Two of the seven churches addressed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ received commendation without rebuke. Both Philadelphia whom this message was addressed to, and Smyrna, were struggling and going through intense trials.
Jews in the city of Philadelphia who vehemently rejected Jesus as the Messiah took their hostility out on the believers in this church. Christ described the group of unbelieving, non-elect Jews who were opposing the church in Philadelphia as “the synagogue of Satan."
Those who are elect individual Jews within the elect nation of Israel will believe in Jesus as their Messiah so as to be saved.
What made this little church great was their faithfulness to the Word of Christ and their uncompromising testimony for Him.
Christ made three promises to this church. He promised them entrance into the Kingdom when unredeemed Jews will bow in recognition of the position of the Church. He promised them they would be kept from the time of testing to come in the tribulation because of their present perseverance. Such promise of being spared through the coming seven year tribulation is true for all genuine believers in the universal church of Jesus Christ. He also made them the promise that they would permanently dwell in God's presence. In their immediate circumstances they are doing well and He encourages them to persevere.
Christ alone is the measure of success for the individual, as well as each local church.
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In the fall of 1969, Gil began a full-time teaching ministry as Senior Pastor of Indian Hills Community Church. He also earned his Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. The focus of Pastor Rugh’s ministry is systematic, verse-by-verse teaching of the Bible. As a...
