<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Letter To Philadelphia (3:7-13) INTRODUCTION 1. Previously, we considered the letter to Sardis (Rev 3:1-6), in which Jesus... a. Condemned them for: 1) Having a name that they are alive but they were dead 2) Their works were not found perfect before God b. Warned them to: 1) Be watchful, for if they didn't He would come upon them as a thief 2) Strengthen the things which remain and are ready to die 3) Remember how they had received and heard 4) Hold fast and repent c. Acknowledged some members who had not defiled their garments d. Promised to all who would overcome: 1) They shall be clothed in white garments 2) Will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life 3) He will confess their names before His Father and before His angels 2. And from the letter to the church at Sardis we learn that Jesus... a. Judges us individually, not just congregationally (but we must not "defile our garments") b. Gives congregations and individuals the opportunity to repent, if they will heed Him 3. The sixth letter is written to the church in Philadelphia. Some background information... a. The city of Philadelphia 1. Inscriptions from Philadelphia mention the worship of Zeus and Hestia - ESV Study Bible 2. The Roman imperial cult was already present by the first century A.D. - ibid. 3. An inscription from a nearby town mentions a synagogue in that town - ibid. -- The cultural pressures to conform would have come from both Rome and Judaism b. The church at Philadelphia 1. It too may have begun through Paul's work while at Ephesus - cf. Ac 19:8-10 2. They had been faithful up to that point - Re 3:8 3. They later received a letter from the early church father Ignatius (c. a.d. 110) - ESV Study Bible 4. They suffered during the martyrdom of Polycarp (c. 155) - ibid. -- One generation was spared from "the hour of trial", evidently a later generation was not [Should an "hour of trial" come upon the world during our lifetime, will we spared the worst of it? Let's glean what we can from...] I. THE LORD'S SELF-DESIGNATION (7) A. "THESE THINGS SAYS HE WHO IS HOLY, HE WHO IS TRUE"... 1. This is the first of the letters not to take its description from the vision in chapter one 2. But Jesus is described this way later in Revelation - Re 6:10 -- "He is absolutely pure and separate from sin. 'True' can refer both to one who speaks truth, and who is genuine or authentic as opposed to fake." - MacArthur Study Bible B. "HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID"... 1. The description here is likely an messianic allusion taken from Isa 22:22 2. Initially describing Eliakim, steward of the house of King Hezekiah -- The significance of the statement may be that Jesus, as the Son of David (Mt 1:1), provides access to God and His Kingdom, but also to opportunities for service (see next) C. "HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS"... 1. He has authority to open or shut doors of opportunity - cf. 2Co 2:12 2. And no one can counteract what He chooses to do -- As with self-designations to the other churches, this one relates especially to the church addressed [Which is evident as we now consider...] II. THE LORD'S COMMENDATION (8) A. THE LORD HAS SET AN OPEN DOOR BEFORE THEM AND NONE CAN SHUT IT... 1. Perhaps a door of opportunity for the Word of God 2. Which is how Paul often used the metaphor of an "open door" - cf. 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3 -- Especially in view of what Jesus goes on to say is the reason why B. FOR THEY HAVE A LITTLE STRENGTH, HAVE KEPT HIS WORD, AND NOT DENIED HIS NAME... 1. With little strength they have kept His word, perhaps they will be given more opportunity to do so 2. They have not denied His name, but rather confessed it (unlike Peter on three occasions) -- Being faithful with little strength, they would be given opportunity to do more! - cf. Mk 4:23 [As with the church at Smyrna, there is no condemnation and warning to the church at Philadelphia, so we now move on to...] III. THE LORD'S PROMISE AND EXHORTATION (9-13) A. ABOUT THE "SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN" (WHO CLAIM TO BE JEWS, BUT ARE NOT)... 1. They are not real Jews in Christ's sight - cf. Jn 8:39; Ro 2:28-29 2. He will make them come and worship before their feet - cf. Isa 45:14; 60:14 3. He will make them know that He has loved those in Philadelphia 4. Perhaps when Christians are glorified when Jesus comes in glory - cf. 2Th 1:10,12 -- Another indication that a major source of persecution came from unbelieving Jews, not just pagan Rome B. BECAUSE THE CHURCH HAS KEPT HIS COMMAND TO PERSEVERE... 1. He will keep them from the hour of trial (a relatively short period of persecution) 2. Which shall come upon the whole world (i.e., the Roman Empire, cf. Lk 2:1) 3. To test those who dwell on the earth -- Those at Philadelphia had already passed their "test" C. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING QUICKLY... 1. Again, Revelation was about things that would shortly take place - Re 1:1,4; 22:6,10 2. Here He may be referencing His coming judgment against unfaithful Jerusalem and pagan Rome -- Especially as it relates to those who had been persecuting His church D. HOLD FAST WHAT THEY HAVE, THAT NO ONE MAY TAKE THEIR CROWN... 1. Spared the hour of trial, they still needed to "hold fast" (for many fall due to apathy) 2. They need to remain faithful unto death to receive the crown of life - Re 2:10 -- Many Christians lose their crown, not because of persecution, but simply for failing to "hold fast" regarding their salvation in Christ - cf. He 3:14; 4:11; 10:23,35,38 E. HE WHO OVERCOMES, THE LORD WILL... 1. Make him a pillar in the temple of His God, and he shall go out no more a. This may be a promise pertaining to "the intermediate state" - cf. Re 7:13-15 (note the reference to "temple") b. Whereas in "the eternal state" there is no temple as such - cf. Re 21:22 2. Write on him: a. The name of His God - cf. Re 7:3; 14:1 b. The name of the city of His God, the New Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from His God - cf. Re 21:2,10 c. His new name - cf. Re 22:4 -- As before, the promises relate to what is described later in Revelation, certainly intended to encourage hope and steadfastness to Jesus Christ! F. "HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES"... 1. Again, what Jesus had John write to each church was not just for that congregation 2. Every letter contained things that all churches then needed to hear 3. And the 7 letters were preserved so that churches today could hear what is needed to hear -- Brethren, are we listening? CONCLUSION 1. From the letter to the church at Philadelphia, we learn… a. That like the church at Smyrna, persecution at that time sometimes came from Jewish opposition b. That a church with little strength can be faithful to the Lord c. That Jesus may spare some churches from what may befall other churches 2. From the letter to the church at Philadelphia, we learn that Jesus... a. Requires faithful Christians to "hold fast", or they may lose their "crown" b. Offered promises that appear related to both the intermediate and eternal states of the righteous, as described later in the book of Revelation Next we shall consider the last of the seven letters, the one written to the church in Laodicea...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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