7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: The Sixth Church

7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: A Great Commendation

The Church of Philadelphia, the sixth church of the 7 churches of Revelations, (Revelations 3:7-13), is commended by Jesus. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says about Philadelphia.

• Revelation 3:7-13, “And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, and he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
• I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
• Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan , which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
• Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
• Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
• Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Every Christian belongs to one of the churches of Revelations. Let us examine ourselves and prayerfully seek God’s face that we might grow in him.

7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: Revelation of Jesus

Jesus reveals himself to the Church in several specific ways. He announces that he is holy and true. By stating he is holy and true he is announcing that he is the faithful witness that washes us from our sins, (see Revelations 1:5).

• Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”

By stating he is the key of David he declares that he is of the linage of David which the prophets foretold and his death and resurrection is the key to eternal life, (see Isaiah 22:22-25).

• Isaiah 22: 22-25, “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.  And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.  And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.  In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it.”

The nail that Isaiah, the prophet,  mentions is the nails in Jesus’s hands and feet.  He also mentions that the nail will be cut down and fall which reveals the death of Christ.  And lastly the burden that is cut off is the sin of mankind.  If we will only repent and accept Christ we can know true peace and forgiveness!

By revealing that he opens and no man shuts and he shuts and no man opens he is stating that he is the door that leads to eternal life, (see John 10:7-10).

• John 10:7-10, “Then said Jesus unto them again.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: Good Things

The church of Philadelphia has a little strength, has kept his word, the Bible, and has not denied his name. The two greatest things that a Christian can do is obey the word of God, the Bible, and confess Jesus Christ. Obedience to God’s Word and sharing the testimony of Christ with others are extremely pleasing to God, (see I Samuel 15:22 and I John 4:15-16 and Revelations 22:9).

• I Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

• I John 4:15-16, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

• Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

• Revelation 22:9, “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: The Commendation

Because of the Church of Philadelphia’s love for Christ he has given them an open door. There is no chastisement for this church.

7 Churches of Revelations – Philadelphia: The Reward

This church is amazingly rewarded for its obedience to Christ. They will be kept from the hour of temptation that God will send to try the world.

This church is one of only two churches to receive a crown. They will receive a better resurrection. He cautions the Church of Philadelphia to hold fast to their convictions. Those of the Church of Philadelphia will become pillars in the temple of God.

They will have the name of God written on them. They will be a special possession, (children), to the God of Glory, (see Romans 8:14-16).

• Romans 8:14-16, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; bu ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

They will have the name of the city of God, New Jerusalem written on them. They will be counted worthy to dwell in New Jerusalem, (see Revelations 21:23 through 22:6).

• Revelation 21:23-22:6, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
• And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
• And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
• And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.
• And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
• And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
• In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
• And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
• And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
• And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
• And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

And Jesus will write his new name on them. The rewards for the Church of Philadelphia are beyond imagination, (see I Corinthians 2:9)

• I Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

God begs us to listen. He says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…”

Let us put away the sin that so easily besets us and pray that we might be counted worthy to partake of the blessings of the Church of Philadelphia.

In Christ
J-me
Copyright 2010 J-me

Other articles in this series are:

7 Churches of Revelations – Overview
7 Churches of Revelations – Ephesus
7 Churches of Revelations – Smyrna
7 Churches of Revelations – Pergamos
7 Churches of Revelations – Thyatira
7 Churches of Revelations – Sardis
7 Churches of Revelations – Laodicea

God reveals the 7 churches of Revelations to warn and encourage Christian believers. Do you know Christ? If you are a believer…in which of the 7 churches of Revelations do you find yourself. Which of the 7 churches of Revelations do you want to belong? What must you do?

If you’re not a Christian. Please view the Jesus Connection page of this site for information on becoming a Christian and receiving God’s great blessing.