Revelation 3:10

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse explores the message to the Church in Philadelphia from Revelation, interpreting it as representing the period of the Reformation from Martin Luther’s time until Christ’s return. It emphasizes the opening of a door of religious liberty through the Reformation, the rejection of papal authority, and the promise of protection for faithful believers during a coming global time of testing. The ultimate test is portrayed as one of enduring love and humility, reflecting Christ’s teachings, which will reveal true discipleship amid widespread adversity.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Revelation 3:7-13 (Message to the Church in Philadelphia)

Context and Background:
– The Apostle John received and recorded the Revelation while exiled on Patmos, a Roman penal colony island near modern-day Turkey.
– The discourse focuses on the message to the church in Philadelphia found in Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB).
– The city of Philadelphia was about 70 miles inland from Ephesus in Asia Minor and was named for “brotherly love,” founded around 189 BC by King Eumenes II in honor of his brother Attalus II Philadelphus.

Reading of the Theme Text (Revelation 3:7-13):
– Jesus is described as “holy, true, having the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.”
– Commendation for the church’s deeds, perseverance, and faithfulness despite “little power.”
– Promise of an “open door no one can shut” symbolizing opportunity.
– Reference to opposition from “the synagogue of Satan,” those who claim to be Jews but are not.
– Assurance of protection “from the hour of testing” that will come upon the whole earth.
– Promise of becoming a pillar in God’s temple, receiving God’s name, new Jerusalem, and a new name.
– Call to “hold fast” and hear the Spirit’s message.

Interpretation of the Seven Churches:
– The seven churches of Revelation symbolize seven periods of church history.
– Philadelphia church period roughly spans 1514 to 1874, beginning around the Reformation (Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517) and continuing until Christ’s return.
– This period marks a time of reform and renewal after the dark ages of the institutional Catholic Church.

Historical and Theological Insights:
– The Philadelphia message is unique among the seven churches for its absence of rebuke, reflecting the positive movement during the Reformation.
– Martin Luther is identified as the “angel” or messenger of Philadelphia, protected by Frederick the Wise, which allowed Luther’s reforms to flourish.
– The invention of the printing press enabled wide circulation of Luther’s theses, spreading the message of religious liberty and justification by faith.

Jesus’ Description and Authority (Verse 7):
– Jesus is “holy” and “true” to contrast with the papacy’s false claims to authority.
– The “key of David” and authority to open and shut doors is from Isaiah 22:22, referring to Eliakim as a type of Christ.
– Jesus alone holds authority over entrance to God’s kingdom, not the Pope or Roman Church.

The Open Door:
– Symbolizes religious liberty and opportunity to leave the Roman Church for a personal faith relationship.
– Reformation reopened the “new and living way” to God, previously closed by Catholic doctrines and practices.
– The “door” that was shut could also mean the waning power of the Catholic Church to persecute dissenters, ending fully by 1799.

Opposition: “Synagogue of Satan” (Verses 9):
– The phrase “those who say they are Jews and are not” is interpreted as false Christians or a religious system opposing true faith.
– This is commonly understood to symbolize the Roman Catholic Church system during and after the Reformation.
– Though the Catholic Church did not repent or bow to Reformers, ultimate acknowledgment of God’s love for true believers will come, possibly at Christ’s kingdom (Romans 14:11; Romans 8:19).

The Hour of Testing (Verse 10):
– Commendation for patient endurance in faithfulness amid persecution and corruption.
– Promise to “keep you from the hour of testing” which will test all who dwell on earth.
– Two main views on timing:
1. Testing occurred during Philadelphia period (Reformation to Christ’s return) – e.g., choosing to leave Rome or remain; Miller movement’s testing.
2. Testing is future, during the Laodicean period, with Philadelphia saints protected from it; faithful Laodiceans will be protected through it.
– Greek word used can mean “to keep from” or “to protect through,” allowing both interpretations.
– The “hour of testing” is a worldwide trial targeting those hostile to God who trust in worldly wealth, power, and institutions.

Nature of the Test:
– A test of loyalty, love, and faithfulness to Jesus and God’s principles.
– Will reveal true discipleship: living by humility, love, kindness, and selflessness in contrast to worldly selfishness.
– The defining characteristic is “brotherly love” (Philadelphia means brotherly love).
– Jesus’ command in John 13:34-35: love one another as He loved us, so others will know we are His disciples.
– Love must extend even to enemies (Luke 6:32-36), demonstrating true Christian character.
– World values status, wealth, and power; God seeks humble servants of others.

Practical and Spiritual Implications:
– Christians are called to be lights to the world (Matthew 5:14-16), shining through good works.
– Final test is love for brethren and all humanity.
– The test involves living faithfully amid increasing wickedness and apostasy (Matthew 24:10-13).
– Those who endure to the end will be saved.
– Encouragement to hold fast to faith and love, so no one takes their “victory wreath” (crown).

Key Bible Verses Quoted:
– Revelation 3:7-13 (Theme text)
– Isaiah 22:22 (Key of David)
– Luke 1:30-33 (Angel Gabriel to Mary)
– Romans 14:11 (Every knee shall bow)
– Romans 8:19 (Creation waits for revealing of sons of God)
– John 13:34-35 (New commandment to love)
– Luke 6:32-36 (Love your enemies)
– Matthew 24:10-13 (Enduring to the end)
– Matthew 5:14-16 (Light of the world)

Conclusion and Blessing:
– The discourse closes with encouragement to remain faithful and loving until Christ’s return.
– Emphasizes the importance of love as the final test.
– Prayer for God’s blessing to help believers hold fast and shine as examples.

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This detailed summary captures the historical context, biblical exposition, theological insights, and practical applications presented in the discourse on the message to the church in Philadelphia from Revelation 3:7-13. It highlights the central themes of authority, religious liberty, endurance, opposition, and especially the supreme test of brotherly love in faithfulness to Christ.

Transcript

I have appreciated being assigned this passage of Scripture as the theme text. It’s been a while since I have looked this deeply into a section of the book of Revelation. The Apostle John received and wrote down this Revelation while he was on the island of Patmos, which is off the west coast of Asia Minor today, the nation of Turkey. He had been exiled there because it was probably a Roman penal colony, and our theme text is in the message to the church in Philadelphia.

So let’s begin by reading the message to the church in Philadelphia, and this is found in Revelation, the third chapter, verses 7 through 13, and I’m reading from the New American Standard Version and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, he who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says, I know your deeds. Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have little power and have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie.

Behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you.

And then our theme. Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I will also keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have in order that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will not go out from it anymore.

And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God and my new name. He who has ears to hear will let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Now, I am of the persuasion, and maybe many of you are also, that the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three correspond to seven periods of church history down through the Gospel age. I have seen many different presentations on the dates that correspond to each of these seven periods. My own perspective is that the Philadelphia church represents the years from about 1514 to 1874, or beginning about the time that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. I see no reason to be dogmatic about these dates, but in general, I believe the Philadelphia Church represents the time of the Reformation up until the time of our Lord’s return. This also seems to be Brother Russell’s perspective on the timing of the sixth church.

In the expanded Biblical comments we find these I’m going to share 3 comments on the Philadelphia Church verse 7 and it says it’s referring to the period from the Reformation until recent times refers to the Reformation church from the days of Luther to the beginning of the time of the end or 1798, and the third comment the period which closed somewhere about the time when the harvest of this age began. So I believe we can confidently proceed with this understanding that we are talking about the time of the Reformation from Martin Luther on down to our Lord’s return. Well, what do we actually know about the church in Philadelphia and how did that city acquire its name, meaning brotherly love?

The city of Philadelphia is only mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in revelation, in chapter one, verse 11 and in chapter three, the text that we are now considering. Philadelphia is about 70 miles east northeast of Ephesus, the first of the seven churches addressed in Revelation. Ephesus was on the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor. Philadelphia was about 70 miles inland. Philadelphia was a relatively new city in New Testament times.

Today the city is named Allah Sheher, meaning City of God. It was founded in about 189 BC by Eumenes II, the king of Pergamon, and named in honor of his brother Attalus II for the loyalty, devotion and love that he Attalus had for his brother the king. Attalus too eventually succeeded his brother as King of Pergamon in 159 BC, and some sources even refer to him King Attalus II Philadelphus.

The message to the Church in Philadelphia is somewhat unique in its lack of criticism or condemnation for failures compared to the other six. The Reformation was a time of forward movement for the Church in both understanding and activities. Martin Luther was the most important figure in the movement as he enumerated 95 priestly abuses in their practices, especially the sale of indulgences to remit or cancel punishment for earthly sins. There were other reformers before Luther, but they were silenced by the Catholic Church, often by torture and horrific forms of execution. But there were two things that made Luther’s criticism and charges against the Church have a larger and lasting impact.

First, he had a protector. Frederick iii, who was Prince Elector of Saxony, also known as Frederick the Wise, shielded Luther from the Pope, the Holy Roman emperor. After the 1521 Diet of Worms and his condemnation as an outlaw, Frederick arranged a fake kidnapping of Luther in May of 1521 and took him to Wartburg Castle, where he lived safely for 10 months. Frederick had a number of political reasons for doing this. He wanted to protect the reputation of his new University of Wittenberg, where Martin Luther was a professor.

But he also wanted to assert Saxony’s autonomy against Roman, imperial and papal interference.

While at Wartburg castle for those 10 months, Luther translated the New Testament into German.

And the second reason that Luther’s impact was larger and more lasting is because of the invention of movable type and the printing press. It had been invented about 1440, and by 1500 this early technology had spread to about 200 cities in Europe. Printers in Nuremberg, Leipzig and Basel each produced about 300 copies of Luther’s 95 Theses, and the circulation of these inspired the people to desire freedom from the oppression of papacy and the Catholic Church.

Because of his prominent role in the Reformation, he is almost universally accepted as the angel or messenger of the Church in Philadelphia who was to receive the message that the Apostle John wrote down. Now let’s begin our consideration of the message to the Church in Philadelphia and work our way down to our theme text. I will give you my best understanding of these verses, but please understand I am I’m not dogmatic about these interpretations.

Verse 7 again says, and to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write, he who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens says this Jesus is introduced in this message as he who is holy, who is true. Perhaps Jesus chose to describe himself in this way in this message because it emphasizes the fact that the Roman Church and its head, the Pope, had through their claims usurped, attempted to usurp this authority of Jesus, the authority to open and close the entrance to the kingdom of heaven. Here’s a brief comment from Pastor Russell from reprint page 502 said when the Reformation began, Rome claimed to be the only holy and true to have the sure mercies of David, the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, with power to bind or loose, to open or shut the gates of heaven, to be the only synagogue, the only true recipient of the favor and love of God, to be the city of God, the only one having a right to bear his name. So this description of Jesus in verse 7 implies that papacy and the Catholic Church were the very opposite of being holy and true, even though the Pope was and still is addressed as His Holiness.

The remainder of the identification of Jesus in this verse is taken directly from Isaiah 22, 22 which reads, who has the key of David? Who opens and no one will shut? And who shuts and no one opens? Isaiah 22 is a prophecy about the time when Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. During the time of King Hezekiah.

Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, who was the palace administrator. Shebna and Joah were the three men sent out by Hezekiah to hear the message from Sennacherib delivered by the commander of his army. Perhaps recall this event, and basically the message was, surrender or suffer the consequences, and we know how that battle turned out.

During the night, an angel of The Lord slew 185,000 men of Sennacherib’s army and they retreated. In Isaiah 22:22, the prophet Isaiah praises Eliakim with words that suggest he prefigures Christ. Isaiah says, I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens, no one can shut, and what he shuts, no one can open, and we know who has the key to the house of David.

It is Jesus Christ. We know this from a number of passages. One of them is the angel Gabriel speaking to Mary, announcing that she would give birth to a Savior. This is in Luke 1, verses 30 to 33. The angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary.

You have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

His kingdom will never end.

What is Christ opening and shutting? I believe that working through his messenger, Martin Luther, he is opening the door of opportunity for people to leave the Roman Church and come into a personal relationship with our Lord and his Father without an intermediary of a Catholic priest. It is both a door of exit and a door of entrance. It is a door of religious liberty, marked out by Luther’s teaching about the justification by faith. In a way, it was a reopening of the door to the high calling.

It was a reopening of the new and living way. The Roman Church had closed and hidden that doorway with their creeds and priestly practices. It would never again be shut until the calling and gathering of the bride of Christ is completed.

Well, we might ask what door was shut at this time by the work of Luther and the Reformation. One suggestion was that it was referring to the power of of the Catholic Church and Papacy to persecute those who opposed and abandoned them. That power continued to wane through the Reformation, and it really fully ended in 1799, the time of the end, still within that period of the Philadelphia church.

Reading verse 8 again, I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut because you have a little power and have kept my word and have not denied my name. Here the message to the Church really begins, and similar to other churches, Jesus says, I know your deeds. I know what you have done and are doing.

But in this case, he offers no criticism. The work of the Reformation is a good work, a work of liberation, of throwing off the shackles of the institutionalized Church with its false doctrines and corrupt practices. Now Jesus tells the church, behold, in other words, pay attention. I have set before you an open door. It is the open door of the Reformation that we mentioned a moment ago.

It is a time of new beginnings, since the light of the Gospel message had become so darkened during the power of the Roman Church. He says, no one can shut that door of escape because the Reformers have a little power. Perhaps this is a reference to the civil power that protected Luther other early Reformers. It could also refer to the power of the Reformation message that spread because you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Verse 9 begins again with behold, pay attention. I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan who who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you.

This is the second time we see this symbol of the synagogue of Satan in Revelation. In the message to the second church, Smyrna, we read, I know the blasphemy or slander by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Who are those who identified with this language or by this language? Non Bible student commentaries try to apply this to actual Jews who were persecuting Christians living in the ancient city of Philadelphia. Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses in their book about Revelation talk about this.

Jews in the city of Philadelphia persecuting the Christians, and they talk about the eventual time when the Jews in that city who attend the synagogue in Philadelphia will instead bow down to the Christians in the city of Philadelphia. Frankly, I think that makes no sense. I think we all understand that this is really talking about false Christians. This is talking about the era of Christianity.

And there are a couple of possible interpretations. Some have suggested that this synagogue of Satan Those who say they are Jews but lie is referring to the teres class of people who profess to be followers of Jesus but really are not. That’s a reasonable interpretation.

However, I think the fact that it goes beyond saying that these are false Jews or false Christians and says that they are a synagogue of Satan suggests there is a community, an organization associated with these false Christians, and I think this is specifically pointing to the Roman Catholic Church system. It, its grip upon believers and its growing power to persecute those who disagree with its doctrines and practices, and we don’t have time to go into talking about what happened in the 4th century and the development of the doctrine of the Trinity and the power that the Church acquired to enforce that belief on others.

So now I think we see this symbol again in the time of the Philadelphia Church, and Jesus says, behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you. Well, what does this mean? And when does this happen? Well, during the Reformation, at no time that I know of did the leadership of the Roman Church come to the leading Reformers and bow down to them saying, ah, we apologize.

Now we, we see you were right and we were wrong. Please forgive us. No. The Catholic Church started the Counter Reformation, an internal renewal of the Roman Catholic Church launched to combat the spread of Protestantism. It reaffirmed Catholic doctrines and the importance of tradition.

It did correct some abuses, most notably prohibiting the sale of indulgences. But another growth out of the Counter Reformation was the creation of the Jesuits to defend the papacy and halt the spread of Protestantism, and the Inquisition was strengthened to suppress heresy. No, the Roman Church did not bow down. But when will those leaders admit their wrong course?

I can only think that maybe it will be in the kingdom when many or most of them will find that they are not with Jesus in his throne, and then they will bow down to Jesus. We are told in Romans 14:11, Every knee shall bow and we will be on the throne with Jesus, and they will be bowing down. Maybe that’s a fulfillment.

Again, not dogmatic on these interpretations, but Jesus says that they will bow down and to know that I have loved you. I think that this will be known by false church leaders when the children of God are revealed, and that certainly is beyond the time of the Philadelphia Church. I think it’s the time mentioned In Romans the eighth chapter, verse 19, which talks about for the all anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. That I believe is when church leaders, the world as a whole will know that God has loved his spiritual children.

And of course, we all hope to be part of that.

Now we come to our theme text, which reads again, 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 upon the earth.

This verse begins with another commendation from the Lord to those who had done their best to follow his teachings and had patiently endured the trials and stresses of trying to live faithfully within a corrupt, evil system. The new International version renders this phrase, since you have kept my command to endure patiently. The Reformers and those who followed them out of the papal system had to continue their patient endurance as they exposed themselves to further abuse and danger. But because of their loyalty and faithfulness, Jesus promises to keep them or protect them from an hour of testing.

Well, what and when is this hour of testing? As I studied, I quickly learned that most commentaries prepared by people outside of the Bible Student fellowship were of minimal value. Those who do not have an understanding of God’s overall plan, the two salvations, the falling away of an apostate church system, and a prophetic historical understanding of the messages to the seven churches. They are really grasping at straws as they try to explain the messages to the churches and they come to conclusions like it was the Jews in the city of Philadelphia that were persecuting the Christians in the city of Philadelphia.

So I looked at the commentaries that have been written by those within our fellowship, those who have written commentaries on the Book of Revelation, and they are divided in their understanding of when the hour of testing occurs, and this affects the understanding of what that test may be. There are basically two main thoughts. One, that because it is in the message to the Philadelphia Church, this hour of testing must be something that occurs during the Philadelphia period of the church, that is between Martin Luther’s break with the Catholic Church and our Lord’s return. This viewpoint then looks to see what might be a fulfillment. One source suggests that the test for each person in the then known world as whether to stay with the Roman Church or to go through the open door to religious liberty offered by the Reformation.

A couple of sources also discuss the Miller movement, which was during the sixth period of the Church. They mention its disappointment and the many that fell away because of it. But there were some who did not give up their faith but kept searching for the correct understanding of the time and purpose of our Lord’s return. However, these suggestions, while having some merit would seem to fall short of the description of this time of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth.

So the second view is that the faithful disciples of Christ during the Philadelphia period are kept or protected from this hour of testing, this time of testing, because it will not happen until the next period of the church. The Laodicean Church 1 Bible Student Source offers this comment on Keep you from that Greek for this phrase can mean either to keep you from undergoing or to protect you going through it. In its one other New Testament use, this Greek word in John 17:15 means the latter protect you going through the trial. This is where Jesus was praying to his Father and he said, I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. While understanding this meaning to the word, this dual meaning to keep you from undergoing or protect you through, we can see both definitions as applicable.

Those of the Philadelphia period would be kept from undergoing this testing, and the faithful of the Laodicean period would be protected as they go through the testing, and an excerpt from Pastor Russell’s writings supports this understanding. This is from reprint 5718. It says, Persistent and patient faith of the true saints of God is what we think is referred to here by keeping the word of my patience. The general hour of temptation, therefore, would not come upon them, but upon those who came after them. The Laodicean Church the Philadelphia church, which had patiently passed through so severe a trial of their faith, would not be subjected to the latter test.

The last phrase of verse 10, those who dwell upon the earth, occurs seven more times in Revelation and seems to always refer to those of humankind who are hostile to God, or at least have no relationship with Him. They are those who trust in wealth, in power, in human thinking, in institutions, and in influence. So this test is to come upon the whole world, but it is aimed at those who trust in themselves and their abilities. It would seem that this testing has to be the great time of trouble that brings down earthly institutions and governments, and ushers in Christ’s kingdom in full power and glory. But what is the test of this great time of trouble?

It is a test of loyalty to and love for the Lord. Will the disciples of Jesus honor and act according to those values? Or will they be carried away by the general fray where every person seeks their own interest, not caring how that might affect others? The selfishness, greed, and hatred that drives the Lord’s great army will topple institutions and nations. This struggle will reveal what is in the heart of every professed disciple of Jesus.

The test upon the disciples of Jesus is to live by a code of values, a set of principles that are the opposite of the world’s values. It is to live by the principles of love and kindness toward all and to have our character based upon the foundation, humility. Only those who have these principles deeply embedded in their character will pass this time of testing. I didn’t look up the references about what Pastor Russell said would be the final test. We all know what he said.

He said it would be our love for one another, our love for the brethren. The fact that this is the test is revealed in the meaning of the Philadelphia church itself. It means brotherly love. This test is not getting the highest score on a doctrinal examination. That would be good.

But God is looking for more than that. He is looking to see if we are living by the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of his own Word, which we know so well because we have studied his book thoroughly. God so loved the world that he gave his son to die, and Jesus so loved the world that he endured crucifixion while bearing the sins of the whole world. He trusted in His Father’s plan and promises, and we must have love like his.

He said in John 13:34, 35, a new command I give you love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, and if you love one another, and I would suggest that the test is not just our love for the brethren, it is our love for all humanity. We must be sympathetic and loving toward all people.

In Luke the sixth chapter, verses 32 to 36, Jesus said this. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them, and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back, then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High. Because he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

The world values achievement, wealth, power, influence, and status. They measure themselves against others, hoping that they outshine others in one way or another. They all want to be noticed. However, those who believe that they are better than others, those who believe that in some way they are entitled to more wealth or privileges or power than other people can never win the approval of our Heavenly Father. They lack humility.

They fail to understand that God is seeking those who want to be servants of others.

A very wise humanitarian and doctor by the name of Paul Farmer, who provided medical care to some of the most impoverished people in Africa and other places, said it well, and this is what he the idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. A powerful statement. I’ll read it again. The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.

We must genuinely love others around us. Our hearts must be open and sensitive to see the good in others as well as the trials and tragedies that many are experiencing now. We must show our love by our actions. Those of us in comfortable situations must not let those circumstances blind us to the needs of others and our opportunities to demonstrate love by our actions. That love, I believe, will be the final test and is reflected in these words of Jesus in his great prophecy of the end times.

In Matthew 24 I’m reading verses 10 through 13 from the New International Version, Matthew 24:10 13 at that time many will turn away from the faith, and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Brethren, let us do our best to pass this hour of testing. The test is upon us.

Jesus said in Matthew 5, verses 14 through 16 Matthew 51416 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven, and he also said in verse 11 of our text, behold, I am coming quickly.

Hold fast what you have in order that no one take your victory wreath.

May the Lord bless us all to this end. Amen.

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