Letter to Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)
Introduction:
Located about 28 miles southeast from Sardis on the Cogamus River was the city of Philadelphia named after it's founder King Attalus Philedelphos II of Pergamum. The "city of brotherly love, or love for the brethern" was built out of affecdtion for his brother and predecessor Ecumenes II. This city was also known for its spreading of the Greek language and culture. Located on the major road between the east and the west, it was considered to be a wealthy trade center.
The epoch view of the letter to the church of Philadelphia is 1750 AD to 1900 AD. The church of Philadelphia called the "favored or loved church" received no reprimands from the Lord. This is the time period that launched the worldwide Missionary Movement. It was a time of restoration when they reclaimed the doctrines of "the Imminent Return of Christ, the Pre-Millennial Coming of Jesus to the Earth and the Rapture of His Bride." The Philadelphia church is a reversion to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna of the first three centuries. Exactly as Sardis came out of Thyatira, so Philadelphia came out of Sardis.
There were two fundamentals that began the Missionary Movement: (1) They were responsible for the Bible being printed in the language of the people, and making it available to read. Prior to then the commonplace people were forbidden to read it. (2) When the glad tidings came forth from the anointed pages, the doctrine of the Imminent Return of Christ for His people (at the Rapture), the second coming of Christ, the Millennial Reign of of Christ, and all of the time of the end doctrines were regenerated. These cardinal teachings made great contributions in the first 300 years of the church. This evangelistically minded congregation had a mind to reach the whole world. While anticipating the Lord's return they were obediently preparing themselves to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28: 19, 20).
(V7) "And to the angel of the 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."
(V7) The Lord appears to the Philadelphian church as He who is Holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, who shuts and no one opens. In other words, He has adminisrative power and undisputable control: the open door that the Jewish synagogue and heathen cults had no power to shut if the God-given opportunity to preach Christ to everyone who has a listening ear. The key of David is an old testament allusion to the perfect sovereignty of God in opening doors and shutting mouths. (See Isaiah 22:22)
(V8) "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."
(V8) The Philadelphia assembly received only praise words from the Lord. There are six things that were worthy of commendation:
(1) He found faithfullness among the saints, (2) They had been zealous of good works, (3) Though humanly weak they had trusted the Lord, (4) They were able to perserve the truth by living it out in their lives, (5) They had not denied the name of Jesus Christ. Because of those positive things He found in the church, He would set before them an open door of opportunity that no one would be able to shut.
(V9) "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."
(V9) The self appointed Jews who had resentfully stood against them were humbled before this unsophisticated congregation. Those who were of the synagogue of Satan would be compelled to admit that the hated christians were really the chosen of God.
(V10) "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."
(V10) Since men could actually see the word of God lived out in the daily lives of the Philadelphian christians, the Lord told them that He would keep them from the hour of great tribulation that is to come upon all earth dwellers. In other words, He promised them that they would be exempt from the Tribulation Period described in Revelation chapters 6-19. It's worth noting here that they will be kept from the hour of trial, that means from the whole time period. In addition, they will be kept out of that period, not through it. "Those who dwell on the earth" is a technical term meaning those who make this earth their home, "Worldly men who have their lot in this life" (Psalm 17:14).
(V11) "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take they crown."
(V11) As a reason for their steadfast endurance, the coming of Christ was always first and foremost in their spiritual thinking. They refused to let anyone rob them of their crown of victory when it is so near at hand.
(V12) "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."
(V12) Here we are told that the overcomer will be made a pillar in the inner sanctuary of God. There will be given 3 names to the overcomer: (1) the name of God, (2) the name of the new Jerusalem, that descends down from God out of heaven, (3) and the new name of the Lord Jesus. At that time He will be identified as pertaining to all three.
(V13) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V13) In this verse the Holy Spirit gives His familiar invitation to all that have listening ears to hear what He is saying to the churches.
Dear Reader, I hope you will be one of those who escapes that terrible hour of tribulation and temptation.
Are YOU Rapture Ready??
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