The Lord Jesus urges us to hold on, until our reward comes. We have a lot of opposition, but the reward is sure. This is the great fight for our immortal souls. Our Captain and Savior will see us through.

First, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Sovereign. Revelation 3:7-8 - ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.’" He opens, and no man shuts. He absolutely decides everything that happens in this world. No evil thought can arise, unless it perfectly fits God’s eternal purpose. Psalms 76:10 - “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you. The remainder of wrath, you will restrain.”

Therefore, rest assured, and be secure in Christ. You don’t have to please people, running around like a slave, trying to get open doors [1 Cor 7:23]. Simply please God, live for his glory, and he’ll open what no man can shut.

I was in a region, being heavily slandered, and I wondered if my ministry would continue. This verse showed me the light, and alleviated my distress. My enemies could not slander me before God. He knows the truth, and he opened many other doors elsewhere, far more than I could have imagined. He used prayer and the anxiety that comes from disappointment, but he didn’t stop using me, and he won’t stop with you. No one can stop you, if you please God. Don’t worry about being seen by men or approved of by people. Worry only about God’s glory, and he’ll do the rest. Walk through open doors boldly, and if there are none then pray, knock, and get to work wherever you can. When I don’t have open doors in churches, by God’s grace, I have open doors on street corners, and wherever opportunity can be found to preach.

Secondly, Christ has particular and special love for his people. Revelation 3:9 - "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you." He does not love all men the same. “As it is written, ‘Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.’”

His elect were predestined from before time began, and we’re brought to faith in Christ. The evidence of this special love is our good works. While others lie on the gospel, and persuade people with human and satanic tricks, we preach the gospel as it truly is. We are faithful, which proves that he loves us, or we’d never have the grace to come to Christ, to believe, and to do good.

Take this special love, and know that Christ will iron things out in due time. Those who are persecuting you now, and dirtying the name of Jesus will be judged, and they will bow at your feet. They will know that you were faithful, while they squandered their lives. You will be fully admired and away from all affliction, soon. It will soon be realized that you lived wisely, and have inherited the earth.

Bless the Lord for Judgment Day, when everything is made right. We’ll wash our feet in the blood of the wicked [Psalm 58:10]. Our reward is coming, and it is great.

Thirdly, now we have the command: “Hold on.” Revelation 3:11 - ""I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” Hold on to Jesus Christ, and don’t let go. There are many temptations, and many losses to suffer. People leave us, when they hear our gospel. Opportunities we could have had are gone. We must resist the flesh, and Satan is after us, but hold on, and Christ will help you.

Look to him in your distress, rather than quitting. This is not supposed to be easy, but grace is sufficient [2 Tim 2:1]. We glorify the Son by what we suffer. The Huguenots brought glory to the gospel by laying down their life, testifying to all of us that it is worth it, until the bitter end. Death can’t quench what we have in Christ, and God is for his people, no matter what. Don’t look at the circumstances and say, “Woe is me,” unless you look up, and say, “Lord, help me,” in the confidence that he will.

Christ will stand by you, and he will deliver [Acts 23:11]. His promises are true, and he loses none of his children. Keep on trusting in the forgiveness of sins, though you are a sinner. Keep believing in the power of the Spirit. Know that your greatest joy and treasure is to walk with God intimately, so confess your sins in repentance. Hold on to God’s faithfulness, and he’ll hold onto you. Keep looking to the kingdom that can’t be seen. Your reward is sure, and it is worth it. Hold on, like you’re holding on for dear life. You’re holding onto Christ the Savior of your immortal soul. Be steadfast and immovable. Be relentless about grace, and unwavering. Fully commit to the kingdom that’s coming. Live in the reality of the Judgment, and enjoy your God now.

Fourthly, Christ is giving us his new name in the fullness of revelation! Revelation 3:12 - ""The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. 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 my new name.” We’re going to see the Lord Jesus for who he truly is. He dwells in a light that no man can approach. 1 Timothy 6:16 - "who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion." He has inexpressible glory, so much so that he’d kill us with his Beauty, if we ever got too close. These mortal eyes and sinful bodies can’t take it. Moses had to hide in a rock, and look upon his back parts from a far distance. We’ve got to see his glory with changed bodies, which he will give us, when he returns. 1 John 3:2 - "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." We’re going to be like him. Oh, how wonderful, how marvelous, how beyond comprehension. We are going to be glorified to look like Christ in holiness, love, and happiness. We’re going to have everything, when we see the Son of God, and our eternity will be filled with bliss!