How does the church at Philadelphia characterize the city and its name? What is the open door Christ put before them? (8; Col. 4:2-3) Has Christ put an open door before us? Explain. What humbling act did Jesus say He would force the enemies of the church of Philadelphia to perform? (3:9) What is the “hour of testing” Christ will keep them from? (10; Dan. 9:25-27) Does this promise possibly apply to Christians today? Explain. How did Jesus instruct the believers in Philadelphia to pre-pare for His coming? (11) What can we do to prepare for Christ's return?

3. Quaker Oats magazine ad
1909

4. The Church at Philadelphia

5. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”
(2:7, 11,17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)
Why these seven churches?
How are these letters to be understood?
1) Historically
2) Diagnostically
3) Personally
4) Prophetically

6. A.D. 1750-1900
Church at Philadelphia
The Faithful Church

7. 7 “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”:
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.

8. 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. 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.

9. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast
what you have, that no one may take your
crown. 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.

10. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

11. THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
A. Its Name: Φιλαδέλφεια
φιλέω (phileō)
ἀδελφός (adelphos)
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly
love you have no need that I should write to you,
for you yourselves are taught by God to love one
another;

12. B. Its Geography:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
A vital “junction” city

13. B. Its Geography:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
City on a plateau

14. C. Its History:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Founded on loyalty & love
Eumenes II
(197–159 B.C.)
Attalus II
(159–138 B.C.)

15. C. Its History:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
“It was a missionary city from
the beginning, founded to
promote certain unity spirit,
customs, and loyalty within
the realm, the apostle of
Hellenism in an oriental land.”
William Ramsey
A missionary city

16. C. Its History:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Ø The district is disastrously
seismic and the great
earthquake of 17 A.D. ruined
it completely.
Ø Philadelphia was tormented
by 20 years of recurrent
quakes after the disaster of
17 A.D.
Inhabitants in constant danger

17. C. Its History:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
It took a new name
Ø Neokaisareia (Neocaesarea = new Caesar)
Ø “The reason for Philadelphia’s adoption
of their name change was due to Tiberius
Caesar’s aid in helping Philadelphia
recover from an earthquake, and out of
gratitude the city changed its name to
Neokaisareia, and for a while it bore that
name.”
Wm. Ramsey

18. D. Its Commerce:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

19. E. Its Spirituality:
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
“little Athens”

20. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
7 “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”: 8 “I know your
works. See, I have set before you an open
door, and no one can shut it;
A. He is “holy”
Isaiah 40:25 “To whom then will you liken Me, or
to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

21. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
7 “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”: 8 “I know your
works.
B. He is “true”
Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud
voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true,
until You judge and avenge our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?”

22. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
7 “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”: 8 “I know your
works.
C. He has “the key of David”

23. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
Access to David’s Wealth
Provision for Service

24. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
Isaiah 22:20–22 ‘Then it shall be in that day,
that I will call My servant Eliakim the son of
Hilkiah; 21 I will clothe him with your robe and
strengthen him with your belt; I will commit
your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a
father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to
the house of Judah. 22 The key of the house of
David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall
open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut,
and no one shall open.

25. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
7 “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”: 8 “I know your
works.
D. He “sets an open door…”

26. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
Christ opens doors for evangelism

27. “David could shut or open the
kingdom of Israel to whom he
pleased. He was not bound to leave
the kingdom even to his eldest
son. He could choose whom he
pleased to succeed him. The
kingdom of the Gospel, and the
kingdom of heaven, is at the
disposal of Christ.”
Adam Clarke

28. “I would like to bear witness that I have
proved this Philadelphian promise of the
open door through years of ministry and
it has never failed. Promotion does not
come from the south, east, or west, but
from God; and if we commit our way unto
Him and trust Him, He will bring it to pass
. . . God’s man is not dependent on
religious talent scouts nor is his ministry
in the hand of ecclesiastical officials. His
headquarters is heaven and his itinerary
is made up by the Lord of the Open
Door.”

29. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST
7 “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”: 8 “I know your
works.
E. He “knows…”

30. THE COMMENDATION:
8b …you have a little strength, have kept My
word, and have not denied My name.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
A. For Power
“It is not a matter of great strength, not
great ability but great dependability.
Samson had great ability but poor
dependability. A little strength faithfully
used means more than much strength
flashily and fitfully used.”
Vance

31. THE COMMENDATION:
8b …you have a little strength, have kept My
word, and have not denied My name.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
A. For Power
B. For Obedience
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My
commandments.”

32. THE COMMENDATION:
8b …you have a little strength, have kept My
word, and have not denied My name.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
A. For Power
B. For Obedience
C. For Courage

33. 10%

34. THE COMFORT:
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.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

35. THE COMFORT:
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.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

36. THE CAUTION:
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast
what you have, that no one may take your
crown.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

37. THE COMMAND & COUNSEL:
12a He who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall
go out no more...
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

38. THE COMMAND & COUNSEL:
12a He who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall
go out no more...
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

39. THE COMMAND & COUNSEL:
12a He who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall
go out no more...
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

40. THE CONSOLATION:
12b …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.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

41. Revelation 3:13 “He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

42. The lukewarm church
Revelation 3:18-22

43. 941-729-6600
941-981-5387
http://faithbiblechurchefc.com
http://TRUTHtransforms.com
sanctitas@aol.com