The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia

2005-07-25

This is a Bible study on Revelation 3:7-13.

Introduction

Revelation is a book of prophecy in the New Testament, but more specifically, it is a letter, or group of letters, given for rebuking and/or encouraging the saints, and glorifying God. The Philadelphian church was one of the seven recipients of this letter. The Apostle John received this Revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the first century. The context is that of intense persecution that has been plaguing the church. Most, if not all, of the Apostles and eyewitnesses of the resurrection had long died or had been martyred. John himself was exiled to Patmos because of his witness (1:9). The letters to the churches within Revelation follow a general pattern: The recipient, followed by certain attributes of the Lord, praise, criticism, exhortation, and promise. Of the seven churches mentioned, only Smyrna and Philadelphia had no rebuke from the Lord, only encouragement. This lesson will be to learn from one of these model communities in the Word, Philadelphia, in Revelation 3:7-13.

Destination and Attributes of the Lord (3:7)

After the standard addressee statement, verse 7 continues by describing Jesus as “he that is holy, he that is true.” No other One is holy or true besides God.

Following this is a quotation of Isaiah 22:22. The original context is given in regards of the judgment on a certain treasurer Shebna, and how God will appoint Eliakim to have governmental authority in Jerusalem. In the context of Revelation, this authority is ascribed to Jesus, for He is one “that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” It is Jesus alone who allows entrance into the throne room of God. When we trust in Jesus, we have access to God. But there is more here, because immediately after, Jesus says “I know thy works” (3:8).

Commendation (3:8-10)

The phrase “I know thy works” suggests something more than just the initial point of salvation for people. Jesus is talking about an opportunity He is about to give them, for He says after this, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” He is giving them this opportunity because “thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

They have a little strength: The adjective “little” could mean small in size, but it could also mean little in the sense of humility. This latter interpretation seems to capture the idea here. They have power, but it is the power of God that counts. Consider these: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25) and “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Their strength is in humility as they focus on the Lord and His strength.

They have kept Christ’s word: The Word of Christ is used in various ways throughout the New Testament, especially in Johannine literature, mostly with a soteriological sense. First, there is a justification sense: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). But the saints in Philadelphia already have been saved by grace through faith, so there is a deeper meaning here, when it says that they ‘keep’ His word. What precisely is Jesus talking about when He says that they have kept His word?

Jesus, before His crucifixion uses this same phrase, but in the future tense: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). In the immediate context, these ‘words’ are commandments, which are a theme throughout Johannine literature. John spells out these commandments that Jesus gave in his first epistle: “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (3:23). Jesus’ words are also recorded in John’s gospel in John 13:34-35. This is what the church in Philadelphia was known for, just as the name of the city suggests: brotherly love.

They have not denied His name: The Philadelphian church stood strong for the Lord, and openly proclaimed His name. There is no substitute for openly acknowledging Jesus in all things in life.

Because they had these three traits, Jesus is giving them an opportunity, this “open door” that no one can close, and it has something to do with these false Jews that Jesus calls the ‘synagogue of Satan.’ These people are referred to previously, whose actions are characterized as blasphemy (2:9), and seem to play a part of the trials in Smyrna. In Philadelphia, it is a different situation. Perhaps these false Jews were giving the church trouble there also, but Jesus says this: “behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (3:9). Because of the humility, love, and boldness of the Philadelphian church, the false Jews will have to acknowledge that the church has the Lord’s blessing: “to know that I have loved thee.”

Now some times we read fire and brimstone judgment into a lot of passages that have nothing to with judgment. The judgment of the Lord Jesus is definitely a very real event that will come at some time in the future. But in this case, these false Jews are not going to be judged, nor do they worship the Christians, but they worship before their feet. The evidence of Jesus working in church in Philadelphia is so strong, these false Jews are won over, become saved, and worship God. This is the amazing opportunity of the Philadelphian church, that the hardest of heart legalists will find the grace of Jesus. For remember Jesus had said in the gospel of John: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (13:35).

In verse 10, Jesus says that He will use the Philadelphian church in another way also. In the previous verse, we see how Jesus is using the presence of the church to turn false Jews to Himself. Here, He gives them a promise because they “kept the word of my patience” (3:10). Adding the phrase “of my patience” is intensifying the phrase “kept the word,” that since that they have endured, or persevered, through difficult times and held fast to the commandments of Christ to be a faithful witness to Him, He will keep them from entering the wrath of God that will come upon the earth. Jesus uses the same word “to keep”: The church kept His word; therefore He will keep them from entering the wrath. The whole world will go through this trial, and there are only two times this happens: the Flood and the right before the Millennium.

Now there must be an eschatological sense to this. The Philadelphian church probably does not exist today and we know God’s wrath has not come upon the whole world yet. There are not many Christians in all of what was considered Asia Minor, let alone where Philadelphia was. These promises can apply to all Christians everywhere since almost two thousand years have passed; those of Philadelphia have long died. Our obedience to the Lord’s commandments, to love one another, and to be bold for His name will grant us similar opportunities. We can be a powerful testimony in our love for one another.

Exhortation (3:11)

The exhortation is to “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” In the ancient world, a crown often is a prize for winning a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). They must continue with the perseverance that they have been known for. There are so many distractions in life that can catch us off guard if we are not careful. It is easier for us to shrink back to the old ways of our hearts; it is easier not to love one another but be self-seeking. But we were created to love one another in a godly way, one of the greatest services to the Lord we can ever do.

Promise (3:12-13)

The one that overcomes, that is, continues in perseverance, Jesus says, “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” (3:12). These servants will never leave the Temple; they will always be in the Temple of God: “no more go out.” Though the times of painful trials will exist this side of heaven, they are not forever. We must live with eternity in mind, for our hope is not in who we are or what we do, but in the Lord Jesus, who is in Heaven and will return very soon. They also have His new name written on Him, along with the name of God the Father and of the New Jerusalem. They will be a part of a community like no other, and experience intimacy with the Lord Jesus as they never had before. We also will take part in this if we trust in Him.

In verse 13 is a common refrain throughout chapters 2 and 3: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Even though the letter is for the Philadelphians, anybody who hears must hear what is said in this letter, along with the other letters.

Loving one another as Jesus loved us is imperative. Being finite beings, we must rely on one another and not be self-sufficient. When we do this, we know that we love the Lord Jesus by being obedient to His commands. In a world that is surrounded by many who live out for their own interests, love authenticates the message of hope found in the Lord Jesus.