Behold, Jesus Comes Quickly Revelation 3:11

John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, and he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos”, the “church in Thyatira”, “the church in Sardis” and “the church in Philadelphia” where He told them, “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 your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”, and in chapter three and verse eleven of Revelation Jesus told them how He will “come quickly” where we read:

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.

The verse reads, “Behold, I come quickly:” John began with the word, “Behold” which means “look and see”, “I come” or “Jesus arises, arrives and will be present” “quickly” or “speedily and without delay”. Jesus promised that he would “appear” to the “church in Philadelphia” “without delay”.

The verse continues, “hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.” John added the words, “hold that fast” which means “have power over, be chief of, master over, seize and hold” “which you have” or “that which the church in Philadelphia already holds, owns and possesses”, “that no man” or “so no person whether male or female is able to” “take your crown” which means “claim and procure the church in Philadelphia's mark of royal or exalted rank”. Jesus encouraged the “church in Philadelphia” to “keep and own” that which they already held so no one would be able to take away their “crown” which was like the “prize” given “to victors in public games”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus promised He would “come” to the “church in Philadelphia” in “quick fashion”, and they were to “keep” doing their “good works” so that no one would be able to “remove” or “take away” their “reward”. God the Heavenly Father desires to have a relationship through His Son Jesus with every person that is like unto the “church in Philadelphia”. Jesus promised to “come quickly”, and though it has been almost two thousand years since that promise was made, He shall soon return. God does not measure time as we do because He exists outside of time, and where a thousand years is a long time for us, it is like a couple days to Him. (See 2 Peter 3:8) During the time of waiting, those who believe and trust in Jesus are to keep doing His good works in the world, and His promise is to reward them with a “crown” for their faithfulness. May all who read these words be looking for Jesus return and keep working until He does.

Next time we see John share how Jesus tells the church in Philadelphia, “him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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