“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11
This church had obeyed Jesus’ commands and they had persevered. They had the faith to continue even when it looked like more than they could handle. Our faith is anchored in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross. Satan comes against us and we must remember that God allows our trials so that He can test our faith. The key to our walk with God is faith to continue to the end. God’s promise to us is that He will care for us if we just have faith in Him and His promises. The church at Philadelphia must remember that Jesus is coming quickly, and they must prepare for His coming. This was not a crown of royalty, given because of royal birth. This was a crown of victory. Jesus encouraged His saints to finish their course with victory, to play the second half just as strongly as they played the first half. Never forget that the man most likely to steal your crown is yourself. ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). You are in no greater danger from anyone or anything than from yourself.
We need to live with eager expectation in regard to the rapture. “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28) If we are walking with Jesus in faith, we will not have to go through the testing of the Tribulation.
As those who were once their enemies worshipped alongside them, they were destroyed as enemies. They now knew that Jesus had loved these people they once persecuted. The best way to destroy the enemies of the Gospel is to pray that God would change them into friends.