The Church in Philadelphia

Introduction

The Description of Jesus

It is He who is holy (Mk. 1:24; Jn. 6:69).

He is the one who is true (Jn. 14:6).

He is the real thing.

He is the realest thing (cf. Heb. 8:1-5).

The one with the key of David (cf. Isa. 22:22).

This is spoken concerning God’s servant Eliakim which means God raised up or God resurrected.

So while Eliakim was almost certainly an actual person, Jesus is the actual Eliakim.

He is the raised up servant who has the keys to the house of David.

He shuts and opens

This is to establish that His power in the face of opposition.

The Jews would close the door of access to the palace to the Gentiles who Jesus would open it.

The Description of the Church

I know your works

This is the most common opening phrase.

If the holy and true one said to you, “I know your deeds” how would that strike you.

The coming of Jesus should terrify many but comfort some.

You have a little power

This phrase can be translated you have SOME power.

Or it could mean, you don’t have very much power.

Hard to say if he is acknowledging a difficulty or encouraging what they DO have.

They have kept His word and not denied His name.

This is either proof of their little power, or in spite of their little power.

I lean in the latter direction.

Even though you don’t have great power, you have nevertheless held on.

The idea of hanging on is further given definition in v. 10.

What does it mean to deny His name.

Promises to the Church

I have given you an open door.

He has already told them He opens and no one shuts and now He makes reference back to that.

He wants them to be confident in this open door.

We can’t know God has specifically opened a door.

But we can know that He does open them and we can pray for and look for them with that confidence (Col. 4:3).

The Jews will see and know I have loved you.

I don’t know when and how this would play out.

The best case scenario would be like in Acts 10-11.

The worst case would be in the day of judgment.

Perhaps it would be something in between.

But this is another way of saying, I am in control. I will bring about justice here.

I will keep you from the hour of testing.

This is to the church at Philadelphia, not you and me.

This may have been to give evidence to the Synagogue of Satan

I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary.

This again, speaks to the nature of foreshadowing that points to something greater.

Consider the dedication of the temple of Solomon.

Conclusion

You have a little strength.

But Jesus rules over all and He has the final say about open and shut doors.

What we do here, has eternal consequences.

We are part of the temple that will never be torn down.

Are you a part of that?