Revelation Chapter 3:7-10

The Church in Philadelphia Receives The Revelation

(*All Bible verses are from the NIV unless otherwise noted)

In 159 BC, Attalus II Philadelphus, the king of Pergamum, established Philadelphia, which became the cultural gateway to Asia. It’s noteworthy that the modern Turkish city of Ala-shehir is predominantly a Christian town, and, among the seven churches mentioned in John’s Revelation, only Philadelphia and Smyrna received no criticism from the Lord. These two cities exist today, both about the same size and relative importance as when the revelation was given.

2 Sam 7:8–16 records what is known as the Davidic Covenant, God’s promise to King David that through him the Lord would establish, “…the throne of his kingdom forever,” a promise Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus.

Isa 16:5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Luke 1:30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

In ancient Israel, the palace secretary or administrator had the keys to all the rooms and the authority to enter and leave them as he went about his organizational duties. Isaiah prophesied that the palace secretary, Shebna, would be replaced by Eliakim, who would be given the keys to the rooms in the palace.

Isa 22:20 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Matthew 1:1-16 traces Jesus’ lineage through Joseph back to King David. Luke 3:23-38 also records Jesus’ lineage, possibly through his mother Mary (though not mentioning her by name). It assumes that Jacob was Joseph’s biological father and Heli was his father-in-law, Mary’s father. In both cases the Gospels firmly establish that Jesus was a direct descendant of King David and heir to the Davidic Covenant.

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isa 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Dan 7:14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Matt 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Only Jesus holds the keys to mankind’s redemption and no one can close that door!

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Col 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Revisit your notes on 2:9, and the history of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.

The phrase “synagogue of Satan” likely refers to Jewish leaders who opposed the gospel, becoming unwitting servants of Satan’s plan to destroy the Church. They could also include Gentile converts who had been circumcised according to Jewish custom and were trying to convince other Gentiles that they needed to do the same.

It’s unfortunate that some Biblical verses, like the one mentioned, have been construed as a general condemnation of all Jews. This interpretation has led to centuries of antisemitism. However, a closer examination of the New Testament reveals that Jesus and the writers were criticizing Jewish leaders who, out of fear and jealousy, incited hatred towards the new sect. Their criticism was not targeted towards Jews in general.

Acts 4:1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

Acts 5:16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Acts 13:50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

For all the trials and persecution suffered through the centuries, believers have the promise that they are loved by God, and at some point, the entire world will acknowledge their Creator and those who gave their all for Him.

Isa 60:14 The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 66:23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the LORD.

Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

At first reading, the saints in Philadelphia seem to be told that they wouldn’t undergo trials because they have endured patiently.   

Jesus brought no accusation against the church at Philadelphia or Smyrna (2:8-10). Both churches are commended for their faithfulness. Even so, Smyrna is warned to “…not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown”(2:10).

The Greek words tereo and ek are used in this verse.

• tereo, to keep: is a verb meaning to guard, (from loss or injury), by keeping the eye upon, to fulfil a command, to detain in custody, to maintain, to withhold for personal ends, to keep unmarried (Strong’s G5083).
• ek, from: a preposition meaning out of a place, time, or cause, from out of the point whence action or motion proceeds forth, from among (who from among you is brave), birthed from out (of the womb), as a result (of something, i.e. from out of that) (Strong’s G1537).

This is consistent with the rest of the Revelation where John is shown the coming firestorm that would test the Church and where the focus is on spiritual perseverance (Rev 2:3 and 2:13). In this respect, Christ is telling John that God would guard and preserve the faithful through all the trials to come.

John 17:14-19 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  

Matt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Pretribulationists and posttribulationists believe these verses relate to a great end-time Tribulation and that believers will be preserved harm. But, as mentioned earlier, it’s highly unlikely that John was given a revelation that would only have significance to a readership thousands of years in his future.

Jesus didn’t promise his followers they would never face trials and hardships. On the contrary, they are to expect them! The eternal principle expressed is that God promises that those who live their lives in faithful obedience will be protected from the evil one; they will be sanctified (made holy and blessed) and will inherit eternal life.

After the Greek-Turkish War of 1919-1922, during World War I, the Turkish Christian population of Ala-their was estimated to be 18,000 to 25,000.  In 1923, as a result of the war, the Christians were moved as a group to a suburb of Athens, Greece, called Nea Filadelfia (meaning “New Philadelphia”).

1Thess 3:2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.