Book of Revelation #7: Faith and Perseverance in the Church of Philadelphia

Introduction to the Church’s Message

Revelation 3:7-13

The message to the church of Philadelphia is among the most beautiful of the seven messages addressed to the seven churches. Here we see a church that remains faithful to the Lord and His Word. The name Philadelphia is not from the Bible; it was named after a king of Pergamum, Attalus Philadelphus, who built the city. Known primarily for its agriculture, especially its vineyards, Philadelphia is located about 45 kilometers southeast of Sardis and has faced numerous earthquakes, the most recent occurring in 17 AD. The term “Philadelphia” means “brotherly love.” This term appears seven times in the New Testament (e.g., Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:7). In Romans 12:10, Paul urges us to practice brotherly love: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” The apostle Peter encourages us by saying, “You have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other; love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Historically, the church of Philadelphia represents all churches worldwide—regardless of denomination—that have been and remain faithful to Jesus Christ and His Word.

God’s Description of the Faithful

In verse 7, we find a description of the Lord: “This is what the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David, says: what He opens, no one will shut, and what He shuts, no one will open.” Understanding holiness may be challenging for us, as we are born sinners who sin daily and are continuously surrounded by the reality of sin. We need to be confronted with the threefold holiness of God as the prophet Isaiah was. Only then can we truly see our state and cry out to God. When the prophet saw the Lord on His throne and heard the seraphim proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is full of His glory!” he confessed, “Woe to me! I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” (Isaiah 6:1-7). We must be aware of Christ’s absolute holiness. He invites us to walk with Him in holiness, which means we constantly need to be purified, setting ourselves apart from evil, and refusing any compromise with the world. We are in dire need of the Savior: “Such a high priest truly meets our needs—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 8:26). Anyone who has received Jesus Christ now shares His nature: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The application is clear: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15).

Evaluation of the Lord

Verse 8 states, “I know your works. Behold, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut, because you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” This verse beautifully describes the church in Philadelphia. Although they had little strength, they placed their confidence in the Lord and in the authority of His Word. The Lord focuses not on what they do but on who they are and the place He holds in their hearts. As you can see, the Lord does not find fault with His church in Philadelphia. He knew well the testimony of this church in the city of Philadelphia. This testimony continued through the ages, seemingly until the 13th century when Turks came and killed the Christians. The phrase, “I have set before you an open door” is often understood as the Lord opening a door of opportunity for the church to witness and proclaim the Word of God. We may feel discouraged by a closed door. Furthermore, the enemy takes advantage of this and whispers in our ear, “It won’t work.” But the Lord encourages us to lift our eyes and look to Him, who is sovereign. It is He who opens or closes doors. And this morning, He says to us, “I have placed before you an open door…”

He also said, “I will build My Church…” (Matt 16:18). He further instructs us, “Make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19). While the Apostle Paul was in Ephesus, he wrote these words to the church in Corinth: “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor 16:9). Instead of lamenting over a closed door, let us focus on the door the Lord wants to open for us and move forward! The Lord provides the church in Philadelphia with three reasons for opening this door: “You have a little strength.” This is not a criticism. A church may be limited in numbers and strength, but for the Lord, it is not a problem. You may feel weak and still experience the strength of the Lord in your life. This was the Apostle Paul’s experience. Struggling with his thorn in the flesh, the Lord assured him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” (cf. 2 Cor 12:9-10).

Remaining Loyal in Love

The believers in Philadelphia kept the Word as they had received it. They did not stray from faith or from the teachings upheld by the apostolic church. They understood that the Bible was inspired by God and thus held complete authority. Remember the Lord’s words: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him…” (John 14:23). “My Word”: in Revelation 19:13 it is said of Jesus, “His name is the Word of God.” If you are faithful to the Word, you will be faithful to the person of Jesus Christ. “You have not denied My name.” Despite hardships, they remained loyal to Jesus Christ. They publicly confessed His name. Increasingly, Christianity denies Jesus, both through abandoning His Word and living in a way that conforms to the surrounding society. In some situations, believers may find themselves fearful and act as if they do not know Jesus. This can happen at school or work. Out of fear of mockery, one hides their faith. But when we understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we cannot behave in such a way. Moreover, He has given us “a spirit of power, love, and sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). In verse 9, the Lord adds, “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.” As we have seen, the greatest adversaries in the early Christian era were unbelieving Jews who opposed the witness of the gospel. There will always be opposition to God’s plan. But one day, enemies will have to acknowledge that we are servants of God.

Here is a question to consider: how would you define your church in light of those mentioned in Revelation? The Church of Ephesus: the church of first love, with many qualities; yet they abandoned their first love. The Church of Smyrna: the persecuted and poor church; yet in God’s eyes, it is rich. The Church of Pergamum: the church of compromise (it tolerated false teachers). The Church of Thyatira: the impure church (it allowed a Jezebel to teach and corrupt believers). The Church of Sardis: the dead church (it had a reputation for being alive). The Lord’s promise (verse 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.”

-sermon series by Pastor Michel Bohrer

 Questions and Answers Relating to the Seven Churches in Revelation