(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.)

Amen. All right, well we're there in Revelation chapter number three and we are making our way through the seven churches of Revelation. If you remember we started this several, a couple of months ago. We got through the first four churches in chapter two there and then the coronavirus kind of interrupted everything and now we're getting back to it trying to finish it up. And last week we restarted up as we are continuing our way through there and if you remember last week we looked at the fifth church, the Church of Sardis. Today we're going to look at the sixth church of the seven churches that are mentioned and that is the church in Philadelphia. Something that's interesting, I've been giving you kind of an outline because the way that these messages from Jesus to these churches have been given, they're given through an outline where generally and the outline changes a little bit based on the church but it'll be like an introduction, commendation, something good, a condemnation, something bad, a correction, how to fix it, and a conclusion. This church, the church in Philadelphia, is different. It's one of the only two that are mentioned that doesn't have anything negative said about it. Jesus doesn't say anything negative about this church. In fact, he only gives an introduction, a commendation, and a conclusion. Now before you, you know, start thinking, oh great that's gonna be a short sermon. Well, in the commendation there's a lot to go over so let's just jump right into it and just look at the introduction to begin there. Revelation 3, look at verse 7. The Bible says this, and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth. And of course we've seen with these seven churches that every time there's a message to the church it begins with an introduction where Jesus is the one speaking to these churches, giving messages to these churches, and he introduces himself and he gives a characteristic of himself every time. And in this one he says, these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, and of course we could spend time talking about that, developing that, but I want you to notice this phrase. He says, he that hath the key of David. He refers to himself as the one that hath the key of David, then he says this, he that openeth, because he says he has the key of David, he says he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth. And this is actually a quote from the book of Isaiah, so let's turn there and we'll look at that tonight. Keep your place there in Revelation 3, it's obviously our text for tonight, but go to the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament if you would. If you find the major prophets, they're all clustered together, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Find Isaiah 22, and do me a favor when you get to Isaiah, put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there, because we're going to leave it and we're going to come back right back to it. Isaiah 22, Isaiah chapter 22, and I'll begin reading at verse 20 just to give you the context a little bit. Isaiah 22 and verse 20, the Bible says this, and it shall come to pass in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim. Now like any prophecy, there's always a fulfillment that is happening right then and there, and then also a future prediction or a foreshadowing of something in the future. Here, God is speaking to this individual named Eliakim, Isaiah 22, and verse 20, it says that I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe them with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hands. So here they're talking about this servant Eliakim, and God is talking about the fact that he's going to commit the government into his hands, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Notice verse 22, and the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder, so he shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none shall open. So notice that we're told about this man Eliakim, and God is choosing him to be the leader as a political leader or as the in regards to the government, because notice verse 21 again, it says, and I will clothe them with thy robe and strengthen them with thy girdle. Notice it says, and I will commit thy government into his hand, and then in verse 22 he says, and the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder. So notice the idea there of having the key of the house of David, it's almost like in our day when someone is given the key to the city, and the idea is that when God gives them the key to the house of David, the house of David meaning the because David was the king of Israel, and and of course the the nation of Judah, and all of that, that the idea is that when someone is given the key of the house of David, then they are committed, it is committed to them the power of the government. He said, I will give, I will commit thy government into his hand, and I want you to notice there in verse 22 that he says, and the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder. So he says, look, the key of the house of David is a picture of committing thy government into his hand, and then he says, I'm going to put that upon his shoulder. Now this is all referring or looking back or foreshadowing or looking forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. You're there in Isaiah 22, flip back to Isaiah chapter 9, and look at verse 6. Now Isaiah 9 6 is a very well-known prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ, often quoted during Christmas time and talking about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. Notice what the Bible says, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, notice, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. So that terminology is used when it's talking about, what is it talking about when it says the government shall be upon his shoulder? It's referring to the fact that this child was going to be born, this son was going to be given, we know that's Jesus of course, and eventually Jesus is going to rule and reign, and he's going to be the ruler, he's going to have the key of David, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, just like it says about Eliakim that he's given the key of the house of David, and he will lay it upon his shoulder, and that means that I will commit thy government into his hand. Jesus one day is going to have the government committed unto his hand. He is going to be the king, the ruler, the governor, that's what that means, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Notice verse 7, of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. So this is all referring, and this is all picturing the Lord Jesus Christ, the fact that the key of the house of David is given, is going to be given to Jesus, is given to Jesus, and it gives him control and power over the government, the government shall be upon his shoulder, and now keep your place on Isaiah, we're going to come right back to it, but go to Revelation chapter 3, and notice again there in verse number 7, Revelation chapter 3, and look at verse number 7, and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write these things, say he that is holy, he that is true, he that at the key of David, and then notice these words, because this is also a quote from Isaiah 22, he that openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth. Now notice what he, that's in the introduction right, he introduces himself as the one that when he opened something, no one can shut it, and when he shut something, no man can open it. Here's the thing, we understand that Jesus one day will roll and rain physically on this earth, but even more than that, God is still in control in this world. Now God allows government officials, the Bible says that he promotes, that he is the one that puts people in power, allows them to be put in power, but God also can do things upon this earth. When God decided something's going to get done, when he opens the door, no man can shut it, that's what the Bible says, and when he shut the door, no man can open it. Well this is referred to back in Isaiah 22 as well, go back there quickly. Isaiah 22, so we see that Revelation 3, 7, and 8, all of it is really coming, being quoted from Isaiah 22, verse 22, and the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder, so he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open. And this is of course talking about having a door of opportunity, and we're going to talk about that here in a minute, but I want you to notice that oftentimes when we look at this, we look at it in a positive sense, it says he shall open and none shall shut, and we like that, and we say yeah, God wants to give us an open door of opportunity, but I want you to notice there's also a negative aspect to this, that when he shuts, none shall open, and sometimes God opens doors of opportunity, and sometimes God shuts doors of opportunity as well. Go to Colossians chapter number 4, let's talk about this open door of opportunity. What does that mean? When the Bible says that God is going to open a door, when he says, you know, that I open and no man shut it, what is that referring to, and specifically what is it referring to for New Testament believers when he's talking to this church in Philadelphia, a local New Testament church. Go to Colossians chapter 4, in the New Testament you have Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1st 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Colossians chapter 4, and look at verse number 3, the Bible says this, with all praying also for us, notice what the Apostle Paul says, that God would open unto us a door, you say oh God's gonna open a door, what does that mean? Notice that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds, and we know from Ephesians that Paul said, he said praying always with all prayer supplication, and he said that I may have boldness, he talks about the fact that he would open his mouth with boldness and make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ, so he's referring to the fact that when God opens a door he's going to open a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, and that's really our goal as Bible-believing Christians, you know, when it comes to the local New Testament church, everything we do in regards to the local church basically falls under two categories, we're either reaching people or we're teaching people, we're reaching people with the gospel of Christ or we're teaching those that have been reached with the gospel of Christ, but that is what we're all about, when God opens a door for us, he opens a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, that's what he wants us to do, we need to always be looking for that opportunity, that open door, go to 1st Corinthians chapter 16, and look, and it doesn't matter what you're going through, it doesn't matter what we're going through, even during this coronavirus, you know, and we've taken steps and started having just small groups come in for church services and had primary livestream service and all that, but even in all of that we've done what we could to make sure that we are getting the, going through that open door of utterance, because even through that God has allowed us through our internet ministry to expand the ministry, to reach more people, to get more people listening to God's Word, listening to the truth, there's always an open door, look, God is interested in getting his message out and when he opens a door, it is a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, but know this, whenever there's an open door, on the other side there's going to be adversaries, look at 1st Corinthians 16, 1st Corinthians chapter 16, if you're there in Colossians, you're going to go backwards, pass the book of Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians, 2nd Corinthians, 1st Corinthians, go to 1st Corinthians chapter 16, you're going backwards, Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians, 2nd Corinthians, 1st Corinthians, 1st Corinthians 16 verse 9, the Bible says this, for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, right, that's the open door of utterance, that I may have boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ, but then he says this, and there are many adversaries, see whenever God gives you an open door, whenever God opens a door, an opportunity to be able to speak, to be able to preach, to be able to reach people with the gospel, you're not going to be able to do that without having somebody on the other side of that door who's going to be an adversary, something we've learned at Verity Baptist Church that it doesn't matter what we do, doesn't matter what ministry you do, it doesn't matter what videos we put out, doesn't matter what sermons we put out, doesn't matter what chat, I mean we could put out a stinking puppet show and someone's going to attack it, someone's going to defile it, someone's going to use it to try, we say well why is that, well it's because whenever there's an open door there's always going to be many adversaries on the other side, in fact you know you're going the right way, you know you're doing the right thing, whenever you're coming up against adversaries, whenever things get hard and things get difficult, you know, sometimes people ask me questions and they're legitimate questions and you might have concerns and even you know we're doing this drive-in service you think well do you think that something could go wrong, well here's what I believe, whenever you go through an open door there's always going to be an adversary on the other side, we just need to understand that, we need to realize that whenever God opens a door of opportunity and we decide to go through it, we need to go through it thinking and realizing that there are many adversaries, that there are those who hate God, that there are those who hate the message of God, that there are those who hate, that are going to hate the things, you know even when you're trying to teach children just to love the Word of God and love the Lord, there's going to be reprobates with filthy wicked minds that defile and attack those types of things, keep your finger right there in 1st Corinthians 16, 1st Corinthians 16 go to Revelation 3 and by the way let me just say this, when you're when you're taking a puppet show and defiling it, you are a perverted pedophile, reprobate, I mean there's no excuse for that, I mean you you can't get any more wicked than that period and you know and anybody who associates with that just mark them down as a pedophile, reprobate, wicked person, you shouldn't be anywhere near those types of people. 2nd Corinthians, keep your place or go back to Revelation 3, so whenever there's an open door, the door will always be a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ and whenever there's an open door there's going to be many adversaries, now you say yeah well I don't know about that adversaries part that's the part that's kind of scary, well notice what he says to the church in verse 8, Revelation 3 and verse 8, he says I know thy works, behold I've set before thee an open door and no man can shut it and and they're thinking yeah but there's adversaries on the other side and he's going to start to talk about their adversaries here in a minute but then notice he's Jesus says to them he says for thou has a little strength, he says look I know that you have a little strength, I know that the open door is there and the adversaries can seem big and bad and scary, he says I know that thou has a little strength, he says but here's what you can do even when you have a little strength, he says for thou has a little strength, he says but here's what you've done and has kept my word and has not denied my name, he said you've kept my word and you've not denied my name and we're going to come back to that later on in this passage and in this sermon but I want you to notice that just because you have a little strength and just because the adversaries might seem big and strong that's not an excuse to not go through the open door because the Bible says that it's not about our strength it's about the strength of God, 2nd Corinthians 12, if you kept your place in 1st Corinthians just flip over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and look at verse number 9, 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9, he says thou has a little strength, he said I know that but he said you also have kept my word, he said you also have not denied my name, he said I know you have a little strength but here's all I expect from you, I don't expect you to be big and strong and powerful, I just expect you to keep my word and not deny my name, 2nd Corinthians 12, look at verse 9, notice what the Apostle Paul, what it said to the Apostle Paul, 2nd Corinthians 12 and verse 9, the Bible says this and he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness, he says look you say oh I have a little strength, God says good, Jesus says good because my strength is made perfect, the word perfect means complete, he says my strength is made complete in your weakness so your strength is not a reason to not go through the open door, he says look my strength is made work is made perfect in weakness and then Paul responds and he says oh well in that case most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me, it's not about how strong you are, it's about the God we serve and the fact that he has given us an open door and here's what you need to understand, go back to Revelation 3, here's the important lesson is that he's not only the God that opens and no man shutteth but he's also the God that shutteth and no man open it, see when God opens a door and we say oh I have a little strength, I'm scared of the adversary, I'm not gonna go through it, here's the problem with that God may shut that door and never open it again and I won't take the time to go through it, I didn't preach about it not that long ago but a perfect example is the children of Israel, God opened the door for them right, he brought them out of Israel and he was going to bring them into the promised land, he opened a door of opportunity to bring them into the promised land, twelve spies went to went into spy on Canaan right, ten were bad, two were good, they came back and what were they talking about, the adversaries, the Amalekites, the Giants, the land you know it's big and and there's walled cities and they talked about the adversaries, they decided not to go and what did God do, he shut that door, he said you're gonna wander around in the wilderness for 40 years because he's the God that openeth and no man shut it but he's also God that shut it that no man openeth, so we should be encouraged that God opened his door of opportunities but look let's always walk through those doors, you say but if I do that people are gonna are gonna attack us, there's many adversaries but you know what our strength, though our strength is little, the Bible says for my strength is made perfect in his weakness, go back to Revelation 3, look at verse 9, now in verse 9 he begins to talk about their enemies, specifically the church here in Philadelphia and it's the enemy, it's always the same enemy in the New Testament for the the first century believers. Revelation 3 9, behold I will make them of the synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lie, behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I love thee, see there are these adversaries that are attacking this church right because God says hey you have a little strength, I've opened the door but there are adversaries on the other side and they and they realize when they that he's talking about the synagogue of Satan, those are the ones that are attacking them, those are the ones that are persecuting them and he tells them look I'm gonna make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee, he says look in the day of judgment they're gonna be groveling, they're gonna be down on their knees, that's what the word worship means, they're gonna be down on their knees and they're gonna know who I chose, they're gonna know who I love, they're gonna know that I was with you. So he's talking about their adversaries but I want you to notice that there's a couple things that we can learn about the Jews religion or Judaism, that's what's being referred to here, today there are people saying oh the synagogue of Satan that's not referring to Jews, okay well look there's only one religion that worships in a synagogue all right and you say oh well how do we know that's the Jews, okay it says which say they are Jews and are not, I mean what religion worships in a synagogue and people walk around you know white people with blue eyes and blonde hair walk around saying I'm a Jew, all right it's talking about Judaism that's what he's referring to, he says I will make them of the synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not and you say oh you know are you are you a racist go to Matthew, I'm sorry go to John chapter 8 John chapter 8 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and look here's the thing when we're talking about Jews and Judaism we're talking about the false religion all right and today Christianity they want to, they'll speak against Islam, they'll speak against Hinduism, they'll speak against all sorts of false religions but they want to give Judaism a free pass but you know what Judaism is a false religion just like any other false religion and here it's mentioned and there's some characteristics we can't ignore them number one it's called the synagogue of Satan and here's what we need to understand the religion of Judaism is a satanic religion John chapter 8 are you there Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, John chapter 8 look at verse 43 notice what Jesus says to the Pharisees who are Judaizers who are practicing Judaism John chapter 8 verse 43 he says why do you not understand my speech and the answer that question is because they're not saved even because you cannot hear my word why can they not hear my word because my sheep hear my voice Jesus would say and you're not my sheep you're not saved he proves in verse 44 he says ye talking to the Pharisees talking to the synagogue of Satan he says ye are of your father the devil and the lust of your father ye will do you say oh it's anti-semitic to say that the synagogue of Satan is a satanic religion well then you know what Jesus was anti-semitic because he told them ye are of your father the devil and the lust of your father he will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in truth because there is no truth in him when he's speaking the lie he's speaking of his own for he is a liar notice and the father of it so look we can learn when the Bible calls them the synagogue of Satan and this is not the only time revelation 3 9 they're called the synagogue of Satan here's what's interesting revelation 3 9 they're called the synagogue of Satan in reference to the the church in Philadelphia here but then in Revelation 2 9 the Bible says this I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich is here we're talking about the the church in Thyatira let me make sure I'm saying no Smyrna excuse me the only other church that nothing negative is said of them it says I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan so notice that the Bible refers to the Jews religion as a satanic religion it's the synagogue of Satan it is and then Jesus said ye talking to the Pharisees of the synagogues he said ye are of your father the devil so it's a satanic religion go back to Revelation 3 and look at verse number 9 revelation chapter 3 and verse number 9 excuse me revelation chapter 3 and verse 9 there's something else he tells us here about the Jews he says behold I will make them of the synagogue of Satan so he tells us that they're a satanic religion but then he also says this about the Jews he says which say they are Jews and are not but do lie does Jesus cuz look it's Jesus speaking here in Revelation 3 9 if you have a red letter there's a Bible these words are in red this is Jesus speaking to John to give these messages to the seven churches does Jesus consider those who worship in a synagogue does he consider them Jews and the answer is no he says they say they are Jews and are not but do lie he says there are people who say they are Jews but they're not Jews they're lying notice again if you go back to Revelation chapter 2 and verse 9 in reference to the church in Smyrna I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of they don't miss it and I know the blasphemy of them excuse me which say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan so here Jesus telling us look there are people who worship in a synagogue and he says let me tell you something is the synagogue of Satan because they are of their father the devil and he says they also say they are Jews but they're not Jews now you say well what is that referring to what is Jesus talking about go to Romans chapter number 2 Romans chapter 2 now he's been a whole sermon on this subject and I've done that and I'm not gonna do that tonight but I'll just give you a couple of verses just to show you Romans chapter 2 in the New Testament have Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans Romans chapter number 2 and the answer the question is this in Romans 2 28 Paul says this he says for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly he says look you you might have been you know a descendant physically of Abraham Isaac and Jacob you might have been a physical descendant he says when he says outwardly he's talking about your body he says for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly he says he says you may be a Jew outwardly but that doesn't make you a Jew he says for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly he says neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh he said just because you were born a Jew outwardly just because you were physically circumcised that doesn't make you a Jew in the eyes of God he says for he's not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh notice verse 29 but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not the letter whose praise is not of men but of God see he says look what I consider a Jew Jesus would say is those who are a Jew inwardly go to Romans chapter 9 and Romans 9 he says it again a different way Romans chapter 9 and look in verse number 6 Romans chapter 9 in verse 6 the Bible says this not as though the word of God hath taken none effect Romans chapter 9 verse 6 not as though the word of God hath taken none effect notice for they are not all Israel which are of Israel that word of means that they came from Israel is referring to Jacob descendants of Israel they're called the nation of Israel because they're descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel and here Paul says he says look they are not all Israel he says they're not all descendants of Israel they're not all the nation of Israel which are of which came from Israel you say what is he talking about here's what he's saying he's saying look just because you're a physical descendant of Abraham Isaac and Jacob but if you've believed in this satanic Judaism religion which is an Antichrist religion okay you say how can you say that here's why the Bible says who is a liar but he that denied that Jesus is the Christ he is Antichrist that denied the father and the son the word Christ means Messiah I mean literally the Jews the the Jews are different than the Hindus and the Muslims because the Hindus and Muslims they don't believe in a Christ they don't believe in a Messiah they might have some prophet or something that's coming but they don't believe in that terminology that idea the Jew who is as Christians we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we believe in the Messiah the Christ is King Jesus is the Christ the anointed one the one who was prophesied that would come here's the thing the Jews believe in a Christ they believe in a Messiah they just don't believe Jesus is that Christ you know what that makes them Antichrist who is alive but he that denied that Jesus is the Christ who is alive but he had denied that Jesus is the Messiah he is Antichrist so look he's saying here's what Paul is saying Paul saying he's not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh he says but he is a Jew which is one inwardly he says if you believe because look the Bible says in Galatians there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for you're all one in Christ Jesus and if you be Christ then are you Abraham see you look he says if you're in Christ you said what matters here's what's matter are you in Christ are you in Christ have you received Christ have you called upon Christ you say oh I'm a descendant of Abraham but if you reject Christ you're gonna die and go to hell just like the Muslim just like the Hindu just like every false religion so we as believers should not give a free pass to the Jews because look it's a satanic religion it's the synagogue of Satan it's an Antichrist religion and he is not a Jew which is one outwardly but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God this is what the Bible says go back to Revelation chapter number three he talked about the open door and then he talked about the the the synagogue of Satan he talked about they that say which they are Jews and or not and then in Revelation chapter 3 we get to a very interesting verse and this is where I want to spend some time tonight kind of developing this verse Revelation 3 in verse 10 he says because thou has kept the word of my patience now again I believe that there's always a an application for that current time and then there's a future application so I believe that these people were actually going through a time of persecution of the difficult time and Jesus says because thou has kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth and I believe I was referring to the fact that they kept the word of his patience and because of it Jesus helped them and he kept them from the power of temptation but with that said I do believe that there is a deeper meaning in Revelation 3 and verse 10 because of the fact that there it is referring to an end times of course we're in the book of Revelation prophecy here's a here's what's interesting revelation 310 has a foreshadowing of end times prophecy revelation 210 had a foreshadowing of end times prophecy as well I don't know if you remember that we were in that many weeks ago but in Revelation 210 the Bible says this fear none of those things without shall suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried and he shall have tribulation ten days be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life remember those ten days are a picture of the 75 days of great tribulation and and and I won't go through and develop all that you can go back and listen to that sermon if you'd like but here in Revelation 310 we have a verse that has some end times implication and it is a very debated verse many people want you will believe different interpretations about it I'm going to give you several beliefs and and options and I'll tell you what I think about it so notice again revelation 310 because that was kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour temptation what shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth now one option of commonly taught interpretations for revelation 310 is that this is actually teaching and improving a pre-tribulation rapture some pre-tribbers will look at revelation 310 and say well this is referring to the pre-tribulation rapture they'll say because thou has kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth they'll say see I was referring to the tribulation God says that he's gonna keep us from the our temptation and that proves that there's gonna be a rapture before the tribulation that's one option obviously I disagree with that option I'm not a pre-tribber and I'll explain to you why I don't believe it there's another argument for this which is on a side that I do agree with but I don't believe this is the interpretation for it and some people say no this doesn't prove a pre-tribulation rapture this proves a pre wrath rapture that when it says because I was kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation what shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth and you can make connections with that word our and the word our is often referred to in in the context of God's judgment God judges upon an hour in the hour of God's judgment and be able to say no this isn't referring to the wrath of God this is not a rapture before the tribulation this is a rapture before the wrath of God now I agree with that position I believe in a pre-wrath rapture and a post-trib pre-wrath rapture but I don't believe that that is the proper interpretation of this verse now you say well you disagree with both the pre-trib rapture and the pre-wrath rapture being applied to this verse why here's why because if this verse is talking about a rapture then you are adding a condition to the rapture which is different which would be contradictory to what we believe about the rapture because notice why do these people why are they kept from the hour of temptation he says because thou has kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour temptation so here think if you're gonna say oh this is referring to the rapture whether it's the pre-trib rapture or the pre-wrath rapture then what you're saying is that the people who get raptured are the ones who have kept the word of my patience now look in reality what does the Bible teach about the rapture that all believers get raptured the only condition to the rapture is that you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that you are saved he's going to come for those that are safe so for you to say revelation 310 is referring to the rapture then you're basically turning salvation into works because you're saying in order to experience the rapture you must have kept the word of my patience all right so obviously look we we have to take what we know the Bible teaches what the Bible clearly teaches to clarify other passages that may be a little more cryptic or like Bible prophecy what we're seeing through a glass darkly so option one is that it's a preacher rapture that doesn't work because I would add works to salvation or you know keeping the word of my patience in order to be raptured option two is that it's a pre-wrath rapture and though I believe in the position of the pre-wrath rapture that wouldn't work either for the same reason as it worked for the preacher rapture because they would make the rapture a workspace rapture here's option three this isn't talking about the rapture at all but it is talking about the tribulation or the great tribulation and it's talking about the fact that Jesus is going to keep certain people which have kept the word of my patience through the tribulation period and and that's an option and here's the thing people who believe that I don't have a problem with you know what people who believe that I don't believe that that's the interpretation to this passage as well and here's here's the main reason why because notice what he says in verse 10 because I was kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth so if someone say oh they talk about the great tribulation like when the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation and you know the mark of the beast and all those things that's what this is referring to well here's the thing that is a persecution of believers here the Bible says that this is going to come upon all the world which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth now that that is a position that's probably closest to what I believe and and and maybe the distinction is not even even much but the idea is this and I want to show this to you in fact go to Revelation chapter 6 if you would Revelation chapter 6 when we're talking about the end times prophecy right when we're talking about the time of end times Daniel's 70th week there it the first part of that that prophecy is divided into in the book of Revelation chapter 6 it's divided into six seals and although as those six seals are being opened we are going through the events of end times prophecy and I'm not going to take the time to do this tonight I've done this recently in other sermons but you can you can look at the Olivet Discourse that Jesus teaches and the six seals and his discourse match up perfectly and in reference to the chronology of things that are going to happen now here's the thing something that's commonly talked about or referred to something that people may be already familiar with when you talk about end times prophecy is the concept of the four horsemen you probably heard of the four horsemen and here's what's interesting when you look at that first part of Daniel 70th week and you've got the six seals there are six seals that are open but there's only the first four seals correlate with those four horsemen and oftentimes people talk about the four horsemen and then you got the fifth seal and the sixth seal they don't have horsemen there's not a fifth horseman or a sixth horseman but there's a distinction so even within those six seals there's a difference between the first four seals which are represented by four horsemen and there's a difference between the last two seals well what's the difference well the difference is this the first four seals are not necessarily directed just at Christians the first four seals are actually directed to all mankind let me show it to you revelation chapter 6 look at verse 1 this is the beginning of God giving the chronology of end times revelation 6 in verse 1 and I saw when the land opened one of the seals and I heard as it were the noise of thunder when the four beasts saying come and see so remember so he opens the first seal and what does he see verse 2 and I saw and behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer so he sees a white horse and of course this represents the Antichrist and this is really the beginning of the rise of the Antichrist we won't know he's the Antichrist until the fifth seal when he sets up the the the image we when we enter into the Great Tribulation but here we just have a politician a political leader who comes on the scene and he begins to conquer and to conquer now how does he do that well he does that through seal number two which I believe is a world war now if it's war it may be World War three it may be World War four it may be World War five we don't know but we know that connected to the end times there's going to be a world war because we have the white horse which comes in right he that sat on him had a bow that's a weapon and a crown that's a political position and was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer so he's conquering nations notice verse 3 and when he had opened the second seal I heard the second be say come and see and there went out another horse that was red so now here we have the second horseman it's a red horse what happens with this horse and power was given to him that sat there on to take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword so the Antichrist shows up on the white horse he goes out conquering into conquering then the red horse comes in and he takes peace from the earth that they should kill one another this is what Jesus referring to when he says nations shall rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom peace is going to be taken from the earth and the entire world is going to be consumed in a world war that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword and of course as a result of this world war what happens well over is five and when he had opened the third seal I heard the third be say come and see and I beheld and lo a black horse and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand and I heard a voice in the midst of the four beats saying a measure of wheat for a penny and a penny in the Bible is a full day's wage and three measures of barley for a penny a penny is a full day's wage and see that were not the oil and wine so then the third seals open right the first was open we have the Antichrist shows up he goes forth conquering to conquering as he begins to conquer nation after nation a world war ensues the second horse shows up the red horse he takes peace from the earth everyone gets involved in this world war and what often happens is a resort of war is we have famine we have the black the black horse with a pair of balances in his hand what do you use balances for you balance a weight right and they're measuring how much they're gonna charge the cost of food and they're buying a measure of wheat for a full day's labor of measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny so the cost of food is going up because there's a famine and this what the Bible talks about Jesus like about famines and pestilences and earthquakes all of that is going to drive up the cost of food and as we've learned toilet paper right and then look at verse 7 then you have the fourth seal and when he had opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth be say come and see and I looked and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was death and hell followed with him and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with the beast of the earth and again this is just the results the Antichrist shows up on the white horse begins to wage war as a result of that world war breaks out the second horse the red horse shows up and takes peace from the earth the entire world is consumed in in warfare as a result of that there are famines and the cost of food skyrockets and then on top of that there's earthquakes and pestilences and all of those things and then you got the fourth seal and the pale horse that is bringing death and hell followed with him and he was given the power over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword that's that's military with hunger that's famine and with death and with beasts of the earth that's pestilence here's what I'm telling you those first four seals they're not directed just as Christians this is affecting the whole world during this time of the four horsemen the world is going to be a terrible place to live the whole world is going to be under attack now here's what I want you to understand okay go go to Revelation chapter number 12 we're gonna come back to Revelation 6 in a minute but go to Revelation 12 in in in Revelation 12 the way the book the Revelation works is that it's in chronological order but it's divided into two sections section 1 goes from the first part from chapter 1 through chapter 11 and we get a view of end times prophecy through the view on earth right so we see it by an earthly view we see the the the four horsemen and the effect that's having on earth from Revelation 12 through the end of the book we start over with the story of end times prophecy but now we get a heavenly view we see it from heaven's perspective so in Revelation 12 and verse 1 we are beginning the story again of end times prophecy and it begins at the first century with the Lord Jesus Christ knows what it says revelation chapter 12 verse 1 and there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the Sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars we have this woman this is an allegory this is like a parable it's not literal but we have this woman she's clothed with the Sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars and she being with child travailed in birth and pain to be delivered and and you know there's a lot of debate as to who this woman is I'll tell you just and I don't have time to develop this off preaches another sermon at a time but I believe that this woman has has multiple identities in the way that she's seen but they all have to do with the Lord Jesus Christ if you study I'll just play this quickly if you study the chronologies of Lord Jesus Christ you have two chronologies in the Gospels one that leads you back through David to Abraham which proves that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham that he you know fulfills all those covenants then you have another chronology that leads you all the way back to Adam which proves the humanity of Christ so the chronologies one is showing you that he's a descendant of Abraham and David and the other one is showing you he's a descendant that he's a human being that he goes all the way back to Adam I believe this woman represents both and in one way she represents Eve because she gives birth to Jesus so she's mankind because Eve was the mother of all living but there's also a picture here of the fact that she represents the Old Testament nation of Israel not the synagogue of Satan today but the the descendants of Isaac Abraham Isaac and Jacob and David because she has a crown with 12 stars which could be seen as a representation of the nation of Israel the 12 stars I think it's just showing that all of mankind from Eve through the nation of Israel all the way to the first century was bringing in was delivering this child that was promised to be the Savior the Deliverer look at verse 2 and she being with child travailed in birth and pain to be delivered and there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red dragon that's the devil and having seven heads and ten horses heaven crowns upon his head and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and they cast him to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born now I don't believe that this is talking about Mary and some people try to say that this is Mary but there is an illusion here to Mary because if you remember when Jesus was born right Mary gave birth to Jesus and the devil was kind of there waiting trying to kill Jesus now how did the devil attack Jesus and tried to kill Jesus at his birth if you remember the story Herod got envious right he heard about the wise men coming to worship where is he that is born the king of the Jews we have seen a star in the east and are come to worship him and he gets jealous he gets envious of that and Herod decides he wants to kill the child but he doesn't know which child it is so what does he do he kills all the children right he sends his men to kill all of the children that are two years old and younger see there's an analogy here that when the devil first tried to kill Jesus he did it by just trying to kill all the children and of course he failed God supernaturally stepped in had Joseph take Jesus down to Egypt he failed so the next time the devil tried to kill Jesus he tried to do it he had to do it a little more precise he specifically had the Pharisees had Judas point out Jesus specifically and then put Jesus on the cross well in the end times is gonna be the same way when God when the devil begins to fight against Christians he first does it on a broad scale just kind of trying to destroy the entire earth he wages war on all mankind and those first four horsemen that's what they're doing they're just making the world a terrible place to live for the entire world but the point is he's trying to destroy Christians but he's just persecuting he's just affecting he's just destroying the entire world and this is what we see in this parable notice verse 4 Revelation 12 verse 4 and is the ultra and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and it cast him to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born and she brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations right the government shall be upon his shoulders with a rod of iron and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne notice verse 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there 2,000 excuse me there a thousand two hundred and three score days so the woman flees into the wilderness and God is just kind of helping her there's prepared a place for her but how long is she there for a thousand two hundred three score days one thousand two hundred sixty two days or forty two months or times times and half a time this is that first part of Daniel's 70th week and this is the first four seals this is all mankind the devil is just making a havoc making a wreck of the entire world and the entire world just kind of running and fleeing and God has prepared a place and God is helping them supernaturally now just like with the birth of Christ tried to kill Jesus by killing all the children when that didn't work he had to get a little more specific well at end times he's gonna try to hurt Christians by hurting all Christianity but God prepares a place right God helps the woman in the wilderness so then the devil has to get a little more specific that's when he rolls out the abomination of desolation that's when he rolls out the mark of the beast that's when now if you want to buy or sell you have to take the mark in your hand or in your forehead now it's more of a specific persecution to believers themselves notice Revelation 12 look at verse 13 I just want you to see how God is helping this woman revelation 12 verse 13 and when the dragon saw that he cast that he was cast unto the earth he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child and the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness into her place where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time that's your three and a half years that's your 1260 days that's your 42 months that's how it's referred to all throughout Scripture from the face of the serpent notice verse 15 and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman so he sends out this flood to try to drown her that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood notice verse 16 and the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth now with that said go back to Revelation chapter 6 Revelation chapter 6 right you have the first four seals and during this time the devil is just kind of attacking the woman mankind just generally he's he sends out a flood to try to kill the woman and the only way the woman really even survives is because God just supernaturally helps her the earth opens up and brings in the flood he gives her wings so she can fly away I believe this is referring to the first four seals that are not a specific persecution of believers but it's just the whole world is just being destroyed by the devil you know by these world wars by these famines by these things you got the first four seals they're the first they're the four horsemen then you have two more seals now there's a difference between the next two seals because there's no horsemen associated with it well what are the the fifth and sixth seal the fifth seal is the Great Tribulation the abomination of desolation the specific attack on all believers Romans 6 excuse me Revelation 6 look verse 9 and when he had opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony of which they held so now they're being slain they're not just dying because of famines and world wars now he says I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain why were they slain for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ this is the abomination of desolation set up this is the mark of the beast this is a persecution of believers and they cried with a loud voice saying how long the Lord holy and true does thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth and white robes were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled and then the sixth seal is the Rapture and I behold and he had opened the sixth seal and lo there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black a cycle of air and the moon became as blood of course it's talking about after the tribulation of those days Matthew 24 would say that God sends his elect and you have the rapture of all believers and then when you go to Revelation 7 you see all these believers in heaven so here's what I want you to understand there are six seals four of them have four horsemen connected to them and that is an attack on all mankind now the target is Christians but he's just attacking all of mankind making wrecking havoc of all humanity trying to kill Christians just like he killed all the babies trying to get to Jesus when that doesn't work then the fifth seal is a specific attack on Christianity with all of that said go back to Revelation chapter 3 look at verse 10 he says because thou has kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation I believe the hour of temptation is referring to those first four seals or the four horsemen say why do you think that because it's the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth here's what I'm just saying here's what I think is interesting about Christians is we we love to talk and me too I do it too you know and last night we were having a time of fellowship and I was talking about these things and I enjoy it too but you know so I think sometimes we we get really caught up into like oh the 75 days of Great Tribulation you know I'm gonna go in the wilderness and I'm gonna get a bunker it's gonna be 75 days or whatever but here's what you don't realize hey before you make it to the Great Tribulation 75 days you got to survive the four horsemen you got to survive the world wars the famines the pestilence all those things that's gonna be a time of major death and persecution you know it's gonna be a persecution is gonna be connected in that time as well that is gonna be a very difficult time before you even make it to the Great Tribulation you have to make it through the beginning of sorrows you got to make it through the four horsemen you say how am I gonna make it through the four horsemen Revelation 3 10 because I was kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the art of temptation here's what Jesus saying he's saying when when the end when the beginning of sorrows begin it's gonna be a hard time to live there's gonna be world wars there's gonna be famine there's gonna be pestilence there's gonna be death there's gonna be all these things you say how do I survive it he says if you keep the word of my patience I will help you I'll give you wings to fly into the wilderness oh when the flood comes I'll have the earth open up God says I will supernaturally help you survive that time you say how do I do it if you keep the word of his patience and listen to me it's a great illustration for our time today because there's many Christians the coronavirus got you backslidden the coronavirus ever since the coronavirus thing I haven't been reading my Bible I haven't been solely I'm well let me say something the only way that God supernaturally helps you through the four horsemen is if you've kept the word of his patience if you're gonna the only way you can make it through the pestilence of that time is you've kept the word of his patience if you can't keep the word of his patience they're in the coronavirus good luck making it to the Great Tribulation you're not gonna make it past the beginning of sorrows you're not gonna make it past the four horsemen if the coronavirus is like the pony horsemen the coronavirus like the pre horsemen it's like the clown in the rodeo that comes out before the show begin if you can't keep the word of his patience if you can't keep stay right with God if you can't read your Bible and pray and be a soul winner during this you can say I'm gonna make it to the Great Tribulation you're not even gonna make it past the four horsemen he says look because thou has kept the word of my patience I he said I'll keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world he said when the entire world to the chaos when the entire world in war when the entire world at famine when the entire world can't find toilet paper he says I will protect you if you keep the word of his patience see the word patience in the Bible has to do with enduring go to James chapter 5 James chapter 5 now when we think of end times prophecy passages we don't normally think of the book of James usually think of like first second Thessalonians we think of Revelation we think of the abbot discourse right Matthew 24 you know those passages but in James there actually is a prophetic passage James chapter 5 James chapter 5 if you go backwards from the book of Revelation you have Jude 3rd 2nd and 1st John 2nd and 1st Peter James James James chapter 5 let me show you the passage that has to do with end times prophecy in James 5 now I want you to notice how many times the word patience comes up James 5 verse 7 be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord just the others as end times that I want you to be patient unto the coming of the Lord behold the husband men waited for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long notice a word patience for it until he received the early and latter rain be also patient see we're patient establish your heart notice end times prophecy for the coming of the Lord drive nigh grudge not against one another brethren lest you be condemned behold the judge standeth before the Lord notice verse 10 take my brethren the prophets who has spoken in the name of the Lord notice for an example of suffering affliction and of patience so he says look I want you to be patient therefore unto the coming of the Lord he said that the husband men waited for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it he says be also patient establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord drive night he says he says the example of suffering affliction and for patience notice verse 11 behold we count them happy which endure which have heard of the patience of job I mean is there any is there anyone who endured more suffering individually than job and didn't quit on God he says look which endure he says you've heard of the patience of job and have seen the end of the Lord and the Lord is very pitiful and tender mercy you say what does all this mean here's what it means here's what it means before you could even make it to the bunker for the Great Tribulation you're gonna have to make it through the Antichrist beginning to rise as a political leader beginning to conquer lands which sets off a world war which sets off famines there's going to be pestilences along with that earthquakes along with that famines along with that none of that's gonna be directed straight at Christians the whole world's gonna be in chaos before you can even make it to the fifth seal you got to make it through the four horsemen and God says the only way you can make it through that is if you keep the word of my patience if you endure if you're able to suffer and like job not quit and what's interesting to me is that you know if you want to talk about the coronavirus look around look if the core of the coronavirus got you to quit on God you already backslidden and left God and not even do it forget about the tribulation I mean forget about the four horsemen forget about all of it you say well how do you know the only way you endure is the the only way we endure is this we have a little strength but he says my strength is made perfect in weakness we rely on God she says because I was kept the word of my patience I also would keep thee from the our temptation which will come upon all the worlds which I them that dwell upon the earth and then we have the conclusion and it's still talking about end times prophecy look at Revelation 3 and verse 11 behold I come quickly he says behold I come quickly remember he's talking to them about the fact that I want you to endure because I was kept the word of my patient I want you to endure affliction I want you to be like job he says behold I come quickly and then he says this hold that fast which thou has he says hold that fast which thou has that no man take thy crown he said don't lose your reward you see his his coming is associated with a reward go to Revelation 22 we're almost done revelation 22 look at verse 12 revelation 22 verse 12 the Bible says this and behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be he says look behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou has that no man take thy crown he said you've already earned the crown don't lose it he says I come quickly and my reward is with me go to 2nd John chapter 1 we're gonna look at 2nd John then we'll come back to Revelation what we've done 2nd John if you are moving backwards you have revelation Jude 3rd 2nd John 3rd John 2nd John 2nd John chapter 1 look at verse 8 look to yourselves 2nd John chapter 1 verse 8 look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward see you can earn rewards and then lose them you could be just soul winning faithful on fire reading the Bible praying your faith for all three services you're earning rewards then the coronavirus thing happens and you can't even show up for a live stream I mean then the coronavirus happens and you're just not reading your Bible anymore then the coronavirus thing happens you're just not tithing anymore then the coronavirus things happen you're just not soul winning anymore he says look don't lose your reward he says hold that fast which thou has he says look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward here's what he's saying a lot and I don't even think this coronavirus thing is the beginning of sorrows but let me tell you something there's gonna be a lot of Christians who are gonna have a lot of rewards and when the beginning of sorrows actually begins see they're getting all psyched up for the tribulation Antichrist I got my bunker I've got my you know my guns and what they're not gonna realize is that they're not even gonna make it there because World War 3 is gonna take away all their rewards because the famines and the pestilence the fact that they can't find toilet paper is gonna shake their faith well you say well what do we do well you learn to endure you just roll with the punch punches you get connected to the Word of God he says because thou has kept the word of my patience he said I also will keep thee from the our temptation which one God because the hour could be a reference to the Great Tribulation the hour could be a reference to the wrath of God he said the one that's gonna try the whole earth though he said I will keep it from the our decision which will come upon all the world to try them and dwell upon the earth and I believe that the reference of the four horsemen when the entire world is being destroyed revelation 3 look at verse 12 we'll finish up him that'll come with will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name he said look it's not about this world it's about the next him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he says he that hath an ear let him hear but the Spirit saith unto the churches as my heart and I would have prayer Heavenly Father Lord we thank you for allowing us to be able to stay the Bible and we realize that some of these passages are cryptic and we see through a glass darkly and we don't necessarily understand everything but Lord I pray you'd help us to realize that there are many hours of temptation the Great Tribulation will be an hour of temptation and the wrath of God will be an hour of temptation but help us also to realize that before we can even get to the fifth seal we got to make it through those four horsemen and Lord if we can't if we can't stay faithful to you if we can endure affliction during a trial run like the coronavirus never gonna make it to that fifth seal but I just pray you'd help us to endure affliction hey you'd help us to just be faithful but I pray you'd help us to be content in whatever state we find ourselves in in the matchless name of Christ we pray amen