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7. And to the angel [messenger, Luther] of the
church in Philadelphia ["love of a brother," Diaglott,
Appendix] write; These things saith he [Jesus] that is holy,
he that is true, he that hath the key of David [authority of the
Beloved—Christ], he that openeth [to liberty and knowledge], and
no man shutteth; and shutteth [to liberty and knowledge],
and no man
openeth; 8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
door [of liberty and knowledge], and no man can shut it: for thou hast a
little [spiritual] strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied
my name.
9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan [of the apostate
church], which say they are Jews [spiritual Israelites],
and are
not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know
that I have loved thee.
10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience [cheerful, constant
endurance I commanded], I also will keep thee from the hour [hora, the
whole period of the harvest] of temptation [trial], which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth [members of
society].
11. Behold, I come quickly [speedily, even at the end of this period
of the church]: hold that fast which thou hast [thy liberty, knowledge,
and strength with cheerful endurance], that no man take thy [right to
your] crown [of life].
12. Him that overcometh will I [Jesus] make a pillar
[member of the church glorified] in the temple ["which temple ye
are", 1 Corinthians 3:17] of my [Jesus’] God, and he
shall go no more out [as he had to leave from the nominal temple or church]: and
I will write [place] upon him the name of my God [character of
my God], and the name of the city of my God [character necessary to be a
part of the government of God], which is new Jerusalem [government of
peace], which cometh down [has authorization] out of heaven from
my God: and I will write [place] upon him my new name [in the
sense of proved holy character].
13. He that hath an ear [a receptive and understanding mind], let
him hear what the Spirit [of promise] saith unto [all seven
periods of] the churches. |
