Revelation 3b

Philadelphia (lover of the brethren)

Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven cities. It was founded to be an outpost for the Greek way of life, and it was used to push Greek culture beyond its current boundaries toward the east. Philadelphia was a missionary city to deliver the Greek culture further east. 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 the "Gateway to the East."

All this made Philadelphia a prosperous city known for its commercial and agricultural importance. It was particularly known for its grape crops and wine production in honor of its patron deity, Dionysus, the god of wine. Like all the other cities, Philadelphia was very religious. It was full of beautiful temples and buildings, and because there were so many gods and temples, it was also called “Little Athens.”

Like several of the other seven cities, this city was built on a major fault line. It was subsequently destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD. The Roman emperors rebuilt it, including 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 its glory days were in the past.

Revelation 3:7

Once again, among all this culture of pagan gods and immorality, we find the church.

The descriptions of Jesus don’t come from the first chapter like most of them. To this church, Jesus identified Himself as:

He who is Holy
- Holy means He is set apart, far above and beyond the ways of man or the ways of the world.
He who is true
- 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.
He who has the key of David
- This speaks of the right to rule. It comes from Isaiah 22:22. God calls for leaders who lead and shepherd as He would, those who glorify His name.
He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.
- The holder of the keys has the authority to determine who will enter in and who will be shut out.

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.

The Jews saw themselves as having those keys. They usurped the authority and claimed to determine who would enter the synagogue. We find out later, this synagogue wasn’t worth entering. This gathering of Jews had lost their way.

Despite the appearance, Jesus is the ultimate keeper of the keys. The church of Philadelphia needed to know this. Faithful and true don'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 when churches are splitting over politics, cultural issues, and the color of the carpet. We live in times where we see churches becoming outright apostates to please people and powers of the world.

Jesus held the key and was the authority. He quotes Isaiah 22:20-23.

The key of the house of David

I will lay on his shoulder;

So he shall open, and no one shall shut;

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place,

And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house. (Isaiah 22:22-23)

The context of the above verse is that Assyria was threatening the land of Judah. They responded to the threat by seeking the assistance of Egypt. 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 named 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.

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.

Those within the church knew what it was to be locked out. They were likely kicked out of the synagogue. Believers can be lonely in this world. That’s why we need each other. Jesus reminded them He held the keys. He opened and shut doors at will.

Revelation 3:8

I know your works

James 1:22-25 displays a doer of works as a natural occurrence of the faithful.
James 2:14-24 – faith and work go hand in hand. Faith without works is dead. Faith is demonstrated by works.
Matthew 23:1-12 teaches us that we are to be about works of service done in humility, not concerned about our appearance before men. Our works aren’t done to impress others.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15 teaches that Jesus is the foundation of the church. We are called to build on this foundation. Each one’s works will become clear. The day will declare the nature of our work. Fire will test each one’s works.
Ephesians 2:10 teaches we are created for good works.
Colossians 1:10 tells us to walk worthy, being fruitful in every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 informs us that we are equipped for every good work.

Titus 1:16 tells of people who profess the Lord by their works den Him.
Hebrews 10:23-25 – we are to stir up good works in one another as we fellowship.

Every one of the seven churches were known by their works before the Lord. This is a kind of resume of the church, showing their character, perseverance, and heart. The works were not measured by quantity, quality, or volume but revealed by the heart of the people. Their works displayed their devotion to the Lord. The willingness of those who pressed on in the face of persecution displayed a work that was based in strong faith.

The Lord set an open door before the church of Philadelphia. They were not timid about stepping through that door and entering into that work. They would not be denied. This was a ministry opportunity. They were a people and place to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, called and equipped by the Holy Spirit. 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, and 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 what was nearby. 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 ratio. God never got hung up on size, and we shouldn’t either. We see the church when two or more 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. When a small church believes it’s powerless, they are insulting Jesus.

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.

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. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts 14:27-28)

People can see through the phony religious façade. All mankind longs 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 in Christ alone, revealed through His word.

This church did not deny the name of Jesus in a world where many did. Would the Lord say the same about your church? Would He 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 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.

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. (Romans 2:28-29)

Jesus knew the real church. He wasn’t fooled by religious 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 promised that He would vindicate the Christians. Some of the Jews taught that the kings of the nations would bow before them in the end time. This idea comes from Isaiah

"Kings shall be your foster fathers,

And their queens your nursing mothers;

They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth,

And lick up the dust of your feet.

Then you will know that I am the Lord,

For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.” (Isaiah 49:23)

The evil will bow before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous. (Prov 14:19).

The Jews of that synagogue presume to be those who the nations will bow before. Those Jews will be among the unbelievers that bend their knee before God in the presence of the multitudes of believers. Those who slammed the door of the synagogue in the face of those followers of Jesus would come to know of Jesus’ love for the church of Philadelphia.

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 four times, it was translated as ‘patience,’ but the idea is the same in all uses. It is steadfast endurance.

The first use of this word in the New Testament is found in Luke:

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (steadfast endurance).

(Luke 8:5)

The picture of steadfast endurance is also seen in the words of Isaiah, speaking of the suffering servant, a glimpse of Christ:

The Lord God has opened My ear;

And I was not rebellious,

Nor did I turn away.

I gave My back to those who struck Me,

And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;

I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

“For the Lord God will help Me;

Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.

He is near who justifies Me;

Who will contend with Me?

Let us stand together. (Isaiah 50:5-8)

This same endurance is seen in Paul, who didn’t quit and 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. This church's perseverance and faithfulness didn't go unnoticed. Their small size had nothing to do with their ability to be faithful. They would be rewarded for their great faith, not their great size. Any church would do well to remember that. A church's faith 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" are 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 no 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 until 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. One's understanding of this phrase seems to be driven by one's view and timing regarding 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 or with suddeness. His soon coming is the idea it would be 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 three reasons to hold fast:

We must hold fast because we know something or someone is always trying to steal our hope.
We hold fast because someone is coming to rescue us.
We hold fast so that their crown wouldn’t be given to another. This is a crown of victory. The encouragement is run all the way to the end.

Never forget that the man most likely to steal your crown is yourself. ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). You are in no greater danger from anyone or anything than from yourself.” (Havner)

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 that He sent His son 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. The crown could not be taken away, but one could let go and allow the victory to go to another.

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)

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 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 to 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 of reasons:

First, they have their eyes on eternal honor and glory, not the accolades of man.
Second, the world would never award them in such a way. There was zero hope for a Christian to have their name honored by the world.

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 many came down. Even after being rebuilt, in time, they nearly all came down again. Those remaining pillars hold nothing up, but are a monument to a system that died away.

When Solomon’s temple was built, two brass pillars were placed at the entrance. The pillars were named Jachin and Boaz, meaning “He will establish” and “In Him is strength,” respectively. These pillars did not stand when the temple was destroyed, but their message was eternal. The promise of the pillars stands for all eternity.

Jesus offered a greater honor to the overcomer. He said the one who overcomes would not just have their name on a pillar but 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.

I can imagine craftsmen at the quarry making pillars for the temples of many gods. Each pillar would be marked for the god and temple. Those in Christ are pillars marked by and for Almighty God for the New Jerusalem.

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 Alaşehir today. One source said a nominal presence of the church was there until World War I. Theree are no apparent churches there today.

What does the Spirit say to the churches?

Revelation