Jesus’ Message to the Faithful Church
of Philadelphia
The church
in Philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches where Jesus sent His messages. Jesus was not pleased with the actions of
some of the other churches and He gave them warnings to turn from their sins. But Jesus doesn’t condemn anything that this
little church in Philadelphia had done.
In fact, Jesus gave many wonderful promises to the Christians who belonged
to the church of Philadelphia! What were
these Christians doing that caused Jesus to rejoice over them and bless them? Let’s read Jesus’ message to the Philadelphia
church and find out. Here is His message.
“To the
angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
“This message is from The One who is holy and the One who is true, and the
One who has the key of David, and the One who opens and no one shuts and shuts
and no one opens.
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. But you have kept My Word, and have not
denied My Name. 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 they will know
that I have loved you.
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 live on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take
your crown.
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 My
new Name on him. He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelations 3:7-13
Jesus begins
His message describing Himself as: “The One who is holy and the One who is
true, and the One who has the key of David, and the One who opens, and no one
shuts and shuts and no one opens.” (Revelations 3:7) This description of Jesus
emphasizes His holiness, His sovereignty, and His authority. And
Jesus describes Himself as the One who shuts and no one opens and opens and no
one shuts.
The citizens
of Philadelphia at that time (95 A.D.) were expected to bow down and worship other
gods. The town of Philadelphia and all of Asia Minor was under Roman rule and many
were ordered to worship the Roman emperor.
As Christians, they refused to worship or serve any other than the Lord
their God. And this often-cost
Christians their jobs and sometimes their lives.
These persecutions could leave frightened Christians
feeling out of control of their lives. But Jesus is reminding them that He is
in control of their lives. That He is the One who holds the power over their lives. And that all things work together for good to
those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) He (Jesus) alone can shut and open doors.
I believe that Jesus’ comforting words to
those early Christians who loved Him are the same for us today who love
Him. That our lives are not out of
control. That our steps are ordered by
the Lord and He alone shuts and opens our doors.
We wondered
what these Christians in Philadelphia were doing that caused Jesus to rejoice
over them and bless them. When we read
through Jesus’ message to them we find that Jesus says: “I know your works,…you
have a little strength, and have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name. “(Revelation
3:8)
The church of Philadelphia was weak in some
respects, yet they have kept His Word and obeyed it and have not denied His
Name as Savior and Son of God. Because
of this, the Lord promises them an “open door” of blessing. Some Christian churches today have stopped
keeping His Word, since it isn’t fashionable.
And some believe they are too smart to trust in His Name.
Jesus also
praises the Philadelphia church for keeping on and holding fast to their faith
during their long trial. He says: “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,…” (Revelations 3:10 -11)
The church’s faithful endurance would serve as a blessing. Jesus would take them to be with Him before
the coming tribulation. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Jesus’
letter also condemns the enemies of the Philadelphian believers: “I will make
those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are
not, …to acknowledge that I have loved you.” (Revelation 3:9) The church of
Philadelphia would be victorious over its enemies.
Jesus gives
a final promise to the believers in Philadelphia: to Him who overcomes I will
make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Never again will he leave it. I
will write on him the name of my god and the name of the city of my God, the
new Jerusalem, which is coming down from out of heaven from my God: and I will
also write on him my new Name.” (Revelation 3:12) Jesus promises that He will give
them (and us) a new name in Glory and He will make these faithful Christian
pillars in the spiritual temple of God, the New Jerusalem. (Galatians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Ephesians 2:19-22)
Jesus calls on
the Philadelphia church to hold fast. And He calls us to hold fast also. All of
us who have struggled with weakness but still hold fast to our Biblical faith
in Jesus as Savior and Lord, may be made everlasting pillars in the house of
God. Jesus’ words of comfort and love
must have been a blessing to the beleaguered church in Philadelphia. Those Christians faithfully stood for Christ
in their pagan culture.
Jesus is still watching over His believers today
and over His many churches here in our pagan world. He rejoices over some believers and cries
over others. He walks among us warning
and comforting and loving and blessing us, and He always has much to say to us. But are we listening? He calls us to listen. Each of His letters to the churches always
ends with these words: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying
to the churches.” (Revelation 3:13)
.
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