Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.” The “deeds” (or works) of this church are not mentioned. The simple statement, “I know your deeds,” implies that they were viewed with favor. The Lord then sets the door open for those deeds to continue without interruption. The statement…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” “This portion of Verse 7 asserts the sanctity and authority of Christ himself as the one and only true head of the Church. In marked contrast to Jesus—“the way, the truth, and the…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” “Philadelphia means brotherly love. Luther’s doctrine of Justification by Faith was so powerful a teaching as to change nearly everything. Among other things it changed the relationship among individual Christians. Because each man…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…” “Luther possessed extraordinary talents, uncommon genius, a copious memory, astonishing industry and perseverance, superior eloquence, a greatness of soul that rose above all his human weaknesses, and consummate erudition for the age in which he lived. Under this great reformer—who was ably seconded by other leaders and men of learning, such as Melanchthon, Carlstadt, and Zwingli—the course of history changed. An exemplary, very religious…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” HOW THE SIXTH CHURCH ANTICIPATES THE SEVENTH “The relationship between the sixth and seventh stages of the Church seems unique. In all of the chapters dealing with the sixth Church, the sixth Seal, and…
THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS While the special hope of the Gospel age is so surpassingly glorious, and the way to it, is correspondingly difficult –narrow, hedged in by hardships and dangers at every step–so that few find it, and even fewer still run so as to obtain the great prize at its end, the new order of things in the age to come is to be entirely different. As a different hope is held out, so also a different way…
“THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE” continued In the beginning of the Millennial age, those who now walk the narrow way will have gained the great prize for which they ran, immortality; and being thus clothed with the divine nature and power, they will be prepared for the great work of restoring and blessing the world during that age. With the end of the Gospel age, the narrow way to immortality will close, because the select “little flock” that it was…
“THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE” continued From 1 Tim. 6:14-16 we learn that the immortal or divine nature was originally the possession of divinity only. We read: “He [Jesus] in his time [the Millennial age] will show who is the blessed and only potentate–the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see.” All other beings, angels, men, beasts, birds,…
“THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE” Our Master tells us that it is because of the narrowness (the difficulty) of the narrow way that the many prefer to remain on the broad (way or) road to destruction. “Strait [difficult] is the gate and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there are that find it.” Before considering this way and its dangers and difficulties, let us notice the end to which it leads–LIFE. Life may be enjoyed on…
The reason we bring this subject up is because many are still confused as what the Apostle referred to when he spoke of those who are of “the way”. “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts…