The Power Of Perseverance

I want you to turn your attention this morning to Revelation chapter 3, be reading verses 7 through 13 as we hear God's message, as we hear Jesus' message to the church in Philadelphia. And when we say Philadelphia, although many of us think that maybe Philadelphia needs a message from Jesus, it has by the way, but this is not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is Philadelphia, Asia Minor.

Although there are churches in Philadelphia that need to hear this, just like our church does as well. So when you see that word Philadelphia, think Philadelphia in Asia Minor. All right? You follow along as I read. 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. 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. because you have kept my word about patient endurance I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth I am coming soon hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown the one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God never shall he go out of it and 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 from God out of heaven and my own new name.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Father, illumine our hearts, illumine our minds now. Give us hearts that hear this, not merely as individuals. For Father, you've addressed this to churches, to congregations. Help us to listen now as a body to this message from Jesus to us. And Father, to take careful, pay careful attention to what our what the Lord of this congregation has to say.

We'll thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Churches face a variety of challenges today especially in an environment that is anything but friendly to a vibrant Christian faith Some churches are full of religious activity but they have no spiritual vitality at all Some adapt their message to the culture in order to avoid persecution, and some with the good intention of trying to reach that culture, but then they begin to lose sight of where to draw the lines of where the gospel is, and they lose the gospel.

Some churches are experts in doctrinal precision, but have lost their ability or lost their desire, lost their love to proclaim the gospel and to live it. Others are a tiny minority struggling to hold on in the midst of a community that ignores or despises them. This last description is that which describes the church in Philadelphia. As we've read through this, you've noticed that he mentions or he singles out the synagogue in the city.

The synagogue in that city seemed to have been an influential institution. As most synagogues, which are found throughout the world, they claim that they possess the key to entering the kingdom of God. And they called themselves Jews, that is the people of God, but they did not believe that Jesus is Messiah. The synagogue evidently had some power in that city, some kind of standing with the citizens or some kind of popular appeal.

And at the same time, there was a little group of Jesus followers, those who claimed Jesus as Messiah. This church of Philadelphia, which did not have any power at all, or little power, compared to the synagogue, it had very little power at all. And so the pressure is on. The struggling little congregation was tempted to compromise. How can we have any influence in this city and this culture?

If we push Jesus too strongly, we lose influence and people won't listen. We'll end up looking like a cult. A bunch of crazies at the fringe of society and culture that no one will ever listen to with no power and no influence of any kind. besides the people in the synagogue are powerful enough to make our lives miserable. By claiming Jesus is Lord, we can lose our jobs, we can lose our livelihood, we can lose everything over this whole Jesus issue They can keep us from the seats at the table where we could do some good And could they be right about Jesus I mean, they have the same Bible we do.

And they say Jesus isn't the Messiah. Sticking with the message of Jesus seems like the least wise thing to do. Well, if we were that church, what would we do? Facing those questions. Well, here's a message of Jesus to a church struggling with those issues, to churches still struggling with those issues. And he says that there is power in perseverance, that persevering with Jesus and his message is the right, the best, and the most powerful thing you could do. now how does he go about convincing you of that well first of all he reveals the Lord of the congregation and then he unveils the power of perseverance and then he gives promises to those who persevere that's how Jesus goes about convincing us of the fact that there is power in persevering in the faith first of all verse 7 he reveals the lord of the congregation 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 once more jesus reveals himself in terms that we're familiar with from the first chapter where the vision of john has revealed this figure this Jesus, but he emphasizes attributes that fit each particular situation that each church faces.

Here, to Philadelphia, he says, I am the true, the holy one. Now, the holy one was one of Isaiah's favorite ways of referring to God. In fact, if you turn to the prophet Isaiah, you see that he uses uses that term, the Holy One of Israel, 22 times to talk about God. If you will, look at Isaiah 40. Verse 25, here's one example. To whom then will you compare Me, says God, that I should be like Him says the Holy One The Holy One Now this is a reference to what we saw in chapter 1 In verse 14 you remember in that vision the apostle sees a vision of the Ancient of Days.

This one who is on this glorious throne with this brightness about him from Daniel chapter 7, verse 9. And so here's a reference to that Ancient of Days. the Holy One of Israel. That's how he reveals himself to this congregation. So here we are, a small congregation with little influence, or so it seems. But our leader is not merely some man named Jesus who died years ago and left behind some teachings that people follow.

In fact, the leader, the Lord of this congregation, is none other than the Holy One of Israel, the true God. the synagogue said to the church you're a cult you're a renegade religion and if you know the history of the church Christianity started in the synagogues when you read the book of Acts they were still in the synagogue pretty soon they were known as this sect of Judaism called the way but eventually they got kicked out because they kept insisting this crazy thing that Jesus is Messiah that Jesus is the Lord and they eventually got kicked out. No doubt this synagogue kicked them out of their presence and said, you're nuts. You're crazy.

You're renegade religion. You're a bunch of nuts. But Jesus asserts that this small band of disciples and not that powerful synagogue possessed the true God. This small band of people who had little power as they're described here, were the ones who possessed the true God. For those who say we are crazy, for our constant proclamation that Jesus is Lord, Jesus says, I am the Lord.

Given who the Lord of this congregation is, the true and the living God, then stay with him. Stay with him. The Lord of this congregation, he says, has the key of David. He determines who enters the kingdom of God. Again, this is a look back at Jesus in chapter 1. Only there he's revealed as holding the keys of death and Hades.

That is, he claims that he is the one who has the authority. Authority over death and judgment. Here, it's got a little different twist to it. Instead of saying he possesses the keys of death and Hades, here it says he possesses the key of David. Here he claims that he has authority over all of those who enter the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God.

He is the determiner. He is the one who opens the door because he has the key. Now this is, again, you heard it this morning from Isaiah 22 where Shebna is going to lose his position as the steward of the palace. And Eliakim is now going to become the steward of the palace with the key of David on his shoulder, meaning he's part of the government who has the key of David and he will determine who gets into the palace and who does not.

Jesus fulfills that picture. He has the key of David and he will determine who enters the kingdom of God and who does not. Now the synagogue had claimed that authority. We have the key to God's kingdom. He established His covenant with us through Moses. And if you want to be connected to God, you have to come through us.

We are the people of God. And Jesus says to us, the doors to the kingdom are now open to all who come through this Messiah called Jesus. It is through Him, not that old covenant that you gain entrance and I have absolute power over entrance. What I open, no one can shut. And when I shut it, no one can open it. Entrance is through me.

I have the key. That's what Jesus says. It's no longer a religion. It's a person who's fulfilled everything in that religion. He is the apex of God's revelation. He's the apex of God's redemptive purposes.

He is the one who has the key. Again, given who the Lord of this congregation is, the one holding absolute power over who enters, stick with him. Stick with him. Staying with Jesus puts you into contact with the true God and the one who has authority over the kingdom of God. Well now he turns to the congregation in Philadelphia and as he does he unveils the power of perseverance You see that in verses 8 through 10 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.

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. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth.

You see, the pressure was on because of that influential synagogue. They believed still, that synagogue, that they possessed the key to the kingdom of God in their covenant. And this little congregation was preaching a different message, which was no, entrance is through a person whose name is Jesus, and they had paid a price for that. they have paid a price for that message.

Now look at what Jesus says right here in the beginning of verse 8. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. If you have a pencil or a pen, draw parentheses around that phrase. Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. I believe that's a parenthetical statement.

I say that because what Jesus says here is this. I know your works that you have kept but little. You have kept my word. I know your works that you have but little power and yet you've kept my word. That's how the sentence should read. Okay?

Why do I say that? Because in chapter 3 verse 1, it says, I know your works that you have the reputation of being alive. and verse 15, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. The word that is not in our translations. It should be there if they were absolutely literal. So the idea here is, I know your works that. Having said that, that first phrase is a parenthesis.

He gets a little off track a little bit there. I know your works, that though you have little power, you've kept, you've not denied me. but before he says that he says behold I have open this door that no one shut what is he saying there he says to the suffering congregation I have set an open door to the kingdom before you and no matter what they say no matter what they say it will never be shut to those who follow me and claim me as Lord. Alright?

It's a little kind of a, it's a little bit of an encouragement before he gets down to, I know your works. He says, look, I know your works, but let me just tell you this, real quick. I've opened the door of the kingdom to you and it doesn't matter what those other folks say it'll stay open for you no one's going to be able to shut it if you claim me then you've got it so don't deny my name you know what when the religious leaders of our time tell us to quit making such a big deal out of Jesus and they tell us to be a little more tolerant.

I can remember reading an article a few years ago. We're in the National Cathedral in Washington. They've had Muslim services and Buddhist services in a place that is supposed to be dedicated to the name of Christ. Well, let's not push the Christ thing too much. All right? Remember the promise of Jesus here.

Remember what he says here. behold I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut don't let anybody tell you okay that okay this Jesus thing is no it is a big deal it is a big deal what does he go on to say in verse 9 such people are liars they are not the people of God well anyways he goes on says, I know your works, that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. This church had persevered in the face of that pressure. They had kept the word of Jesus.

They had not denied his name. In verse 10, they had heard the gospel. In verse 10, and I don't do this very often, but I'm going to do it here. We need to change it a little bit. It should say this, because you have kept the word of my patient endurance. You have kept the word of my patient, that referring to Jesus You have kept the word of Jesus patient endurance That is to say they had been faithful to the preached word about Jesus that He was faithful in the midst of suffering, and He was loyal to His Father until His death.

All the way through His death, He was loyal to His Father. And they had remained faithful to the gospel preached to them. And the gospel preached to them was what? you are going to experience what Jesus experienced. What happens to him will happen to you. No one is greater than his master. If they called me names, they will call you names.

If they hauled me up and put me to death because of the claims I have made, they'll do the same thing to you. Alright? They were faithful and kept the word of Jesus' patient endurance. And they persevered even though they had little power. They had little power. They possessed little influence politically, socially, commercially.

Instead, they were powerful in their perseverance. Let all that other stuff go. Let all that influence go. Let that all go. There's one thing we're not going to let go of, and that's Jesus. You know what I think?

I think this is a message to the church in America today. We are so worried about political power. We are so worried that if we don't get political power, somehow the cause of Christ is going to be lost. Here is a church that has no influence politically, none commercially, none socially. And what? They hang on to Jesus.

One of the most powerful individuals in this country today has a radio show that's on from 12 to 3. Alright? I wonder what would happen if Rush Limbaugh, one of the most powerful individuals in our culture today, would come on the radio one day and say something like this. Folks, I want to tell you something. I have embraced Jesus Christ. And I have become convinced that many of the problems that we face today grow out of spiritual bankruptcy. and the answer is the gospel and Jesus Christ.

How much of that power would he have after saying that? Of that kind of power would he have, do you think? He says, from now on I'm going to talk about Jesus. He'd be off the radio in no time. They would find some way of canceling that guy's contract. Right?

Many assert that if we want a place at the table, we can't talk about Christ. Or at least asserting that He alone is the way to God. I guess it all depends on what kind of power you want. I guess it all depends on what kind of power you want. Let's not even think about our nation. Let's just think of our town.

Just think of our town. Right? The quarters of power do not run through this church, or so it seems. But what kind of power do you want? You know, I hate to almost say this, but this is one of my vivid memories from college. And I hate to say this because I'm at the center of this story, but my father taught me something. there was a time when I had political aspirations.

Now, some of you who know me, that's no surprise. There was a time when I thought, man, politics, that's the way to go. I can remember being in my father's office and saying something about it would be cool to be in an Oval Office. I never had aspirations to be president, but I thought it would be kind of cool to have that kind of power. I'll never forget what my father said to me.

He said, why? Why would anyone trade the power of preaching the gospel for mere political power? That stuck in my head. I thought, ooh, I never thought of that. That doesn't mean that Christians shouldn't be involved in politics. Don't get me wrong.

Salt and light needs to be everywhere, but let's not fool ourselves. Christians are not going to have a lot of political power because that kind of power is not where it's at. Now see what this perseverance produces. There's two things that he mentions here. Two things that this perseverance produces. The first is the conversion of your enemies.

The conversion of your enemies. Verse 10. I'm sorry, verse 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 Jesus will make some from that synagogue worship Jesus It going to convert their enemies the ones that are making life hard for them Their perseverance and hanging on to Christ and not letting go.

All right? They will be the ones who are going to bow down and worship Jesus. That phrase bow down is used throughout the whole book of Revelation as voluntary worship. Either worship to God or worship to idols and the beast. But it's always a voluntary kind of worship. He's not saying, I'm going to put my foot on their neck and make them say that you're right.

What he's saying here is these people are going to come and they are going to worship Jesus at your feet. They are going to be ones who worship with you Christ. The tables are turned and it is the Jews who deny Jesus who will come and recognize that God is truly in their midst. in this little, uninfluential, powerless little congregation, they are going to come and admit that they're right.

Jesus is in their midst and they're going to worship with him. The tables are turned. Look over at Isaiah 45. Turn back to Isaiah 45 for a moment. Isaiah 45, verse 14. Thus says the Lord, the wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush.

And the Sabians, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours. They shall follow you. They shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you saying, surely God is in you and there is no other, no God besides Him. This is the fulfillment of that. See, same thing in Isaiah 60.

Look over at Isaiah 60. Again, verse 14, The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despise you shall bow down at your feet. They shall call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. So the enemies are going to come and say, God is with you. And so, in fulfillment of that, he says, look, they will be converted and they will come and they will bow down at your feet and they will say, God is here.

Now what kind of power would you want to have? Huh? Would you rather have political power Would you rather have economic power Social power Any kind of power Would you rather that this congregation has a power that sees people converted to Christ because we just won't let Him go? It all happens. God says this is going to happen through your refusal to give up Jesus. for your refusal to deny Him and what He claims and the determination to keep Him no matter what the cost.

It's Christ. You're hanging on to Him. Keep hanging on. So the first thing that that perseverance produces is conversions. The second is spiritual protection in the midst of tribulation. Verse 10.

Because you've kept my word about patient endurance or because you've kept the word about my patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole earth to try those who dwell on the earth. Because they kept his word, he will keep them through great tribulation. Now, some have used this to speculate that the church will be removed from the hardships of tribulation or be removed from what they consider a future tribulation that is yet to come.

The problem with that is several. First of all, do you see the church of Philadelphia taken out of tribulation? I mean, this is addressed to them first, right? Did God take them out so they didn't have to face tribulation? No. No.

History does not record that suddenly that church was gone or that they all moved out or whatever the case may be. That's written to them back then to their situation how can it apply to us in a way that says we're going to be gone? Look at Smyrna. Now, if you read through all seven of these messages, you will notice that there are only two churches that have no corrective word from Jesus.

I don't know if you've noticed that. Five of the churches says, here's what's commendable. Well, four of the churches, here's what's commendable, here's what you need to do. But only two of them where Jesus says, this is commendable and doesn give him any correction One is Philadelphia the other is Smyrna Both of them facing the same synagogue of Satan kind of situation But look what he says to Smyrna.

I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich. And the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Well, now here's Smyrna facing much of the same thing. And just as faithful as Philadelphia, and they're going to go through some hard times. All right? And isn't what's addressed to Smyrna and Philadelphia to be addressed to all of them, he who has a ear? Let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Each one of these messages is to be taken by the other churches as well.

So how do you put those together? Another thing I would say, there's a grammatical construction here that's only used twice in the New Testament. It's only used twice in the New Testament. Here's the construction. I will keep you from. I will keep you from.

That particular grammatical construction is only used twice. here and in John chapter 17, verse 15. So I want you to turn there. Turn to John chapter 17. This is Jesus praying for his disciples before he leaves. We call this Jesus' high priestly prayer. It's what it's commonly known as.

And you see that same structure here. You will note it. John 17, verse 15. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. Now when you read keep them from the evil one, do you read Jesus is going to remove us so that the devil never is around us? Is that how you understand that?

No. You know what he's saying there. Keep them from doesn't mean deliver them from the presence of the devil so they never have to face the devil again. Boy, that would be great if God would do that in this age. No, what does it mean? Keep them from falling to God. the devil.

Keep them from falling to the wiles of the devil. Deliver them from that. And so, what he's saying here is not take them out of it, but what? Give them perseverance. Or he's saying to them here, Jesus is making a promise, because you've kept the word about my patient endurance, I will keep you from falling. I'll keep you from this, the purpose of this hour of trial is what?

He goes on to say to try the evil ones. We'll get there in a minute. So keep them from what's going to happen to these evil ones. And then the last thing I would say is this. Turn back to chapter 1, verse 9. Remember this.

I, John, your brother, and partner in what? The tribulation and the kingdom of God. The tribulation, folks, has already been inaugurated. We're living in it. Now, there's going to be an intensification. I think the book of Revelation is going to tell us about that.

But there's not going to be this separate period called the tribulation. We're in it. Okay, I'm going to get off track just a little bit. Okay? Let me just say this. this view that we're going to be delivered from all this horrible suffering and persecution could only work in America. If you go overseas and you talk to the people who lived under communism and who are living under Islam today, that whole view about getting out of terrible, terrible persecution, they're like, what are you talking about?

That is the normal way of life for Christians. They have suffered incredible things. Unbelievable things. So they look at us and say, oh, these terrible things are going to come. We're going to be delivered from them. They say, we're going through that.

Why should you get delivered? Right? This is the nature of the faith. We're going to suffer horribly. So, anyway. So what is he talking about here, now that I've said what he's not?

This is going to be a time of trial that will be universal in nature the whole world and will be aimed at unbelievers That one phrase those who dwell on the earth If you follow that phrase all the way through the book of Revelation you will see that it is a term used for unbelievers. Those who dwell on the earth. It's a technical term for unbelieving idolaters.

Alright, so what's Jesus saying? For those who've kept His word up to this point, Jesus promises to keep them. When the trials that He's going to send on the unbelievers start falling on them, they're going to be on the same earth. When it starts falling on them, He will keep them from falling. The wicked at whom these trials are aimed will suffer and they will continue to show themselves enemies of God. but that will not be with you.

You will never become an enemy of God. I will keep you from that. And those who have persevered are going to come through not destroyed, but refined. Now Daniel, from the foggy land of the Old Testament, looking off to the future, sees tribulation. So turn to Daniel 12 for a moment. Daniel chapter 12.

Even though it's from the land of fog, it's not as clear as the New Testament, it does give us some nuance. It does help us to understand something. Daniel 12, verse 1. At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince, who is in charge of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. Now drop down to verse 10. many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined but the wicked shall act wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but those who are wise shall understand so in verse 1 he talks about this great tribulation and the deliverance of God's people but when you look at verse 10 he's saying what the wicked will continue to show their true colors. They will continue to be wicked, but those who understand what God is up to will be what?

Wise. They'll be refined. All right In other words they will share in the triumph of the Lamb That the bottom line So in verse 10 Jesus is saying because you've kept my word, I am going to keep you. I'm going to keep you through that. You will share in the triumph of the Lamb. The wicked are going to be really in for a hot time. and they're going to respond in the way that wicked people do but you are going to share in the triumph of the Lamb so then there's this power in persevering alright now the last thing he does is he gives promises to those who persevere last three verses verse 11 I'm coming soon, hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown the one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God never shall he go out of it and 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 from my God out of heaven and my own new name he who has near, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches he gives promises to those who persevere the promises are for the victors, the overcomers, the conquerors They are the ones that recognize that Jesus is returning.

The conquerors, the overcomers, the victors. Alright? They recognize that Jesus will return in power. They can conquer. They can remain steadfast in their faith because they know their enemies do not have the last word. Jesus is coming.

They can take it. Because they know that Christ will return in power. we're watching the Big Valley right now. Any of you remember the Big Valley? Does anybody remember the Big Valley? It was a television show from the mid-60s, right? With the patriarch Victoria and Jared and Heath and Nick and Audra.

Remember that, right? So we're watching it the other night. The girls bought this thing, okay? It's like memory lane for Beck and me, But we're watching this, right? And Nick and Heath have been confined to a prison unjustly. A prison run by an unscrupulous tyrant of a warden.

And Heath gets thrown into the iron box under the hot California sun And Nick can rescue him And the question is are they going to make it out alive Is Heath going to be rescued? Do you know what the answer is? Do you know what the answer is? Of course, because they've got to be here for next week. Right? Because they are the good guys.

We know already. Now, watching it, you're like going, oh no, is he going to make it? And Nick can't do anything about it. And you kind of go through that like they want you to. You go, oh man, what's going to happen? But down deep, you know what's going to happen.

You already know the end of the story. You don't know exactly how it plays out, but you know. And you also know this. Jared is going to arrive in the nick of time. Right? You know all that going in.

What's the point I'm trying to make? We get anxious, right? We get caught up and we say, oh God, it's going to be hard. I'm not going to be able to persevere. And we say, yeah, I'll be able to persevere because we win in the end. We know the end of the story.

Even though we don't know exactly how it ends, we know we're going to come out on top. With that in mind, we can persevere. With that in mind, we can persevere. And those conquerors then hold fast to what they have and they're assured this crown. Now, what's the crown he's talking about here? If we go back to Revelation 2.10, the other church that has to persevere in suffering, Smyrna, the crown of life is promised to them.

Now, who could possibly steal that crown? Well, in actuality, no one's going to be able to steal it, but what is he referring to here? No one can steal that crown except for those who would convince you that Jesus does not hold the keys to the kingdom. They would convince you that Jesus is not Lord and Savior. They could steal your crown. And so what?

Hold fast. The forces of evil will never be able to take the crown of life from you if you hold fast to your confession that Jesus is all. If that's what you believe, know it. No one can take the crown of life from you. Once more, Revelation uncovers this. behind the appearances, does it not? Who are the conquerors?

Who are the victors? Who are the overcomers? The one who wins the next election? No. It's the ones who hold fast to Jesus. They are the overcomers.

The reality behind appearances is this. Little power, by all appearances, but what? conquerors, victors, overcomers as you hold fast to Christ. It is those who have little power but who steadfastly refuse to deny Christ, who continue to believe in Christ alone. They are the victors. They are the conquerors. It doesn't look like that, does it?

That's the way it is. And then he gives them this promise. Those who hold fast to Christ's name now will be identified with Christ's new name and glory. You will be a pillar, he says, in the temple of God. Now, what is that all about? All right, you're a pillar in the temple of God.

All right, let's say this. You and your buddies go to the Harding Memorial, right? You and your buddies go to the Harding Memorial, and you say, you would really be funny? Let's take three of those columns out tonight when it's at about, you know, about one o'clock in the morning so when people come by, they'll see, There are three columns gone. Someone's pulled a trick on us.

How far do you get getting those columns out of the Harding Memorial? How far do you think you do? Right? You think you get the job done? You know it's not going to happen. You can't move those things, can you?

It's impossible to get that. That's the picture. That's what he means when he goes on to say that those pillars, never shall he go out of it. or never shall he go out of it. It's immovable. You can't get the column out. That's the picture.

You're going to be like a column in the temple of God. By the way, when you get to the end of the book, what's the temple? God. Remember, he says there's no temple here. God is the temple. What he saying here He saying if you hold fast you be in the presence of God forever like a pillar in the temple I was meditating on this this morning.

To bask in the glory of God. What does that mean? What does that mean? To be able to bask in the glory of God forever. I'm not sure what that means, but it's got to mean a life of incredible joy and fulfillment. As we always are in the presence of the glory of God, never to be moved from that, a life of unending joy.

I mean, always remember the glory of God is inextricably tied to our good. and to be in the presence of God forever is to enjoy life like you've never enjoyed it before. And you know how you have temporary times of joy now and you say to yourself, this is so great, but I know it's going to end. Somebody's going to stomp on me tomorrow. No one's going to be doing any stomping then.

It's going to be a delightful life never removed from the glory of God, enjoying Him forever. That's the picture. And then he says this. And what's going to happen is three names are going to be inscribed on that column. Okay? Three names are going to be inscribed on that column.

I was reminded of this yesterday. When you go into a cemetery, you see names inscribed in stone, don't you? Now, you may not remember those people particularly, but those names will always be remembered as belonging to a particular family. Whoever is there belongs to that family. Right? And it's there for decade after decade after decade with people walking up and saying, okay, that was a Jones.

Right? That was a Pasma Or whatever That name is inscribed there You belong to that family That the picture here So you will forever be identified with God His name is written on the pillar. You're going to be forever identified with God. Contrary to all the ones who say Jesus is not important and to get in with God means you're going to go through us.

He says, no, if you stay with Jesus, my name's going to, God's name's going to be written on that pillar. You're going to be identified with the new Jerusalem. Inscribed on you is your identity as a city of the most wonderful city ever where God dwells with his people. Somehow a city that's going to be the replication of what Eden was and should have been.

You're going to be identified, the third name, Jesus, new name, is going to be inscribed there. New name, what's that all about? What's that all about? Turn back to Isaiah 62. Real quick. Isaiah 62.

Watch. Verse 1. For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name. that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be called or termed forsaken. And your land shall no more be termed desolate. But you shall be called my delight is in her and your land Mary. See? God's going to change the name. You were once desolate.

You were once forsaken. But then you're going to be called, my delight is in her and Mary. What is Christ's new name? It's a name that hasn't been inscribed yet. It's Christ, victor, and conquering king. That's the name.

And because we will be one of his victor conqueror we be inscribed on the pillar So he says he who has an ear let him hear Because you need spiritual discernment in the middle of affliction so that you endure. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Listen. Listen. Hear that perseverance is a powerful expression growing out of your faith.

It embraces the one who alone holds the key to God's kingdom. It protects you from falling prey to your enemies. And it causes your enemies to bow down and worship your Christ. It produces conquerors who will forever be identified as God's own. folks holding fast is the most powerful thing you can do we conquer by faithfulness Lord God thank you for your word thank you for the hope that's in Christ and the hope that we have that as we hold fast to him you will accomplish great things Father remind us again please remind us that by all appearances we appear to be losers, but the reality is that those who endure, those who remain faithful, by your power and by your grace, are really the conquerors.

Oh, remind us of that. We are so enamored with power of this world. Remind us again and again and again not to be trapped, not to be trapped by the appearances, but to live according to the reality behind those appearances. The reality that you unveil in this book. Help us to live by that reality, we pray. We pray this now in Jesus' name and for His glory.

Amen.