Revelation 3:7-13: The Letter to Philadelphia

Introduction

Scripture

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7 - Address

Revelation 3:8-12 - Message to the Church

Revelation 3:13 - Command to Hear

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

Jesus commends the church in Philadelphia for their faithful obedience to Him. As a result, they will be protected when God pours out His wrath upon unbelievers.

Revelation 3:7 - Address

Revelation 3:7 ESV

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

To the angel of the church

Celestial being responsible for oversight

There is help for them in the heavenly realm

Philadelphia

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation Chapter 52: The Social and Geographical World of Philadelphia (Revelation 1:11; 3:7–13) (Mark Wilson)

Key Points

• Philadelphia was sixth of the seven churches of Revelation and the newest of the cities.

• The city was founded by the Attalid kingdom of Pergamum in the second century BC.

• It was situated on a major road with intercity and interregional connections.

• Earthquakes often damaged the city, which was then rebuilt with the help of Rome.

• The city was home to a Jewish community with a synagogue.

Write

Command given to John

The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

The words of the holy one

Isaiah 40:25 ESV

25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Isaiah 43:15 ESV

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

Mark 1:24 ESV

24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Luke 4:34 ESV

34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

John 6:69 ESV

69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

The true one

John 1:9 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 17:3 ESV

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Revelation 6:10 ESV

10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

The key of David who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

This is meant to amplify the sovereign authority Christ has over “Death and Hades”

Isaiah 22:20–22 ESV

20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

In Context

Eliakim has administrative responsibility for the house of Judah

Eliakim was given total power over the Davidic throne as the king of Jerusalem, Judah, and the house of David

Christ is the ultimate one who holds authority over ALL PEOPLE

Revelation 3:8-12 - Message to the Church

Revelation 3:8–12 ESV

8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

***No Rebuke to Philadelphia***

I know your works.

Jesus is intimately aware of His church

Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.

Behold

I have set before you an open door

Open door for Gospel sharing

Colossians 4:3–4 ESV

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Open access to God

Which no one is able to shut

Jesus’ divine status ensures that they, as true believers, will never be denied access to God

I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

I know

You have but little power

They were a small congregation, but were effective in their witness to the larger community

And yet you have kept my word and not denied my name

What are the works Jesus knows? Their consistent obedience to Him and their perseverance

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie

Behold

Emphatic expression

I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie

These individuals were ethnic Jews but not the true Israel because they have rejected the Messiah

Their alliance is with Satan not with God and as such they are persecuting the church

— Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

Behold

I will make them come and bow down before your feet

Bow down - worship

Isaiah 45:14 ESV

14 Thus says the Lord: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.’ ”

Isaiah 49:23 ESV

23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 60:14 ESV

14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 86:9 ESV

9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

These references prophesy that the Gentiles would come and bow down before Israel and God in the last days

Ironically, the prophesy is fulfilled but in a reverse order - ethnic Jews bow down before true Israel and God (fulfillment theology NOT replacement)

Gentiles coming into the family of God results in ethnic Jews being saved themselves

They will learn that I have loved you

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance

The Philadelphian congregation has continued in obedience despite persecution

I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world

Daniel 12:1 ESV

1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Daniel 12:10 LES2

10 And the sinners will continue to sin, and all the sinners will fail to understand, but those who are discerning will give heed.

Keep - Protect

John 17:15 ESV

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Hour of trial to try those who dwell on the earth

God’s judgment unleashed upon the unrighteous/His opponents

Ultimately their faith is preserved through trials because they have true salvation in Christ

I am coming soon.

This was integral to early Christianity - They believed he would return soon

Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Hold fast what you have

They will be experience trials that will require them to safeguard their faith

So that no one may seize your crown

Salvation

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

The one who conquers

Those who do not deny Christ, but hold fast to faith

All four elements represent the same reality - those who persevere will have fellowship with Christ eschatologically

I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God

Isaiah 56:3–5 ESV

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

Pillar imagery is used to reveal the permanent place in the presence of God

Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Never shall he go out of it

I will write on him

The name of my God

Pillars were inscribed with the names of donors, cities, or gods

This identifies the believers with God

The name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heave

My own new name

Revelation 3:13 - Command to Hear

Revelation 3:13 ESV

13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Let him hear

Command

Meant to provoke to get the church to hear and obey

Mark 4:9 ESV

9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Isaiah 6:9–10 LES2

9 And he said, “Go and say to this people, ‘You will hear by hearing and not understand; and although looking, you will look and not see.’ 10 For the heart of this people has been thickened; and they have heard heavily with their ears, and they closed their eyes in case they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I will heal them.”

Reality that there are believers and non-believers who hear this message in the churches

Some will be enlightened, some blinded

Spirit

The Spirit is active and at work through Jesus’ letters to the seven churches

To the churches

Both to the church in Philadelphia, but also to the churches of all ages

Application

Christ will protect you during the hour of trial - continue in perseverance

Main Point

Jesus commends the church in Philadelphia for their faithful obedience to Him. As a result, they will be protected when God pours out His wrath upon unbelievers.