LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA (verses 7-13)

That brings us now to the church in Philadelphia. This church is a “Faithful church.” The church in Sardis was a “dead church,” or at least a dying church.

Let’s begin with verse 7 of Revelation, chapter 3, and read this section: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He Who is holy, He Who is true, “He Who has the key of David, He Who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

[Verse 8] “ ‘ “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, have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name.

[Verse 9] “ ‘ “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 to know that I have loved you.

[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.

[Verse 11] “ ‘ “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

[Verse 12] “ ‘ “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 on him My New Name.’ ”

[Verse 13] “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Introduction to the City of Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia was founded in the 2^nd Century BC, and it was named in honor of Attalus II, who was the very loving, very loyal brother of the King of Pergamus. The title or name that Attalus II was actually given was “Philadelphus.” We know that the name “Philadelphia” means “brotherly love.” Here we see the origination of that name—it was named in the beginning for a loyal, loving and devoted brother.

The city was located about 28 miles southeast of Sardis. There was a road in the 1^st Century that connected Sardis to the north, and Philadelphia and Laodicea to the south, and it was a Roman highway. Upon that highway traveled all kinds of trade caravans. The Roman soldiers maneuvered and marched up and down that road. It was part of the system of highways that the Romans built that helped them to maintain their power. This Roman highway went right through the City of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was in a region that was known for, and subject to, earthquakes. The city was largely destroyed in about AD 17. But, through the generosity of the Roman Empire, it was able to be rebuilt. You will remember that Sardis had a similar history to this.

Philadelphia was a wine-producing region, and we are not surprised then to find that there was an active pagan cult there in the city and in that region who worshipped Dionysus, who was the god of wine. Now, even though it was on this trade route, and even though it was a well-established city, Philadelphia was probably not a very large city. The church there was probably not very large either, as is indicated in verse 8, “you have a little strength.”

It would seem that the principal opponents of the members of the church there in Philadelphia would be the Jews. You recall that in other cities, like Ephesus, and so on, where there were so many pagan gods, so much evil and this kind of thing going on (yes, citizens of Philadelphia did worship Dionysus, the god of wine), but it would seem their primary opponents—those who opposed these Christians here—were probably the Jews. Thus, Jesus’ reference to these Jews as the “synagogue of Satan,” there in verse 9. There is no mention here regarding persecution by Roman officials, or others.

It’s worth mentioning and reminding ourselves that the church in Philadelphia was one of two churches that received no condemnation—no rebuke at all from the Lord. Smyrna was the other. However, the Lord had more in the way of commendation for Smyrna than he does for Philadelphia. But it is worth noting that they were not rebuked in any way, as were the other five of the churches.