PREPARATION FOR THE THIRD SEASON FEASTS: THE CONGREGATION OF PHILADELPHIA (Revelation 3:7-8)

Elul 17 (30 August 2026)

The KING is in the FIELD! AWAKEN the BELIEVERS!

CONGREGATION SIX: PHILADELPHIA (Revelation 3:7-8)

MESSIAH YESHUA gives NO rebuke (reprimand/ serious warning) to the BELIEVERS in the CONGREGATION of PHILADELPHIA, only praise because they have PERSERVERED. They represent ALL that is GOOD in the BODY of MESSIAH that we as BELIEVERS can aspire to.

The Greek word for Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” It can be said to represent the Congregation that experienced the AWAKENING after 1750 AD; the missionary sending Congregation, FULL of the HOLY SPIRIT, which LOVES their brothers (fellow believers, including the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, known as the Jews) and reaches out to people of ALL nations with the GOSPEL (the GOOD NEWS of YHVH).

MESSIAH YESHUA REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE CONGREGATION OF PHILADELPHIA AS:

The ONE who is HOLY, the TRUE ONE, the ONE who has the KEY of DAVID, who, if HE OPENS SOMETHING, no one else can shut it, and if HE CLOSES SOMETHING, no one else can open it.

• This is a quotation from Isaiah 22:22 saying: “I will place the KEY of DAVID’s house on his shoulder; no one will shut what he opens; no one will open what he shuts.”

• In Matthew 16:18-19 Messiah Yeshua told Peter, after he ACKNOWLEDGED HIM as the SON of the LIVING GOD: “…you are Peter (which means “Rock”) and on this rock I will build MY COMMUNITY (which is Ekklesia in Geek, meaning the “called-out-ones”/ an assembly or congregation who put their trust in God the Father and His Son, Messiah Yeshua), and the gates of Sheol/ Hades (the place of the unsaved dead) will not overcome it. I will give you the KEYS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Whatever you prohibits on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven (the Jewish Complete Study Bible explains that Messiah Yeshua gave Peter the authority as both steward/ overseer and judge establishing the way a person should behave).”

• And in Revelation 1:17c-18, MESSIAH YESHUA reveals Himself to John as “…I am the FIRST (the Aleph in Hebrew and Alpha in Greek) and the LAST (the Tav in Hebrew and Omega in Greek), the LIVING ONE. I was dead, but look! – I AM ALIVE FOREVER and EVER! And I hold the KEYS to DEATH and SHEOL (meaning He is the ULTIMATE JUDGE determining the destiny of each person according to what each of us had done).” Read Hosea 13:15, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 & 54-55 & Revelation 20:14.

THE BELIEVERS IN PHILADELPHIA ARE COMMENDED BY MESSIAH YESHUA AND TOLD:

1. He knows what they are DOING – HE HAS put in front of them an OPEN DOOR and NO one can shut it. 

• When Messiah Yeshua CALLS BELIEVERS to execute their purpose with the GIFTS YHVH the FATHER gave them, HE OPENS the DOOR of opportunity for them, just as He had for Moses, GOING BEFORE him to Pharaoh and giving him the power of the HOLLY SPIRIT to perform miracles to achieve the PURPOSE HE CALLED him for (read Exodus chapters 3 to 12). Today, He gives the same POWER through the HOLY SPIRIT to BELIEVERS to lead people out of the bondage of the world and Satan. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 on the GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT, distributed to BELIEVERS as He chooses/ as required for a specific PURPOSE and Revelation 11:3-6 on the POWER given to the TWO WITNESSESS, also called THE TWO OLIVE TREES of GOD, during the end times (they represent believers from the Southern Kingdom, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin known as the Jews and the Northern Kingdom, consisting of people from the ten tribes under Ephraim, known as ISRAEL and including all believers grafting in to Israel, also read Zechariah 4 ).

• We read of many of these miracles after the FILLIG of the FIRST BELIEVERS with the HOLY SPIRIT like in Acts 12:1-23 when James was killed by Herod and Peter was put in prison in chains but due to the faithful and intense prayers of fellow believers, YHVH send an angel to release him. Herod was very angry, but the angel struck Herod down because he did not give glory to God and Herod died and we read in verse 24: “But the WORD of YHVH went on GROWING and being MULTIPLIED.”

• In Acts 14 we read about the spreading of the GOOD NEWS through several cities to Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish believers) who came to FAITH in MESSIAH YESHUA. They also experienced persecution and after delivering the GOOD NEWS, they returned to Antioch and we read in verses 26-27 Antioch: “, the place where they had been handed over to the CARE of GOD (the Father) for the WORK which they had now COMPLETED. When they arrived, they gathered the Messianic Community (the Ekklesia/ the called-out-ones with FAITH in God the Father and Messiah Yeshua) together and reported what GOD had done through them, that HE had OPENED a DOOR of FAITH to the Gentiles (non-Jewish believers). ”

• We also read about Paul and Silas preaching the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION in Acts 16:16-40 with the result of being imprisoned. And we read in verses 25-27 “Around midnight, Paul and Silas were PRAYING and SINGING HYMNS to God (the Father), while the other prisoners listened attentively. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. ALL the DOORS flew OPEN and EVERYONE’s CHAINS CAME LOOSE. ” The jailer awoke, saw the open doors and wanted to kill himself with his own sword, but Paul shouted to him not to harm himself because all of them were still there. And this miracle of YHVH lead to the SALVATION of the jailer and his entire household as we read in verses 34-36.

Earthly authorities may try to keep BELIEVERS and the GOSPEL (the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION) out or limit it, but no DOOR is a BARRIER to MESSIAH YESHUA. HE has a WAY of reaching every person on earth who is SEEKING the TRUTH. And HE will move heaven and earth to reach them, even though VISIONS and DREAMS if required. BELIEVERS are COMMISIONED by HIM with HIS AUTHORITY to take the GOOD NEWS to ALL NATIONS, baptising them in the FATHHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT and teaching them to OBEY EVERYTHING that HE COMMANDED. And to REMEMBER, HE WILL be with us ALWAYS through HIS HOLY SPIRIT until the end of the age. Read Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20 and Luke24:45-49.

We see an example of this in Acts 5:17-42, the Pharisees became jealous of the many people that came to FAITH in MESSIAH YEHSUA through the preaching of the apostles and they arrested them and put them in jail. But during the night an angel OPENED the DOORS of the prison and led them out and told them to “Go and stand in the Temple court and KEEP TELLING the people ALL about this NEW LIFE!” (verse 20). And they OBEYED. The Sanhedrin (Jewish Court) told them they had strict orders not to teach in MESSIAH YESHUA’s NAME. But Peter and the other apostles answered: “We MSUT OBEY GOD (the Father), not men. The God of our fathers RAISED up YEHSUA, whereas you men killed him by hanging Him on a cross. God (the Father) exalted this MAN at HIS RIGHT HAND as RULER and SAVIOR, in order to enable ISRAEL to DO t’shuvah (repentance) and have her SINS FORGIVEN. We are WITNESSESS to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh (the HOLY SPIRIT), whom GOD (the Father) has GIVEN to those who OBEY HIM.”  (verse 29-32).   On hearing this the members of the Sanhedrin was infuriated and wanted to put the apostles to death. But one of the members of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, a teacher of the TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy) and highly respected by the people took the men aside and told the Sanhedrin to take care what they do to the apostles. And he said to them in verses 38-39: “…my advice to you is not to interfere with these people, but to leave them alone. For if this idea or this movement has a human origin, it will collapse. But if it is from GOD (the Father), you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting GOD (the Father)!” The Sanhedrin heeded the advice. They then flogged the apostles, commanded them not to speak in the NAME of YEHSUA, and let them go. The apostles left OVERJOYED at having been considered worthy to suffer disgrace on account of MESSIAH YESHUA. And they did not stop teaching for a single day, but KEPT PROCLAIMING the GOOD NEWS that YESHUA is the MESSIAH (read verses 40-42).

THE GREATEST DOOR MESSIAH YESHUA OPENED FOR BELIEVERS is when HE DIED on the CROSS for our SIN and HE OPENED the HEAVY CURTIANS separating us from ABBA FATHER in the HOLLIEST PLACE! Now ALL PEOPLE, who CHOOSE to BELIEVE in HIM and accept HIS sacrifice for our sin, and FOLLOW HIM in OBEDIENCE to the FATHER, with the HELP and GUIDANCE of the HOLY SPIRIT, has unlimited access to ABBA FATHER’s THRONE of GRACE and MERCY, spiritual BLESSINGS and ETERNAL LIFE. Read Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:54, John 14:6, Hebrews 4:16 and 10:19-22.

2. He KNOWS that they have LITTLE POWER, yet they have OBEYED HIS MESSAGE and have NOT disowned (not renounced/ rejected) Him. 

• Messiah Yeshua warned in Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever ACKNOWLEDGES (confesses) ME in the presence of others I will also ACKNOWLEDGE in the presence of MY FATHER in heaven. But whoever DISOWNS (renounce, rejects) ME before others I will DISOWN before MY FATHER in heaven.”

• Disowning Him before others mostly happen due to FEARING what other people could DO to us, as we also saw Peter did when MESSIAH YEHSUA was caught before He was crucified. Peter feared men because he was not yet filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. After being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT at PENTECOST we however see PETER became FEARLESS and we know that in the end, like many of the other apostles, he willingly gave his life for witnessing for MESSIAH YESHUA.

• Messiah Yeshua warns us in Matthew 10:28: “Do not fear those who kill the body (the temporary part of us) but are powerless to kill the SOUL (the eternal part of us). Rather fear HIM (God the Father) who can DESTROY both SOUL and BODY in Gei-Hinnom (a metaphor for the Lake of Fire, the SECOND DEATH we read about in Revelation 20:14-15).

• Proverbs 29:25 puts it like this: “FEARING human beings is a snare (a trap, deception a set-up); but he who TRUSTS (have FAITH) in YHVH will be raised high (above danger).

SOUL SEARCHING

1. Am I FEARING THE ETERNAL LVING GOD or am I fearing mortal men?

2. Am I OBEYING THE WORD of YHVH, irrespective of the pressure from other people including PREACHERS and TEACHERS, to reject YHVH’s COMMANDMENTS, INSTRUCTONS and GUIDELINES?

3. Do I believe HE is with me and will OPEN DOORS for me in accordance with HIS WILL that no one can shut?

4. Am I therefore PROCEDING FEARLESLY with the CALLING HE placed on my life, the GIFTS I WAS GIVEN and the leading and encouragement of the HOLY SPIRIT?

REPENTANCE, RESTORATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

• Paul said in Galatians 1:10 “Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? NO! I want GOD (the FATHER’s) APPROVAL! Or that I’m trying to cater (gratify, satisfy, please) to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a SERVANT of THE MESSIAH.” Therefore, we should REPENT of our FEAR of people (no matter how important or powerful they may be in the world’s eyes. Please note, this does not mean that we do not respect authority. God the Father appoints ALL authority, and we are called to respect authority, but if their orders are contravening the WORD of YHVH, we OBEY YHVH our GOD).

• And we should always REMEMBER Isaiah 51:12-13a “I (YHVH), yes, I am the ONE who COMFORTS you! Why are you afraid of a man, who must die; of a human being, who will wither like grass? You have forgotten YHVH, your MAKER, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth.” And Psalm 118:6-9 saying: With YHVH on my side, I FEAR NOTHING – what can human beings do to me? With YHVH on my side as my HELP, I will look with triumph at those who hate me. It is better to TAKE REFUGE in YHVH than to trust in human beings; better to TAKE REFUGE in YHVH than to put one’s trust in (earthly) princes (leaders). Also read Hebrews 13:6. And we know from 2 Timothy 1:7 “God (the Father) gave us a SPIRIT (HIS HOLY SPIRIT) who produces not timidity (nervousness and fear), but POWER, LOVE and SELF-DISCIPLINE.”

• YHVH our GOD, CALLS and EQUIPS us (gives us GIFTS and prepares and trains us for our CALLING through HIS HOLY SPIRIT) for HIS PURPOSE and HE WILL open the DOORS of opportunity to SPREAD HIS GOOD NEWS and LOVE our FELLOW BELIEVERS, if we HAVE FAITH in HIM (Exodus 35:35, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 12:6, Ephesians 4:11-12, 2 Timothy 3:17, Hebrews 13:21 and 1 Peter 4:10).