Revelation

Philadelphia - The Faithful Church

Philadelphia (lover of the brethren)

The city of Philadelphia was the youngest of all the 7 cities.  This city was founded to be an outpost for the Greek way of life.  It was used to press the Greek culture beyond its current boundaries toward the east.  Philadelphia was a missionary city.

It was also a prosperous city, known for its commercial and agricultural importance.  It was particularly known for its grape crops and making of wine in honor of its patron deity Dionysus, the god of wine.  One of the greatest highways in the world at that time passed through Philadelphia.  This highway connected Europe to the East.  It was referred to as "Gateway to the East." 

Philadelphia, like all the others, was a very religious city.  It was full of beautiful temples and buildings.  There were so many gods and temples it was also called 'little Athens". 

Like several of the other 7 cities, this city was built on a major fault line. It was subsequently destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD.  It was rebuilt by the Roman emperors.  In the rebuilding they included Royal temples built for themselves.  But the vast majority of people refused to move back into the city.  It was never quite the same again.  When John wrote the letter it was a thriving city but it's glory days were in the past.

 

Revelation 3:7

Once again, among all this culture of pagan gods and immorality we find the church.  An ancient inscription was found indicating that the Christians had been expelled from the synagogue and the Jewish community.  This would have made life extremely difficult for them and could have led to more persecution by losing association with the Jews.  The church of Philadelphia was known as the faithful church. 

To this church Jesus was to be known as:

• He who is Holy
• He who is true
• He who has the key of David
• He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.

These descriptions of Jesus don't come from chapter 1 like most of them have.  Holy means He is set apart; set far above and beyond the ways of man or the ways of the world.  'True' speaks of his faithfulness.  Jesus doesn't act holy and true, nor is it a standard He attained.  He is the standard of Holy and true.  He is faithful and true and His very actions define holy and true.

The church of Philadelphia needed to know this.  Faithful and true doesn't come from the wealth of a nation or the stability of the ground below them.  It doesn't come from a large church or a wealthy church.  It's not from education, degrees, politics, heritage or bloodline.  It comes from faith in Jesus.  We would do well to meditate on that in our days where churches are splitting over politics and political agendas; in times where God's people are turning on each other over worldly things. 

In verse 7 Jesus quotes Isaiah 22:20-23.

Assyria was threatening the land of Judah.  They responded to the threat by seeking the assistance of Egypt.  They thought they needed help against Assyria and Egypt seemed like a logical choice.  But God didn't need Egypt and He didn't want His people relying on Egypt instead of Him.  The prophets warned Judah, called them to repentance, and told them to turn to God.  One of the wicked leaders was a man name Shebna.  God demoted him and put His man in Shebna's place. a faithful man named Eliakim.  The Lord gave him the key of the house of David. 

When Jesus said, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens" the church needed to understand that Jesus would establish them in this city just like He established Eliakim in Jerusalem.  While Philadelphia was a city committed to advancing things of the world, God opened a door for this church to minister there and advance the kingdom of God through the gospel.  Nearly every church could tell a similar story.

 

Revelation 3:8

This is the sixth time we've saw that the Lord knows the works of the church.  These are a kind of resume' of the church, showing their character, perseverance and their heart.  The works were measured by quantity, quality or volume, but they revealed the heart of the people. 

The Lord set an open door before them.  This was ministry opportunity.  It was a people and place to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  A call and equipping by the Holy Spirit to good works and the enlargement of the Kingdom of God.  Philadelphia was a wide-open field for evangelism.  This idea of an open door may well be in response to getting the door of the synagogue slammed in their face and locked!  The synagogue was the center of community and religion, to be essentially kicked out was a big deal.  The Christians were suddenly on their own, not to mention that the Jews were now persecuting them also.  But, what looked like a closed door to them, the Lord called an open door of evangelism.

The commendation to this church was that they had "some strength".  The word for 'some' is Micros.  Our word micro comes from this.  It's a small amount relative to the what was available.   The word for "strength" is Dunamis.  Dunamis is strength, power, might or even miraculous power.  This church had 'little power'.  I believe this is a compliment to their strength to size ration.  God never got hung up on size and we shouldn't either.  We see the church when 2 or 3 gather in His name; this is God's majority.  Big things happen when we are yielded to Him.  When we, a small church, are weak, He is strong. 

Jesus also noted that they kept His word and hadn't denied His name.  There had probably been great pressure from the Jews to stop speaking of Jesus.  The cultural pressure to go along and get along with everyone else is the same thing Christians have dealt with for ages.  In the latter days this will grow even more prevalent.  However, if we deny His name or His word, there is nothing left.  The open door was to bring people to the kingdom, not to church roles.  

 

²⁷ Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts 14:27-28)

People can see through the phony religious façade.  All of mankind have a longing and desire to know where they came from and where they are going.  They desire to know their purpose and the meaning of life.  This is not found in some general religious devotion, but found in Christ alone, revealed through His word. 

This church had not denied the name of Jesus in a world where many did.  Would the Lord say the same about your church?  Would see that we held to the Faithful and True Jesus Christ and His word, no matter what?  The pressure to deny Him is growing.  Many will cave under the pressure. 

 

Revelation 3:9

The Christians of Philadelphia were persecuted by the Jews of the synagogue in that city.  This is very much like the synagogue in Smyrna.  The synagogue was a place where the scriptures were read, prayers were offered, where they worshiped the Lord and heard from him in the presence of other believers.  A synagogue of Satan implies the work at that synagogue no longer honored the Lord, but was doing the work of Satan.  These Jews who weren't really Jews in the eyes of Jesus. They had no connection with Abraham, Moses or the Messiah.   They all claimed to know God but did not.  Their synagogue was not a meeting place for those seeking God. 

²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ 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. (Romans 2:28-29)

 

Jesus knew the real church.  He wasn't fold by religion traditions and works of the law.  The real church didn't have to worry about this blasphemous group; neither being disowned by them or persecuted afterward.  Jesus will vindicate the Christians because he is holy and true.  The Jews will know that the Messiah loved these Christians.  They will seek forgiveness before the feet of these Christians.

 

Revelation 3:10

The church was commended for their perseverance.  The Greek word is 'hypomones' and we've seen it four times already in the first two chapters.  All 4 times it was translated as 'patience' but the idea is the same in all used.  It is steadfast endurance.  The picture of steadfast endurance is seen in the words of Isaiah speaking of the suffering servant, a glimpse of Christ:

This same endurance is seen in Paul who didn't quit, didn't submit to the world.  He was weeks away from losing his life, but he wrote to encourage others who were suffering. 

There are lessons for us in this.  The perseverance and faithfulness of this church didn't go unnoticed.  Their small size had nothing to do with their ability to be faithful.  And they would be rewarded for their great faith and not their great size.  Any church would do well to remember that.  The faith of a church has nothing to do with its size. 

The reward for their faithfulness was that Jesus would keep them from the hour of trial.  This 'hour of trial' is most likely the Great Tribulation to come.  This hour will fall on the whole world to test "those who dwell on the earth."  "Those who dwell on the earth" is quite literally the earth-dwellers:

• Those who find all hope and confidence in this world, this life, and in this place.
• Those who trust in politics and worldly leaders.
• Those who trust in the size of an army.
• Those who trust in the amount of wealth.
• Those who trust in the stability of the land beneath their feet. 

To trust in all those things is to not trust in Christ.  They may well believe, they just never had time for Jesus.  They were yielded to the world and there was not time or inclination to yield to Jesus.  Because of this, they will be tested through a difficult time.  The tribulation will cause some to run to Jesus, seeing clearly their error.  It will cost them dearly, maybe everything.  Others will run from Jesus to the world.  This will cost them for all eternity.  There won't be any neutral ground. 

Those who trust in Christ are heaven dwellers.  Our citizenship is laid up for us in heaven.  It is preserved there for us until such a day when we step into that place.  Until then, we are ambassadors of Jesus in this foreign land, with the full assurance that we're going home soon.

 

Note: Many believe that 'keep you from the hour of trial' is simply the Lord's protection in the days of tribulation.  The understanding of this phrase seems to be driven by a persons view and timing in regards to the rapture. 

 

Revelation 3:11

On the heels of this promise that He would keep them from that hour, He announced He was coming quickly.  The Greek word for quickly is 'tachy' and means soon.  The soon could well be in relation to that hour.  We should also consider that with His 'soon' coming is the idea it would sudden and unexpected, without warning, like a thief in the night.   One second we'll be about our business of life, and boom, He will come for us.  It will happen in the twinkling of an eye.

The call to "hold fast" was like a lifeguard encouraging the drowning man to hang just a little bit longer.  There are two reasons to hold fast:

1. We can hold fast because we have the knowledge that something or someone is trying to take something from you. 
2. We hold fast because someone is coming to rescue save us.

They were to hold fast to what they had.  What did they have? 

• Faith in the almighty unchanging God.
• Trust in Jesus, their Savior, Redeemer and hope of glory. 
• Promises from God's Word.
• Love from a God who so loved the world, He sent His sone to save it.
• Righteousness, imputed to them.  Thereby they had grace available nowhere else. 
• Holiness and Truth. 
• Life Eternal.

In holding fast to these things, they held fast to the crown of life.  The victory was won by Jesus who conquered sin and death on the cross.  Nothing more need done for the Christian.  All they were required to do is not let go. 

 

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  (Hebrews 4:14)

No one can take your crown if you don't let go.  It can't be stolen; it can only be relinquished.  When believers don't hold fast and are ruled by temptation and drawn into apostasy, they have given their heart to another and let slip away the glory promised them.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (1 Timothy 4:8)

 

In my younger years I played basketball.  I didn't score all that much, but I was still part of the team.  However, if I helped the other team score or scored goals at their basket, no one would believe I was still part of my original team.  I might be still be wearing the uniform of my original team, but my work would look like I was more part of the other team.  Christian, can folks tell what team you're on?

One commentator put it this way: 

We need to be so rooted and grounded that when fierce winds of opposition, rejection, and persecution blow into our lives we stand like oaks of righteousness.

 

Revelation 3:12

Philadelphia honored its illustrious sons by putting their names on the pillars of its temples.  A pillar is symbolic of strength, stability, and dignified beauty.  All who came to worship the false gods might see and remember their cultural heroes.  This was one of the highest of honors in that age and culture.  Men went to great lengths pursue fame and prominence in the city of Philadelphia, to be honored in a lasting way.   Christians would never pursue this honor for a couple reasons; first they have their eyes on an eternal honor and glory and second, the world would never award them in such a way.  There was zero hope for a Christian to have their name honored on a pillar in the temple. 

While this seemed like a great honor to all, we know the city was flattened in the earthquake of _AD17.  All the great pillars were built on shaky ground and they all came down.  Even after being rebuilt, in time, they nearly all came down again.  Jesus offered a greater honor to the overcomer.  He said the one who overcomes would not just put have their name on a pillar, the Lord would make them a pillar in God's temple.  The temples of all the other gods would all fall down in time, but the temple of God is forever.  They would stand when all else had fallen.  The overcomer would have a permanent place in the presence of God and never have to worry about leaving.

Philadelphia celebrated its heroes by putting their name on a temporary pillar, God makes us a permanent pillar and then puts the name of the everlasting God on us, as well as the name of the New Jerusalem.  The everlasting city on a hill.  They will go out no more.  This means there is nothing lacking and there is no more uncertainty.  This speaks of the permanent presence of this pillar.

 

Revelation 3:13

Philadelphia is known as Alasehir today.  One source said a nominal presence of the church was there until World War I.

What does the Spirit say to the churches?  The Holy Spirit has much more to say than what I captured.  But maybe we can grab just three points to ponder on:

1. Jesus is holy and True.  He is truth and alone is qualified to call the church to truth.  The truth leads one to holiness.  Jesus calls you to holiness.

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15)

 

2. Jesus holds the keys.  He alone controls who comes in.  There is no other way.  He is The Way, The Truth and The Life.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2)

"Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

 

3. He's coming soon & quickly.  We've all seen the world change so drastically in just days and months.  There's no reason to believe it's going to slow down.  The rate of change (think tachy) is accelerating.  Hold fast to what you have.  You are meeting satanic opposition as individuals and the as the church.  If you don't know what those things are, today is the day to find them. 

⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"

⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

(John 60:67-70)

Even those who walked with Jesus were tempted to slip away, constantly tried and tested.  Coming to church doesn't solidify your place any more than it did for the disciples who walked with Jesus. 

In spite of persecution.  At all or any cost, we persevere.   Perseverance is like testing out of the Great Tribulation.  Those who persevere will be kept 'from' the hour of trial. 

 

©2021 Doug Ford