Revelation 3:7-13 The Faithful Church or The Legend of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger
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Revelation 3:7-13 The Legend of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger
Revelation 3:7-13 The Legend of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger
Revelation 3:7-13 Philadelphia: The Faithful Church or The Legend of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger
How many of you have heard of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger? You probably have but just don’t know it, yet. Daniel was the third of fourteen children born in Jolliet, Illinois in 1948. He played football at the Catholic high school that he attended and when he graduated went off to the Navy for four years. After returning to civilian life he took a few jobs but he had a dream and it was a pretty big dream. Daniel was only 5’6” tall and weighed about 165 lbs but he dreamed of playing major college football; and not just any college but Notre Dame University. He applied for admission but was denied because of his high school grades (he was dyslexic). He went to a local college and got his grades up and after 4 tries was admitted into Notre Dame. The coach of Notre Dame’s football team (Ara Parsigian) encouraged students to walk on and try to make the football team and that is exactly what Daniel Eugene Ruettiger did. He was way too small to play but they put him on the scout team that they used to prepare the team for the coming opponent. (Is anyone starting to catch on as to who Daniel Eugene Ruettiger is yet?) Daniel, though very small, stood out because of his courage, his work ethic and his patience in the face of adversity. This could be a very long story so I will shorten it just a bit. In his senior year, in the very last game of the year, the coach suited Daniel out to play in the last game of his senior year. There was no real intention of letting him play but because of all of his hard work, determination and patience he would get to stand on the sidelines in uniform just this once. But as the story goes Daniel Eugene Ruettiger was called upon to go into the game. Notre Dame had scored with a 24-3 lead and Daniel was going in on the kick off. What could go wrong putting someone so small and with such little strength in on the kick off? However the coach decided to leave him in, there was only enough time for about two more plays anyway. On the first play there was an incomplete pass. So Daniel got one more chance. The ball was snapped and Daniel who was playing defensive end got past his man and low and behold Rudy sacked the Georgia Tech quarterback in the last play of the last game of his last season. Yes that is the story of Daniel Eugene “Rudy” Ruettiger. He is the very first person to ever be carried off the field on the shoulders of the other players in Notre Dame history. What is so special about this story? Rudy was not a person that anyone would give a second look at as it relates to football. He was undersized and with very little strength as it relates to the game. But he was patient and he persevered through many days of hard, hard practice against all odds with the hope of one day stepping on to the field as one of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. There is more to the story of Rudy that we will look at later on but right now you need to know that the church we are going to look at this morning is much like Rudy, they just keep on keeping on even though they are very small and insignificant in the view of the world but they have a hope that is much greater than a football game. We will be looking at Revelation 3:7-13; Philadelphia the faithful church. Let’s pray.
Let me give you a little background on the city of Philadelphia. The city is located about 35 miles south of Sardis, the church we looked at last week. It is located at a mountain pass that is one of the best military routes from Asia Minor (Turkey) to Asia, kind of a door way between the two. It is built right on a fault line and suffered severely from frequent earthquakes. It was hit pretty hard in 17 AD just like Sardis was but because of its location on the fault line it suffered from more frequent tremors than most any city in Asia Minor, so much so that very few people actually lived in the city but outside in the country. The walls of the city and all of the buildings and temples were in constant need of repair. The city was founded by King Attalus who was called Philadelphus because the Romans had attempted to cause a riff between him and his brother and he was so dedicated to his brother he received the nick name “Lover of brother”. When the Romans took over after Attalus’ death Jewish families were moved into the area as military colonists. Most likely the Jewish population came from these families. Religiously it was not very significant but there were many Temples to many of the pagan gods. That is the background on the city now let’s see what Jesus had to say to the church at Philadelphia. Revelation 3:7-14 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”: 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. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 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. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on 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 I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’[1] Jesus follows the format of the other letters to the churches in Asia Minor. He names the recipient of the letter, the angel or messenger to the church in Philadelphia. But this time instead of giving a description of Himself taken from the vision that John had in chapter 1 Jesus describes Himself differently. He describes Himself as; “He who is holy, He who is true, He who holds the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” The closest we have seen in chapter 1 to that description is His claim to be the one who holds the keys to Hades and Death. I will say that what He says about Himself in chapter 1 and what He says about Himself here in chapter 3 are not the same but I do believe there is a correspondence between the two. But first let’s look at the Holy and True claim of Jesus. The fact that Jesus claims to be holy is in accordance with His being God. He is in and a part of His creation but He is distinctly different from His creation, He is perfect in every way just as His Father is perfect in every way. His claim of being true I believe is concerned with His proclamation of Who He is and what He does. He has no falseness in Him, either in His words or His actions. This is important because of what He says about the keys of David and opening and shutting. Holding the keys of David is the same as having the keys to the Kingdom. He holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and that is undisputed. Because He is Holy and true God of God He opens the doors of the Kingdom for whom He opens and no one can shut them. This also means that He shuts the door to whom He shuts it and there is no plan B. He holds the key to Hades and Death as well. No one can open the doors to the Kingdom but Him. He opens and no one closes, He closes and no one opens; He has the key.
Let’s look at verses 8-10: 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. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 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. Jesus states the same thing here that He stated with all the other churches: “I know your works.” That can be both a great comfort and a great conviction. I think you understand that without explanation. Jesus knows His bride the Church. Then He goes on to say that He has set before His church an open door. Many have equated that with Paul’s statement from 1 Corinthians 16:9 and 2 Corinthians 2:12 concerning the Holy Spirit opening doors of opportunity to proclaim the gospel in other areas. And it could be that but in light of the statement Jesus says about Himself having the key of David to open and shut then I believe this is still speaking of the church in Philadelphia as having the door of the Kingdom of God open to them and it is securely open so that no one can close it on them. Even though they are small and insignificant in the eyes of the world; even though no one would have given them a second look as it relates to them being of any importance in the Kingdom they have kept His word and not denied His name. When you get down to verse 9 it talks about the Synagogue of Satan, Jews who claimed their special relationship with God as Jews you have to wonder if perhaps these faithful Christians had been locked out of the synagogue, excommunicated from what the Jews called the kingdom and these believers needed to be encouraged that they were the ones who are in the kingdom and those who claimed to be God’s people, the Jews, were indeed the ones locked out. He has opened the door to the kingdom and no one can shut it, not even the Jews who claimed sole right to the kingdom. The Jews who would lock the believers outside will one day bow at their feet and submit to them reigning with Christ reversing what the Jews believed would happen. The Gentile and Jewish believers had been adopted by God through His Son and the Jews were locked outside the family kingdom because they did not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Though they had little strength they were mighty in the kingdom and we will see that again in verse 12.
Let’s look at verse 10 again. 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. Many people take this verse and attempt to let it stand alone believing that this is a promise that the church will be taken out of the world before the great tribulation. For the record I do not believe that is what is going to happen. But more importantly this morning I do not believe this verse teaches that. This church of little strength was in the Kingdom because Christ who has the key opened the Kingdom for them. Notice that He did not say that He will open the door but that He has set an open door before them that cannot be shut. He is telling this church under trial that they are already in the Kingdom not a part of those who dwell on the earth. As real good example from Scripture to explain this is found in Philippians 3:17-21 18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. (those are the people who dwell on the earth or are consumed with the things of this world) 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body (little strength) that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. According to Scripture we who are believers, even though we are still part of the world, are citizens and spiritual residents of heaven because Jesus used the key and opened the door for us. But those who dwell on the earth (a common expression throughout Revelation) are those who set their mind on earthly things. Jesus is promising those who are in the Kingdom that He will keep them through the tribulation that will test those who dwell on the earth; those who the door has been shut for, those who have set their minds on the things of the world. Jesus keeps His people through the trials. Let me give you a few illustrations from Scripture. In Egypt when God was testing the Egyptians and their gods the Hebrew people were there in the midst of the plagues. They experienced firsthand what the Egyptians were experiencing until God made a distinction between them. Jeremiah was in Jerusalem throughout the almost three year siege, God preserved him through the trials. Lastly and this I think is the most telling one. John 17:11, 15-16 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.[2]… 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.[3] Did you get that? Jesus is praying that His Father would “keep” them through the struggle while here in the world but they were already in the heavenlies because Jesus had opened the door. That word “keep” means literally to “take care of in the state which one is”.
So what we have seen thus far is that the Holy and True One has the key to the Kingdom of God and has opened it for His church and no one can close it even those who oppose them. Those who do oppose them are locked out and will one day bow and worship before them. Because He has opened the door to the church they have persevered and will be preserved even as those who dwell on the earth are tested.
Now we come to verse 11 but first let me finish the story about Daniel Eugene “Rudy” Ruettiger. For years, Daniel Ruettiger, the former Notre Dame walk-on whose story inspired the movie “Rudy,” carefully crafted his image as a regular guy who achieved glory through integrity and hard work. That image was shattered when SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) regulators claimed he cut corners to make money in a stock scam. Because he had a good name he started a sports drink company and sold a whole lot of stock. He promoted the stock in such a way as to raise the price then he and 12 others sold off all of their stock collapsing the price. In other words he used his good name to cheat others out of their money. Why is that important? Because of what Jesus tells the church in Philadelphia in verse 11: 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. This is both an encouragement and a warning. Who would not be excited, knowing that there would be struggles, tribulations and persecutions, that the Lord is coming quickly? Many people today try to tell the future and say that Jesus has be coming very soon because of all the things that are happening. To that I say; maybe, and maybe not but He most definitely is coming and it is sooner now than it was then. But notice the warning He gives to those He has said were significant in the Kingdom even if not in the world. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. They have already gone through the door so to speak so they have no need to fear being closed out but they could very well lose the crown of reward. We talked about this when we talked about the crown of life given to the church in Smyrna. We will be judged by our works as to whether we receive a reward or not. It is very possible for believers and churches to lose their reward due to the fact that they do not hold fast. Sometimes even the church takes their eyes off of their heavenly condition and put them on the things of the world. Rudy did it. Jesus is warning this church with little strength to use that strength to hold on because He is coming.
Let’s look at verses 12-13; the reward: 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on 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 I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” He has told this church and her members that they were insignificant in the eyes of the world (have little strength) but here He says that they would be pillars in the temple of God. Let’s refresh our memories as to what the temple of God is. 1 Peter 2:4-5 4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The church is the final Temple of God. There will be no Temple in heaven because we will be in the presence of God. But the temple of God today is the Church of God. This little church, because they persevered, because they used their strength to hold fast to what they had, because they kept His word and did not deny His name even in the face of persecution they are a pillar in the church. Remember I told you about the earthquakes and tremors in Philadelphia? Jesus tells them that even in a world that is always trying to fall down I will make you be the strength that holds My church up. Not only that but everyone will know because the name of God, the name of His city, and Jesus name will be noticeable in their lives. Jesus finishes the same way He finished all His letters; If you have ears to hear, if you are Mine to hear me, then hear and obey what the Spirit says.
So what we have seen in this passage is that the Holy and True One has the key to the Kingdom of God and has opened it for His church and no one can close it even those who oppose them. Those who do oppose them are locked out and will one day bow and worship before them. Because He has opened the door to them they have persevered and will be preserved even as those who dwell on the earth are tested. His church is encouraged in the fact that He is coming quickly, in fact He is coming, and they are admonished to hold fast to what they have so that they do not lose their reward. Finally He tells them that they will be pillars in His Church and everyone would know they are His, His name will be all over them. But what does that mean to us? Of the seven letters written to the churches of Asia Minor I think this letter to Philadelphia speaks the loudest to Myrtle First Baptist Church. He has opened the door for His people. If you are His you are living in the Kingdom, safe and secure. He calls on those in His kingdom to persevere, to hold fast to what we have because He is coming back for His own. When we persevere as overcomers He will make us who have little strength to be pillars of His church and the world will know. What do they see today, will we be the overcomers? Let’s pray.
[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:7–13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 17:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 17:15–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.