Revelation 3:7-13

6. Philadelphia: The church of brotherly love

Background:  Philadelphia was the youngest city of the seven mentioned in the letters. The city was established in 189 BC and was named after two brothers who ruled over the area and who displayed great love for each other. Coins have been found in the area with these two brothers images on them. The name Philadelphia actually means "one who loves his brother". This area had many excellent vineyards and the abundant wine made drunkenness the major social problem. Philadelphia was a missionary center for spreading the Greek language and culture to many other areas. The city suffered many earthquakes so she never became a great city. The church at Philadelphia suffered at the hands of a large Jewish community but many Jews actually did find their Messiah in Christianity.

Prophetic application of this church on earth is from about 1730 AD., until the rapture.

This missionary and evangelical church started with the great western revivals. The Bible came into common usage in common languages during this period and people began reading and obeying what the Bible taught. The great missionary movements and revivals began when overcomers in Sardis believed and taught the truths in scripture that had been forgotten or that had been replaced with the theologies of denominational theologians. During this period, the good news of God's grace was brought to all the nations and the teaching from scripture about His imminent return and his second coming to set up a physical kingdom on earth was restored. Many in this church walked with God like Enoch, and like Enoch, the faithful may also be removed without seeing death 300 years after the walk began.

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;

The only one that qualifies is our risen Lord. The key of David is the key that Eliakim of the Old Testament carried as the head of the household of David. Eliakim alone had the authority to allow or deny audience with King David. Jesus as high priest opens the door for access to the Father and no one but Jesus can open that door or shut that door.

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.

This church has an open door before it. This is reflected in the work of evangelism and missions that many in this church accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. The power that came from the Holy Spirit is where this church gets her strength but her power is limited because she is a small minority and she does not have much influence over others who identify with Christianity.

Jesus said this church kept his word. He is referring to His "holy word" the Bible. This is the only  church that obeyed the word of God to take the good news to the whole world. Philadelphia not only believed the word of God but she obeyed the word.  This church has not denied that Jesus is the Savior (His name) even when it became popular for those who identify with Christianity to have a "many ways to God theology.

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.

The church at Philadelphia in the first century was persecuted by those who called themselves Jews but were of the synagogue of Satan according to Jesus. Jesus is saying that all Jews who persecuted this church will someday acknowledge that Jesus loves His Church. This passage also makes it clear that there will be an actual time of judgment in the presence of the saints that rule and reign with Jesus.

The prophetic application of this passage is talking about Jewish persecution on true Jews who found their Messiah. This has been happening from the time of John even until today. Jews who convert to Christianity are ostracized by their family and friends. The passage most likely also indicates a much greater fulfillment of Jew on Jew persecution that remains in the future.

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.

The word of His patience is the message about His second coming. Today many in the church are saying they do not expect Jesus anytime soon. In fact, some believe Jesus may not physically come back at all or at least not until the world is Christianized. Conversely, most in the Philadelphia Church are spreading the word that Jesus certainly is coming soon.

The Church is told that it will be kept "from" or literally "out of" ("ek" is used in the Greek and it actually means "out of") the time of trial that shall come on all that live on the earth. Since it is coming on the entire world this means that she will not be on earth for this trial. This time of trial is the great tribulation described later in this book. The time of trial for the world will come to test the world to see if they will believe God and accept the truth about the coming Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus or if they will believe the lies of the Beast Antichrist and become a member of the counterfeit kingdom that will lead them to their own destruction.

The assembly identified with Philadelphia has no reason to be tested since those in Her already believe. The faithful in this assembly will be taken before the judgment as Enoch was, because they are already walking with God because His spirit is in them.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Jesus said he will come very quickly or suddenly for this church. This church will not be on earth long. As Enoch walked with God three hundred years and was taken - so may this church. Jesus indicates that if these people hold fast and use their gifts until He comes they already have a crown assured to them. Scripture is also clear that it is possible for a believer to lose his crown to another believer if he stops doing the work God gave him to do.

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.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The overcomers in the church will be pillars in New Jerusalem; they will dwell with God forever. Revelation 3:12 of course is a figure of speech. Overcomers are not pillars they are people. Pillars are the main support for the temple. They will not go out of the temple because their bodies are the temple for the Spirit of God. The descriptions of the Holy City in the last Chapter s of this book also make it clear that there will be no physical temple structure in the eternal Holy City. The temple of the Holy City will be the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb and He will indwell His people.

Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

The words in this passage "I will write upon him my new name" is not in the original text. The text actually says "and my own new name I will write upon him" The passage literally means that Jesus will give those identified with Philadelphia a new identity. The new name He puts on these faithful followers is what He wants them to be known as for all eternity. For example - Simon's name was changed to Peter by Jesus (Peter in Greek means a rock or stone so Jesus changed Simon's name to Rocky).

The church identified with Philadelphia is the last of the two assemblies out of the seven that totally pleases Jesus. The other was the assembly identified with Smyrna that saw great persecution but still kept the faith.