It is not simply “a crown” that they are in danger of losing, but “your crown,” their own distinguishing crown. The distinction of the Philadelphians is that they cherish the truths concerning Christ and the Church in a day when, on every hand, these truths are denied. Having returned to the apprehension and practice of the truths concerning Christ and the Church, their ever-present danger is that they may surrender these truths and be drawn aside into the surrounding corruption, unreality, and self-sufficiency of Christendom. Hence the exhortation is, “Hold fast.”

Every effort of Satan will be made to lead the Philadelphian to give up what has been so blessedly revived to him. The enemy will gladly plead the help of saints and the need of sinners if, by so doing, he can get the Philadelphian to abandon what he has. He will argue that there are a few saints in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and that there are needy sinners in Laodicea who are poor and blind and naked. But to go back under any plea to that which the Lord condemns is to abandon that which the Lord approves. All the seductions of the enemy are met by the Lord’s warning words, “Hold fast.” If the Philadelphian holds fast, the Lord will doubtless open doors to help His people, wherever they may be, and to meet the need of sinners wherever found.

Does not the very exhortation to “hold fast” indicate that times of revival may be followed by times of declension in which many may drift and lose their crown? Blessed indeed to be a Philadelphian, but Philadelphia is no haven of refuge where saints can settle down, but rather a company blessed with the approval of Christ, and for this reason the special object of the enemy’s attacks.