The city of Philadelphia did not have the ancient history of many others of the seven churches of the Revelation. At the time of the writing of the letter, it was only a little over two hundred years old. However, it was established on a piece of ground that was especially strategic. Philadelphia was built on the site where the borders of three countries met: Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia.

There had, for many hundreds of years, been some kind of settlement at the site, for it was on a highway that connected the mid east with Europe. When King Xerses began his westward expansion, he camped on the site and wrote of it in his journals. But only in 140 B.C. was the frontier settlement really transformed into what could be called a city.

It was named Philadelphia, which means the city of brotherly love. Probably, somewhere near its 200th birthday, the gospel came to the people of the city; people who believed were born again, and a church was born.

The Church at Philadelphia Revelation 3:7-13 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie— indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 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.

12 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. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Already the task of interpreting the Revelation is getting easier. Some of the things we have worked through are being repeated, so we understand them even as we read them. 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

We know the angel is the messenger to the church, very probably the pastor who brings the message from the Risen Christ to the church at Philadelphia. We might be tempted to bypass the word “true,” because we know that means the opposite of false. We should be careful, however, and remember that the original is not in our language, so a meaning that appears plain to us may be different in the Greek.

It is always good to do at least a quick word study on any important words in a passage. The description of Jesus here is a good case in point. There is a word in Greek that means “true” as opposed to “false,” but that is not the word here. The word here means “real” and “genuine.” Jesus is the genuine Son of God and Lord over all!

So, what does “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: If we use a search engine to find all the places where the words “key” and “David” appear together, we only find two in the whole Bible! Rev. 3:7 is one of course, and the other is Isa. 22:22.

Isaiah 22:22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Wow! This description of Christ is being drawn from these words of Isaiah. What did they mean in Isaiah? They were written about Eliakim, the faithful steward of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah gave Eliakim the key to the royal palace so that no one had access to the palace (built by David) or to the king except through this faithful servant.

So the Exalted Christ came to be a servant, and God the Father has given Him the key, so that only those whom He admits shall enter the Heavenly Palace and have access to its Eternal King!

There is further meaning for the people and the church of Philadelphia. Philadelphia was built as a missionary city to spread Greek influence to the wild lands of Phrygia. Now Christ had caused the church at Philadelphia to be specially positioned to take them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The opportunity came from Him Who has the key of David, the One with the right and power to open or close admission to the King’s house, the One who is the exclusive way to the Father. He, Jesus Himself, opened the door of missionary opportunity to the church of Philadelphia.

Interestingly, Jesus gave His disciples the keys to the kingdom. He told them that whoever they let in with the keys would be admitted in heaven. The “keys to the kingdom” is the gospel. Historically, the church at Philadelphia seized the opportunity and was faithful to the task.

Interestingly, Jesus gave His disciples the keys to the kingdom. He told them that whoever they let in with the keys would be admitted in heaven. The “keys to the kingdom” is the gospel. Historically, the church at Philadelphia seized the opportunity and was faithful to the task.

Interestingly, Jesus gave His disciples the keys to the kingdom. He told them that whoever they let in with the keys would be admitted in heaven. The “keys to the kingdom” is the gospel. Historically, the church at Philadelphia seized the opportunity and was faithful to the task.

3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. The church had little earthly strength, but they kept God’s Word - obeyed. They did not deny the Lord’s name. And of all seven of the churches of the Revelation, Philadelphia was by far the most mission minded.

3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. The church had little earthly strength, but they kept God’s Word - obeyed. They did not deny the Lord’s name. And of all seven of the churches of the Revelation, Philadelphia was by far the most mission minded.

3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. The church had little earthly strength, but they kept God’s Word - obeyed. They did not deny the Lord’s name. And of all seven of the churches of the Revelation, Philadelphia was by far the most mission minded.

3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. The church had little earthly strength, but they kept God’s Word - obeyed. They did not deny the Lord’s name. And of all seven of the churches of the Revelation, Philadelphia was by far the most mission minded.

Indeed, the church at Philadelphia remained faithful across the years to the risen Christ. When Islam later swept across Asia Minor, Philadelphia was the last of the cities to fall. Even then, it did not fall by lack of courage or strength; but because the Christians of Philadelphia were betrayed by the “Christians” of Byzantium.

3:9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Remember that Smyrna was also the residence of the “Synagogue of Satan.” In our study of the message to the church at Smyrna we noted this about the “Synagogue of Satan.”

That is not, of course, the name inscribed above the door of the building. If it were like virtually every other synagogue in the world at the time, its official title was “The Synagogue of the Lord.”

This was the name given the synagogue in Smyrna which was filled with Jews who both were willing themselves to accommodate Caesar worship, but who also despised Christians because of their faith in Jesus as Messiah.

These Jews kept careful tabs on all the Christians and were more than eager to tattle to the Roman officials that this Christian or that had no certification of their required worship of Caesar.

It is important to note than only the church at Philadelphia and the church at Smyrna were offered the unmodified praise of our Lord. One was the church that remained faithful in persecution. One was the church that was faithful to missionary opportunity.

The Philadelphia Period: A.D A great move of God in England and America prepared the church for the door of opportunity the Lord was about to open.

The Philadelphia Period: A.D A great move of God in England and America prepared the church for the door of opportunity the Lord was about to open.

The evangelical revival in England awakened the passions of many believers and led to the conversion of many others. The Great Awakening in America did the same. For the first time since the earliest centuries of the church, much of the church was aflame for Christ, fervent in faith, and had a growing passion to proclaim the gospel to reach lost souls.

The evangelical revival in England awakened the passions of many believers and led to the conversion of many others. The Great Awakening in America did the same. For the first time since the earliest centuries of the church, much of the church was aflame for Christ, fervent in faith, and had a growing passion to proclaim the gospel to reach lost souls.

The evangelical revival in England awakened the passions of many believers and led to the conversion of many others. The Great Awakening in America did the same. For the first time since the earliest centuries of the church, much of the church was aflame for Christ, fervent in faith, and had a growing passion to proclaim the gospel to reach lost souls.

The evangelical revival in England awakened the passions of many believers and led to the conversion of many others. The Great Awakening in America did the same. For the first time since the earliest centuries of the church, much of the church was aflame for Christ, fervent in faith, and had a growing passion to proclaim the gospel to reach lost souls.

The evangelical revival in England awakened the passions of many believers and led to the conversion of many others. The Great Awakening in America did the same. For the first time since the earliest centuries of the church, much of the church was aflame for Christ, fervent in faith, and had a growing passion to proclaim the gospel to reach lost souls.

God raised up men and women out of His faithful churches to communicate His vision of taking the gospel to every nation. Such was William Carey, a Baptist shoemaker and then a preacher.

God raised up men and women out of His faithful churches to communicate His vision of taking the gospel to every nation. Such was William Carey, a Baptist shoemaker and then a preacher.

God raised up men and women out of His faithful churches to communicate His vision of taking the gospel to every nation. Such was William Carey, a Baptist shoemaker and then a preacher.

Carey went from praying for the people of the world while looking at a home-made map he had pieced together from scraps of leather to being a missionary himself to the people of India. Carey not only labored in translating the Scriptures to the language of the people he served, but his letters provided stirring messages that God used to call others into evangelistic missionary service.

Carey went from praying for the people of the world while looking at a home-made map he had pieced together from scraps of leather to being a missionary himself to the people of India. Carey not only labored in translating the Scriptures to the language of the people he served, but his letters provided stirring messages that God used to call others into evangelistic missionary service.

Carey went from praying for the people of the world while looking at a home-made map he had pieced together from scraps of leather to being a missionary himself to the people of India. Carey not only labored in translating the Scriptures to the language of the people he served, but his letters provided stirring messages that God used to call others into evangelistic missionary service.

Carey went from praying for the people of the world while looking at a home-made map he had pieced together from scraps of leather to being a missionary himself to the people of India. Carey not only labored in translating the Scriptures to the language of the people he served, but his letters provided stirring messages that God used to call others into evangelistic missionary service.

By the mid 18th century, evangelistic missionary societies were springing up in America, England, and Europe. For the next 150 years, the number of missionaries from numerous evangelical denominations multiplied. And as more missionaries were sent, God opened the doors for them to be received in the nations around the world.

By the mid 18th century, evangelistic missionary societies were springing up in America, England, and Europe. For the next 150 years, the number of missionaries from numerous evangelical denominations multiplied. And as more missionaries were sent, God opened the doors for them to be received in the nations around the world.

By the mid 18th century, evangelistic missionary societies were springing up in America, England, and Europe. For the next 150 years, the number of missionaries from numerous evangelical denominations multiplied. And as more missionaries were sent, God opened the doors for them to be received in the nations around the world.

By the mid 18th century, evangelistic missionary societies were springing up in America, England, and Europe. For the next 150 years, the number of missionaries from numerous evangelical denominations multiplied. And as more missionaries were sent, God opened the doors for them to be received in the nations around the world.

It was the season when God opened the door, and no man could shut it. Even in countries today like China that have officially closed their doors to Christ and the gospel, underground churches continue to spread the good news, churches that have their roots in these days of open door missionary opportunity.

The Philadelphia Church Today There are still Philadelphia churches in existence today.

Although we live in a day in which the Laodicean church is predominant, we can choose to be a Philadelphian church. Any Christian, any church can choose to be the person or church who is faithful to the open door of evangelistic and missionary opportunity which God gives.

What are some of the characteristics of the Philadelphian church today? It is a church which has the vision of the door Christ has opened, which sees the fields white for harvest, and walks through it according to the mandate of Acts 1:8.

What are some of the characteristics of the Philadelphian church today? It is a church which has the vision of the door Christ has opened, which sees the fields white for harvest, and walks through it according to the mandate of Acts 1:8.

What are some of the characteristics of the Philadelphian church today? It is a church which has the vision of the door Christ has opened, which sees the fields white for harvest, and walks through it according to the mandate of Acts 1:8.

What are some of the characteristics of the Philadelphian church today? It is a church which has the vision of the door Christ has opened, which sees the fields white for harvest, and walks through it according to the mandate of Acts 1:8.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

It is the church that will persevere. 3:10 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. Note the warning of the “hour of trial” that will come on the whole earth. Jesus spoke of it in Mt. 24. This is the tribulation. But true believers will be raptured out before it begins!

It is a church which is looking for the soon coming of Christ and therefore has an urgency about its work. 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Crowns are given as rewards to believers. Five crowns are mentioned in the New Testament that are available. Can you find them?

It is a church of people who are genuinely born again. 3:12 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. The overcomer (true believer) will become a pillar, a permanent support, for the spiritual building God is erecting.

It is a church which cherishes heavenly reward more than earthly comfort. It is a church which listens to God. 3:13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

It is a church which cherishes heavenly reward more than earthly comfort. It is a church which listens to God. 3:13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

It is a church which cherishes heavenly reward more than earthly comfort. It is a church which listens to God. 3:13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

CONCLUSION: Do you want our church to be more and more that kind of church? If you do not, would you pray for God to change your desires and cause you to want what He wants?