“THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA”
REVELATION 3:7-13

I. Introduction
I have a question for you this morning. Has anyone here ever been a member of a perfect church, or attended a perfect church, or even visited a perfect church? What do I mean by “perfect?”
• By “perfect” I mean a church that consistently lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word above all else and never wavers in its faith and love for Him or its love and care for all the brethren.
• By “perfect” I mean a church where the pastor, the elders, and the deacons make no mistakes or errors in judgment, have never failed in any of their God-given duties, and have never hurt or offended a brother or sister in Christ.
• By “perfect” I mean a church with no obvious problems, no difficulties, no short-comings, no failures, no spiritual weaknesses, and most of all, a church with no difficult, contrary, or troublesome people.

Have you ever been a part of, or attended, or even visited such a church? If your answer is “Yes,” then I have another question for you. “What are you doing here?”

Listen, in our heart of hearts we here at LBC want to be all of those perfect things. But we’re not. We’re not, because while we’ve been justified by faith, and while we’re being made more like Christ every day of our lives, we’re still sinners – sinners saved by grace – but still sinners nonetheless

None of us – your pastor, your elders, your deacons, those who teach your children, or you – none of us are perfect people. And since people are the church, a perfect church this side of heaven is simply not possible. The true church, the Bride of Christ, will be made perfect when Jesus takes us to be with Him. But on this earth, and in this age, per-fect churches do not exist!

The fact is that the Church of Jesus Christ was never intended to be a place for perfect people, a people without flaws or weaknesses. Rather, it was intended to be a place of fellowship for people who are flawed and weak, and know it! Let me say it again – churches struggle because of the imperfections of the people who populate them. The church isn’t a kind of theater where the healthy and wealthy go to be entertained and dazzled by the wonders and glories of men. The church is a kind of hospital where the sick and needy go to be awed and humbled by of the wonders and glories of God.

So it should be obvious that just as some hospitals are better than others, so too are some churches better than others. And the leadership here at LBC freely and unashamedly declares that we want to be among those better churches. But better in whose sight –
in the sight of the world, or in the sight of other churches, or in the sight of God? Our study of the seven churches of Revelation is showing us the qualities that define the bet-ter churches in God’s sight. It’s those qualities that we would make our first priorities. Identifying them and taking hold of them has been the whole point of our study over these last six weeks.

In the sixth church, the Church at Philadelphia, we’ll see a church that Jesus commends for a number of the qualities that marked them as a faithful church. Now don’t misunder-stand, the Church at Philadelphia – just like the very best churches that have existed for the last two thousand years – was imperfect and flawed. But the Church at Philadelphia was faithful and loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ. May that be said of us!
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II. Text
I want to preface our reading of this morning’s passage in Revelation with one from Hebrews where God defines the faith of the true believer.
*Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it (by faith) the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The Church at Philadelphia not only sought after God, but exercised faith, grasped it, held on, gained the Lord’s approval, and was promised a glorious future.
*Revelation 3:7-13 (Please stand with me in honor of reading God’s Word.)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast (to) what you have, in order that no one
take your crown.
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon 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 My new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In speaking to the Church at Philadelphia, Jesus will address the same things He has addressed to the other churches. He will name the city, describe a particular aspect of His person, commend the church for what it is doing right or well, indict the church for what it is doing wrong or not so well, exhort and warn the church, and conclude with eternal promises for all who will obey Him.

Most people know that “Philadelphia” means “brotherly love” or “love of the brethren.” This city was located about 35 miles southeast of Sardis. Attalus Philadelphus, the king of Pergamum, founded it around 190 B.C. It was his unusual devotion to his brother that gave Philadelphia its name. Eventually the city became famous for growing grapes. So wine-making became Philadelphia’s most important industry, and Dionysus, the god of wine, became their chief pagan deity.

As has been the case in the previous five churches the name of the city is appropriate. The Christians in Philadelphia really did love the brethren. In Philadelphia we have an example of a true church that is found within the professing church. The true church is always smaller than the professing church.

Last week we saw an example of that very thing in Sardis. Jesus had said that the Church at Sardis, while professing faith, was spiritually dead. Yet even in Sardis there were a few who would walk with Him in white.

The Church at Philadelphia is significant from the historical/prophetical point of view as well. Where Thyatira represented the beginnings of what would become Roman Catholi-cism, and Sardis represented the beginnings of the Protestant Church, Philadelphia gives us a picture of the “Great Awakening” and the missionary church that became prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Description
*Revelation 3:7
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this…”

Jesus begins by identifying and describing Himself as “holy.” In doing so He refers to God, the One who possesses absolute and infinite holiness. The Scriptures repeatedly speak of God’s holiness, but nowhere more forcefully than when the angels of God cry out in Isaiah and then again Revelation.
Isaiah 6:3b
3b “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”
Revelation 4:8b
8b “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

“Holy!” The very word intimidates us, doesn’t it? God has said, “…you shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).” To that we say, “But Lord, I can’t be holy.” Yet the Scrip-tures teach that we are holy because God has made us so. The word “holy” is “hagiŏs.” It’s an interesting word. We often think of holiness as defining someone who is very reli-gious or pious. Someone like the Pope may come to mind. In fact, he’s often called “Holy Father,” isn’t he? But religiosity and piety have nothing to do with true holiness.

We are made (declared) holy when we are set apart by God. That’s what “hagiŏs” means – being set apart from sin. So when Jesus says He is holy, He is declar-ing His sinlessness, His perfection, and His spotless character. More than that, He is declaring His deity. This is His first word of introduction to the Church at Philadelphia.

He is “hagiŏs.” From this one word (and its variants) we get the English words “sanctify, sanctuary, saint,” and of course, “holy.” Listen, when God saved you, He set you apart for Himself. In doing so He began the process of your sanctification, your holiness, your “hagiosmŏs.” When we, God’s people, gather here for worship, this room becomes a sanctuary, a holy place, a “hagiŏn.” And if you’re one of His, you’re a saint, a “hagiŏs.”

Therefore, true Christians are holy (separated) because they’ve been justified by faith in Christ. God has made us holy in His sight by applying the holiness of His Son to us. Thus He separated us in two very important and distinct ways: First, He separated us from the world. Second, He separated us to Christ. Our position has changed. Jesus taught this separation in the parable of the wheat and the tares and again in the Olivet Discourse where He speaks of the yet future separation of the sheep and the goats.
*1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

So God rightly says to us, “…you shall be holy, for I am holy.”
And we can humbly say, “Yes, Lord. Thank you for doing for me what I could not do for myself. I am holy, not because of anything I’ve done for You, but because of everything You’ve done for me.”

Now look again at Revelation 3:7. Jesus also says that He is true. Not only does Jesus tell us that He is the Holy One of God, He tells us He is true. It isn’t just that He speaks truth, it is that He IS truth, all truth. There is no truth outside of Him. Isn’t that what He told us? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life… (John 14:6).” Jesus doesn’t say, “I tell you the truth,” although He does, and says as much elsewhere in Scripture. But Jesus says. “I am the truth.” He is absolute truth, and outside of Him, there is no truth.

When Jesus says He is true, He is using the word “alēthinŏs.” It means “truth” in the sense of real, authentic, and genuine, as opposed to the truth of a particular fact, such 2+2=4. The NT often uses “alēthinŏs” to describe things like God’s ways, His riches, and His judgments. They are true!

And in John’s gospel Jesus tells us that He is “true light (1:9), true bread (6:32), true drink (6:35), and the true vine that connects us to God (15:1, 5).” Yet the postmodern world in which we now live has perverted itself and degenerated to such a degree that it says truth is irrelevant and meaningless. Our postmodern culture says that whatever you think is true is just as valid as what anyone else thinks is true. So if you think 2+2=3, or 5, or 61,493, or anything else, it just doesn’t matter. But all around us, every day, we see the horrors and the wreckage brought about by the rejection of the absolute truth that is found only in our Lord and Savior.

Today’s so-called enlightened society merely echoes Pontius Pilate when he sneered at Jesus, mocked Him, and said, “What is truth (John 18:38)?” Listen to John Walvoord.
“In the midst of so much that is false and perverted, Jesus Christ stands alone as the One who is completely true. This aspect of the person of Christ, linked with His holiness, brings out the great truth that right doctrine and right living go together. There can be no holiness without truth.”

But there’s still more to Jesus’ description of Himself to the Church at Philadelphia. He not only says He is holy and true, He says He holds the key of David. Keys are symbols of authority. Just as Revelation 1:18 tells us Jesus holds the keys to death and hell in the judgment to come, so too does He hold the keys to God’s kingdom and the salvation and blessing that awaits His true church.

Then speaking again to His authority and power, He says that when He opens a door no one will shut it, and when He closes a door no one will open it. Here Jesus addresses His omnipotence. Jesus gives that authority to all believers. “Gives” is the operative word. You cannot take it. He alone gives it.

So, to the Church at Philadelphia, Jesus identifies Himself as He who is the sum of all holiness, all truth, all authority, and all power. How does He commend this local church?
The Commendation
*Revelation 3:8
8 “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

In Ephesians 2:10 Paul tells us that God’s children have been “…created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Therefore, God expects us to “…walk in them.” John Calvin said, “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone.” His point was that there are no saving works, there is only saving faith. But saving faith produces acceptable works, and acceptable works are those that are produced by saving faith. These are the “deeds” of which Jesus is now speaking.

The nature of the open door Jesus has put before them is a bit of a mystery. We’re not told what the door is. But it may help if we remember where Philadelphia was. It was located on a major east-west trade route. If they went east, Asia and the Far East would be open to them. If they went west, the Mediterranean and Europe lay before them. So some believe the open door referred to taking the gospel to the rest of the known world.

Something else that gives credence to the Church at Philadelphia’s significance from the historical/prophetical point of view can be seen here as well. If it is symbolic of “Great Awakening” and the beginning of modern missions (and I think it is), then this open door is for the world-wide preaching of the gospel and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Then Jesus says the Church at Philadelphia has a “little power.” “Power” is “dunamis.” It means power that comes from within. We get the word “dynamite” from it. So Jesus reminds them of their God-given spiritual power. As God’s people we have great power, far more than we usually think. It’s very “little” when compared to Omnipotence, but ask yourself this: How much can you and I accomplish for God with that “little power?”

Next Jesus commends the Church at Philadelphia by acknowledging the fact that they kept His Word and refused to deny His name. He is saying that they neither denied the inspiration of Scripture nor the deity of Christ. Aren’t these two of the first things modern theological liberalism denies?

Jeff likes to say that if you want to know where people who claim to be Christians really stand, you can ask them two simple questions. First, who is Jesus Christ? Second, what is the Bible? Any answers other than, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God/God in human flesh,” and “The Bible is God’s inspired and inerrant Word” are wrong. The Church at Philadelphia wasn’t wrong. They were not 1st century “liberals.” They neither denied nor softened these basic and fundamental truths.
They were a rock-solid Bible-believing church! And Jesus calls them faithful. Many historians and archeologists believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ reached into India as early as it did because this faithful church sent out missionaries. Jesus opened the door and they went through it!
The Promise
*Revelation 3:9-10
9 “Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.”

We’ve already seen the term “synagogue of Satan.” Jesus used it when He spoke to the suffering Church at Smyrna. It referred to religious but unbelieving Jews who hated both the gospel and Christians. They were Jews by physical birth only. They were the ones of whom Paul said, “…it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but (it is) the children of the promise… (Romans 9:8).” Just as the faithful in the Church at Philadel-phia were being persecuted by Jews who were God’s chosen in name only, true Christ-ians today are often persecuted by many of those who are Christians in name only.

I know that some of you have first-hand experience with that. So please, take comfort in Jesus’ words. Cling to them because they are for you. “…I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”

In v. 10 Jesus’ promise to “…keep (the church) from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world…” is both exciting and enlightening. It helps us to under-stand the entire Book of Revelation as well as all prophecy, and is one of the reasons we believe in the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church, wherein the true church will be taken up prior to God’s unleashing His wrath upon this world. Here are four reasons –

• First, in v. 10 the context (as always) is important. Remember that Jesus makes this statement while speaking to the faithful Church at Philadelphia.
• Second, it is critical to understand what the word “church” actually means. It’s the Greek word “ĕkklēsia,” which is derived from “ĕkkaleō,” which means “those people (who are) called out.” So the true church, the Bride of Christ, you and I, are God’s called out ones. We were called out individually at the new birth and the church will be called out corporately at the Rapture.
• Third, the verb “to keep” in this verse is followed by a preposition whose meaning is “from” or “out of.” Jesus is saying that His church will not go through the coming hell on earth.

Romans 5:9 says, “…we shall be saved from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessaloni-ans 1:10 says, “…(we) wait for His Son from heaven…that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• The fourth reason we believe the church will be taken out of this world before the Rapture – and I admit this is an argument from silence, but it should not be ignored or summarily discounted – is that after Jesus’ message to the Church at Laodicea, the Book of Revelation never again mentions the church until the last chapter (22:16). There it is referred to in the past.

Why? The true church has been called out – the true church is gone! That’s the promise to the faithful church in Revelation 3:10.
The Indictment and The Warning
Where is Jesus’ indictment and His warning to the Church at Philadelphia? There is none because this church was faithful to its Lord in every meaningful way. And so Jesus blesses it. He commends it and bestows His eternal promises on it.
The Exhortation
*Revelation 3:11
11 “I am coming quickly; hold fast (to) what you have, in order that no one take your crown.”

Quickly does not mean fast. It means suddenly and without warning. To the unbeliever this is nothing less than a threat, but to you and me it is yet another promise of blessing.
Titus 2:13
13 (We are) looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Revelation 3:11 exhorts us to hang on to our faith. The NT speaks of at least four other crowns (or rewards) for the believer. While this crown is not named, the context implies that Jesus is referring to the crown of life. James 1:12 says the crown of life is for those who remain faithful unto death. And the Church at Philadelphia is a faithful church.
The Final Promise
Back in v. 9 Jesus promises the faithful church that unbelievers who persecute us will one day bow down at our feet and know that we are God’s children. In v. 10 He promises the faithful church that He will take us to be with Him before He unleashes His wrath upon this world. Here is the third promise…
*Revelation 3:12
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon 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 My new name.

The overcomers are the faithful whom God has saved. The pillar symbolizes a solid and unshakable place. God’s name, the name of the New Jerusalem, and the name of Jesus, symbolize ownership. We are His and we belong to Him forever. When taken together all of these things speak of eternal citizenship, eternal security, and eternal glory. This is what awaits the faithful church!
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III. Conclusion
As you go into your discussion groups please take time to open in prayer. Then consider our church. How are we faithful to God and His Word? How and in what ways are we not so faithful? Ask yourself: If Jesus sent a letter to us at Lighthouse Bible Church today, what would He say? Would He commend us? Would He indict us? Would He warn us?

This is the heart of our self-evaluation. So talk among yourselves as to how we can improve our faithfulness, both to God and to one another.
*Revelation 3:13
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

~ Pray ~