 1Co 11:25+, where the underlying Greek is rendered “sup,” “supper,” and “supped,” respectively)." (See Revelation Commentary) The Lord Jesus Christ urged the "LL's" (lukewarm Laodiceans) to repent so that they might feast in fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and they were forever spit out of His mouth! Note a number of commentators do not feel this is an invitation to become a believer in Christ, but rather an invitation for the church members to return to fellowship with Christ. I cannot see any evidence in Jesus' preceding statements that they were ever in "fellowship" with Jesus! To the contrary, Jesus is offering them to be clothed in white garments (Rev 3:18+) which in the context of the Revelation speaks of the garments of righteousness that are obtained only by believing in Jesus Christ. Rev 7:14+ says "they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." What could wash away the sin of the Church of the Lukewarm? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! Knock (2925) krouo means seeking entrance by knock (at a door or gate. Figuratively, krouo speaks of seeking spiritual access and so to ask to be accepted (Rev 3.20+) BDAG - "to deliver a blow against something, strike, knock." The English word "knock" comes from German word meaning to press! “Knock” means to stand at a door and repeatedly rap with your knuckles. You knock and wait, then you knock again, then you say, “I know you’re in there,” then you knock again and say, “I can hear your voice. Come on, open the door.” Then you knock again. If you’re on the other side, you know how annoying it can be to listen as someone knocks and knocks and keeps on knocking. Thankfully as Luke goes on to say Peter kept on knocking! Krouo - 9x/9v - knock(4), knocked(1), knocking(1), knocks(3). Matt. 7:7+; Matt. 7:8+; Lk. 11:9+; Lk. 11:10+; Lk. 12:36+; Lk. 13:25+; Acts 12:13+; Acts 12:16+; Rev. 3:20+ Dine (1172)(deipneo from deipnon = dinner) means to dine or take the main meal and in classical Greek was the word for “eating a meal,” generally the largest meal of the day. During classical times a deipnon was important in the worship of Greek deities. Participating in a religious “meal” meant one actually participated in the god’s nature (Behm, “deipnon,” Kittel, 2:34f.). In ancient times Jews placed great importance on social interaction through meals. To offer or accept a dinner invitation signaled intents of goodwill, trust, and prosperity. To decline or forbid such an opportunity indicated ill will and also the highest insult (e.g., Luke 14:16-24+). Deipneo - Lk. 17:8+; Lk. 22:20+ = related to the Passover; 1 Co. 11:25+ = related to Passover; Rev. 3:20+. In Septuagint = Pr 23:1, Da 11:27+. Luke 22:20+ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten (deipneo), saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 1 Corinthians 11:25+ In the same way He took the cup also after supper (deipneo), saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” QUESTION - What did Jesus mean when He said, “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20)? ANSWER - Through the apostle John in Revelation 2—3, Jesus addressed seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. They were individualized letters of instruction, rebuke, and encouragement to the local congregations. To the last church, the lukewarm church in Laodicea, Jesus made this urgent plea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20+). The idea of Jesus standing at a door and knocking is often used as an illustration of Jesus’ offer of salvation to individuals: if you would only “open your heart’s door” and let Jesus into your life, all will be well. But in Revelation 3:20+, Jesus is not pleading with an individual to be saved; He’s seeking admittance to a church! It’s alarming to think of Jesus standing outside of the church and knocking, but that’s the position He was in. The Laodicean church had shut the door on the Head of the church; they were smug in their prosperity, but Jesus was left standing in the cold. He was an outsider to the hearts of the entire congregation. Most of the seven letters contained a compliment, a complaint or criticism, a command, and a commitment from Jesus. But the church of Laodicea, like their spiritually dead sister church in Sardis, merited no words of approval from Jesus. The Laodiceans were guilty of self-reliance, self-righteousness, and spiritual indifference. Even worse, the church was unaware of their wretched condition. To the congregation at Laodicea, Jesus issued this scathing criticism: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked’” (Revelation 3:15–17+). In their proud, self-satisfied, and spiritually blind state, the church of Laodicea was useless in God’s kingdom. Using figurative language, Jesus issued His command, beckoning the members of the church to exchange their counterfeit righteousness for genuine righteousness (Revelation 3:18+). He called the church to be zealous and repent (verse 19). Christ’s appeal was heartfelt and urgent: “Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20+NET). The Lord’s plea was also personal. He spoke to individuals using singular words like anyone, his, him, and he. He was inviting everyone in the church to experience intimate fellowship with Him. And even though His desire was for the whole church to respond and open the door to Him, ultimately it was up to the individual to decide. Jesus knows that not everyone will answer His invitation and open the door to a relationship with Him. Many, like those living in Laodicea, will choose to reject His call. Lukewarm, and with hardened hearts, they will remain blind to the fact that they have accepted a false righteousness (Hebrews 3:7–8+). To these Jesus will say, “I never knew you, depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23+). Sadly, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. During His ministry on earth, Jesus went to great lengths to demonstrate that righteousness comes to us as a gift through faith alone. Having Christ’s righteousness, by grace through faith, is the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven (Romans 3:24–25+; 2 Corinthians 5:21+; Ephesians 2:4–8+). When Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock,” He was inviting the members of the Laodicean church to recognize their miserable spiritual condition and receive His authentic gift of salvation. Like the apostle Paul, the Laodiceans needed to realize their absolute dependence on Christ: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:8–9+). To those who would open the door, Jesus promised a close fellowship, pictured as enjoying a meal together. And He offered this great reward: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21+). These words were Christ’s commitment to the Laodicean church. Today Jesus continues to say, “I stand at the door and knock!” To churches who are filled with nominal Christians, He sends out His earnest invitation for full fellowship. The One who holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19+; Revelation 1:18+; Revelation 3:7+) calls us all to hear His voice and open the door so that He can come in and share an intimate union with us. To those who respond, Jesus Christ guarantees the open door of eternal life and the reward of ruling with Him in heaven. GotQuestions.org (BOLDING ADDED) QUESTION - What happened at the Council of Laodicea? ANSWER - The Council of Laodicea was held in AD 364 and is considered a minor convention in historical Christianity. The meeting featured only about thirty members, all from the local Middle Eastern churches. The city of Laodicea is in the southwestern part of modern-day Turkey and is mentioned as one of the seven churches of the book of Revelation (Revelation 3:14–15+). The Council of Laodicea produced sixty rulings, or canons, covering a broad range of topics. These rulings prohibited certain foods during Lent, discussed whether or not to minister to Jews and heretics, explicitly condemned astrology, specified the correct Christian “Sabbath day,” and emphasized the importance of modesty. The council also produced two rulings referencing the canon of Scripture. The 59th ruling of the Council of Laodicea declared that only canonical books should be read in church. The 60th ruling specified this canon as the traditional 27 books of the New Testament, minus Revelation; and the 39 books of the Old Testament, plus the book of Baruch and its extended ending, the Epistle of Jeremiah. In harmony with the writings of early Christians such as Origen, Melito, Jerome, Cyril, and Athanasius, early conventions such as the Council of Laodicea generally treated the Apocrypha as a separate category from inspired Scripture. The apocryphal books were considered useful, even sacred, but not inspired and not on the same level as the traditional canon.GotQuestions.org (BOLDING ADDED) Related Resources: What is the epistle to the Laodiceans mentioned in Colossians 4:16? | GotQuestions.org Religion And Reality I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. —Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9 “Religion and reality don’t mix”—that’s what a group in Grand Rapids, Michigan, believes. These 24 people call themselves “freethinkers” who have chosen “reality over religion.” Most of them grew up in churchgoing families but have left their faith. Like those freethinkers, two Filipino students from prominent families became deeply disturbed by religious people who exploited the poor. They too rejected all religion. They sought reality in alleviating the suffering of the masses. But eventually they began to sense that life without God left them empty. Through a series of near-miraculous events, both students came to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They continued to work among the poor, but with a new perspective. They found the reality of a living faith in contrast to mere external religion. The Israelites also wondered why God seemed unreal to them. They had gone through the motions of religion but continued to live for themselves (Isaiah 58:2,4). Isaiah told them to repent and become real—to free the oppressed, to share their bread with the hungry, to house the poor, and to clothe the naked. Only then would God be real to them (vv.6-9). If we truly know Jesus, religion and reality do mix. By: Herbert Vander Lugt When people turn away from God, They think they will be free, But only Christ who died for them Will bring reality. —D. De Haan Unless Christ is the center of interest, life will be out of focus. Love That Won’t Quit If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him. —Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ Day after day, the loving father came to the hospital, often with flowers in his hand. He would sit beside the bed of his comatose 6-year-old daughter, talking to her about the wonderful world outside her window. Sometimes he would tell her a story. But in her unconscious state, the only sound she ever made was her labored breathing. One day her nurse, touched by the father’s unrewarded faithfulness, ventured to say, “It must be hard giving so much love when she’s like this.” He quickly responded, “I’m going to keep on coming and bringing flowers and telling her stories even if she’s oblivious to it because I love her whether or not she loves me back.” What a tender and poignant picture of God’s love! Patiently, untiringly, He is in love with us. We may be unaware of His presence, as though we are spiritually comatose. But we don’t have to be that way. What our loving Lord said to the church of Laodicea He says to each of us: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20+). Today, as always, God is reaching out to you. Respond now to the love that won’t quit loving. By: Vernon Grounds Dashboard Dining If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. —Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture:Revelation 3:14-22+ The term “dashboard dining” has come to signify the growing practice of eating while driving to save a little time. Popular freeway fare includes yogurt in squeeze tubes, soup in heat-and-sip containers, and small cookies that fit in cup holders. One US consumer products analyst says that people increasingly want food items that can be eaten quickly and easily while on the road. In some cultures, a leisurely meal at a table is becoming an endangered practice. This eat-and-run mentality can also invade our spiritual thinking. Do we set aside daily time for an unhurried meeting with Jesus? Is our Bible reading and prayer time rushed or relaxed? The risen Christ told the lukewarm church of Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20+). When we open our hearts in surrender to the Lord, He promises to come in for a meal, not a snack. His offer to dine with us holds the promise of a nourishing meal with relaxed conversation, not a quick hello and goodbye. While modern culture worships efficiency and speed, God invites us to slow down and sit down for a spiritual feast of fellowship with Him. By: David C. McCasland We need to set aside the time To read God's Word and pray, And listen for the Spirit's voice To guide us in His way. —Sper Time is a friend when you use it to strengthen your friendship with Jesus. Finding Jesus Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. —Rev. 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ If I asked the question, “Where’s Waldo?” you might recall those popular children’s picture books from the 1980s. That little guy in the red-and-white-striped shirt and hat loved to hide in the pages amid a busy blur of images that made it nearly impossible to find him. Thankfully, finding Jesus is a lot easier than finding Waldo. Jesus doesn’t play hide-and-seek. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20+). You can find Him at the door of your heart—the core of your existence—waiting to come in. He doesn’t just want to meet you at church, or to be kept at bay on the outer edges of your life. Rather, He longs to be in the center of your dreams, deliberations, and desires. He wants a real relationship with the real you. And as wonderful as that is, I need to warn you that it may be a little unsettling. Your heart is no doubt harboring a few things that He will want to deal with. But there is nothing that is more valuable than intimacy with Him. Welcome Jesus in and He will clear out the clutter until the air is fragrant and fresh with the purity, power, and pleasure of His presence. Who’s knocking at your heart’s door? It’s Jesus! How wonderful is that! By: Joe Stowell Sweetest of all of life’s blessings, Communion with Christ above, Assured of His constant presence, His matchless, eternal love. —Anon. Jesus is standing at the door of your heart—welcome Him in! Light of the World Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture & Insight: Revelation 3:14–22+ One of my favorite pieces of art hangs in the Keble College chapel in Oxford, England. The painting, The Light of the World by English artist William Holman Hunt, shows Jesus holding a lantern in His hand and knocking on a door to a home. One of the intriguing aspects of the painting is that the door doesn’t have a handle. When questioned about the lack of a way to open the door, Hunt explained that he wanted to represent the imagery of Revelation 3:20+, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” The apostle John’s words and the painting illustrate the kindness of Jesus. He gently knocks on the door of our souls with His offer of peace. Jesus stands and patiently waits for us to respond. He does not open the door Himself and force His way into our lives. He does not impose His will on ours. Instead, He offers to all people the gift of salvation and light to guide us. To anyone who opens the door, He promises to enter. There are no other requirements or prerequisites. If you hear the voice of Jesus and His gentle knock on the door of your soul, be encouraged that He patiently waits for you and will enter if you welcome Him in. By: Lisa M. Samra Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation and Your promise to enter when we open the door. Please help me to respond to this gift and open the door for You today. Open the door to Jesus; He is patiently waiting for you. Love That Won’t Quit If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him. —Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ Day after day, the loving father came to the hospital, often with flowers in his hand. He would sit beside the bed of his comatose 6-year-old daughter, talking to her about the wonderful world outside her window. Sometimes he would tell her a story. But in her unconscious state, the only sound she ever made was her labored breathing. One day her nurse, touched by the father’s unrewarded faithfulness, ventured to say, “It must be hard giving so much love when she’s like this.” He quickly responded, “I’m going to keep on coming and bringing flowers and telling her stories even if she’s oblivious to it because I love her whether or not she loves me back.” What a tender and poignant picture of God’s love! Patiently, untiringly, He is in love with us. We may be unaware of His presence, as though we are spiritually comatose. But we don’t have to be that way. What our loving Lord said to the church of Laodicea He says to each of us: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20+). Today, as always, God is reaching out to you. Respond now to the love that won’t quit loving. By: Vernon Grounds Don’t Bother Me Behold, I stand at the door and knock. — Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ As a young man, C. S. Lewis abandoned his childhood faith in God and declared his belief in no religion, saying they were all myths created by man. Years later, after acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God and his Savior, Lewis wrote of that time in his book Surprised By Joy. He said: “No word in my vocabulary expressed deeper hatred than the word Interference. But Christianity placed at the center what then seemed to me a transcendental Interferer. There was no region even in the innermost depth of one’s soul which one could surround with a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice ‘No Admittance.’ And that was what I wanted; some area, however small, of which I could say to all other beings, ‘This is my business and mine only.'” Every person has the right to say to God, “Leave me alone. Don’t bother me.” But it is the Lord’s right to pursue us with His persistent mercy. To the self-satisfied church at Laodicea, the risen Christ said: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20+). By His grace, the Lord keeps knocking, ready to fill our lives with His love. By: David C. McCasland What joy and blessings we can know When Jesus comes to dine! He brings His riches and His love And fellowship divine. -Branon God's love is persistent but never pushy. Our Heart—His Home Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to Him. — Revelation 3:20+ Today's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22+ In a conversation with a 9-year-old boy, a youth worker was telling the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered the world. He told the boy that Jesus died to pay the penalty for his sins, and that if he would ask Him into his heart He would come in. That night the boy invited Jesus to save him. A few days later the youngster said to the youth worker’s wife, “I don’t have to talk to God long distance anymore.” “Why not?” she asked. Pointing to his heart, he replied, “Because He’s only 10 inches away.” Amazing! Christ, by whom all things were created (Col. 1:16+), comes to live in a sinner’s heart so that he or she senses a close relationship with God. That’s the miracle of the new birth. This closeness, however, can be lost if we become lukewarm in our love for Jesus. That’s why He portrays Himself as standing outside the door of our heart waiting to be invited in so that this sense of intimacy can be renewed (Rev. 3:20+). Disobedience can break that close fellowship, but it can be restored by repenting, opening our heart’s door anew to Him, and letting Him take full control once more. Jesus wants us to have the abiding assurance that He is even closer than 10 inches away. By: Dennis J. DeHaan How sad when flames of love burn low In hearts that once their warmth did know! But Christ will freely grace bestow And cause that love again to glow. —DJD To renew your love for Christ, review Christ’s love for you. Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. BGT Revelation 3:21 Ὁ νικῶν δώσω αὐτῷ καθίσαι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ μου, ὡς κἀγὼ ἐνίκησα καὶ ἐκάθισα μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ αὐτοῦ. KJV Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. NET Revelation 3:21 I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. CSB Revelation 3:21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne. ESV Revelation 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. NIV Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. NLT Revelation 3:21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. NRS Revelation 3:21 To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. NJB Revelation 3:21 Anyone who proves victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I have myself overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne. NAB Revelation 3:21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. YLT Revelation 3:21 He who is overcoming -- I will give to him to sit with me in my throne, as I also did overcome and did sit down with my Father in His throne. GWN Revelation 3:21 I will allow everyone who wins the victory to sit with me on my throne, as I have won the victory and have sat down with my Father on his throne. BBE Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will give a place with me on my high seat, even as I overcame, and am seated with my Father on his high seat. RSV Revelation 3:21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. NKJ Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ASV Revelation 3:21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. MIT Revelation 3:21 To the one who conquers I will give a seat with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and took a seat with my father on his throne. him: Rev 2:7+ Revelation 12:11+ 1Jn 5:4,5+ to sit: Rev 1:6+ Rev 2:26-27+ Mt 19:28+ Lu 22:30+ 1Co 6:2,3+ 2Ti 2:12+ as I also overcame: John 16:33+ and sat down with My Father on His throne: Rev 5:6-8+ Rev 7:17+ Da 7:13-14+ Mt 28:18+ John 5:22,23+ Eph 1:20-23+ Php 2:9-21+ Revelation 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: John 16:33+ “These things (John 13-16 UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE) I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation (thlipsis), but take courage (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey); I have overcome (perfect tense = victory at Calvary which will endure eternally!) the world.” Revelation 1:6+ and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father–to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 2:26-27+ ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; Revelation 5:10+ “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Matthew 19:28+ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:29-30+ and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Romans 8:17+ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 2 Timothy 2:12+ If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; Revelation 20:4-6+ Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 1 Corinthians 6:3+ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? AMAZING GRACE: A PROMISE TO REIGN WITH THE KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS He (singular) who (present tense = continually) overcomes (nikao) - See note above for more detailed discussion on overcomes. I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne (thronos), as I also overcame (nikao - aorist tense - on the Cross) and sat down with My Father on His throne (thronos) - Jesus will grant signifies this gift is a choice of His perfect will. Because Jesus overcame, we overcome (by grace through faith), and have the amazing promised privilege of sitting down on the throne of the One Who saved us! The word that comes to mind is magnanimous which generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival (at one time we hated Christ!) or less powerful person (we had no power to save ourselves!). Here is Webster's 1828 definition of magnanimous (which blows away most modern dictionaries!) - "Greatness of mind; that elevation or dignity of soul, which encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, and makes him delight in acts of benevolence, which makes him disdain injustice and meanness, and prompts him to sacrifice personal ease, interest and safety for the accomplishment of useful and noble objects." That's a beautiful description of our Jesus! What a Savior! What a Friend! As I overcame refers to the crucifixion of Christ as John describes in Revelation 5:5,9+... and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, (sphazo in perfect tense = completed in past with enduring effect for eternity!) and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. The verb sat down refers to Jesus ascension to take His seat at the right hand of His Father (cf. Ps. 110:1; Matt. 22:44+; Acts 2:34+; Eph. 1:20+; Heb. 1:3+; Hebrews 8:1+; Hebrews 10:12+; Hebrews 12:2+). Henry