VERSE 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.”
The “deeds” (or works) of this church are not mentioned. The simple statement, “I know your deeds,” implies that they were viewed with favor. The Lord then sets the door open for those deeds to continue without interruption.
The statement regarding a little strength could be taken several ways. It is much like Dan 11:34 and seems to imply that they FINALLY have some power (strength) against that woman Jezebel —not GREAT power, but a little (which they seem to use well.) It is possible to minimize the word “little” and thus conclude that the statement means that they are the first to break from Rome with success and are, therefore, endued with a little POWER —something preceding Churches did not seem to have against Rome. The interpretations do not significantly differ.
The keeping of His Word and not denying His Name are two notable qualities of the Reformation saints. The Scriptures alone were now the source of faith; the faithful following of God’s character (name) learned from those Scriptures was their honest goal. Luther’s words at Worms summarize it so well:
“Unless my conscience shall be convinced by the Word of God, I neither will, nor can recant . . . Here I stand; it is impossible for me to act otherwise —so help me God.”
“Considerable similarity exists between the work begun at Pentecost and that of Luther and his friends. The Reformation was, in a sense, the beginning of a new era, a dawning of light where all had been darkness, the separation of the true from the false, and a new start in the way of truth. No doubt all the powers of Satan were exerted to close the door of the Reformation then opened; but “he that is true” had said “no man shuts”. Compared with the mighty hosts of their enemies, the small band of reformers had little strength; but they knew they had the truth and they fully trusted the Giver.
In the statement “thou hast a little strength,” Jesus is saying, “You have but little power” (to fight against that woman Jezebel, the Church of Rome). However, instead of chiding the small band of reformers for their lack, the Master expresses his pleasure and approval of their bold stand against the host of Christendom. Nevertheless, their efforts would be futile without his assistance; and for this reason “he that hath the key of David” guarantees success (“I have set before thee an OPEN door”), and commends them for keeping his word and not denying his name.”
“Jesus tells this church that he knows their works, and this is to warn them that he knows what is going on in this church, both the good and the bad. That Jesus is seen in chapter 1, walking in the midst of the candlesticks, shows that he was going to exercise a watch and a care over the entire church, throughout the entire age. The good works that they were being praised for in the sixth church were the fighting against false doctrines and the beginning of the Reformation that started there. The knowledge of God and the doctrines that were lost after the time of the early church are much more rapidly being restored in this church.
In the period of the Reformation we see “an open door” has been set before them. This is in contrast to the “little help” that they received previously (See Dan 11:34). Now the Lord is giving them a wide open door of opportunity.
This new door of opportunity was not going to be shut, as many earlier tries had been. This church was again beginning to recover the understanding of how God’s salvation worked and the false church was not going to be able to shut the increase of that knowledge off anymore by their false claims and persecutions.
In the time of Luther we see the doctrine of grace, and the knowledge of what Christ had really done for us, being restored. That is why Luther was fighting against indulgences since they were totally out of harmony with the truth of what Christ had done.
Continued with next post.
