THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia was founded about 150 B.C. by King Attallus of Pergamum, whose nickname was Philadelphus, which means "lover of a brother." This man was noted for the admiration and love he had for his brother, Eumenes, and he named this city in honor of him. One feature about the city was that the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 A. D., along with Sardis and other cities in that locality. Most of the others recovered rather quickly from the disaster, but the after-shocks continued in Philadelphia for quite a number of years, with the result that the people had to flee the city repeatedly. Tiberius Caesar helped Philadelphia to recover from the earthquake, and out of gratitude the city changed its name to Neocaesarea (New Caesar), and for awhile it bore that name.
Philadelphia was an outpost city. It was on the very border of Greek culture and influence. The city itself was a Greek "missionary" city built to expand Greek language and culture. To the Greeks and Romans anyone who did not share their language and culture was uncivilized (kind of like American culture). Philadelphia was a city that Caesar had given an open door for the spread of Greek ideas to the ends of the world. The city was called the gateway to the east. It was also called Little Athens because of the number of temples.
Philadelphia still remains as a small town today known as Ala Shekeir although the Moslem name for the city today is Ala Shahu – the City of God. Interestingly, Philadelphia maintains a Christian influence in Turkey even today! The Church at Philadelphia was probably a small church, by no means not a “perfect” church although there is not a word of rebuke from our Lord. It was a church that took advantage of opportunities to spread the Gospel being on this major trade route.
THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA
Jesus describes himself as:” 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.”
In all the other letters, our Lord uses symbols to describe himself that come from the vision John had of him, recorded in Chapter 1. In this letter, however, Jesus makes no reference to that vision. He uses other titles to describe himself. He tells them plainly who he is and what he does. Who he is is "the holy one" and "the true one." He is the holy one -- morally perfect. His character is without flaw or blemish. And he is genuine reality. He is the true one, the one behind all that really exists. That is who he is. What he does is: He "holds the key of David." That is a reference to an incident recorded in the 22nd chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah. In the days of Hezekiah the king there was a courtier (we would call him a chief-of-staff, for he was in charge of the palace) whose name was Shebna. He had been caught in a personal scam run for his own benefit, and as a result God says a very unusual, very descriptive thing about him: "I will take him and whirl him around and around (like a discus thrower), and hurl him into a far country," {cf, Isa 22:18}. It was a prediction that he would be sent into Babylon. He would be replaced by a godly man named Eliakim, of whom God said,
"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." [Isa 22:17 NIV]
Jesus has no condemnation of this church. He says, “I know your works. See, I have set before you tan open door, 6and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
The Lord says of this church at Philadelphia, " you have a little strength." He is hoping they will increase that potential for ministry. We need to remember that the presence of the Spirit is promised to each church without any condition whatsoever. When we know Christ the Spirit comes to live within our hearts and to reside there. But the power of the Spirit is given only to those churches who learn to keep his word and to not deny his name! Those two things are central in the ministry of every church. First, there must be the Word. Always God plants his Word at the heart of his church. We must preach it, teach it, study it, and truly know it. And it is not just for the leadership, but everybody in the church is to know God's Word. The Bible is the most amazing book the world has ever seen. It conveys insights into life that you will find in no other place. No great university in the land can give you an understanding of life that this Book will give you. Therefore we must keep it, know it, walk in it and love it. We must soak ourselves in the Word! But beyond the Word is the Lord himself.
Just as in the case of Smyrna, the other beloved church, the synagogue of satan exists here in power. We saw this phrase, "the synagogue of Satan," used also in the letter to the persecuted church at Smyrna. It referred to certain Jews in that city who claimed to be spiritual descendants of Abraham but in actuality they were only his physical descendants; their attitude toward the truth of God was far removed from Abraham's faith. The Lord himself continually confronted the Pharisees who claimed to be Abraham's descendants, but Jesus said to them, "You are of your father the devil," {John 8:44}. So here in the city of Philadelphia Jesus refers to this Jewish opposition as "the synagogue of Satan." But something amazing happens. What causes them to come at last and bow before the church and acknowledge God's blessing upon them? It is because the church responds to the opposition and hostility with love and with obvious knowledge of God which these Jews do not possess, even though they have the Scriptures. As a result, they come at last and acknowledge God's blessing on the church at Philadelphia.
Jesus continues: “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. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Here Jesus honors their patient endurance by promising relief to these steadfast Christians, during “the hour of trial”, probably the worst part of the Great Tribulation. This identifies this church also as being an end times church. Be aware also that this is one of the verses used as foundation for those who believe in a pre-trib rapture. They deny any aspect of the other 6 churches, but humbly lay claim to the promises made to this church. Somehow, as I look at leaders of our churches who have seduced the young, who openly claim to be homosexual and are embraced by their churches, who gamble away their fortunes or who take funds sent to God’s Kingdom to build for themselves palaces of grandeur, I see more of Laodicea than any other church today.
Overcomers promise: 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. “Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere” as the song says, and the promise to spend the rest of our days in the temple of our God is our ultimate wish. Not only that, but his name and God’s name will be written on us, similar to a Bride changing her name to her husbands.
