7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 3:7-13
Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love’. It is not mentioned anywhere else in the bible, but Paul and other disciples most likely passed through it on their missionary journeys. It was established by two brothers who were rulers, known for their loyalty to each other. This city had connecting routes to other cities and was therefore established as a centre of education, for spreading the Greek language and culture to Phrygia.
It was a city prone to earthquakes, because of which there isn’t a lot left of it anymore. Despite the earthquakes, some people still lived in the city, but lived outdoors and away from buildings. Most people lived in the countryside and were farmers. The city was characterised by damaged buildings.
In AD 17 it faced a devastating earthquake. The Roman Emperor Tiberius relieved the people of Philadelphia of having to pay taxes for a period of five years to help them, resulting in an imperial cult being established in his honour and the city being renamed ‘Neocaeserea’.
It reverted back to being called Philadelphia a few decades later, but the name was changed to Flavia Philadelphia in when Flavius Vespasian became emperor in AD 69. It remained known as Philadelphia till 1390 when the Ottoman Empire took over. Today, it is called Alasehir.
In the light of this context, read through the letter Jesus wrote to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. God always speaks to our specific situation, and He does so here as well.
Philadelphia continued to be prone to earthquakes, but people continued living there. They persevered, never gave up and looked out for one another. It eventually became a prosperous city, and served as a communications hub, with a lot of people coming and going through the city.
“These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens:
Revelation 3:7
What do we learn about Jesus?
He is the Holy one; there is no one like Him.
He is the True one; He is the truth.
He has the key to the house of David; only through Him there is salvation. Jesus has keys to the Kingdom. Only through Him we have restored relationship with the Father. He fulfilled all the prophecies of the coming Messiah and through Him, and Him alone, we are saved. Through Him and Him alone, we can spend eternity with the God.
He opens and no one will shut, and He who shuts and no one opens; Jesus has opened the door to salvation and no one can shut this door. Some may choose to ignore it. Some may choose to pretend it isn’t there. Some may even try to block it for others. But Jesus has kept this door open. So choose to walk through it.
I know your deeds. See, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, for you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not renounced or denied My name.
Revelation 3:8
I know your deeds. As with the other letters, Jesus told the church in Philadelphia that He knew their works. He saw them and all that they have done and been through.
He sees you. He knows all that you have been through.
I have set before you and open door which no one is able to shut: He has opened the door to salvation. The door to the Truth. The door to following where God leads. The door of opportunity for missions to others.
You have a little power – Don’t we feel like that sometimes? They were small in number, helpless against the natural disasters that occurred in the form of earthquakes.
…and have kept My word…: They have remained faithful to God, following all the teachings of Jesus. In an environment where other gods were worshipped, and an being a part of an imperial cult was popular, they remained faithful.
…and have not renounced or denied My name: Despite external pressure, they held onto God. They walked through the door that Jesus had opened and remained confident in their decision.
Take note, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet and make them know [without any doubt] that I have loved you.
Revelation 3:9
The synagogue of Satan is referred to again; these were people who claimed to believe in Israel’s God, but did not in reality. Where Jesus was opening doors for people to salvation, they were closing doors, preventing people from entering the physical temple by marginalising Jewish believers in their synagogue.
I will make them come and bow down at your feet: Reference to an Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah where God told the Israelites that the Gentiles would bow at their feet. These fake believers will bow down at the feet of God’s people. This reaffirms that through the salvation of Jesus, the door that has been opened to all people, and those who believe are children of God. We are God’s people. We belong to the family of God.
…I will make them know I have loved you.: Man-made rules have no power. God confirms the faithfulness of the Philadelphians and His love for His people.
Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept the word of My endurance: They have been a church that persevered, despite the physical (earthquakes) and societal (synagogue of Satan, imperial cult) issues they faced.
I will keep you safe from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.: The church in Philadelphia have shown their faithfulness. To the church in Smyrna (the only other church that has nothing against them), Jesus said that to him who overcomes, they will not be hurt by the second death. Likewise, Jesus tells this church as well that they will be safe from the hour of trial.
I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith].
Revelation 3:11
Jesus encouraged them to keep persevering. Just as He told the church in Smyrna, Jesus promised the church in Philadelphia that they would receive the crown of life. This is a door that Jesus has opened and no one can shut!
He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God; he will most certainly never be put out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My [own] new name.
Revelation 3:12
What will happen to the person who overcomes?
I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God: Imagine being in an earthquake-prone area, where you are probably used to buildings falling apart around you. Occasionally the ground shakes beneath your feet. You along with the your friends and family, would run out to place that is safe till the ground stopped shaking. In this context, Jesus tells them that they will be pillars of His temple. Pillars are designed to hold up a building. The faithfulness and devotion of the Philadelphian church is so strong, they can be pillars of God’s temple! Historians often marvelled at the fact that the Philadelphians continued to live in that city despite the earthquakes. But their resilience speaks volumes, and is evident in their faith. They will not be only be in a place that is stable, but their faithfulness will add to that stability.
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” 17 Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ].
Matthew 16:16-18
Jesus built the church on the foundation of the truth of who He is. ‘ You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’
Are we people on whom God can rely to be pillars of His church?
He will most certainly not be put out of it: Again in the context of a synagogue culture of exclusion and marginalisation, Jesus tells the church that they will never be taken out.
It is a door that no one can shut!
They will have a place in eternity where they will belong and they can stay with God. Even though they were pushed out of the synagogue, they will always be a part of God’s temple.
And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the City of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My new name: Pillars were engraved and inscribed with various and emblems and inscriptions. Jesus tells the people of Philadelphia that He will write His Name on them. For a city that has been renamed several times based on various leaders, God will write His name. We belong to God; we are made in His image. What a blessing it is to have God’s name written on us. We belong to him!
As an aside, consider this: where do you see yourself when you read about these churches?
You may feel like you can’t measure up to some of them. Or you might feel like you are doing better than some of them. Or, you might feel like you’re somewhere in between, slowing growing in your faith and still figuring things out. Wherever you are, don’t let these letters discourage you. Rather, use them as an opportunity for self-examination. Where can you grow in your faith? Are there times when you question who God is? What can you do to know Him better? These letters could have been written specifically to these churches and left at that. But they are here now for us to read, and that isn’t for historical interest, but rather, for us to learn from and be encouraged.
Jesus has opened a door that no one can shut; do you truly believe that?
Have you fully walked through that door or do you have only one foot over the threshold?
The church in Philadelphia held fast to what they knew – that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, and the Son of the Living God. That Jesus died for all our sins and rose from the dead, and has conquered sin and death. That we have the Holy Spirit to confirm this truth and empower us to further God’s kingdom here on earth.
Do you believe this? Do you hold fast to this?
ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR MUST LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES.