Phillidelphia The Church of the Open Door 1 — Revelation 1-3

0:00 Good morning. Morning. Okay. Let's open our Bibles to Revelation chapter three. We're going to start with verse seven.

0:11 Revelation three and seven. And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, he who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens says this, I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut because you have little power and have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you.

1:00 Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing. That hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly, hold fast to what you have in order that no one take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he will not go out from it anymore. And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from my God and my new name.

1:44 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, to the churches. Let's just pray again real quick. Father, we just commit this whole study into thy hands. We pray that the holy spirit would be our teacher and would guide us. In Jesus name, amen.

2:01 Amen. As you know, last week, we commenced or began a study of the churches and this is part two. There's actually a seven part series, but I can only cover two churches since I only had two back to back studies. Last week we looked at Smyrna, the suffering church, and we were noticing, let me see if I can get to it. Well, Philadelphia is what we're going to look at today, the church of the open door and and I'll come back to that in a minute.

2:32 But again, as you see, Smyrna is what we looked at last week, a very rich and prosperous city but very idolatrous and they were extremely mean to the local church there as we saw last week. This week we're going to look at Philadelphia. You can see where it's at. Now, Philadelphia of all the churches was the the less significant. It was the youngest well, not only the church but the city was the youngest city.

3:04 It had been destroyed by by an earthquake. Excuse me. If someone can give me a cup of water, something's causing me to have a little tick over here. I feel fine. I'm not sick.

3:16 Don't worry about it. But but Philadelphia was not as significant. It wasn't as prosperous, it was a smaller city and the earthquake had had caused the city to be destroyed and had a hard time recovering from that. So of all the cities, this is the the the least of them in regards to its prosperity, its eloquence, its buildings and of the such. So but Philadelphia then is what we're going to consider today.

4:13 One of the one of the players gave a speech and and the host said he was looking at the speech and here's what he said. He said the first day or the first year we knocked on the door. The second year which was the year he was presently talking about, we we banged on the door but next year we're going to knock it down. And if you know anything about football the next year came and they did not knock it down. So he was a false prophet.

4:39 Yeah and so being that I was a Houston Oiler fan way back then, all my you know the same thing happens every year with you shouldn't follow teams that's why you shouldn't do it. Anyway, but speaking of such, Landry, many of you know him, he was a coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He already passed away. But someone asked him what is the difference in great players and one who is mediocre? This is what he said, they all have outstanding potential, however, most of them don't take advantage of it.

5:11 And we're living in a very special time in the church age, in our particular time of history, and that scriptures have been fulfilled all the way up to the next step is the tribulation, the rapture and the tribulation. Meanwhile, God has left us here for a specific work that he wants to accomplish through us. And that's what this particular message to this church, I believe, is about. Now, let me remind you once again that as we're speaking about the churches that Jesus himself is aware of every local church throughout the whole world. He's in every local church that he has purchased with his blood and he's observing what's going on.

5:54 Now I want you to notice chapter one for example, follow with me quickly, chapter one and verse 13. And in the middle of the lampstands is one like it's the son of man. So in other words, in the middle of the lampstand, the lampstands of church, the churches is Jesus himself. In the middle of them. I want you to notice also chapter two and verse two.

6:16 I know your deeds, your toil, and your perseverance. And so Jesus is saying to that particular church, I know what's going on in your church. I know your deeds. Notice chapter two and verse nine speaking to to Smyrna. I know your tribulation and your poverty.

6:33 Look at chapter two and verse 13. I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast my name and so every particular church, Jesus says, I'm there and I'm watching. I'm I'm observing and I know what's going on. Notice also chapter two and verse 19 speaking to Tyre Tyre, I know your deeds and your love and faith and service and perseverance and so on, right? So, you can see that at that church, he's also speaking to him.

7:02 Look at chapter three and verse one to Sardis. He says, he who has a seven spirits of god and and the seven stars says this, I know your deeds that you have a name that you are alive but you are dead and look at chapter three and verse 15, I know your deeds that you are neither cold or hot. I would that you were cold or hot and so, we can see then Jesus is addressing different churches and in every one of em, he's there and he observes the way they sing and the way they worship and the way they do ministry and he say and I know every church and I know what's going on. I know your deeds. Listen, I I'm gonna say what I said last week.

7:45 I believe that we need to be a little more reverent when we come to the meetings. We do and and we need to come with with that reverence and that understanding that Jesus is here and he's watching and observing and we don't want to be caught with an irreverent spirit because the lord is watching. And so may the lord under help us to understand that reality that that this is not just coming to a building but we're coming to a building where the lord Jesus name is represented and he's here and he's watching and he says, I know your deeds. I know what's going on. And this particular church, I like it because it was insignificant church in in in comparison to the others and their city was insignificant and yet god was very pleased with this local church.

8:36 Alright, so let's just take a couple of peaks at at at this church then. Now, Christ is the answer, the the the author and the answer. I want you to notice in his the description of himself as he addresses this local church. Verse seven, he who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut and who shuts and no one will open. The very first thing the lord Jesus Christ makes clear to this local church is that I am he who is holy and now this is a direct reference as he's referring to himself of his deity.

9:37 I'm the holy one. I'm god and and no emperor is god. I am god. I'm the holy one and so church of Philadelphia understand this immediately right away that as I'm watching you, you need to understand this truth. I am he who is holy and secondly, he he also refers to the fact that he is true and you remember that he said this several times even the gospel of John.

10:01 I am the truth, the life, and the way, right? Or the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me and so he's referring once again to who he is, that he is very god. This is important because someone's gonna come and knock on your door and say they believe the same as you but they're gonna deny the fact that Jesus is god and you say, no, you don't believe the same as me. Your god is not my god because my god is god.

10:27 Does that sound good? Right? My god is god. He is very god. He's the holy one who is true and notice also his authority and that he says, who has the key of David.

10:41 This is his royal claims as lord and head of David's house. It anticipates and looks to his rule and kingdom on the earth but it also reminds us of his royal authority and his sovereignty even now on heaven and on earth. But think about it for a minute. When he says, I have the key of David. What do you need to get into a building?

11:03 A key. Without the key, you can't do a thing. Have you ever gone somewhere to to a gym or or to to a meeting place and no one is there with the key and everyone's sitting outside? I've been there. That's happened to me.

11:18 So, the key unlocks, alright? So, you can get in. Without the key, you're stuck outside. And so what Jesus is saying is, I am the one who has the key to this local church. I have total authority in heaven and earth but in this local church, I'm the one who has the key to what?

11:37 To what? To ministry. To service. To service. Let's look at it more in detail then.

11:46 Notice what he says then immediately. He says, he he holds the key to opening doors to ministry. You can see it right there. Who opens and no one was shut, that that's his authority, that's his rule, his power, and who shuts and no one opens. And notice in again that he says, I know your deeds verse eight, behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut.

12:10 Now, what is he talking about? He's talking about opening the doors to serving him and and we can we can see throughout scripture in in many occasions that many times the lord does not open doors but only Jesus can open the door and only Jesus can close the door. How many of you had had dreams and aspirations of being maybe a missionary or maybe serving the lord in a certain way or or doing ministry somewhere of wanting to serve god and for some reason, it never unfolds, right? Now, if I'm correct, most of you had all kinds of aspirations when you were newly saved and a lot of those dreams went away already because they were from you and not from God. Right?

12:52 I know myself. I I had... I don't want to tell you everything. I... It was goofy.

12:56 All the things I thought that I was going to do and the lord had to humble me and say, no, no, no, no. It's it's not about you. It's about me. And then in my sovereign wisdom, being the lord of this church, I know when to open doors and when to shut them. I have the key and and so many times we get frustrated.

13:18 God, why haven't you open a door so that I can serve you and do more things and and and we do get frustrated but only god can open a door and when he opens it, no one's going to close it and no one god, only god can shut it. That is the lord Jesus and when he shuts it, no one's going to open it. And so it's important to to understand that truth. Now, what I want you to understand too is that for example, when when the missionaries in in Acts were were doing their missionary work, you remember that Paul and his missionary team wanted to go to Bithnia and he said that the spirit of god forbid us from going there. He didn't allow us to go there.

13:58 Why? I I we don't know why. There were souls to be reached. They wanted to go out and reach that area. He says, no, I don't want you to go there.

14:04 I want you to go towards Troas and towards Macedonia and we know then that they went to Philadelphia, Thessalonica and they started all of those local churches there. And we can also read in first Corinthians sixteen eighty nine, I shall remain at Ephesus for a wide door for effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries but but here's what I want us to understand right now, that at this moment, right before the rapture, right before god commences his plan for towards to getting done with his rule for getting done with this this time when he's going to destroy the earth through the tribulation. Right now is a time when we need to be serving and working for the lord. Now, I've I I really feel that the lord brought me here and I praise god that he did because this is the church that works. It serves.

14:59 It does so much and I just praise god for it. Now, we can't sing to to save our lives from anything. Alright? We we're we're not a good singing group. Amen to that one?

15:09 Oh my word. We can't sing. Lord, bring us singers, you know. Save some singers so that we can have singers, that can lead. We're not good singers.

15:17 Alright? I don't even know music but I can tell you that, alright? The lord help us to be better at singing. Amen? Alright?

15:38 When you looked at the at the vacation bible school and all the people serving and acting. I was just going home and worshiping the lord and say, god, this is amazing to see so many people serving because you open doors and then we see that in Awana, half of you are here and serving and praise god for that because god has opened that door and and and there's so many ministries to get involved in and and so much that we can do and what god wants us to communicate to us is that when he looked at this church that was working, that was faithful to him, he says, this church pleases me. He had nothing bad to say about this church. Because it was a church that when god opened the doors to ministry, they served and they did and they worked. And what does Jesus look for then?

16:24 Well, in this particular case, he sees his local church and he goes, I open doors for you guys and y'all are doing it. Y'all are doing it and that pleases me. You're serving. You're you're volunteering. There there's so many things to do and and so many ministries and it's exciting to see.

16:41 Now, noticing that this church was commended by the lord Jesus for several reasons. For faithfulness with opportunities given to them. Now, are are you being faithful to the doors that god opens for you? That's the question. Are you being faithful?

17:01 Because if we are faithful to live in the fullness of his life, he will bring opportunities of service and ministry. As you know, when when we we serve in little things, God opens doors for us to serve them in greater ways. But we have to be willing to do the little things so then God can give us more responsibility. I put before you an open door can also be looked at as I give, I bestow, I grant, I supply, I commit, I entrust to you the ideas that God entrusted them with open doors to ministry. Without Christ, the door would not be open.

17:38 And so, so many opportunities to serve. We need to seize the moment and we need to take advantage of this opportunity that God gives us and serve him. Notice then the the next expression. He says, I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you verse eight, an open door which no one can shut because you have little power and have kept my word and have not denied my name.

18:07 And so he's commending them first of all because they're they open, they were faithful to the open doors, also they had little power. Now, this is interesting, some commentators think that it was the little church. I guess because Philadelphia was not a very prominent city, it was the lesser of all the rest. They come to that conclusion. It might be true.

18:31 It might be true. Now here's the point. If it was, the lord is still pleased with it because he's looking at faithfulness to the open doors of service and ministry. That's what matters to Jesus. And so, when when he looks at this particular church, he says look, you're being faithful, I open doors, you're doing it, you're taking advantage of those opportunities to glorify me through your service and through your ministry and I understand that you have little power but you know what they say?

19:06 Dynamite comes in small packages. Isn't that true? Right? And and so, a small church filled with the holy spirit and guided by the holy spirit and living empowered by the holy spirit is a powerful church. That god will use.

19:20 Listen, you never know when someone is getting saved. You never know when god is transforming someone or or or when god is preparing someone to do great things. Our job is to be faithful to the lord and serve him even though we have little power. Do you have you ever felt that way? Who am I?

19:37 I'm so insignificant. There's no power. Oh, look at this little church and you know, all those kind of statements. Have you have you done that? Been there?

19:44 You're not the only one. But see Jesus is commending this church. Chuck Swindow says about Abraham Lincoln, that he, was the man of the ages, but if you look at his life, he said he was the most unqualified man. He kept failing and failing. He was clumsy and he didn't have any kind of social appeal.

20:07 And yet, look at the impact that he made in his life, in his world. And that's what God wants. Are you available so that I can use you for my glory? You have little power. Oh, but what I can do with a man or a woman who understands they have little power but allow me to work through them, they're going to do great things for god.

21:02 This this church holds to that truth. We will not deny the word of god. We we try to stick to it as close as possible even when we teach the word. We try to be as as careful as we can when we teach god's word and to be faithful to it. And may we never depart from this.

21:20 When you're teaching Sunday school class, be faithful to the word. When you're teaching college and career, our our our young people, our little girls, or whatever you're doing, be faithful to his word. That is so fundamental and and this is what pleases the lord. And so, I open doors, you were being faithful. You're you have little power but I'm empowering you and and and and I'm also noticing that you're faithful to my word and that pleases me And then he says, the next commendation that he says to them is this, that you're also not denying my name.

21:54 You're not denying my name. Now, you're a biblical church who's teaching the biblical truth and consequently when you do that, guess what? Jesus is is exalted and lifted up because when you teach the Bible correctly, he is the center of scripture. It's all about Jesus Christ and about his kingdom and his church and what he wants to accomplish on this earth. Amen?

22:16 That's right. And so, as I look at this church says the lord Jesus, I I gave you an open door and you took advantage of serving me. You have little power but I'm empowering you. You're faithful to my word and you're faithful to my name and I am pleased with this local body. Wow.

22:37 And I pray that the Lord would say that as he looks at this local body. May that be true Lord. The hope and the comfort of the church. Notice then the the next text verse verse nine. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but lie, behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you.

23:07 Now, for those of you who are here last week, we talked about what it meant to be a synagogue of Satan. Basically, what it means is, it was a synagogue where you know, Jesus used to go into the synagogue and teach. This was a synagogue that was full of Jewish people but they denied the lord Jesus Christ. They denied the Messiah. Consequently, Jesus says, since you're denying my name, that's not a synagogue of god.

23:31 That's a synagogue of Satan. And so it was Jewish people gathering together but instead of acknowledging Jesus Christ as the lord and savior, as the Messiah, they were denying him. In fact, they were opposing those who preach Jesus and says, do you know what you are then? A synagogue of Satan. Satan is directing you and and and guiding you and teaching your and and the other persecution that's coming from you and everything that you teach is by is is from Satan, is from hell and so consequently you're a synagogue of Satan.

24:05 See because they said they're Jews but you're lying because and and if you go to Romans chapter two, a true Jew is one who has been born again. I don't want to go into all of that in detail. I'll let you do the work. You are very intelligent people and so you all can you all can do that investigation. And so the comfort of the church was that the persecutors notice what it says how how beautiful behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you.

24:36 Now, the person who bow bow the knee to Jesus and to them. There's two ways of looking at this particular verse. One is this, that at the end, at the great white throne judgment, when when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess those in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth, When they all come to to bow to Jesus, we're going be there with them because we're with Jesus. We're going to reign with them and when they bow to him, in essence, they're bound to us as well. There's another way of looking at it as well.

25:05 I think both could be true or in fact, I think both are true is that many of those people who were watching that local church and listening to them preach and teach even though they were persecuting them, some of them actually became believers. And they bowed down to Jesus, some of those Jewish people. And we know that that is true as well, that some did get saved. Some did get saved. And so the the persecutors were bowed down or bowed the knee to Jesus and and to us as well.

25:36 Notice and the persecutors will know that I have loved you. Listen, I I I hope that you know that you're loved by the lord Jesus. If he gave his life for you and bought you with his blood and you belong to him and you're part of his local body and he's sitting here watching you, here's what he's saying, you better know that I love you. You better know the love. If the the persecutors are are gonna know that I love you, how much more should you know that?

26:04 Amen? That that I love you. And so take that home with you. Jesus saying, you know that I love you. You know that I love you.

26:26 This is very key, very key verse. Because you have kept my word, the word of my perseverance, I will also keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth. Alright now, this is a very key verse and you must know it. Alright, here we go, let's start out. First of all, notice what it says, I also will keep you from the hour of testing.

26:56 So there's a specific hour, a specific time of testing that's coming. Notice also that hour which is about to come upon the whole world. So the scope of this verse goes beyond the local church of Philadelphia to the whole world. So there's a specific time period coming of testing and it's going to involve the whole world. So, it's not just Philadelphia anymore.

27:24 It's not just the churches, it's the whole world but I want you to notice what else it says then. To test, so so it's a test, those who dwell upon the earth. Alright. So the inhabited earth, those who dwell upon the earth. Now, to dwell to reside, to settle down, this expression, those who dwell upon the earth, what it means is that those who are unbelievers.

27:54 So it describes inhabitants as those who are characterized as earth dwellers. This is a term for unbelievers because they are earth dwellers. They are bound to this life and what it can give in contrast to those who are believers, who live as sojourners and aliens. Earth dwellers are quite at home here on earth. Alright now, I don't want to bore you with this but but I think it's important that you follow with me real quick.

28:22 I'm going to be fast. Revelation six ten. And they cried out with a loud voice saying how long oh lord holy and true, without refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth. Look at chapter eight and verse 13. Eight and thirteen.

28:41 And I looked and I heard an eagle flying in in mid heaven saying with a loud voice, woe woe to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining blast of the trumpets and of the three angels who are about to sound. So it's the people who who are on the earth not Christians. Chapter 11 and verse 10. Chapter 11 and verse 10. Follow with me.

29:05 Alright. And it says, and those who dwell on the earth, there's your expression, will rejoice over them and make merry and they will send gifts to one another because of the two prophets tormented, who tormented those who dwell on the earth. So again, it's those who are on the earth during the tribulation and I'll just give you two more for the sake of time. I'll stop there. 13 and verse eight, chapter 13 and verse eight.

29:31 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, the the antichrist. Everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who has been slain. So that's pretty clear right there that the those who dwell on the earth are the non saved, the non believers, the non believers. And I have about six or seven more references but because of time, I'm going to leave it there. If you want more proof, come see me afterwards, I'll give you the references.

30:00 Alright. Now, notice this please. Go to chapter three and verse 10 again. I will also keep you from the hour of testing. Alright?

30:16 Now, this is the hour of testing is the tribulation and I want you to notice this please. Now, when when in in the Greek, he didn't say, I'm gonna take you out of the hour of testing which is and he didn't say which means to take you from the hour of tribulation. He also didn't use which means I'm gonna keep you in the hour of tribulation. He also did not use the word I'm gonna keep you through the tribulation because as you know, there's three positions. The pre tribulation rapture which is what we hold in this local church, then you have the the mid tribulation rapture people, then you have the post tribulation.

31:01 In other words, after the tribulation, the church will be raptured. Now, we hold to the pre tribulation view of the rapture because of this specific verse is one of them. And and notice that he specifically didn't say that he was going to take him out of the hour of testing or or take him from it or keep him in it or keep him through it. The word that he uses is true act which means to keep you out of it. Keep you out of it altogether.

31:33 Alright. So let let's read it again the verse and let's understand it. I will also keep you, there you'll keep you from the hour, which means to keep out. I'm gonna keep you out of it. The hour of testing, the hour is specific time period, the tribulation.

31:54 That hour which is about to come upon the whole world, so it's worldwide in scope. It's not just talking to a church then. And then finally, to test those who dwell upon the earth. So the earth dwellers, those who are not saved are gonna stay. It's gonna be a testing for them.

32:12 I'm gonna keep you from that hour that's gonna be an hour of testing for those who dwell upon the earth. Wow, this is tremendous promise. What a promise. So, so there's a future testing, the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble that's coming upon the whole earth and here's my promise to you, I'm going to keep you from it. I'm going to keep you out of it, completely out of it.

32:50 When the lord raptures, takes up the church, and then the hour of testing begins. The hour of testing begins. The great tribulation. Alright. So this is a very specific text that specifically says that the believers will be kept out of the tribulation.

33:12 Very strong. All biblical scholars cannot argue with this. There's nothing you can do about it because if Jesus would have wanted us to go through it, he would have used one of those expressions rather than this one. And so it's very clear, it's very precise, it's a specific hour of trying, the tribulation. He's gonna keep us out of it completely.

33:37 The hour is coming upon the inhabitants of the earth. Those who are not believers that are gonna experience the wrath of God upon them. Remember first Thessalonians chapter five, we are not gonna experience the wrath of God. It's pretty clear. And so yes, it's the the church, the believing body of people will be raptured from the tribulation.

34:01 Wow, what a what a promise, Also, if the lord, if it meant to keep us through it then it doesn't apply to Philadelphia at all because they're already from the past, right? Think about that, pretty logical. And if they were gonna be going through it, it wouldn't be much of a comfort either in my opinion. Okay, notice before the warning, I guess we can call it a warning. I am coming quickly because that's what he's talking about.

34:36 I'm coming quickly, I'm coming quickly, hold fast to what you have in order that no one take your crown. So after he says, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep you completely out of the tribulation, but remember I'm coming quick. I'm coming quick. I'm gonna rapture the church. It's it's we believe in the in the the imminent return of Jesus can happen at any moment.

34:56 You might not make it home. Alright? And and if you're a believer that is, it could just happen and so I'm coming quickly. So, until I come, remember why he's commending this church because they were faithfully serving him. How do we want to be caught caught up serving the lord, living for the lord, doing his work because the doors are open.

35:18 Let's take advantage of it, brothers. The doors are open and we need to be serving him and living for him because he's coming in any time. And and this expression, let no one take your crown, I'm going to take a little bit of liberty here. Some commentators think that it means that make sure you don't lose your salvation. I don't think that fits at all because of all the promises he's already making to them.

35:43 I don't see how it fits but they have a pretty good argument. You can look at some commentators and look at that. I believe because of the context that he's talking about, the doors are open, they're serving the lord, wide open ministry. I believe that he's talking about that if you don't do what god calls you to do in this earth, your work for the Lord, your service for him, that that he's going to take away that opportunity and give it to someone else. For example, Luke, nineteen twenty four, the Lord says regarding the unfaithful servant, take it away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minus.

36:21 And then he says, if you are faithful in little things, God will open a door for bigger things. So I'm coming quickly, I'm going to keep you in tribulation, You know, here's my warning, let no one take your crown. The the crown of reward, the the reward that god has for you. I like what Chuck Swindle says. Time is short, opportunity is knocking.

37:19 And if we don't, someone else will and got to reward him for it. And then we can go on to three promises. Just real quick what it's saying right there is those who hold fast or true believers are are going to be honored. Their name is going to be written in a pillar of the temple in in the in the new Jerusalem. You never were going to be removed and there's some other promises there.

37:48 I ran out of time but I trust that you're going to go home and and study it. And I want to end with a quote. Western Churchill, even though we are weak and feeble, in the power of the holy spirit and by the will of God, let it be said, this was our finest hour. And I pray that that would be true to us before the Lord raptures us. Now you're to be given, where you at gentlemen?

38:36 Very good. And let's just pray and then we'll hand them out, alright? Very good. Father, father, we are so excited as we look at the church of Philadelphia. Jesus was there looking at it, observing it, and he was so pleased with it.

38:53 He had he had nothing negative or wrong to say. Even though they had little power. Lord, we sometimes feel insignificant as if we don't matter, but you are watching us lord and we wanna serve you and be faithful and live for you because we know that you're coming quickly. Thank you for the promise of keeping us from the hour to come. And may we be found serving you and living for you and taking advantage of the open doors that you have given us until you come.

39:27 In Jesus name, amen.