Open & Shut: The church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7–13)
Call to Hear
Revelation 3:7–13 (NKJV)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia was roughly 25-30 miles southeast of the city of Sardis. That’s about from here to Norman. According to many scholars and researchers, the city suffered severe devastation after being hit by a massive earthquake around A.D. 17. This is most-likely the same earthquake that destroyed that city of Sardis during the same year. Just like Sardis, Philadelphia was eventually rebuilt by Tiberius Caesar who was emperor at the time.Reportedly, the city got its original name from the king of Pergamum, Attalus Philadelphus who founded the city with intentions of making it a “centre of missionary activity for the Hellenistic way of life”.[1] However, the city also became a centre of worship for the god Dionysos, as well as many other false deities.Chuck Swindoll tells us that Tiberius Caesar lifted the tax burden of the Philadelphians just long enough for the city to rebuild itself. To show their gratitude for what Tiberius had done, the city of Philadelphia was renamed, ‘Neocaesarea’. [2]Philadelphia is a Greek word meaning, “brotherly love” and it is found about 7x in the Bible (Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7[twice]; Rev. 3:7) with Revelation 3:7 being its only reference to a city. [3]The church in Philadelphia, like the church in Smyrna, was a congregation who received great praise, support and encouragement from the Lord Jesus. These are the only two churches of the seven in Revelation 2 & 3 who are not rebuked, chastised or called out for what they have failed to do. Instead, they are praised for their sincere loyalty to Christ. They are praised for their perseverance and faithfulness to bring glory to the Name of God.
Revelation 3:7
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
Our Lord introduces Himself with three very descriptive titles. Each title highlighting a different facet of His nature and character.To the Christians in Philadelphia Jesus introduces Himself first as “holy” (v7).To be holy means to be completely and perfectly pure. But the Word holy also means to be set apart. Whatever is holy has been set apart from one thing and reserved for something else. The Lord Himself poses this profoundly convicting question in the book of Isaiah,Isaiah 40:25 NKJV
25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
Hannah, the mother of Samuel, gave us the answer long before Isaiah spoke.1 Samuel 2:2 NKJV
2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
Jesus is holy! He is unlike any man and He is unlike any so-called god.But not only is He holy; He is also true (v7).Jesus is true, not in the philosophical sense where truth depends on what corresponds to facts. You see, it’s possible to have all the facts right and still come to the wrong conclusions. Detectives do it all the time. In a murder case, all of the facts point to the spouse as the killer, but the truth is that it was never the spouse, it was the boyfriend or girlfriend.You see, facts can change, but truth is truth no matter where you find it! Jesus is true! He is the Truth (John 14:6). He never changes! There is no shadow of turning with Him (James 1:17). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).In the Greek language, the word true means to be real, sincere and genuine. Jesus is no counterfeit deity! He is authentic as God! He is completely reliable! He is true!
The third way that Jesus introduces Himself is as the ultimate authority. He is sovereign.
In Revelation 1:18 we learned that Jesus has the keys of Hades and Death. Here in 3:7, Jesus is“He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: (Rev. 3:7).In Jesus we have the fulfillment of what was spoken to Eliakim in Isaiah 22:22.Isaiah 22:22 NKJV
22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
Eliakim was an archetype of Jesus. As a faithful steward of the king’s resources, he had the power and authority to access the enormous wealth behind the doors of the treasury. Likewise, He who is Faithful and True opens the door of the Lord’s spiritual riches to whomsoever He chooses.James 1:17 (NKJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Revelation 3:8
Now watch this, as the key holder nothing gets pass Jesus. Every church so far has heard these four words. I.Know.Your.Works.Revelation 3:8a NKJV
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Speaking of the works of Christians Paul says this in 1 Cor. 3:11-15.1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NKJV
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
When His disciples asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (Jn. 6:28). Jesus replied by saying that the works of God are to believe in the One God has sent (Jn. 6:29).We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.We believe that He has come in the flesh.We believe that He has given Himself as a ransom to make atonement for the sins of the world.We believe that He alone is our only hope of salvation!We believe that He was beaten; that He was crucified on a Friday; that bright and early one Easter Sunday morning He arose from the grave with all power in His hands!This faithful church in Philadelphia had done those works. They had a little strength, but not a little faith.Our weaknesses have a way of making room for the power of God. When we are unable to help ourselves that’s when the power of God goes on full display. Listen church, we really need to learn how to tap out! Too many of us have bought into the lie that if we just work harder we’ll get there. If we can find the loophole then we can beat the system and win, but what we really need to do is tap out. We need to throw our hands up in full surrender, trust God and watch the grace of God lift us up.The grace of God is all you need. The Lord already told us in 2 Cor. 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul told us in Romans 5:6 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”They had a little strength, but not a little faith.Look, we don’t even know what their annual budget was. We don’t know what the size of their congregation was. Although it’s been estimated that it was pretty small. We don’t know what types of ministries they had in the church. We don’t even know who started this church. Despite ALL of that, what we do know is that they loved the Lord. They kept His Word. They did not deny His Name. The church in Sardis had many names, but the only Name that mattered to the Philadelphian church was the Name of Jesus.The Name of Jesus is a strong tower!Only the Name of Jesus brings salvation to those trapped in the darkness of sin and sets them free. Hold fast to that Name!Open DoorIt appears that not all commentators agree about the meaning of the “open door” that has been set before the Philadelphian church. Leon Morris lists about seven possible interpretations in his commentary. Concluding that “There is no lack of suggestions and a decision is not easy”.[4]However, I am a bit partial to Chuck Swindoll’s spin on the meaning. He sees this open door as a way to evangelize the world. He allows the NT to explain itself. When we consider other NT passages which use similar language, it appears that the “open door” was an evangelistic opportunity.[5]Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:18 “18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” Again in John 15 Jesus says that because He chose the church out of the world, that the world will hate the church and in verse 21 He tells us the reason for why the world treats the Church this way. “...all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me (Jn. 15:21). In 2 Corinthians 4:11–12 the apostle Paul reminds us that 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.Through much persecution, God opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts. 14:27).A “great and effective door [was] opened to [Paul] in the city of Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:9).When Paul went to Troas to preach the gospel, he says that the Lord opened a door for him to do so (2 Cor. 2:12).Finally, Paul asked the church in Colossae to pray that God would open a door for him and Timothy to share the Good News of Jesus Christ (Col. 4:3).The Philadelphian Christians may not have realized the great opportunity they had to spread the good news of Jesus during a time of trial, rejection and persecution.Our difficulties do not diminish our opportunities to testify of Christ. Hardship doesn’t hinder our witness for Jesus. If anything, it is the reason for our trials; that we might declare the power and glory and majesty and salvation of our God! Don’t let those opportunities pass you by.
Revelation 3:9
“9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”
Psuedo Jews: When Jesus says that these folks are lying about being Jews, He isn’t talking about what they look like on the outside. He’s not talking about them ethnically, racially, culturally, or even religiously - He is referring to their spiritual condition.Romans 2:28 (NKJV)
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
So who are the Real Jews?Romans 2:29 NKJV
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Warren Wiersbe rightly says, “Jewish people certainly have a great heritage, but it is no guarantee of salvation”.[6] There is no express lane for Jews. There is no express lane for you if you grew up in a Christ home. There is no express lane for anyone else when it comes to salvation.1 Timothy 2:5–6 NKJVFor there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,It is through this same Jesus that God demonstrates His love for each of us (Rom. 5:8) and someday the opponents of our Christian faith will humble themselves before the Church and see just how much God has truly loved His people (Isa. 45:23; Isa. 60:14; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10–11)!
Revelation 3:10-13
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
In this final section, the Lord makes three promises to those who have kept His Word and have not denied His Name. We’ve already seen one promise before this, that the enemies of the Church and Christ will be made to worship at the feet of the faithful.The first promise from the Lord is to keep overcomers from the hour of trial (10).Depending on a person’s eschatology they will look at this “hour of trial” from different angles. In this language pretribulationalists find room to argue for a rapture before the Great Tribulation while midtribulationalists argue for a rapture during to Great Tribulation and posttribulationalists see this happening after the Great Tribulation.Chuck Swindoll affirms that God is not limited in how or when He would keep His church from the hour of trial. Pointing out that
“He could choose to supernaturally protect us from judgement, as He did for the Israelites during the plagues in Egypt. Or He could completely remove us from the place of His wrath, as He did with Lot before Sodom”.[7]
What does seem clear to me is that this time of trial and testing is not directed at those who have kept the word of the Lord and who have held fast to the name of Jesus, instead it is targeting unbelievers (Rev. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 12:12; 13:8, 12, 14).The apostle Paul told us in 1 Thess. 5:9 that “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”The apostle Peter said that “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,” (2 Peter 2:9).Robert Mounce, a posttribulationalist, puts this all in a proper perspective for us, and this is what really matters at this point,
“The ultimate and most important issue is not physical protection from temporal wrath but spiritual protection from eternal wrath”.[8]
Next, the Lord promises to make the overcomer a pillar in the temple of God (12).A pillar is a permanent structure. Not easily moved. Solid and secure.The apostle Paul said that everyone who has trusted in Jesus for their salvation are being fashioned into a holy temple and dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).But when we read Revelation 21:22 John says, “But I saw no temple in [the New Jerusalem], for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”Being a pillar in the temple of the Lord is the equivalent of saying that those who endure until the end, those who overcome are eternally secure. As Paul stated in Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” The third and final promise is a new name and identity for the overcomer (12b).We name things that we own. We name what belongs to us. For example, one Wednesday night I loaded up the family and we drove to Little Axe, OK to pick up, what I thought was going to be one puppy, but turned out to be two. Before we had made it a mile down the road my boys had named both dogs. One is named Joy and the other Grace. Naming those dogs solidified our ownership! Those are our dogs. And so it is here.Just like when the city of Philadelphia was renamed after the emperor Tiberius Caesar relieved their tax burden so they could rebuild their city, so are we renamed in honor of our Burden-Lifter.In Christ you won’t be called an addict.In Christ you won’t be called divorced.In Christ you won’t be known as a felon.You won’t be poor.In Christ you won’t be identified by your race.There won’t be any squabbles over gender.Your disorders won’t define you in Christ.There won’t be any autism, bipolar or schizophrenia.There won’t be any orphans. No one will be abandoned or broken or unwanted.You will be given a new Name and a new identity.2 Cor. 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”Get excited folks because that day is closer than you think! He is coming quickly and His reward is with Him!! What a day of rejoicing that will be when the dead in Christ shall rise first and then everyone else who has trusted in Him for salvation.Don’t wait!Now is the day of salvation! And whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved!Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Call to Respond
This morning you can leave with a new name. You can leave with a new identity. You can leave this building today a totally different person than when you walked in here IF you will just trust Jesus with your life. You can be totally and completely set free from the sin that has enslaved you.The Lord loves you and He has a desire that you would have life. That you would have the kind of life that He has always wanted to give you, but you need to trust Him. You need to tap out this morning and say “Jesus, I surrender my whole life to you.”This morning I want to invite you to give your life to Jesus. My friends, God loves you, we love you and there is no shame in surrendering. If you have never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, today is the day of salvation. Maybe you need prayer. Maybe you sense the Lord is calling you to repent this morning. We would love to pray with you.
Cited Sources
[1] (Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary (f. To the Church of Philadelphia (3:7–13)[2] (Living Insights: Revelation, p74).[3] (John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 939)[4] (Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 81).[5] (Insights, p73)[6] (The Wiersbe Commentary, p1046)[7] (Insights, p75)[8] (Exalting Jesus in Revelation, p97)