“You have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Rev. 3:8)
As in other passages of Sacred Scripture, this verse from Revelation exhorts us to hold fast to the Word of the Lord and not deny the name of Jesus. Our Father expects this of us because keeping His word means professing and defending our faith. By confessing Jesus, we bear witness to the truth—which is so highly valued in heaven (cf. Mt 10:32).
There are many circumstances that threaten our faith. This was true not only in the time of the early Christians and throughout the centuries, when professing faith in Jesus could even cost one’s life—whether persecution came from the political system (such as communism) or from religion (such as Islam).
Even today, in a “post‑Christian” society, holding fast to the Word of God and publicly professing faith in Jesus can lead to significant adversity. Yet it is precisely in such circumstances that our faith must prove its worth, and we are given the opportunity to demonstrate our love for the Father. Our decision to follow the Lord is tested in times of tribulation, and it is then that we must cast aside all forms of human respect. This requires courage and determination. The same applies when the Word of God is no longer firmly upheld even within the Church, nor is the testimony of Jesus as the Redeemer of all mankind proclaimed unequivocally.
In the Book of Revelation, the church in Philadelphia was praised by the glorified Lord for its faithfulness. It proved itself in times of tribulation and persecution, and thus emerged victorious in God’s eyes and will receive its due reward from Him.