PHILADELPHIA WAS LOCATED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF SARDIS AND BUILT ON SEVERAL HILLS IN A FAMOUS WINE-GROWING DISTRICT. ITS COINS BORE THE HEAD OF BACCHUS AND THE FIGURE OF BACCANTE, PRIESTESS OF BACCHUS. IT WAS FOUNDED BY ATTALUS PHILADELPHIUS, KING OF PERGAMUM, ABOUT 200 YEARS EARLIER. NOTHING OUTSTANDING ABOUT THIS CITY DURING THIS TIME IS REPORTED EXCEPT THAT IT EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF SEVERE EARTHQUAKES THAT MAY HAVE KEPT THE POPULACE IN 'RECOVERY MODE', SO MUCH OF THE TIME THAT THE CITY COULDN’T PROSPER OR DEVELOP A SIGNATURE INDUSTRY. THAT IS PROBABLY WHY YAHUSHA REFERS TO THE PHILADELPHIAN CONGREGATION AS HAVING ONLY “A LITTLE POWER” FOR IT WAS A MINOR PLACE THAT HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE IN THE REGION AND SCRATCHING OUT A LIVING TO MAKE ENDS MEET WAS THE MAIN ORDER OF EVERY DAY.
And to the Messenger of the Assembly in Philadelphia write, ‘He Who is Set-Apart, True and has the Key of David (OPENING THE DOORWAY OF DELIVERANCE TO ALL NATIONS) which opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, says this: “I know your works, I see what you’ve done, now check out what I’ve done! I’ve opened the Portal Door to you and no one is able to shut it.
I understand that you don’t have much strength left, and that you've used most of it guarding My Word and not giving up or denying My Name when the pressure came. Now watch while I deal with those devilish people (SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN), those wicked ones who call themselves Jews, but really they’re just liars. Look, I’m stripping them of their `high and mighty’ pretense and forcing them to come and bow down before your feet, and acknowledge that you're the ones that I’ve loved".
YAHUSHA PROMISES HIS ASSEMBLY THAT HER ENEMIES WILL BOW AT HER FEET, AND ALSO IMPLIED JUDGMENT ON THOSE ENEMIES, ANYONE WITH DEVILISH BEHAVIOUR! THE ENEMIES OF THE ASSEMBLY IN PHILADELPHIA WERE THE PAGAN OUTSIDE WORLD WHO HATED THEM FOR THEIR BELIEF AND FOR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE IDOLATROUS TEMPLE RITUALS, FEASTS AND ORGIES. THEN THERE WAS THE JEWS WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT YAHUSHA AS THE PROPHESIED DELIVERER AND (DESPITE NOT HAVING A TEMPLE ANYMORE) WERE GOING FULL SPEED AHEAD `OLD BLOOD-COVENANT-STYLE', BUSINESS AS USUAL. AND THESE JEWS OFTEN SIDED WITH THE PAGAN WORLD AGAINST THE ASSEMBLY, IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION.
IT’S INTERESTING THAT THE TWO ASSEMBLIES YAHUSHA SEES NO FAULT IN (SMYRNA AND PHILADELPHIA), BOTH HAVE A REFERENCE TO THE `SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN' (DEVILISH PEOPLE) AND A SIMILAR PROMISE OF SUBJECTION AND SUBMISSION TO THE TRUE ASSEMBLY. BOTH ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE OVERCOMERS WITH REGARDS TO JEWISH OPPOSITION. PAUL SPOKE OF WHEN HE WAS IN "THE JEWISH RELIGION" AND "PERSECUTED THE ASSEMBLY OF YAHUAH" (GAL 1:13). IN THESE ASSEMBLIES HERE, THE JEWS IN THE SYNAGOGUE HAD REJECTED YAHUSHA MESSIAH AS YAHUAH'S PROPHESIED DELIVERER AND THUS BECAME APOSTATE JUDAISM - AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED TODAY !!
THE TRUE YISHARAL IS NOT ONE OUTWARDLY (OF THE FLESH) BUT ASSOCIATED TO YAHUSHA’S REIGN THROUGH REBIRTH, RECEIVING A NEW SPIRIT AND A NEW HEART, ONE SOFT AND CIRCUMCISED THROUGH A NEW BLOOD-COVENANT, WITH THE LIVING WORDS (AND A LOVE FOR THEM) WRITTEN ON THAT NEW HEART. ALAS SHE IS A NEW CREATURE IN MESSIAH YAHUSHA AND ALL OTHERS MAY CLAIM ABRAHAM AS THEIR FATHER (AFTER THE FLESH) BUT DEFINATELY NOT AFTER THE SPIRIT, THEREFORE THEY ARE REJECTED OF YAHUSHA AS THE TRUE SEED OF ABRAHAM (JOHN 8, ROM 2 & 9, GAL 3 & 6). THE TRUE SEED OF ABRAHAM ARE FOUND IN YAHUSHA (THE HEAD) AND THE ASSEMBLY (HIS BRIDAL-BODY). IT IS A MANY-MEMBERED SEED TO BLESS THE CITIES AND NATIONS OF EARTH!
FINALLY, REGARDING THESE 2 SIMILAR ASSEMBLIES (SMYRNA AND PHILADELPHIA), BOTH HAVE NO FAULT AGAINST THEM. BOTH HAVE NO SPECIFIC CALL TO REPENTANCE, BOTH SUFFERED UNDER THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN (UNBELIEVING JEWS). BOTH HAVE TRIAL MENTIONED IN THEM, AND BOTH WERE PURE AND CLEAN IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR BEFORE THE MASTER. ALL ENEMIES WILL BOW TO THE TRUE ASSEMBLY, EVEN AS THEY BOW AND SUBMIT TO THE NAME OF THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH (IS 60, 49, 66, PS 72 & 110, PHIL 2).
IT WILL BE THE CONVICTING AND CONVINCING POWER OF THE SET-APART SPIRIT WHICH WILL CAUSE THEM ALL TO 'FALL AND WORSHIP' (1COR,14), OR ELSE, IT WILL BE BY THE COMING OF THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH IN POWER AND ESTEEM, WHEN EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS MASTER, TO THE ESTEEM OF YAHUAH THE FATHER (PHIL 2).
And just as you’ve guarded My Word of endurance, I’ll guard you from the hour of trial which will come upon all the world soon, to test and try everyone on earth. See, I’m coming speedily! Yep, I’m on My way, so hold what you have tightly and see that no one distracts you and steals your crown (ROYAL STATUS OF PRIESTLY BEHAVIOUR & SERVICE). Everyone who overcomes will be made into a SUPPORTING PILLAR in My New Ultimate Temple forever and never ever be sent out ...
A PILLAR SPEAKS OF STABILITY, SOLIDARITY, FIRMNESS, BEAUTY AND PERMANENCY OF PLACE. THIS WAS A GREAT PROMISE AND HAD MUCH SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS CITY. PHILADELPHIA, AS OTHER CITIES, HAD THEIR PAGAN TEMPLES.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING CUSTOMS IN THE CITY WAS THAT WHICH CONCERNED THE TEMPLES IN THE CITY, WHEN A PERSON HAD SERVED THE STATE AS A BENEFACTOR, OR PUBLIC SERVANT, OR AS A PRIEST, THE CITY WOULD ERECT A PILLAR IN ONE OF THE TEMPLES WITH THAT PERSON'S NAME INSCRIBED ON IT. THIS IS HOW PHILADELPHIA HONOURED ITS CITIZENS. YAHUSHA’S PROMISE, THEREFORE, HAD ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE ASSEMBLY IN PHILADELPHIA. EVEN THOUGH THE ASSEMBLY WAS IN A PAGAN CITY (AND A HUGE EARTHQUAKE ZONE) THE PILLARS OF THE MASTER WOULD STILL BE STANDING AFTER THE SHAKING WAS OVER.
SO IN THE ASSEMBLY, THE TRUE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING ALAHIM, WOULD STAND THE PILLARS OF YAHUSHA WITH THE NAME OF YAHUAH UPON THEM AND THE OVERCOMER WOULD STAND UNSHAKEN AND UNSHAKEABLE IN THE MIDST OF EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE SHAKEN. THIS IS THE TRUTH OF BEING A PILLAR IN YAHUSHA’S PORTAL BODY.
THE ASSEMBLY IS YAHUSHA’S ETERNAL HABITATION, BY THE SPIRIT (1COR 3, 2COR 3, EPH 2). THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY BEING YAHUAH'S TEMPLE WOULD BE EVIDENT IN THESE CITIES IN ASIA MINOR, FOR MANY PAGAN TEMPLES (BUILT TO HONOUR HEATHEN DEITIES) WERE THERE AND ALL MANNER OF ABOMINATIONS TOOK PLACE IN THOSE TEMPLES. BUT THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPLE OF YAHUSHA WOULD BE A SET-APART TEMPLE, CLEAN AND PURE FOR A SET-APART ALAHIM. FOR THE PAGAN DEITIES WERE WORSHIPPED THROUGH PASSIONS, LUSTS AND ABOMINABLE CORRUPTION. BUT YAHUSHA IS THE ONE TRUE ALAHIM OF SET-APARTNESS, PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE THOUGHT OF THE PILLAR WOULD BE FAMILIAR IN THE NATION OF YISHARAL ALSO, AND MUCH MORE SO IN THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPLE OF YAHUSHA. PILLARS WERE ERECTED TO HONOUR PEOPLE (GEN 35).
(4) THERE WERE 12 PILLARS AT THE FOOT OF MT. SINAI (EX 24).
(5) IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, THERE WERE TWO PILLARS NAMED 'LACHIN' AND 'BOAZ' ('HE SHALL ESTABLISH' AND 'HE SHALL STRENGTHEN' - 1KINGS 7). THESE TWO PILLARS IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE WERE BEAUTIFIED WITH GOLD, CHAINS, POMEGRANATES, AND LILY WORK. SO WOULD THE OVERCOMER BE IN THE TEMPLE OF YAHUSHA, ESTABLISHED AND STRENGTHENED.
(6) THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS SEEN WITH LEGS AS PILLARS OF BRASS AND ALSO MARBLE.
(SONG 3 & 5, REV 10).
(1) THERE WERE 60 PILLARS IN THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS, PILLARS OF BRASS (EX.27).
(2) THE PILLARS FOR THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE SECOND VEIL WERE OVERLAID WITH BRASS OR GOLD RESPECTIVELY (EX 26).
(3) THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE GUIDED YISHARAL THROUGH THE WILDERNESS (EX.13 & 14).
(7) THERE WERE CERTAIN MEN WHO WERE SEEN AS PILLARS IN THE ASSEMBLY (GAL 2).
(8) THE ASSEMBLY IS THE PILLAR, THE STAY AND SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH (1TIM 3).
SO THE PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMER WOULD HAVE MUCH MEANING ...
IT SPOKE OF A FIXED HABITATION, OF PERMANENCY, SECURITY, SOLIDARITY, UNSHAKEN IN THE MIDST OF A SHAKING WORLD. THE ASSEMBLY IS AT PRESENT IN THE PILGRIM STAGE AND JOURNEYINGS, EVEN AS MANY LIVED IN HUTS OR TENTS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STABILITY. HOWEVER, THE ASSEMBLY WILL COME INTO THE TEMPLE STAGE WHEN JOURNEYS ARE FINISHED. THE ETERNAL AND UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM WILL BE USHERED IN (2KGS 25, 2CHRON 3).
... and (STILL SPEAKING TO THE OVERCOMER) I’ll write My Name on them ("THE NAME OF MY YAHUAH" - YAHUSHA IS YAHUAH IN THE FLESH) … and I will write the Name of My New City, the New Yerushalim, which comes down out of the sky, and also My New Name (NEW REPUTATION & AUTHORITY THAT YAHUSHA'S NAME NOW CARRIES!) So if you’ve got ears then listen to what the Spirit says to the Assemblies.” ’
(1) 'THE NAME OF MY YAHUAH' — SPEAKS OF THE FATHER YAHUAH’S NAME. BUT IT’S ALSO THE FATHER'S NAME UPON HIS SON, WHO CAME FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERANCE, THEREFORE YAHUAH + DELIVERANCE IS YAHUSHA THE MESSIAH (PSA 110, ACTS 2, PHIL 2). YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS MASTER TO THE ESTEEM OF YAHUAH THE FATHER. THE NAME OF THE FATHER IS TO BE WRITTEN UPON THE OVERCOMER (REV 22 & 14).
(2) 'THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY YAHUAH' — UNMISTAKABLY THE NEW YERUSHALIM, WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN, FROM YAHUAH. THE NEW YERUSHALIM IS THE BRIDE-CITY. IT IS THE CITY WHICH ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB LOOKED FOR (HEB 11,12,13, GAL 4, PS 118, REV 22). THE ALLUSION IS TO THE BRIDE-CITY FOR THE BRIDE ALWAYS TAKES THE BRIDEGROOM'S NAME. THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS OUR DIVINE BRIDEGROOM, AND THE ASSEMBLY WILL BE JOINED TO HIM, TAKING THE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY NAME UPON HER IN SET-APART MARRIAGE. THE BRIDAL-MEMBERS ARE CITIZENS OF THE SHAMAYIM (PHIL 3).
IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT EVIL MEN ARE NAMED AFTER A CITY (IE., SODOMITES, AFTER SODOM AND GOMORRAH) AND OVERCOMERS ARE NAMED AFTER A CITY TOO. PEOPLE TAKE ON THE NAME OF THE CITY ACCORDING TO THE CHARACTER AND LIFESTYLE OF THE CITY IN WHICH THEY SPIRITUALLY AND BEHAVIOURALLY DWELL!
(3) 'MY NEW NAME' — THE OVERCOMER WILL PERSONALLY KNOW THIS NEW NAME FOR IT IS GIVEN TO HIM. NO ONE KNOWS IT EXCEPT THE ONE RECEIVING IT, FOR TO HAVE THIS NEW NAME IS TO HAVE THE VERY NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH, THE NAME OF ALAHIM BODILY IMPRESSED ON THE OVERCOMER.
THE NAME OF THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS THE GREATEST NAME EVER TO BE REVEALED IN THIS WORLD OR THE WORLD TO COME (EPH 1) FOR IT COMPREHENDS IN ITSELF THE REDEMPTIVE NAME OF YAHUAH WHO PUT ON FLESH FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BLOOD-ATONEMENT AND DELIVERANCE.
YAHUAH PLACED HIS NAME IN:
(A) THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES, ON THE ARK OF THE BLOOD-COVENANT, UPON THE MERCY-SEAT,
(B) DAVID’S TENT INTO WHICH THE ARK OF YAHUAH WAS TAKEN,
(C) THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON, INTO WHICH THE ARK OF YAHUAH WAS TAKEN,
(D) THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH, WHO IS THE TABERNACLE AND THE TEMPLE OF YAHUAH, AND THEN,
(E) THE ASSEMBLY, YAHUAH'S NEW BLOOD-COVENANT TEMPLE,
WHILE MANKIND (AND RELIGION) MOCKS YAHUSHA’S NAME, DECLARING IT UNIMPORTANT, THE BRIDE HAS THAT NAME, THAT NATURE, POWER AND AUTHORITY AND CHARACTER IMPRESSED ON HER.
THE HIGH PRIEST IN YISHARAL HAD A NAME INSCRIBED ON THE GOLDEN MITRE ON HIS HEAD, "SET-APART TO YAHUAH” (EX 28). IT IS THE FATHER'S NAME (THE NAME OF MY YAHUAH). IT IS THE BRIDAL NAME (THE NAME OF THE CITY OF YAHUAH). IT IS THE SON'S NEW NAME (THE BRIDEGROOM'S NAME).
THE OVERCOMING BELIEVERS IN PHILADELPHIA DID NOT 'DENY HIS NAME', SO THE NAME WILL BE WRITTEN ON THEM.
IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, WE SEE :
(1) THE TEMPLE,
(2) THE PILLAR,
(3) THE NAME AND
(4) THE CITY OF OUR YAHUAH, AND ALL OF THESE POINT FINALLY TO THE ETERNAL REIGN AND STATE OF THE REDEEMED BRIDE OF YAHUSHA.
