7 Letters: Philadelphia
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This sermon will look at Jesus' letter to the church at Philadelphia in Revelation 3. This is one of the two churches that received no word of rebuke from Jesus, only commendation. It was a persevering church. Jesus lavishes great promises on this church, including a new name and that they would be spiritual pillars of the church.
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7 Letters: Philadelphia
- 3. Letter : The Church of Philadelphia Pillars of the New Community
- 4. Attalus II “Philadelphus” Eumenes II
- 5. First Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere an open door.
- 6. Revelation 3 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.
- 7. Revelation 3 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.
- 8. Indian Ocean
- 11. Isaiah 22 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.
- 12. Second Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere protection.
- 13. Revelation 3 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.
- 14. Revelation 3 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.
- 15. Jesus promises the Philadelphian believers protection from defeat by their persecutors.
- 16. Isaiah 60:14 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.
- 17. Jesus promises the Philadelphian believers protection from divine wrath. τηρήσω ἐκ/ tāyreō
- 18. Third Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere a permanent place in the New Jerusalem.
- 19. Revelation 3 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
- 20. Revelation 3 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.
- 21. Revelation 3 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
- 22. Jesus’ Warnings •Ephesus: I will remove your lampstand. (2:5) •Pergamum: I will war against you… (2:16) •Sardis: I will come as a thief in the night. (3:3)
- 23. Jesus promises to make the Philadelphian believers Pillars. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.
- 24. Jesus promises to give the Philadelphian believers a new name.
- 25. Rev. 3:12b …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.
Editor's Notes
- The Church of Philadelphia Pillars of the New Community
- Before we launch into the text this morning, there is an interesting back story in the name of this city with an American counterpart… Philadelphia. In Greek, “philos” is one of the words for love… specifically and familial or friendship love. “Adelphos” is the word for brother. Thus, Philadelphia is, as we know it, the city of brotherly love. Behind this name is one of the greatest stories of brotherly devotion. These two kings were brothers. Eumenes was the older brother and king of Pergamos. Philadelphia was a part of his kingdom. King Eumenes ruled from 197-159 B.C. However, it was not an entirely smooth reign. There was, in fact, a major hiccup. Attalus II, the younger brother of King Eumenes, got word that his brother, King Eumenes, had been assassinated during a military campaign in Greece. Attalus assumed the throne and married his brother’s wife, Queen Stratoni-kay. Shortly thereafter, King Eumenes returned, the victim of a vicious rumor. King Attalus immediately abdicated and returned the throne to his brother. He also restored Queen Stratoni-kay to her first husband. It was an amazing demonstration of brotherly love. Attalus was a great military leader and fought alongside the Romans against the Syrian Greeks. Attalus also made frequent diplomatic trips to Rome and further gained the respect of the Roman leadership. Later, the Romans came to suspect King Eumenes of conspiring with King Perseus of Macedon. In 167 B.C. the Romans exerted great pressure on Attalus to depose his brother and reassume the throne of Pergamos. Attalus defied Rome and refused to attack his brother. Once again, Attalus demonstrated his great love for his brother. As Eumenes health began to decline, the brothers ruled together as co-regents. In 159 B.C. King Eumenes died. His son was too young to assume the throne, so Attalus II again became King of Pergamos. He remarried Queen Stratonikay and in 140 B.C. founded the city of Philadelphia. So, next time you go to Independence Hall or see the Liberty Bell, you will know where the city of brotherly love got it’s name.
- First Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere an open door.
- Revelation 3 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. Notice that throughout verses 7 and 8 there is repeating reference to the opening and closing of a door. This was a significant word for the people of Philadelphia. Philadelphia was known as the Door to the East.
- As you can see, Laodicea, just to the south of Philadelphia, was the hub of major trade routes. From this location, goods could be sent to Greece, Rome, Arabia, Egypt, the east coast of Africa and India. These routes extended north into Philadelphia, making Philadelphia a prosperous city. It was also a key hub in the Roman postal system. So, Philadelphia was also an open door to communication throughout the Roman Empire. This city was proud of its being the Door to the East. In the fine print of this map we see that the primary export from southern Asia Minor was wine. Philadelphia was a volcanic plain. As such, it had exceedingly fertile soil well suited to growing grapes. As you might expect, this city of winemakers were also religious devotees of Dionysus, the Greco-Roman god of wine and riotous living.
- Philadelphia was a missionary city, intended to export Greek culture to the recently annexed areas of Lydia and Phrygia. That might seem odd… that the Romans were wanting to export Greek culture. Bear in mind, the Romans knew that Greek was already widely spoken as a trade language and Greek culture was so similar to Roman culture that it was easier to export Greek than Latin. Philadelphia, located within the province of Lydia, was ideally positioned to help Rome achieve these objectives.
- Very few ruins remain of ancient Philadelphia. This region was hit by a devastating earthquake in 17 A.D. The aftershocks continued for 20 years! One of the few remaining ancient ruins are these columns from the church of Philadelphia! Just as Philadelphia viewed itself as an open door, the Philadelphian church was promised an open door, a guarantee given by the one holding the Keys of David. This phrase has a rich biblical context. In the days of King Hezekiah, there was a steward of the king named Shebna. Shebna decided to build a magnificent mausoleum for himself. This was the kind of tomb usually built by a king. It seems likely that Shebna had great ambitions. Isaiah the prophet rebukes Shebna. He is the only individual rebuked by Isaiah. It is important to note that the key of David was a symbolic key indicating one who was second in authority to the king. Isaiah prophesies that Shebna would be deposed and that a more righteous man, Hilkiah, would replace him as steward of God’s house.
- Isaiah 22 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. Notice the similarity to our text? Clearly Jesus intended the Philadelphian believers to make this connection. As we move into the first century A.D. we find that there was a strong Jewish community in Philadelphia that fiercely opposed the Christian church. The “Nazarenes” were being systematically locked out of the synagogues. That meant more than deprived access for evangelistic purposes. It was a symbolic gesture, signifying that they were dis-fellowshipped…locked out of the commonwealth of Israel and the coming messianic kingdom. This promise of being given the “key of David” was a powerful comfort to the church of Philadelphia. In essence, Jesus is comparing these Jewish leaders to Shebna. They are the ones who will be dispossessed. But look back at verse 7. Who is holding the keys? The Holy and True One… Jesus is now the steward of the House of God. He holds the keys of the kingdom and no one can shut out those to whom he opens the door. As the church of Philadelphia persevered under constant threat of exclusion, Jesus gives them great assurance. Which leads to my second point.
- Second Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere an protection.
- Revelation 3 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.
- Jesus promises the Philadelphian believers protection from defeat by their persecutors. Notice, this is not protection from persecution. The Philadelphian Christians were being persecuted currently and are commended for their endurance. Nowhere are they, or any other church, given the promise that they will no longer be persecuted. However, they are given a greater promise than protection from persecution; protection from defeat. Ultimately, the victory would be theirs. Their enemies would bow in subjection. These Jews who disdainfully referred to the Nazarenes as a sect would have to acknowledge God's love for the church. Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 60:14, a prophesy describing the restoration of Israel and the humbling of her Gentile enemies.
- Isaiah 60:14 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. Here, Jesus compares the Jewish persecutors to the defeated Gentiles. It is the Church, the Israel of faith, which is exalted.
- Jesus promises the Philadelphian believers protection from divine wrath. All conservative evangelical theologians share the belief, based on this text and other texts, that God promises to protect his church from divine wrath. However, they disagree as to how God will protect us from divine wrath. The Pre-tribulationists and Mid-tribulationists believe that God will protect the church through physical removal during the Rapture. They disagree concerning timing, but for the most part hold to a similar view. Those who hold this view argue that in this phrase, tayreo ek, the preposition ek usually indicates special separation. Thus, protection from God’s wrath would indicate removal from the place where God’s wrath is being expressed. Post-tribulationists believe that the church will go through the tribulation, but will be protected from within. The analogy is made with the Hebrews in Egypt who were safeguarded in Goshen and protected, even as God’s wrath was being poured out. Post-tribbers cite the fact that by the New Testament era, this phrase, tayreo ek, had broadened to include the meaning protected from within. If this topic interests you, there is much written on this text and these various tribulational positions. However, I encourage you not to lose the forest in the midst of these terribly interesting trees. Jesus’ promise may well have broader application, but it was a very real promise to a beleaguered church. God would not cause these persevering believers to come under God’s wrath. Let’s consider one last main thought.
- Third Point The risen Lord promises those who persevere a permanent place in the New Jerusalem.
- Revelation 3 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.’
- The news of Jesus' coming is qualitatively different in this letter. In three of the previous letters, it is a stern word of warning. 1. Ephesus: I will remove your lampstand. (2:5) 2. Pergamum: I will war against you with the sword of My mouth. (2:16) 3. Sardis: I will come as a thief in the night. (3:3) Here, the news of Christ's coming is more a gentle exhortation than a stern warning. It is the difference between hearing your boss say "Get your act together, or else," or "Keep up the good work." Philadelphia was also known for its athletic games. Thus, they are also exhorted to "keep a firm grip," so that they will not lose the victor's crown.
- Not only does Jesus promise them a victor's crown. He promises to make them "pillars" in God's Temple. 1. This was not an unfamiliar metaphor in Scripture. a. Jesus referred to Peter, James and John as pillars. b. Paul described the Galatians as a pillar and bulwark of truth. 2. The pillar is a symbol of permanence and stability. This was a meaningful symbol to the Philadelphians. Philadelphia was one of the 12 cities to be destroyed by the Earthquake of 17 AD. The same volcanoes which made this city agriculturally productive also rendered it especially prone to seismic disturbances. The promise of a permanent place in an enduring structure was an encouraging word to an earthquake laden city.
- Not only does Jesus promise them a victor's crown. He promises to make them "pillars" in God's Temple. 1. This was not an unfamiliar metaphor in Scripture. a. Jesus referred to Peter, James and John as pillars. b. Paul described the Galatians as a pillar and bulwark of truth. 2. The pillar is a symbol of permanence and stability. This was a meaningful symbol to the Philadelphians. Philadelphia was one of the 12 cities to be destroyed by the Earthquake of 17 AD. The same volcanoes which made this city agriculturally productive also rendered it especially prone to seismic disturbances. The promise of a permanent place in an enduring structure was an encouraging word to an earthquake laden city.
- Look at the second part of verse 12 again: …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. Just as Tiberius Caesar rebuilt Sardis, he also rebuilt Philadelphia, following the Quake of 17. As an expression of gratitude, the Philadelphians renamed their city Neocaesarea, the New Caesarea. 2. Here, the Lord promises this church a name far greater than Caesar. They would dwell permanently in the New Jerusalem, the city which bears the name of Jesus. These many rewards are promised to the church that perseveres in its witness.
- The most famous ship of all time is possibly the Titanic, the supposedly unsinkable ship that went down on its maiden voyage. Many movies have been made and many books written about the fateful journey. Few will include the story of Scottish evangelist John Harper. Harper was a passenger on the Titanic. In 1912 Harper was travelling to Chicago to take up his appointment as Pastor of Moody Church. He had his daughter Nana on board with him. His wife had died a few years earlier. When the Titanic struck the iceberg and began to sink he put Nana into a lifeboat and then ran throughout the ship yelling “Women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats!” When the ship finally went down he had already given his lifejacket to another passenger. Survivors report that to the very end Harper was witnessing to anyone who would listen. One survivor recalls clinging to one of the ships spars when Harper floated near him. “Man, are you saved?” cried Harper. “No I’m not” replied the man. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” pleaded Harper. The waves carried Harper away and brought him back a little later. “Are you saved now?” asks Harper. “No, I cannot honestly say that I am” says the man. Again Harper pleads with him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. Shortly afterward Harper went down. The man who survived was one of only six people rescued, but in a public meeting four years later, recounting this episode he said “There, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper’s last convert.”