part 13: Philadelphia: The Faithful Church
Puzzled About Revelation, June 10 2021
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…”
Introduction
So far, we have looked at: (1) Ephesus: The Loveless Church (2:1-7), (2) Smyrna: The Persecuted Church (2:8-11), (3) Pergamum: The Compromising Church (2:12-17), (4) Thyatira: The Corrupt Church (Rev. 2:18-29), and (5) Sardis: The Dead Church (3:1-6).
This week, we will study(6) Philadelphia: The Faithful Church (Rev. 3:7-13)… One of two churches NOT CRITICIZED in their evaluation by the Lord Jesus.
5-fold pattern: Christ, Commendation, Criticism, Instruction, Promise
Call to hear: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22).
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
I. PHILADELPHIA: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Philadelphia (“city of brotherly love”) was founded around 140 BC by Attalus II (nickname: Philadelphos – “one who loves his brother”) because of the extraordinary way he loved his brother.
o Present-day Alashir, Turkey (means “city of God” in Arabic).
“Missionary city” to spread Greek language and culture to the recently annexed regions of Mysia, Lydia & Phrygia in Asia Minor.
Held the “key” to the door through which all East-West commerce passed.
o Economically prosperous city due to agriculture (wine industry) because ofthe rich, fertile soils from the active volcanic area.
Earthquakes were common:
o Commentator Darrell Johnson states: “Whenever a quake struck, the people of Philadelphia would flee the city. When the aftershocks subsided, they would return. The people of Philadelphia were, therefore, ‘always going out and coming in; they were always fleeing the city and returning to it.’”
o In 17AD, a devastating earthquake struck the region and levelled 12 cities, including Sardis and Philadelphia…a spirit of fear prevailed in the region for years. As a result, Emperor Tiberius exempted the city from paying taxes for 5 years.
“Neo Caesarea” (“new city of Caesar”) in honour of Tiberius Caesar. However, many felt abandonedand disillusioned that the emperor did not do more for the city; when Emperor Domitian came along, he ordered all the vineyards to be pulled up because they rivalled Rome’s, and he wanted theirs to be the most prosperous—economically crushed & deep feelings of betrayal.
Large Jewish population—taxes exempted them from emperor worship.
Despite its “LITTLE STRENGTH,” the church here ENDURED longer than any of the other seven—until AD 1392.
II. PHILADELPHIA: THE FAITHFUL CHURCH (Rev. 3:7-13)
3:7a: To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…
John was instructed by Jesus to write to the angel (messenger, pastor) of the CHURCH. In those days, churches were city-wide assemblies; there were NO DENOMINATIONS.
Christ
3:7b: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Him who is holy and true: Jesus is revealed as both HOLY—set apart from sinners—and TRUE—in Him there is no lie, falsehood, or deception. See Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18.
Who holds the key of David:David was a shepherd-king; keys refer to the one who has the power and authority to open the gate and allow entrance into the fold/kingdom. The one who holds the key is the true Steward over God’s household, the true Shepherd of the sheep, and the true Heir to the throne and kingdom of David. See Isaiah 22:15-25.
“In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ”
The God of “open doors”: Jesus is the One who both opens and shuts the door for the sheep to go through, speaking of His provision and protection. Jesus is also the Door of salvation through whom we must be saved, and He also opens the door of mission. See Matt. 23:13; John 10:1-10; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12.
Commendations & promises
3:8: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Commendation #1: In spite having “little strength” (lit. power, ability), this church had been FAITHFUL to KEEP (Gk. tereo = to guard, obey, keep, protect, preserve) Jesus’ word and not deny His name in the face of severe opposition.
Promise #1: OPPORTUNITY: Jesus gives this church the promise of OPEN DOORS—opportunities for the Gospel to go forth and grow!
3:9: I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Commendation #2: They were LOVED by Jesus—what an encouraging truth!
Promise #2: They would receive VINDICATION from their enemies—those who were liars and false religious professors—that they were true disciples of Jesus.
3:10: Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Commendation #3: They had KEPT (Gk. tereo = to guard, obey, keep, protect, preserve) Jesus’ command to ENDURE PATIENTLY.
Promise #3: DIVINE PROTECTION from the “time of testing” that will come upon the WHOLE WORLD.
Criticism
NO CRITICISM of this FAITHFUL assembly of believers!
Instruction
3:11: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Instruction #1: SPIRITUAL URGENCY: Jesus coming will be “soon” (lit. quickly). See Rev. 1:3.
Instruction #2: SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS: They were to watch out for “thieves and robbers” who would attempt to steal their “crown.” See John 10:1,10.
Q: What “crown” is being spoken of here? Does this imply that believers can lose their salvation?
A: No. Believers can never lose their salvation or have their names blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. However, we can lose our reward due to unconfessed sin or spiritual laziness.
See John 10:27-30; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 9:24-27.
3:12: The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. (Promises #4&5)
Promise #4: SECURITY: Like the PILLARS carved into and supporting the pagan temples in Philadelphia, overcomers are promised strength, stability, security, and beauty in the house of God! And they will never leave it! Hallelujah!
Promise #5: IDENTITY: Jesus will give overcomers something even better than Caesar could offer: a new name and a new identity in Him that will last throughout eternity in the New Jerusalem—the “city with foundations” (Heb. 11:10).
3:13: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Lessons for Today: Here are some lessons we can learn from this letter to the Church in Philadelphia:
1. Where do we find our identity?
2. Where does our sense of peace &security come from?
3. Where do we need the encouragement that Jesus is the God of “open doors”?
This world wants to offer us its own satanic counterfeits (i.e. “mark of the Beast”) to the true peace, security and identity that are ours in Christ Jesus. He is our Shepherd-King and the true Son of David, who opens doors and shuts doors, leading us on to our eternal home. He is our Provider, Protector, and Promise-Keeper!
“ Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
HE IS FAITHFUL! AMEN!
Bonus: Is the “Rapture” in Rev. 3:10?
Rev. 3:10: “I will also KEEP (Gk. tereo = to guard, obey, keep, protect, preserve) you from the HOUR OF TRIAL (lit. “time of testing”) that is going to come on the whole world to TEST the inhabitants of the earth.”
This verse is often one of the key verses used to support the pre-trib rapture theory. The claim is that “KEEP FROM” (Gk. tereo ek) means to be TAKEN OUT of the world before the tribulation. Is this an accurate interpretation?
In CONTEXT, we have already seen that the best way to interpret the Greek word tereo is “to guard, protect, preserve” (See Rev. 3:8,10). This does not necessarily mean “to take out” or “take away”. It simply means “to protect” or keep safe.
o God protected Noah and his family from the flood in the ark; God protected Israel from the plagues on Egypt; God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. In each case, they were NOT TAKEN OUT but PRESERVED or PROTECTED THROUGH!
The Apostle John, who wrote Revelation, also wrote the Gospel of John where he used the same Greek words: “My prayer is NOT that you take them out (Gk. tereo ek) of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15).
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
o Rev. 14:9-13 also reveals that those who are FAITHFUL and who KEEP (Gk. tereo – v.12) God’s Word at the time of the “mark of the Beast” will be protected and preserved even in their death (See Rev. 14:13; 20:4-6).
This is a promise of divine PROTECTION from the “TIME OF TESTING” that will come upon the WHOLE WORLD. What is this “time of testing”? Many believe this refers to the tribulation period or the time of wrath at Jesus’ coming. While it is true that believers are saved from the wrath of God (See 1 Thess. 5:9), is there more to this?
o The same word for “trial” (NIV) here is also used to speak of a TEST or TEMPTATION, as when Jesus was tempted or tested by Satan in the wilderness (See Matt. 4:1-11; Lk. 4:1-13). Could it be that there will be a final TEST or TEMPTATION by Satan that will affect every individual on the earth? The Bible seems to indicate so. Consider Revelation 14:9-12:
“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
I believe the “hour of trial,” or “time of testing,” is the time of the Antichrist and the “Mark of the Beast”, when Satan will be allowed to sift the church and test true believers while exposing hypocrites and false professors for who they really are—liars! True believers will be protected and preserved from the evil one, though many will pay the price of their lives (See Rev. 7:14; 12:11; 14:13; 20:4), they will receive an eternal reward!
