Revelation 3:7-13
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING A PERSON OF FAITHFULNESS?
Today, we’re going to explore a church known for its faithfulness.
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.’”
BACKGROUND
“A city in the Roman province of Asia, in the west of what is now Asiatic Turkey. It was perhaps founded by Eumenes, king of Pergamum, in the 2nd century BC, and named after his brother Attalus, whose loyalty had earned him the name Philadelphus…The area was subject to frequent earthquakes. A severe one in AD 17 destroyed the city; and as the shocks continued intermittently the people took to living outside the city. After an imperial bounty had helped it to recover, the city voluntarily assumed the new name of Neocaesarea. Later, under Vespasian, it took another imperial name, Flavia.
“The letter to ‘the angel of the church in Philadelphia probably alludes to some of the circumstances of the city.
- As Philadelphus was renowned for his loyalty to his brother, so the church, the true Philadelphia, inherits and fulfills his character by its steadfast loyalty to Christ.
- As the city stands by the ‘open door’ of a region from which its wealth derives, so the church is given an ‘open door’ of opportunity to exploit.
- The symbols of the ‘crown’ and the ‘temple’ point to a contrast with the games and religious festivals of the city.
- In contrast with the impermanence of life in a city prone to earthquakes, those who ‘overcome’ are promised the ultimate stability of being built into the temple of God.
- As at Smyrna, this church had met rejection from the Jews in the city, but the conqueror shall enjoy final acceptance by the Lord whose name he had confessed, signified again by the conferring on him of the divine names which recall the new names taken by the city from the divine emperors.” (1)
Notice how many types of praises are used by Jesus in reference to the Christians of this city. He makes 12 references to things he praises them for. Works, open door, little power, kept his word, not denied his name, loved, patient endurance, hold fast, crown, conquers, pillar, new name. His reference about being loved is at the center of all twelve. This is a church that is doing everything right. They love and have works that the Lord honors. Jesus finds pleasure in this church.
EXAMINATION
(V.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.”
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, HOW DOES JESUS DESCRIBE HIMSELF IN THIS VERSE?
Jesus refers to himself as “the holy one, the true one.” While this is a reference to his deity and messianic role, it is also a word of encouragement to the Philadelphians. It is like saying, “I tell you the complete truth, you can trust me.” He is about to acknowledge their suffering and wants to give them a promise about what he will do for them. This stands in contrast to verse nine, when Jesus refers to those who call themselves Jews but lie. Though they face the lies of their persecutors, Jesus tells the truth about what he will do for them.
Immediately, Jesus refers to himself as having the “key of David.” This is a messianic and political reference. The key of David is to have all of David’s authority as king. Not simply over Israel, but over the New Jerusalem, which he mentions in verse 12. The New Jerusalem is the final place of authority for God’s kingdom. While Philadelphia was an important city in the empire, Jesus’ authority is greater. His city will last forever.
This is also a reference back to Isaiah 22:15-25 when Eliakim the son of Hilkiah is given ruling authority over the house of David. The passage says, “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” (Isaiah 22:22). It was a messianic prophecy about the coming of Jesus.
(V.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.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GIVEN AN OPEN DOOR?
Immediately after saying that he opens and no one shuts, Jesus says to Philadelphia, “I have set before you an open door.” This is a door of opportunity. It is not something that will require great power or influence because he says they have “little power.” Whatever influence they have is enough. And he is able to multiply it.
“Philadelphia was a rich and powerful city, connected by trade with a large district towards the east and north, for which it formed a centre, and thus well suited to be one of the central Churches of Christianized Asia. It is said that there has been ‘set before it a door opened,’ and the ‘open door’ doubtless refers to its position on the threshold of the eastern country, and to the rapidity with which the new religion was spreading to the plateau through the cities connected with Philadelphia.”(2) In other words, Philadelphia was known as a missionary city from where the gospel went out to other cities in its region. This is the “open door” that Jesus refers to.
Though the city was rich, Jesus refers to the church as having a “little power.” Some scholars think this is because the city was young. However, this reference is tied to Jesus saying, “you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
HAVE HOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU HAD LITTLE POWER?
We all fit into this description at one time or another. We know a few people. We only influence a small circle of friends. We have little power. But just like Philadelphia, our influence can reach beyond us. Though Philadelphia had little power, they influenced other cities for Christ. So too, by involving yourself with others and partnering with missionaries and other ministries you can extend your influence like Philadelphia did.
Jesus tells them that they have kept his name and not denied him. This indicates that there was some persecution in the city. Like other asiatic cities, they were tempted to deny Christ and abandon the testimony of the word of God. But the Philadelphian Christians stayed true to their faith, for which Jesus praises them. And we learn in the next verse that he will defend and reward them.
(V.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.”
JESUS SAID HE LOVED THE PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH. WHY DID HE LOVE THEM?
There was friction between the Jewish community and the community of believers. The Jews believed they were the true Israel of God. And in the sense of heritage they were correct. But the Bible also tells us “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly. A man is a Jew if he is one inwardly: and circumcision is circumcision of the heart” (Rom 2:28–29). This difference may have been at the heart of the problem. So much so, that Jesus refers to them as the synagogue of Satan. Ultimately, the believers are justified because Jesus says that he has loved them. I believe this refers to the judgment, when these believers will be rewarded and justified and those who persecuted them will learn that God’s love rests on the believers.
(V.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.”
TRIALS ARE SUPPOSED TO TO HELP US GROW SPIRITUALLY. WHY WOULD JESUS KEEP THIS CHURCH FROM A TRIAL?
Some Christians believe that the “hour of trial” referred to in this passage is a reference to the tribulation and the rapture. They say that God will keep the Christians of this city safe through the rapture and apply that to the church in general. However, I think this is an error. Unlike most American Christians, I do not hold to the pre-tribulational rapture theory. If Jesus does not come till the end of the tribulation and this passage were a reference to it, then it would be unfulfilled. Instead, I think this is a prophecy of something else.
The one thing that this part of the world had to endure was the Muslim onslaught of later centuries. City by city fell to Muslim and Turkish armies over the centuries until the entire region became Muslim. Philadelphia resisted this onslaught successfully, maintaining its Christian orientation for over 1200 years until its eventual fall in 1361 AD. It was kept from “the hour of trial” longer than any of the other cities in its area. It was the last of the Asiatic cities to fall to Islam.
(V.11) “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”
In his previous letters to Ephesus, Pergamum, and Sardis there was a threat related to his promised coming. But to Philadelphia the promised coming is salvific. He says to “hold fast.” In other words, don’t give up. They were likely still facing some persecution and may have been tested to their limits. There is a reward for them, the crown. He urges them to maintain their testimony so as to lay hold of it and not lose it.
Have you ever been tested to your limits and tempted to give up on something? There are two types of persecution, hard persecution and soft persecution. Hard persecution is when we are threatened with loss of life or physical suffering because of our confession of Christ. Most American Christians face soft persecution. We face ridicule for our faith. Yet, many compromise their testimony under this soft persecution of words. We should take the suffering of our foreign brothers and sisters to heart and honor their sacrifice by standing firm no matter what.
Jesus’ reference to the crown had its origin in athletic games where a crowning wreath was given to the winner. It was a great honor. So too, Jesus is promising great honor to those who hold fast to their testimony.
(V.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.”
Philadelphia, like other cities in the region was often the victim of terrible earthquakes. In AD 17 the city was destroyed by one such earthquake and given aid by Rome to rebuild. This gives some insight to Jesus’ saying, “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” In other words, they would stand strong and not be toppled.
Never going out of the city is a reference to two things. First, after devastating earthquakes, the residents of Philadelphia took to living in temporary shelters outside the city for fear of harm. Jesus is giving the believers there assurance of their eternal safety. Once in the new heaven, they will never leave the city. Nothing will shake or topple them.
Second, this is also a reference to the New Heaven and Earth, the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. The city is described with such glory that we will never want to leave it.
JESUS SAYS THE BELIEVER WILL HAVE THREE NAMES WRITTEN ON HIM: GOD’S NAME, THE NAME OF JERUSALEM, AND HIS NEW NAME. WHAT DOES WRITING NAMES ON THINGS SIGNIFY?
Writing the name of God on us stands in contrast to the number of the Antichrist being written on the foreheads of his followers (Revelation 13:16-17). Having a name on something implies ownership. We belong to Christ and are forever branded that way.
The giving of a new name makes reference to new names the city was given in its early history. “Philadelphia was evidently a place of importance in the imperial organization of the province of Asia. It took the name Neocaesarea for a time in the 1st century (named after Caesar), being so styled on coins of Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius, and the name was evidently given to it under Tiberius, who aided it to recover from a great earthquake in AD 17. Under Vespasian it was honored with the title Flavia,” (3) meaning “golden.”
Here again, as in our other studies, we see that Jesus uses the history of the city to communicate what he wants the church to know.
INTERPRETATION
What is Jesus’ big idea for this passage? God rewards faithfulness.
We sometimes think that eternal life is a reward. But the Bible speaks differently. Eternal life is a gift, not a reward. But there are rewards for spiritual faithfulness. In fact, there are more than 100 verses in the Bible that speak of rewards. Other than the mention of crowns and responsibilities we don’t know what those rewards are. But here are a few passages that speak of rewards:
Increased responsibility is a reward, like getting a promotion. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). Notice that responsibilities are equated with happiness.
Here’s a mention of a crown. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). There are at least five crowns mentioned in the Bible. The imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life.
We don’t know what all the rewards are, but they will be astounding. “What no eye has seen,what no ear has heard,and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2:9).
Rewards are based on our service. “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done” (Revelation 22:12).
Here are some questions to consider:
- Do you anticipate receiving heavenly rewards? Examine your service to Christ.
- Would you say that you are a person of spiritual faithfulness? What can you do to increase your faithfulness?
- What kind of reward are you looking forward to the most? A crown? Responsibility? A heavenly home? Consider this passage from Genesis. “I am your shield, your great exceeding reward” (Genesis 15:1). Pursue Christ as your greatest reward.
- God’s praise is a reward for the righteous. What will God say about you?
APPLICATION
1. Trust in Christ’s Sovereignty and Authority. Recognize and trust that Jesus holds the keys of authority in your life. Whether it’s an opportunity, a calling, or a closed door, His will is perfect. Instead of striving in your own strength, lean into His timing and control.
2. Stay Faithful Even with Limited Strength. You don’t need to be strong in the world’s eyes to be effective in God’s kingdom. Persevere in obedience and hold fast to your faith, even when you feel weak or small. God honors endurance.
3. God Honors Those Who Remain Loyal. Remain loyal to Christ, even in the face of opposition or ridicule. In time, God will vindicate His faithful ones. You don’t need to defend yourself—let your integrity and trust in God speak louder than your critics.
4. Hold On to What You Have. Guard your faith and your spiritual progress with vigilance. Don’t let complacency, temptation, or distraction rob you of your reward. Be intentional about staying rooted in Christ.
5. Live with Eternity in View. Your identity and security are eternally anchored in Christ. Let this truth shape your values, decisions, and sense of purpose. You belong to God forever—live in a way that reflects that eternal perspective.
- Rudwick, M. J. S., and C. J. Hemer. 1996. “Philadelphia.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman, 3rd ed., 915. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
- Ramsay, William M. 1911–1912. “PHILADELPHIA.” In A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, edited by James Hastings, John A. Selbie, A. B. Davidson, S. R. Driver, and H. B. Swete, 3:831. New York; Edinburgh: Charles Scribner’s Sons; T. & T. Clark.
- Ramsay, William M. 1911–1912. “PHILADELPHIA.” In A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, edited by James Hastings, John A. Selbie, A. B. Davidson, S. R. Driver, and H. B. Swete, 3:831. New York; Edinburgh: Charles Scribner’s Sons; T. & T. Clark.
