Bible Society of South Africa
Merero ya ho bala
Seven days of inspiration from Revelation
Seven days of inspiration from Revelation - Day 6
Gerhard Lindeque

Seven days of inspiration from Revelation - Day 6

I will keep you safe

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

TSHENOLO 3

Molaetsa o yang Filadelfia

7“Ngolla moruti wa kereke e Filadelfia, o re:

“Tsena di bolelwa ke Ya Halalelang,

ya nang le nnete,

ya tshwereng senotlolo sa Davida,

ha a butse,

ha ho ya tla kwala,

ha a kwetse,

ha ho ya tla bula;

8“o re: Ke tseba mesebetsi ya hao. Bona, ke butse monyako kapela hao, oo ho seng ya ka o kwalang. Ke tseba hore o na le matlanyana feela, empa o ile wa boloka lentswe la ka, mme ha o a ka wa latola lebitso la ka.

9“Bona, ke tla o neela ba bang bao e leng ba phutheho ya Satane, ba reng ke Bajuda, empa e se bona, ba le leshano. Ke tla etsa hore ba tlo kgumama maotong a hao, mme ba tla tseba hore ke o ratile. 10Kahobane o ile wa boloka lentswe la ka ka mamello, le nna ke tla o boloka ka nako ya ho lekwa ho tlang ho hlahela lefatshe lohle, ho leka baahi ba lefatshe.

11“Ke tla tla kapele. Kgomarela ho seo o nang le sona, e le hore ho tle ho se ba ye ka o amohang mofapahlooho wa hao.

12“Ya hlolang ke tla mo etsa tshiya ka tempeleng ya Modimo wa ka, mme ha a ka ke a hlola a etswa ho yona. Hodima hae ke tla ngola lebitso la Modimo wa ka, le lebitso la motse wa Modimo wa ka, e leng Jerusalema e ntjha, e theohang lehodimong ho Modimo wa ka, le lebitso la ka le letjha.

13“Ya nang le ditsebe a ke a utlwe seo Moya o Halalelang o se bolellang dikereke.”

TSHENOLO 3:7-13SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

The key that belonged to David in this passage probably refers to Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim is given the responsibility of controlling the entrance to the king’s palace in Jerusalem. Through Jesus Christ, we now get free access to the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the key that makes it possible for people to be part of God’s kingdom. The consolation for the church is that nothing or no one can close this door again. What Jesus Christ has done, cannot be undone.

The synagogue of Satan refers to people who are enemies of God and his church. In the first century after Christ there were, among others, also Jews who persecuted the church. They believed that they were the true people of God. However, the church, that is all who believe in Jesus Christ, are God’s people. We are still part of God’s people today; this is precisely why we can expect hostility and opposition.

The expression “I will keep you” is used three times in this passage. First, it is used as a confirmation that the believers held unto Jesus Christ’s message of perseverance in times of suffering, then as a promise that God will keep them safe in difficult times and, finally, as a call to the church to hold on to their crown – indicating that we share in the kingdom of God.

Suffering and trials are part of every believer’s life. God does not promise that we will not suffer, but that he will keep us safe and be with us. We, as his church, live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. It gives us hope. We are important to God. Like a pillar in the temple, God is always in our presence. He has a personal and intimate relationship with us because we each get a new name from God. It makes us people with a new identity, who live differently.

Think about:

  1. 1.Is it always easy to be part of God’s kingdom?
  2. 2.What change should it make to our lives?

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