6. THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
6. 6. Philadelphia — The Faithful Church (Revelation 3:7- 13) -- the church that had endured patiently (3:10).
History of the City:
Philadelphia is located on the Cogamis River in western Asia Minor, about 80 miles east of Smyrna. Philadelphia was known for its variety of temples and worship centers.
Two of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation were found faithful. The church of Smyrna, and the church of Philadelphia. The church of Philadelphia is unique among the seven churches because it is the only church the Lord registers no complaint against. This is the church that delights Christ!
(Revelation 3:7-8), “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and has not denied my name.” The message to Philadelphia begins with an announcement from Jesus that He has “the key of David” and that what He opens “no one shuts” and what He shuts “no one opens”.
Jesus’ statement that He had “the key of David” reveals two important points:
First, as prophesied, Jesus had received “the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32).
§ Second, Jesus had the authority to open and shut doors and when He opened and closed these doors, no one could reverse these actions.
As for how Christ used His authority to open or shut doors, He next tells the church of Philadelphia that He knows their works and that He has set before them “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. Christ commended the members for their spiritual strength (albeit “little”) in faithfully obeying His commands. They had not “denied” Jesus’ name through disobedience. Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other (name), for here is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” As Christians, they faithfully observed all of Jesus’ instructions and commands, and followed them (Acts 2:38).
(Revelation 3:9), “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” While it is clear that Jesus is making “those of the synagogue of Satan” understand that He loves and respects the members of the church of Philadelphia, it is not as clear who these people are who are part of the synagogue of Satan.
The reference to people falsely claiming to be Jews is similar to Christ’s words to Smyrna, the meaning of people falsely claiming to be Jews could be a reference to people falsely claiming to be Christians. As Paul explains in Romans 2:28-29, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” A false Christian or Jew, is one who has not followed the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
(Revelation 3:10), “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”Because the members at Philadelphia kept Jesus’ command to persevere, He promises that they will be kept from “the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world”. While some have looked for a historical fulfillment of this time of trial, the primary meaning of this phrase is the difficult conditions that will exist at the end of this age just before Jesus’ return.
Explaining to His disciples what conditions would be like for His faithful people when He comes again, Jesus said, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10).
Later in the same chapter He added: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
As the world teeters on the edge of self-destruction and faithful Christians are hated and even martyred, Jesus promises protection for those in Philadelphia during this particularly bleak period of human history that will “test those who dwell on the earth”.
As these awful events occur, Jesus admonishes the Philadelphians to hold fast to God’s way of life so no one will take their “crown” --- their opportunity to receive eternal life and reign with Christ over the nations (Revelation 1:6; 2:26; 5:10).
(Revelation 3:12), “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
The message to this congregation concludes with important promises that Jesus says He will give to those who overcome:
REVELATION 21:2-7; 9-11; 22-27
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels… and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious…
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
(Revelation 3:13), “HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.”
LESSONS FOR US:
What pleased Christ about this church was that its members had persevered in the face of pressures to abandon God’s instructions. Instead of denying Jesus’ name, they remained faithful and apparently preached the gospel as God opened doors for them to do so.
Christ advised these faithful members to “hold fast what you have,” meaning they should continue in this path. An important lesson for us is that once we begin obeying God and living as He commands, we must stay the course, we must endure to the end!
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