Introduction:

Most of my family on my father’s side lived and grew up in Philadelphia the city of brotherly love. Back in those days we enjoyed going with my father to the Italian market and to see the special brick work my father did in the city. However these days it is anything but the city of brotherly Love. As of Sept. 13, 386 people have been slain in homicides this year that is 3% higher than the same date last year. The number of homicides in Philadelphia has more than doubled since 2013, when police reported 246 homicides. While there is a rise in gun violence in cities and towns across the United States in the past two years, Philadelphia is one of the few major American cities where it’s the worst it has been in decades. I am sure it’s founder William Penn would be horrified if he were alive today. This excerpt from a letter he penned to the Lenape Indian nation in 1681 gives credence to his benevolence as he wrote…

“There is one great God and power that hath made the world and all things therein, to whom you, and I, and all people owe their being and well-being, and to whom you and I must one day give an account for all that we have done in the world… Now this great God has been pleased to make me concerned in your part of the world; … but I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent that we may always live together as neighbors and friends… I have great love and regard to you and desire to win and gain your love and friendship by a kind, just, and peaceable life”.

That was the spirit that inspired this deeply spiritual man to name his new town in (Penn) Sylvania the City of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia) after the church named in chapter three of Revelation. The name represents the religious tolerance for all faiths where his benevolence, genuine Christianity and love of his people found open expression and practical enforcement. It is interesting to note that Philadelphia was our capitol, the seat of this democracy in its infancy.

The church at Philadelphia was an actual local church at the time John wrote. No church can be all that the Lord desires, as no Christian can be perfect. But as good as churches get, that’s how good the church at Philadelphia was. Here was a church that came as close, I suppose, as human beings can come to being all that the Lord would have them be. This was a faithful church. This was an obedient church and it is one of two churches with no condemnation.

It was chosen by our Lord because it had mature characteristics of certain churches of every generation…Therefore, it had a very special message not only to its original readers, but also to churches and believers of all time. It represents the faithful, evangelistic church, who endeavors to win people to Christ. To get a better understanding of the Lord’s message to this church, let’s consider first…

I The City (3:7)

1. The name Philadelphia comes from two Greek words: PHILEO, fil/lay/o which means “love,” and ADELPHOS, which means “brother.” Thus, the name means “brotherly love.” Philadelphia was located about 28 miles southeast of Sardis. The Roman Imperial post road came through that way to the east of the city. Thus, Philadelphia was an important military city in John’s day.

2. This city was often damaged by earthquakes, which resulted in a fear that kept a large part of the population from living within the city walls. Today there exists a town on the ancient site of Philadelphia called Alasehir, al/la/sha/here in modern day Turkey, having a population of around population 36,535.

“He who is holy” is an Old Testament name for God. It is a New Testament title for the Messiah. This comes, then, from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who is none other than God. Secondly, it identifies the Lord as the one who is true. Truth is also an attribute of God and therefore as well of Christ. Numerous times in the Scripture God is identified as one who is holy and true, and so is Christ. So the holy and true Lord who has the highest righteous standard and puts the supreme value on truth writes to this church.

It should also be noted that in Revelation 3:7 we have a description of Christ not previously mentioned in the book of Revelation. He is described as … he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth ….

3. The key of David is a reference to Isaiah 22:20-22. Eliakim (ih-LYE-uhkim), the son of Hilkiah (hil-KYE-uh), was given the key to the house of David during the reign of King Hezekiah. This key to the house of David specifically referred to all the treasuries of the kings of Judah, but it also figuratively referred to all the powers of government that rested on the office, which was the equivalent of prime minister. Thus, the Lord Jesus holds the key of David, which is the key to all the treasures of truth, powers and rewards.

II The Commendation 3:8-10

1. An open door according to the scriptures can represent, an opportunity to love and to witness. (3:8). Jesus says, I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it …
We are not told what the open door was at Philadelphia, but based on the above scriptures we can assume it was an important evangelistic effort. Christ also says in verse 8, . . . thou hast a little strength . . .. This does not mean the believers in Philadelphia were weak, but they were few in number, and probably in monetary resources.

Application:

What can be accomplished for God is not determined by money, buildings, or numbers of people, but by the willingness of the believer to do the will of God. As Jesus commends the Philadelphian believers, thou hast kept my word. We must never forget that “little is much when God is in it.” Don’t become pessimistic because of your family or friends. Look to Jesus who holds the door open for you,

2. The Jews whom Christ called the synagogue of Satan in Revelation 3:9 were probably using the same tactics as the Jews who were persecuting the church at Smyrna. The synagogue of Satan seems to describe a Jewish element that denied Christ as the Messiah and actively persecuted those who did proclaim Him as Messiah. (Note Zec. 12:10)

3. In verse 9 The Lord says of them someday they will come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee (3:9). This is reminiscent of what Philippians 2:10-11 describes of all who have denied Christ. You can clearly see the church at Philadelphia had both opportunities and obstacles. A church that has no faith sees all the obstacles, while a church that has faith sees the opportunities and knows Christ has all the keys, and thus can open any door. As with the church at Smyrna, our Lord has no word of condemnation for the believers at Philadelphia.

4. Christ comforts this church by saying, . . . I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world. .. (3:10). What is the hour of temptation? Though there is much disagreement over this verse, it seems most logical to conclude that to the original recipients of this letter it referred to the coming persecution by the Romans. It is something future, it is something limited, it is something that exposes. It is a test. That’s what a test does. A test exposes you, it reveals what you know. It reveals your character. It is a peirasmos, the word used in the Bible for trial, put you on trial to see what you’re made of, the word used in the Bible for temptation, it puts you under a severe test to see what you’re going to do. It exposes you for what you are. So to all other believers it is a reference to the worldwide Great Tribulation described later in this book. The little Greek preposition “ek” means out of; “dia” through or “en” in but out.

“This hour of testing, this hour which is about to come upon the wide world including everybody for the purpose of testing those who dwell upon the earth.” Let me tell you, folks, it is not to test believers. We skip the final. It cannot be a present time of distress. It cannot be a permanent kind of testing. It cannot be a local kind of testing. It cannot be a partial kind of testing. And it cannot be a time of testing designed for the church. Our Lord is saying to the true church, “I’ll keep you out of the future time of testing coming on the earth to test the unbelievers.”

III. The Command (3:11)

a) Christ will reward his church He assures the believers of their reward by saying…. hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown (verse 11). He says hang on with a persevering faith. I love this, “In order that no one take your crown. “You might be wondering, “Will I receive a crown when I get to heaven?” The answer is “yes,” if you are faithful to the Lord. Jesus will reward all those who faithfully serve Him with a crown.

There are five different crowns, referred to in the NT. the crown of life, an incorruptible crown of rejoicing crown of righteousness and the Shepherd crown.

Conclusion

Further comfort is given by the Lord in Revelation 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God. … It was a common practice at this time to memorialize the deeds of a distinguished municipal leader, a great senator, or an outstanding citizen by inscribing that person’s name on a special pillar in one of the city’s temples. This would serve as a permanent reminder of that person and his deeds. Thus, the faithful believer at Philadelphia was assured of special honor in heaven.

The phrase … he shall go no more out … (3:12) would have special significance to the believers at Philadelphia. They spent their lives fleeing the city at the slightest tremor and only returning when they felt safe. If they lived inside the city walls, these believers were always insecure and fearful of earthquakes. However, Christ is saying when you come to live in the Father’s house, there will never be a need to flee in fear, for you will be secure and safe.
At the end of verse 12 Christ says, . . . I will write upon him my new name. No one knows for sure what this new name is, but whatever it is, it will be the new name for Christ (see Rev. 19:12).