7“Write this letter to the leader of the church in Philadelphia.
“This message is sent to
you by the one who is holy and true and has the key of David to open what no
one can shut and to shut what no one can open.
8“I know you well; you
aren’t strong, but you have tried to obey b
and have not denied my Name. Therefore, I have opened a door to you that no one can
shut.
9“Note this: I will
force those supporting the causes of Satan while claiming to be mine c
(but they aren’t—they are lying) to fall at
your feet and acknowledge that you are the ones I love.
10“Because
you have patiently obeyed me despite the persecution, therefore I will protect you from the time of Great
Tribulation and temptation, d which will
come upon the world to test everyone alive. 11Look, I am coming soon! e
Hold tightly to the little
strength you have—so that no one will take away your crown.
12“As for the one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; he will be secure and will go out no more; and I will write my God’s Name on him, and he will be a citizen in the city of my God—the New
Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from my
God; and he will have my new Name inscribed
upon him.
13“Let all who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.[1]
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G. The Message to
Philadelphia: The Church That Is Faithful & Alive, Revelation 3:7–13 |
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1. The
Recipients (Re. 3:7). |
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2. The
Speaker: Jesus (Re. 3:7). |
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1. The
recipients a. The messenger of
the church b.The
Philadelphian churchDS1 2. The
speaker: Jesus |
7 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; |
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3. The
commendation a. They had made
great use of the open door of evangelism & missions b. They had kept
Christ’s Word c. They had not
denied the Lord’s name |
8 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 hast not
denied my name. |
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4. The
two great hopes a. There will be
great vindication: The persecutors of the believers will either be saved or judged
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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. |
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b. There will be
great deliverance: From the hour of trial, a period of great tribulation
coming upon the earth |
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. |
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5. The
counsel: Christ is coming soon; therefore, hold fast |
11 Behold,
I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. |
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6. The
promise: To the overcomers a. Will be made a
permanent part of God’s house b. Will receive
security c. Will receive
God’s name, belonging to Him d. Will receive the
name, be made citizens of God’s city e. Will receive the
Lord’s new name, known only to God |
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. |
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13 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. |
B. THE DEDICATED CHURCH REVELATION 3:7–13
The church in Philadelphia is the sixth of the seven churches addressed in this book of Revelation. It was an unusually dedicated church.
1.
The Church (Revelation 3:7)
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write” (Revelation 3:7). “Dr. Clovis Chappell said, ‘Were it my privilege to go back across the years and attend a service at one of these seven churches, I think I should choose the church at Philadelphia’ ” (Strauss). Philadelphia was located some thirty miles southeast of Sardis towards Laodicea (the city of the seventh church). It was located near Mount Timolus, which was in an area that had a devastating earthquake in the first century which completely destroyed Sardis and severely hurt Philadelphia, but it was rebuilt, and a testimony for Christ was established. The church in Philadelphia and Smyrna are the only churches that have nothing condemnatory about it in these seven letters in Revelation.
2.
The Christ (Revelation 3:7)
“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” (Revelation 3:7). Two things are said about Christ
here which are related to what was said of Him in the first chapter of
Revelation.
• His character. “He that is holy,
he that is true” (Revelation 3:7). This speaks of sterling character,
which is represented by the “white” of his hair (“as white as snow” [Revelation 1:14]) and by the appearance of His
eyes and feet and countenance all of which not only spoke of judgment but spoke
of His holiness which demanded judgment. Christ is wholly without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Christ is truth (John 14:6).
• His control. “He that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (Revelation 3:7). This statement compares to Revelation 1:18 “I … have the keys of hell and of death.” Having the key of David indicates the earthly lineage of Christ, which entitled Him to the throne of David, which also speaks of control. Christ controls the eternal destiny of the sinner. Once they are in hell, they cannot get out. He has locked them in hell. What a horrible thing to be without soul salvation.[2]
G. The Message to Philadelphia: The Church That Is Faithful and Alive, Revelation
3:7–13
(Revelation 3:7–13) Introduction: Have you ever seen a
church that is alive and faithful to Christ? A church that focuses upon Jesus
Christ? A church that makes Jesus Christ the center of its ministries and
activities? A church that focuses upon reaching and growing people for Christ?
A church that focuses upon teaching people to love Christ and to love one
another more and more? This was the church at Philadelphia. The very word Philadelphia means brotherly love or one who loves his brother.
The believers at Philadelphia loved Christ; therefore, they gave their hearts
and lives to Christ. They lived like Christ said to live, and they carried out
the mission of Christ upon earth. The church at Philadelphia was alive and
faithful. It represents all the churches down through the ages that are alive
and faithful. It shows us exactly what Christ wants a church to be.
Note: there is no complaint or warning against this church. Jesus Christ has only praise and exhortation for the church that is alive and faithful.
1. The Recipients (Revelation 3:7).
2. The Speaker: Jesus (Revelation 3:7).
3. The commendation (v.8).
4. The two great hopes (vv.9–10).
5. The counsel: Christ is coming soon; therefore, hold fast (v.11).
6. The promise: to the overcomers (vv.12–13).
1 (Revelation 3:7)
Minister—Church: there are
the recipients of the letter. The letter is addressed to the minister of
the church, but the Lord expects the minister to share it with the church. The
church was alive and faithful to Christ, and it was up to the minister to keep
the church focused upon the mission of Christ. The minister was the
God-appointed leader to keep the church alive and faithful. The church would
most likely remain alive and faithful if the minister would …
· live in the Word of God
· live on his face in prayer
· preach and teach the Word of God
· exhort the believers to live for
Christ, to study the Word, pray, witness, and minister faithfully
· lead the church to set up ministries
that would reach the lost, build up the believers, minister to the needy, and
reach out to the world by supporting worldwide missions
If the minister slacked up or failed in any of these, the church would lose some of its focus upon Jesus Christ. It would no longer be as alive or faithful as it should be. But if the minister remained diligent, alive, and faithful himself, the likelihood is that the church would stay alive and faithful to Christ. This is the reason Christ addresses the letter to the minister.
DEEPER STUDY # 1
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(Revelation 3:7)
Philadelphia: there are five
historical facts that seem to have a bearing upon the message to the church. 1. Philadelphia was founded as a border
town to spread Greek culture to surrounding areas. In fact, it was situated
right on the borders of Lydia, Mysia, and Phrygia. The church knew exactly
what it meant to be missionary minded, to have an open door for the spread of
the gospel (Re. 3:8; see Ac. 14:27; 1 Co.
16:9; 2 Co. 2:12; Col. 4:3). |
2 (Revelation 3:7) Jesus Christ—Church: there is the speaker,
the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What Jesus Christ says about Himself speaks to
the heart of the church that is alive and faithful.
1.
Jesus Christ is holy. The
word holy is a description of God
Himself. Jesus Christ is claiming to have the very same nature as God the
Father, to be perfectly holy even as God is perfectly holy. Remember that holiness means to be set apart and
different from all other beings, completely and totally set apart. Christ is
supremely holy. He reaches the summit of being different from all other beings.
This means something significant for the church that is alive and faithful. It
means they are worshipping and following God Himself by following Christ. By
giving their hearts and lives to Christ, they are giving themselves to the
sovereign Majesty and supreme Force of the universe, to the Most Holy God
Himself. The church is, therefore, under His care and love. Christ Jesus, the
Most Holy God, will look after and take care of the church if the church will
just continue to be alive and faithful.
×
“Exalt
the Lord our God, and worship at
his holy hill; for the Lord our
God is holy” (Ps. 99:9).
×
“And
one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full
of his glory” (Is. 6:3).
×
“Which
of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me” (Jn. 8:46).
×
“For
of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed” (Ac. 4:27).
×
“By
stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by
the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Ac. 4:30).
×
“For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him” (2 Co. 5:21).
×
“For
we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (He. 4:15).
×
“For
such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (He.
7:26).
× “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Re. 15:4).
2.
Jesus Christ is the One who is true. The
word true (alethinos) means the true as opposed to the false, the genuine as
opposed to the counterfeit, the real as opposed to the unreal. Jesus Christ is
the true, genuine, and real God. He is the only living and true God. There is
none other. All the other gods worshipped by men are false, counterfeit, and
unreal. This, too, means a wonderful thing. God is not far off in outer space
someplace, too far off to be known or reached. He is not the shadowy figure
that most men imagine Him to be. God is not distant from us. He has not left us
in the dark to grope and grasp and to stumble about trying to find Him. God
does not hate us; He has not left us in the dark about Himself. God loves us.
He has revealed Himself to us. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to bring the truth
to us. Therefore, in worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ we are worshipping the
only true and living God. What the faithful church must do is continue to
follow Christ, continue to make Him the focus of all that it does. When the
church makes Him the center of all its ministries, activities, and meetings,
then the church is following the truth—following Him who is true.
×
“That
was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Jn. 1:9).
×
“And
the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).
×
“Then
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that
bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven” (Jn. 6:32).
×
“Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6).
×
“I am
the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” (Jn.
15:1).
×
“Pilate,
therefore, said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest
that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth
heareth my voice” (Jn. 18:37).
× “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth” (1 Jn. 2:8).
3.
Jesus Christ alone is the key of David, the key that “opens, and no
man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens.” What is the key of David? There
is an event in the Old Testament that tells us. King Hezekiah had a faithful
servant who was named Eliakim. This servant was the personal secretary to king
Hezekiah; he was put in complete charge of the king’s affairs. No one could
gain entrance into the king’s presence without coming through Eliakim. This
servant alone determined who entered the king’s court. God spoke to Isaiah the
prophet one day and said the following words:
×
“And
the key of the house of David will I lay upon his [Eliakim’s] shoulder; so he
shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Is. 22:22).
The
key of David is the symbol of authority. Jesus Christ alone opens and
shuts the door into God’s court and presence. He alone determines who lives in
heaven with God the Father. He alone grants entrance into the presence of God.
The door into heaven is opened and closed by Him and Him alone. No other person
or being has that authority. Jesus Christ alone holds the key to open and shut
the door to life eternal. Therefore, the church that focuses upon Jesus Christ
can be assured: that it shall live forever. When the time comes, Jesus Christ
shall open the door of heaven. The church that takes all its ministries, activities,
and meetings and makes Jesus Christ the center of them all—that church shall
live forever.
×
“And
hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of
man” (Jn. 5:27).
×
“For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Ti. 2:5).
×
“Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (He.
7:25).
×
“But
now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (He. 8:6).
×
“And
for this cause, he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (He. 9:15).
×
“For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us” (He. 9:24).
×
“And
to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel” (He.
12:24).
× “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2:1).[3]
THE OBEDIENT CHURCH / REVELATION 3:7–13
About twenty-five miles southeast of Sardis, on a
high plateau, sat the city of Philadelphia. The city was also about one hundred
miles due east of Smyrna (another city on the letter carrier’s route).
Christ had no words of rebuke
for this church. Though small and struggling, the church in Philadelphia had
stayed true to Christ, and he told them simply to hold on to what they had.
“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.” Re. 3:7 NIV
Philadelphia had
been founded by the citizens of Pergamum in a frontier area as a gateway to the
central plateau of Asia Minor. Trade routes leading to Mysia, Lydia, and
Phrygia merged in Philadelphia. Rome’s imperial postal route also went through
Philadelphia, earning the city the name Gateway to the East. Plains to the
north were suitable for growing grapes, so Philadelphia’s economy was based on
agriculture and industry. The earthquake of a.d.17
that had destroyed Sardis had also been particularly devastating to
Philadelphia because the city was near a fault line, and it had suffered many
aftershocks. This kept the people worried, causing most of them to live outside
the city limits.
After the earthquake,
Philadelphia received help for rebuilding from Rome. In appreciation, the
citizens changed the name of the city to Neocaesarea. Later, the name became
Flavia, and then Little Athens because of its many temples and religious
festivals. Grapes were an important crop for Philadelphia, and wine-making was
an important industry. Worship of Dionysus may have been the main religion.
Philadelphia was a small church
in a difficult area with no prestige and no wealth, discouraged because it
hadn’t grown. But Christ had no words of rebuke for this small, seemingly
insignificant church, and he described himself to the church in Philadelphia as
him who is
holy and true. This title (also translated “Holy One”) was a
familiar title for God (see Isaiah 40:25; Habakkuk 3:3; Mark
1:24; John 6:69).
For Christ to hold the key of David means that he has the authority to open the door to his future kingdom. This alludes to an event recorded in Isaiah 22:15–25 when the official position of secretary of state in Judah was taken from Shebna and given to Eliakim. God, through Isaiah, said to Eliakim: “I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. He will open doors, and no one will be able to shut them; he will close doors, and no one will be able to open them” (Isaiah 22:22 nlt). Christ holds absolute power and authority over entrance into his future kingdom. After the door is opened, no one can shut it—salvation is assured. Once it is shut, no one can open it—judgment is certain.[4]
Revelation 3:7-13 This Message Is Sent to You by The One Who Is Holy And True.
b 3:8 you have tried to obey, literally, “you have kept my word.”
c 3:9, while claiming to be mine, literally, “say they are Jews but are
not.”
d 3:10
I will protect you from the time
of Great Tribulation and temptation, or “I will keep you from failing in
the hour of testing.” The inference is not clear in Greek as to whether this
means “kept from” or “kept through” the coming horror.
e 3:11 soon, or “suddenly,” “unexpectedly.”
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
DS Deeper Study
[2] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
NIV
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission
of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
[4] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation.
Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishers.
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