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Senior Sunday School 4 : Book of Revelation : Lesson 12

Text: Revelation 3:7-13
1 December 2024

SSS 4
Book of Revelation 1 December 2024

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.” ’

Revelation 3:7-13

THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

1. The seven churches were located in seven different cities

2. Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven cities

3. The founder was called Attalus the Second

a) His father was Attalus I
b) He was a Greek king

4. Philadelphia was founded to spread Greek culture, language etc.

5. It was the gateway to Europe in the West and Asia in the East

6. The ruler was known to be very gracious

7. Philadelphia was called the city of brotherly love

THE LORD JESUS DESCRIBED

1. “He who is holy

2. “He who is true”

3. “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

4. Key of David

20 ‘Then it shall be in that day,
That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;

21 I will clothe him with your robe
And strengthen him with your belt;
I will commit your responsibility into his hand.
He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
And to the house of Judah.

22 The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place,
And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.
24 ‘They will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quantity, from the cups to all the pitchers.
25 In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘the peg that is fastened in the secure place will be removed and be cut down and fall, and the burden that was on it will be cut off; for the LORD has spoken.’ ”

Isaiah 22:20-25

a) Historical reference to Eliakim son of Hilkiah
b) A steward of the king
c) A type of the Lord Jesus as the Servant of the Lord

AN OPEN DOOR

“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.

Revelation 3:8

1. An open door that God has opened

2. No one can shut it

3. A little strength

a) But the church has kept His word
b) It has not denied the Lord’s name

A PROMISE TO BE KEPT BY THE LORD

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.

Revelation 3:9-10

1. The synagogue of Satan

a) Declaration that they are Jews
b) They are not

2. They will be humbled one day

3. They will know that the Lord loved this Church

4. The command to persevere

a) This commandment was kept
b) God will keep the church from the hour of trial that will come
c) This trial will come to the whole world

THE LORD’S RETURN

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.” ’

Revelation 3:11-13

1. The Lord will soon return

2. The challenge:

a) To hold fast
b) To let no one take their crown

3. To the overcomer

a) He will be a pillar in the temple of God
b) He will not need to go out anymore
c) A special blessing
i) God’s name
ii) God’s city, the new Jerusalem
iii) A new name of God

4. He who has an ear

Let him hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the Churches