53 The Revelation of Jesus Christ began so well, developed into a dead and lifeless thing, bur dened with human systems, which caused the church to get back into the ol,d rut. Therefore, the timely warning of 3:2, 3 from the risen Lord to the church at Sardis needs to be heeded in our own day of cold ritualism in much of professing Christendom: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." But even in this church of lifeless ceremony there were those of the ever-present faithful remnant. Of them the Lord Jesus said: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (3: 4, 5). Having washed their garments white in the blood of Cal vary's Lamb, they belonged to the multitude of the redeemed. Such as these will not be overtaken by the return of Christ, "as a thief in the night"; they will be ready for.•His coming.
THE MESSAGE TO PHILADELPHIA-THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
WITHIN PROFESSING CHRISTENDOM
The church at Philadelphia, whose name means "brotherly love," represents the missionary period. To it Christ says. "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Therefore, it is very significant that He addresses Him self to this church as the One who "hath the key of David." Quoting from Isaiah 22: 22, He refers to Eliakim (Isa. 22:20). who was a type of Christ. The Lord Jesus is the Prince of the House of David, upon whom "all the glory of his Father's house" is hung ( Isa. 22 :24). He it is who is the central
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