The Church at Philadelphia

Good afternoon. The next church we are going to be looking at is the Church at Philadelphia. Rob weren’t you born in Philadelphia? Not quite sure it’s the same one though. Just kidding.

The church at Philadelphia was in certain aspects a lot like we are as a church. They were a small church lacking people, money, and any real influence within the city. As a result the world saw them as a church of little power. And I suspect many within the church were beginning to see themselves in this same light as well. But Jesus. Jesus has something to say to this small humble church from two-thousand years ago. And oh do those words ring true today for us here. So, let’s look at what Jesus was for this little church and hear Gods words for us.

In Revelation chapter three verses seven through thirteen we read.

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven cities mentioned in the book of Revelation. The primary problem that the church in Philadelphia faces comes not from the surrounding culture but rather from the Jews living in the city. Which is really interesting because God’s intent was to unite the Jews and Gentile believers together as brothers in Christ Jesus. But the city of brotherly love wasn’t always very loving to this little church.

Even still it does appear the the church is a healthy church. The church receives absolutely no condemnation from Jesus in this letter. They may have appeared weak to the world, we will see this in verse eight, she remained deeply faithful to Jesus in the midst of the trials and temptations she faced.

Jesus Revealed

The Holy One

Jesus begins with “The words of the holy one.” We will see later in the book of Revelation that his is often times used as a title that is given of God. The struggle that we have today is that we tend to equate that which is holy with that which is righteous or clean. But, that isn’t the biblical idea of what something holy is. Something that was declared as holy was set apart for something special in particular in regards to worship of God. So, for instance, all of the tools that were used in the original temple were said to be holy. Not because the tools were clean or righteous. They needed to be ritually cleansed before being used in the act of worship. But they were holy because of their purpose. And so what we have here is that Jesus is called holy not because he is righteous but because he is completely dedicated to God the Father.

The True One

So this phrase is a bit unique. Our struggle to understand this phrase is one of language. The struggle comes about because John wrote the book in Greek. However he often times uses Greek words with Hebrew meanings behind them. And that is what we have going on here. So in Greek the word true carries the idea of that which is genuine or real. It is true as in true or false. In this context we would be saying that Jesus is the real McCoy. Which is not false. But not the truth John was trying to convey. In Hebrew the idea of true comes closer to what our word trustworthy would convey. They come from the same root concept but are slightly different. This phrase is often used in Hebrew in the Old Testament in relation to His faithfulness. For instance in Psalm 146:6 we read.

Psalm 146:6 ESV

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

And so Jesus as the true one is the one whom we can trust will keep his word. Next Jesus is called.

The Key of David

The key of David. The key of David is essentially the key to Davids house — The Messianic Kingdom. And so Jesus uses this phrase because of the immediate context that our church in Philadelphia now finds itself. The Jews in the city would have claimed that they alone are the true people of God who hold the key to the Kingdom of God. And Jesus just wants to set the record straight. He is the one who holds the keys to the kingdom. The Jews had essentially given up their ability to hold the keys by rejected their Messiah. It is Christ alone and not Israel who can grant entrance into the messianic Kingdom.

So, contrary to many jokes and popular understanding. Saint Peter is not standing at the pearly gates waiting to open them wide for those who are worthy. It is Jesus who holds those key and Jesus alone.

And this is related to the final way in which Jesus identifies himself. He says,

Who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.

Jesus is now gives a fuller understanding to what it means that He is the Key of David. It is to Christ alone that absolute and exclusive power is given by the Father to allow entrance and to exclude from the Kingdom of God.

This is the most detailed of all of the descriptions that we receive in these letters concerning the person of Jesus. And he does so in just a handful of very short concise phrases.

And after revealing himself to Philadelphia and who he wants them to see in relation to them he then writes in verse eight.

Revelation 3:8 ESV

“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

I Know Your Works

In every other instance we have an idea of the works that the church was committed to. But not here. I believe this why. It’s not necessarily the content of the works. But it is the good works done in the name of Jesus that are pleasing to Jesus. We were just told that the church has little power. They were small, had very few resources, and little influence within the city. But it is the character of the church that counts. What mattered to Jesus was that they performed good works for his glory even in the midst of trials and tribulations. He then says,

I have set before you an open door

There are a couple of different ways that one can view this verse, I prefer one over the other because of the context of the passage. So often times an open door in the book of Revelation is a reference to salvation. And that may be what is in mind here. However the phrase is also often used in the New Testament in reference to God opening the possibilities to perform good works for his glory. And the greatest of these being the declaration of the Gospel of Jesus. We see this in Colossians 4:3 where Paul wrote.

Colossians 4:3 ESV

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

I believe that what Jesus is saying is that He has opened a door of opportunity for the church in Philadelphia to make the gospel known. Remember the Jews in Philadelphia were hostile to this little powerless church, as they saw it at least. And the Jews would have claimed that only Israel could grant access to the Kingdom of God. Well, Christ says otherwise, and in fact he says that none are able to shut this door that he has opened for them.

Now we get to this phrase that I have alluded to several times already.

I know that you have but little power

Within the city this little church was small, poor, and uninfluential. And so in worldly terms she appeared to have little power within the city of Philadelphia. Jesus’ emphasis is not on the little strength that this church has. But, rather on the fact that it is all that she needs to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Because he is the one who opens and closes the doors necessary for the church.

He continues and says.

You have kept my word and have not denied my name

Even in the midst of severe trial and tribulation and most likely at the hands, we will see shortly, of the Jews this church has remained faithful to Jesus.

Then in verse nine we read concerning the Jews of the city.

Revelation 3:9 ESV

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

As we saw once before interestingly enough in chapter two verse nine a reference to this synagogue of Satan. I used this verse as proof to the identity of the Synagogue of Satan as Jews who had rejected Jesus as their Messiah. So this is the second time that we see this reference. Jesus here wants us to understand that the true Jews are not those who are Jews simply by race or religion. But rather they are inwardly Jews. What do I mean by this? Paul writes in Romans 2:28-29.

Romans 2:28–29 ESV

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

When the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah this lead to the denial of the true spiritual Judaism of the Jewish people. The very core of what it meant to be a Jew, which was to worship the Messiah had been lost.

They say they are Jews but they lie

Again John is saying that the true Jew is not the one who attends synagogue and appears to do all the right things religiously. The true Jew is one inwardly and not outwardly. And Jesus has a unique revelation concerning these Jews.

They will bow before your feet.

Throughout the Old Testament there are numerous passages that picture the triumph of Israel over the nations. There are times that this is pictured as the humiliation of those who do not follow the Messiah, as we see here. And at times it is pictured in the conversion of many from the nations to the faith of Israel.

Now Jesus reverses that picture. The Jews have essentially forfeit their role as the people of God because they have rejected the Messiah. As a result God has caused a new people of God to be born. There is a day that is coming when the Jews will recognize that God sent His Son to save them and then they will learn that he has loved them all along.

This is not a new idea in the New Testament. It is outlined at length by Paul in Romans chapters nine through eleven. The best picture that Paul gives there is the Olive tree as representing the people of God. It is not a representation of the physical nation of Israel. It is the “true” Israel. There Paul says that there are natural branches (Jews by birth) that will be broken off due to their unbelief. And there are wild branches (people of the gentile nations) who are grafted into the tree. However, if the branches that are broken off return in faith to Jesus they will be grafted back onto the tree. And after he has provided this picture of the olive tree he makes this very important statement he says in Romans 11:26, “so all Israel will be saved.” Based on what we see in the book of Romans and we see here and then later in Revelation chapter eleven there still remains a time when many Jews will turn to the one true faith and worship Jesus.

Jesus continues and he says in verse ten.

Revelation 3:10 ESV

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

So the is a very important verse in end times discussions. And in this verse we have this reference to “the hour of trial”

The Hour of Trial

This period is actually referenced several times throughout the scriptures and in both the new testament and the old testament. Daniel chapter twelve has references to this period Mark chapter thirteen and twenty-four as well as 2 Thessalonians chapter two.

Jesus speaks throughout the scripture of a time of great tribulation that is yet to come. And there are some important things to understand concerning this period of time that will help us to understand the events as they unfold during this time period. And this verse directly affects how we understand this time period.

There are two aspects to this time of great tribulation. First, there is the persecution of the church by the antichrist. We will see this as we continue in the book of Revelation. Particularly in chapter thirteen. The second, is the pouring out of divine judgment upon a rebellious and unbelieving world.

One of the main points of the book of Revelation for those who enter into this time period as believers in Jesus is that martyrdom is nothing that the church should ever fear.

The scriptures state several times that we are not citizens of this world. Our true citizenship is found in the new heavens and the new earth. Our physical death, even if it occurs as a martyr, has absolutely no eternal significance, none. In fact the book of Revelation says that the martyrdom of the saints is proof of their salvation. We will see in Revelation chapter fifteen that the martyrdom of the saints at the hand of the antichrist we might actually call their final victory lap. It is proof that they have conquered the beast.

On the other hand during this time as the antichrist is persecuting the church. God himself will be pouring out judgment upon the world in order to drive them to himself for safety before it is too late. At the end of the verse Jesus says that the trials or tribulations that are coming is meant to “try those who dwell on the earth.”

Those Who Dwell on the Earth

This phrase in the book of Revelation always refers to the pagan world. As we continue in the book we will see that God seals those who are His so that the judgments will pass over them and not even affect them as great plagues and devastation affect the rest of the world. And so we need to be careful to understand there is a clear distinction that Jesus is setting up here. The church will be on the earth in these final terrible days and it will suffer greatly at the hands of the beast. But the church will be kept from the hour of trial which is coming upon the pagan world. God’s wrath which is to be poured out upon the kingdom of the Antichrist will not affect His people.

This is my position on this passage. Let’s as quickly as possible delve as little as possible into the timing of the rapture. This will be better understood as we progress through the book. So the tribulation

The Tribulation

There are some who take the statement that Jesus makes, “I will keep you from the hour of trial” as a reference to the rapture of the church preceding the great tribulation. This is the position that was popularized by the “Left Behind Series.” This is called the pre-trib rapture position or you may see it referenced as the dispensational rapture position. Now listen I have no problem whatever position that you choose to hold to. There is something attractive in the fact that if the Great tribulation comes tomorrow you and I will not be a part of it. Right.

However I don’t believe that is what this verse or others speak of. So let’s first look at this verse just a bit closer I’ll be quick and then one other verse that I believe is very important in regards to this discussion.

The word keep does not mean in this statement to hold on to or to keep close to oneself with the implication that we are kept in the presence of Jesus. Likewise the preposition “from” here in that we are kept “from” the hour of tribulation does not mean that we are excluded “from” that time period.

The greek word here that we translate “keep” carries the idea of protection from something. Well, if we are with Jesus we will not need any form of protection any longer. Nothing will be able to harm us in the presence of Jesus.

Second and most importantly, I believe, is the preposition “from” It is perhaps the best translation that we can use of this greek term. There are greek words and prepositions that would mean that the church were kept out of or away from the great tribulation. Those are not used here however. This greek preposition carries a very distinct meaning and it requires something to have been in the midst of something else for it to come from that thing. Pretty esoteric explanation, and I apologize.

Essentially what all that means is that Jesus will protect us from Gods coming judgment upon the world as the church passes through that time period. That is the implication of the very explicit meanings of these words. At least as I read them.

Next I want to point out really quick that in what we call Jesus High Priestly prayer a statement that he makes. I believe that it actually has two time periods in mind. We have seen this often throughout the Old Testament and on occasion within the New Testament. Here Jesus prays concerning the church to the Father and in John 17:15 we read.

John 17:15 ESV

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

As Jesus is praying concerning the troubles that are about to come against the church he prays almost the exact same wording that we see here in our passage. But with the added understanding that the church needs to remain within this world in order for the world to hear the gospel of Jesus proclaimed.

I hope that this was helpful in understanding this discussion a bit more. We will get more of this as we continue through the book.

Next in verse eleven Jesus says.

Revelation 3:11 ESV

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

The most important part of this book is just stated. No matter what trial you are going through in life right now lean into and upon the fact that Jesus is coming soon.

We need to hold on to with great strength to our good works of faith and love.

When we do this there is no one we is able to seize the victors crown that Jesus has waiting for us.

Then in verse twelve we read.

Revelation 3:12 ESV

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

I want to hit just two of the symbols that are presented here for times sake.

First, Jesus will write the name of my God upon those who conquer. This is symbolic of possession. I hate to use this correlation but I’m going there because it actually works really well. We don’t really have this idea much in our modern world so it makes this a bit difficult. But, this would be similar to a cattle rancher branding his cattle. Which isn’t done much if at all anymore. This is done though to show which ranch owns those cattle. In ancient times people would often times tattoo upon themselves or brand themselves with the name of their God. That’s why Jesus makes this reference. In fact it is this mark that we will see later is actually the name of Christ that will bring protection from the judgment that God is about to unleash upon the world.

Second, Jesus says that he will write upon us the name of the city of my God.

This is a symbolic way of stating where our true citizenship lies. It is not in this world it is in the one to come. Again we will see this idea more clearly as we continue through the book. This idea. This mindset impacts greatly how we interact and understand the world that we now reside in. This is not our home. We are merely passing through.

So What?

Two things. Today has been a lot of twos. Usually it’s three. But today has been twos.

Firstly, is that hopefully we walk away today with a better understanding on our dependence on God’s power.

Dependence on God’s Power

Jesus never sees the fact that this church has little power as a negative thing. Many people would. But not Jesus.Why is this? Because it is in our weakness that dependence is born. When we recognize and understand just how truly weak we are in this world we will then begin to see just how much we need the power of God in our lives.

Throughout the scriptures we get this recurring theme that God promises to live with and embrace those who are broken and humble in spirit. And the opposite of this is true. We see over and over that He is far off from those who are proud and self-sufficient. If you don’t need him well then he will simply keep his distance.

In Philadelphia the Christians have experienced the harsh reality of rejection by those they should have been able to call brother in the synagogue.

So of us will experience this from both or either family or friends. Unless that is if we decide to not stand for that which Jesus stands for.

Jesus promises to preserve his people through their trials and he promises that they will receive vindication at his hand when he returns. No matter how difficult the situation that you face right now or will face one day. Our hope in Jesus will provide us with the strength to endure. It is from our hope that the perseverance needed to endure will spring forth from. Because our faith is not ours but it will be Faith that is given to us by Jesus. It is His faith that sustains us every day of our lives.

Today if you stand firm in your faith and the convictions that Jesus gives to us you may face persecution through friends, or family, or even from your employer. As a result many of us are afraid to in essence proclaim or bear the name of Jesus before this world. We don’t want to be excluded or ostracized. This passage promises that those who are excluded today for their faith in Jesus will one day wear the name that identifies them as citizens of the promised future world.

Today we need to stand firm in the faith. Knowing that He is faithful forever.

Finally I want to talk briefly about our participation in God’s eternal temple.

Worship in an Eternal Temple

The book of Revelation as we will see says that Christians will participate eternally in God’s temple in worship of him. There are several allusions to the original temple throughout the book of Revelation. We will see mention of the ark, the tabernacle, the altars of incense and sacrifice, the sea which is a reference to the brazier that held water for purification, and even the lampstands which have been mentioned already. Through the book of Revelation we will see heaven referred to as a temple. And well the primary focus of any temple is worship. So we should recognize that our function in God’s temple will include in some sense worship of Him.

This is really important to understand. Because there are few things that we can either see or experience in the coming age today. But, this is one of them. We need to understand that we are never as close to our final eternal destination as we are when we are glorifying God in worship or when we are inviting others to recognize his greatness.

The struggle many today have is that we often times mistake true worship with a feeling of excitement or perhaps even awe while we are in worship, all the while ignoring the true object of our worship even while these songs are summoning us to bow before His feet. This feeling can often times get in the way.

In this passage we should see that true worship involves us recognizing God’s true identity and work. So that when we are in worship we are in awe not simply of the song but of the Lord of whom the lyrics speak.

When we do this we can and will enter into true worship of the one true God.

Amen.

The Church at Philadelphia

Amen

Father God we come humbly before you seeking your presence in our lives today. Father call each one of us to be true worshippers of your Son our savior. Jesus we seek to hear your voice every day of our lives to guide us and to direct us so that every moment is a moment of worship bringing glory to your name which we bear before this world. Holy Spirit fill us. Fill us with the faith of Jesus so that when the trials and the tribulations do come we might stand faithful to the one who has already stood faithful for us, and gave all that we might be save.

Bless us in this way Lord so that we might bless others.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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