The word Philadelphia means ‘ love of the brethren’. Today we will begin our visit with this church by reading what Jesus had to say to it.
Revelation 3: 7-13 NIV
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not,but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 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 out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Church at Philadelphia
- This church was probably established as a result of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus
- It was the youngest church of the seven
- This church had a heart and vision for the lost.
- It was a small church—either in size and/or in strength, yet it was faithful. It lasted for centuries according to historical records, but succumbed in the mid-fourteenth century.
- Some Christians from Philadelphia were martyred with Polycarp in Smyrna
- It had experienced opposition from the Jews of the city.
What we know about the city of Philadelphia
- Modern day city of Alasehir sits where Philadelphia sat
- It was established sometime after 189 BC, making it the youngest of the seven cities. It was located 30 miles southeast of Sardis on the Cogamis River.
- It was on the main road from Rome to the East, and was called ‘the gateway to the East’. It was also called ‘little Athens’ because of the preponderance of temples in the city.
- Philadelphia was supposedly named for the relationship between two brothers, Eumenes and Attalus. Attalus, often called Philadephus (brother lover) was loyal to his brother, King Eumenes, and this is where the city derived its name.
- Some scholars believe it was a ‘missionary city’ for the exportation of Hellenism to the world
- The city was located in an area prone to earthquakes. It sat on a fault and was destroyed in 17 AD by an earthquake that also destroyed Sardis and 10 other cities. Because of the frequent and numerous aftershocks that caused significant damage to buildings, the majority of citizens lived outside of the city
- Most citizens were grape farmers who took advantage of the rich volcanic soil of the area
- Philadelphia is mostly unexcavated because the current city sits on top of it.
- The name of the city was changed several times in order to honor the sitting emperor. i.e. Neo-Caesarea, Flavia after the wife of Domitian
- Dionysus was the primary deity
Christ’s Greeting to the Church – ‘He that is holy and true and holds the key of David’
- This description is unique, in that it is not drawn from the Revelation 1 description of Jesus in John’s vision.
- God, alone, is holy, so this greeting was a declaration that Christ is God. He is claiming to be genuine and real. This was important because there were many false gods and goddesses in those days.
- Christ was telling the church that it was He who opens and closes doors of opportunity for ministry expansion when He described Himself as holding the key of David. The key of David is a messianic reference, since the Messiah was promised to come through the house of David.
- A key in scripture represents authority and control. In Revelation 1: 18 Jesus is said to have the keys to death and hell; while here he says He has the key to salvation and blessing.
- A definite reference to Isaiah 22: 20-23; would have us believe that this greeting serves to remind that access to God is through Jesus Christ alone
As we will see, this church was pleasing to Christ. What a wonderful goal for churches today…to be pleasing to Jesus Christ. I invite you back next Monday to learn what this church had done to cause Christ to commend it so richly.
