Rev 3:9 | KingComments | STEP | . The message for Philadelphia is, like that for Smyrna, without reproach. The Lord mentions only commendable things and encourages them to continue on the same track. The name Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love’. Philadelphia is a church in which is love for each other. That love comes from love for the Lord and His Word. At the same time, the love for each other forms the right atmosphere in which the love for the Lord and for His Word can be expressed. Philadelphia emerged from Sardis. Those who had a living faith in Christ in Sardis have moved away from the deadness. A new movement arose as a work of God’s Spirit that totally committed itself to the Lord and His Word. In the lives of the believers there was a personal, living relationship with Christ. He meant everything to them. We see this happening in church history in the nineteenth century. The Lord Jesus presents Himself to this church with characteristics which you have not seen in chapter 1. Here He speaks as “He who is holy”, because they have separated themselves from evil. This evil is the appearance of life in Sardis. He also speaks as “who is true”, because this also belongs to them. They want to walk in sincerity and faithfulness, according to the truth that is in their innermost being, that He is searching for and which He sees there ( ). He also has “the key of David”. He is the true David ( ) and the only One Who has access and right to all promises made to David. He who has the key, has the power to open and to close ( ). . The Lord knows their deeds. It is not said which deeds it is about. To the world and professing Christianity it will not be impressive deeds, but the Lord knows them and appreciates them. He tells them that He has given them “an open door”. The weak remnant receives from the Lord an open door, a passable way, which no one can block ( ; ). It is a door to the treasury, to the knowledge of God’s Word and its secrets and to the city of God. Maybe you are in a situation which is comparable to Sardis. There are people around you who call themselves a Christian but they are that only by name. There is a confession, but there is no life. If you desire life, He will open a door for you to a situation in which He and His Word are everything. He will bring you into contact with others who also have that desire. Ask Him for it and He will show you the way. You can find that way in His Word which He will open with His key, so that you see His beauty in it and enjoy it. He knows that you, as is said of the church in Philadelphia, have “little power”. That means that He knows that you are dependent on Him. Philadelphia – and each believer and each church that wants to be like that – does not make its presence felt in the world. Their and also your strength is in the Lord and in ‘keeping His Word’. With His Word the Bible is meant, but then as the Word that He has spoken. It gives an enormous spiritual power if you read the Bible as the words of the Savior Who loves you and Whom you love. You cherish that Word because it is about Him and He has spoken it. To you it is about Him, you have Him and that is sufficient to you. Another appreciation that the Lord speaks about is that they have “not denied” His Name. His Name means everything to them. That’s what they hold on to. That’s what you also do, isn’t it? You owe your salvation to His Name ( ); in His Name you may gather with fellow believers as a church ( ). You do not want another name, you reject that, for that would be a denial of His Name. . The remnant was under heavy pressure of the mass of the professing Christianity. A group that does not go along with the established churches, is portrayed by them as a dangerous sect. They claim “that they are Jews”, which means that they present themselves as the true people of God. You may apply this to people who claim with their mouth to be true Christians and that they are entitled to everything that God has promised to the true Christians. Professing Christianity is full of such people. But the Lord calls these professors “the synagogue of Satan”. Wherever He is not the center and His Word is not being considered, people become a prey of satan. As an encouragement the Lord promised them that He will make sure that the false confessors will acknowledge that He has loved this weak remnant. He will once justify the faithful believers toward the false Christians, the nominal confessors. He will unmask all who have unjustly adorned themselves with His Name. The false confessors will be forced to acknowledge that the believers despised by them were loved by the Lord Jesus. . The Lord has even more encouragements. He praises them ‘for keeping His command to persevere’. By this the Lord means that He has said He will come soon. He perseveringly looks forward to the rapture of His bride. This word has found resonance in their hearts: they also look forward to Him. That implies that He still does not reign. He is still patiently waiting for His kingdom and we ought to do that too ( ). Because they are looking forward to His coming with such perseverance, the Lord makes the promise to them that He will make sure that they will not be harmed by the judgments that soon will strike the earth. Before this “hour of testing” comes, He will take up the church into heaven. The second part of ‘the hour of testing’ is the period of the great tribulation ( ; ; ). The area upon which this hour of testing will come is “the whole world”. The people who will be struck by it, are called, “those who dwell on the earth”. Those are the earth’s inhabitants, the people who consider the earth to be their home and who have permanently settled themselves there as their definite residence. God and His rights and eternity lie totally outside their field of vision ( ). . As an additional encouragement the Lord promises to come quickly. He also exhorts them to hold fast what they have. What they have is not much. Still this call is necessary for them not to lose what they have: a warm love for the Lord and for each other. If they let go of that they will become lukewarm like Laodicea. We will see that in the next and final message. This call is also important for you to take to heart. Make sure that you will not lose your warm love for the Lord! For there is a “crown” attached to your attachment to the Lord and your affection for Him. The crown is the publicly visible appreciation of the Lord for your love for Him. He will adorn and honor you with that. . Although the church in Philadelphia is not reproached and no call to repentance is heard, there is still talk of overcoming. Overcomers are they who not only have left Sardis and have become Philadelphia, but who also hold on to that with their whole heart. The next message shows that it is possible that the warm love for the Lord Jesus can cool off. He who overcomes will be made by the Lord “a pillar in the temple of My God”. This is in great contrast to the place that they had on earth. There they were of no account and they were even portrayed to be annoying because they seemed to be blocking the growth of the church. However, in the resurrection they will appear to be pillars on which God’s house is resting (cf. ). A pillar is a symbol of strength. Those who have shown much spiritual power precisely in their weakness will be pillars forever and ever. There will be no question of succumbing. It is the overcomers in Philadelphia who make God’s house a spiritual house. In that house spiritual sacrifices are offered and the Father is worshiped by His sons. That is the place where priests draw near to God and know what He is worthy of. Those who do that today will be allowed to do a special service there in the resurrection. But the promise for the overcomer goes still further. The Lord Jesus will write on him “the name of the city of My God”. On earth the believer in Philadelphia had not a lasting city, but he was seeking the city which is to come ( ). To that he will eternally be connected and that will also be visible. That city is “the new Jerusalem”, which is the church. At the end of this book you see that this new Jerusalem is “coming down out of heaven from God” ( ), but here the overcomer is already foretold this scene. Finally, the Lord says that He also will write “My new name” on the overcomer. That is the Name which He has now in glory ( ; ; ). Are all these things not an exhortation for you too not to focus on the earthly things, but to look forward to the heavenly things? Do you not want to connect yourself with any religious system on earth, out of love for the Lord Jesus, but with the city which is in heaven, the church in its heavenly character? Then you will soon be rewarded by the Lord in a very personal way. You can derive that from the five times that He repeats the word ‘My’. Four times he emphasizes His own very personal relationship with God and one time His very personal relationship with each believer who is an overcomer in Philadelphia (cf. ; ). . It may be the case that in the ‘Philadelphia’ where you perhaps are, it is to fear that the fervent love is gradually disappearing. Then for you it is important to have an ear to hear. Therefore at the end of this message the question is very personally addressed to you: ‘Do you have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches?’ Now read Revelation 3:7-13 again. Reflection: What can you do to hold fast what you have?

‏ Revelation of John 3:9

Message for Philadelphia

Rev 3:7. The message for Philadelphia is, like that for Smyrna, without reproach. The Lord mentions only commendable things and encourages them to continue on the same track. The name Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love’. Philadelphia is a church in which is love for each other. That love comes from love for the Lord and His Word. At the same time, the love for each other forms the right atmosphere in which the love for the Lord and for His Word can be expressed.

Philadelphia emerged from Sardis. Those who had a living faith in Christ in Sardis have moved away from the deadness. A new movement arose as a work of God’s Spirit that totally committed itself to the Lord and His Word. In the lives of the believers there was a personal, living relationship with Christ. He meant everything to them. We see this happening in church history in the nineteenth century.

The Lord Jesus presents Himself to this church with characteristics which you have not seen in chapter 1. Here He speaks as “He who is holy”, because they have separated themselves from evil. This evil is the appearance of life in Sardis. He also speaks as “who is true”, because this also belongs to them. They want to walk in sincerity and faithfulness, according to the truth that is in their innermost being, that He is searching for and which He sees there (Psa 51:6).

He also has “the key of David”. He is the true David (Isa 22:22) and the only One Who has access and right to all promises made to David. He who has the key, has the power to open and to close (Job 12:14b).

Rev 3:8. The Lord knows their deeds. It is not said which deeds it is about. To the world and professing Christianity it will not be impressive deeds, but the Lord knows them and appreciates them. He tells them that He has given them “an open door”. The weak remnant receives from the Lord an open door, a passable way, which no one can block (Col 4:3; 1Cor 16:9). It is a door to the treasury, to the knowledge of God’s Word and its secrets and to the city of God.

Maybe you are in a situation which is comparable to Sardis. There are people around you who call themselves a Christian but they are that only by name. There is a confession, but there is no life. If you desire life, He will open a door for you to a situation in which He and His Word are everything. He will bring you into contact with others who also have that desire. Ask Him for it and He will show you the way. You can find that way in His Word which He will open with His key, so that you see His beauty in it and enjoy it.

He knows that you, as is said of the church in Philadelphia, have “little power”. That means that He knows that you are dependent on Him. Philadelphia – and each believer and each church that wants to be like that – does not make its presence felt in the world. Their and also your strength is in the Lord and in ‘keeping His Word’. With His Word the Bible is meant, but then as the Word that He has spoken. It gives an enormous spiritual power if you read the Bible as the words of the Savior Who loves you and Whom you love. You cherish that Word because it is about Him and He has spoken it. To you it is about Him, you have Him and that is sufficient to you.

Another appreciation that the Lord speaks about is that they have “not denied” His Name. His Name means everything to them. That’s what they hold on to. That’s what you also do, isn’t it? You owe your salvation to His Name (Acts 4:12); in His Name you may gather with fellow believers as a church (Mt 18:20). You do not want another name, you reject that, for that would be a denial of His Name.

Rev 3:9. The remnant was under heavy pressure of the mass of the professing Christianity. A group that does not go along with the established churches, is portrayed by them as a dangerous sect. They claim “that they are Jews”, which means that they present themselves as the true people of God. You may apply this to people who claim with their mouth to be true Christians and that they are entitled to everything that God has promised to the true Christians. Professing Christianity is full of such people. But the Lord calls these professors “the synagogue of Satan”. Wherever He is not the center and His Word is not being considered, people become a prey of satan.

As an encouragement the Lord promised them that He will make sure that the false confessors will acknowledge that He has loved this weak remnant. He will once justify the faithful believers toward the false Christians, the nominal confessors. He will unmask all who have unjustly adorned themselves with His Name. The false confessors will be forced to acknowledge that the believers despised by them were loved by the Lord Jesus.

Rev 3:10. The Lord has even more encouragements. He praises them ‘for keeping His command to persevere’. By this the Lord means that He has said He will come soon. He perseveringly looks forward to the rapture of His bride. This word has found resonance in their hearts: they also look forward to Him. That implies that He still does not reign. He is still patiently waiting for His kingdom and we ought to do that too (2Thes 3:5).

Because they are looking forward to His coming with such perseverance, the Lord makes the promise to them that He will make sure that they will not be harmed by the judgments that soon will strike the earth. Before this “hour of testing” comes, He will take up the church into heaven. The second part of ‘the hour of testing’ is the period of the great tribulation (Mt 24:21; Jer 30:7 ; 11; 2Thes 2:9-10).

The area upon which this hour of testing will come is “the whole world”. The people who will be struck by it, are called, “those who dwell on the earth”. Those are the earth’s inhabitants, the people who consider the earth to be their home and who have permanently settled themselves there as their definite residence. God and His rights and eternity lie totally outside their field of vision (Psa 17:14).

Rev 3:11. As an additional encouragement the Lord promises to come quickly. He also exhorts them to hold fast what they have. What they have is not much. Still this call is necessary for them not to lose what they have: a warm love for the Lord and for each other. If they let go of that they will become lukewarm like Laodicea. We will see that in the next and final message.

This call is also important for you to take to heart. Make sure that you will not lose your warm love for the Lord! For there is a “crown” attached to your attachment to the Lord and your affection for Him. The crown is the publicly visible appreciation of the Lord for your love for Him. He will adorn and honor you with that.

Rev 3:12. Although the church in Philadelphia is not reproached and no call to repentance is heard, there is still talk of overcoming. Overcomers are they who not only have left Sardis and have become Philadelphia, but who also hold on to that with their whole heart. The next message shows that it is possible that the warm love for the Lord Jesus can cool off.

He who overcomes will be made by the Lord “a pillar in the temple of My God”. This is in great contrast to the place that they had on earth. There they were of no account and they were even portrayed to be annoying because they seemed to be blocking the growth of the church. However, in the resurrection they will appear to be pillars on which God’s house is resting (cf. Gal 2:9). A pillar is a symbol of strength. Those who have shown much spiritual power precisely in their weakness will be pillars forever and ever. There will be no question of succumbing.

It is the overcomers in Philadelphia who make God’s house a spiritual house. In that house spiritual sacrifices are offered and the Father is worshiped by His sons. That is the place where priests draw near to God and know what He is worthy of. Those who do that today will be allowed to do a special service there in the resurrection.

But the promise for the overcomer goes still further. The Lord Jesus will write on him “the name of the city of My God”. On earth the believer in Philadelphia had not a lasting city, but he was seeking the city which is to come (Heb 13:14). To that he will eternally be connected and that will also be visible. That city is “the new Jerusalem”, which is the church. At the end of this book you see that this new Jerusalem is “coming down out of heaven from God” (Rev 21:2), but here the overcomer is already foretold this scene.

Finally, the Lord says that He also will write “My new name” on the overcomer. That is the Name which He has now in glory (Rev 19:12; Phil 2:9; Heb 1:4).

Are all these things not an exhortation for you too not to focus on the earthly things, but to look forward to the heavenly things? Do you not want to connect yourself with any religious system on earth, out of love for the Lord Jesus, but with the city which is in heaven, the church in its heavenly character? Then you will soon be rewarded by the Lord in a very personal way. You can derive that from the five times that He repeats the word ‘My’. Four times he emphasizes His own very personal relationship with God and one time His very personal relationship with each believer who is an overcomer in Philadelphia (cf. Jn 20:17; Heb 2:11-13).

Rev 3:13. It may be the case that in the ‘Philadelphia’ where you perhaps are, it is to fear that the fervent love is gradually disappearing. Then for you it is important to have an ear to hear. Therefore at the end of this message the question is very personally addressed to you: ‘Do you have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches?’

Now read Revelation 3:7-13 again.

Reflection: What can you do to hold fast what you have?