PHILADELPHIA
The city of Philadelphia, situated 30 miles south east of Sardis, was founded by king Eumenes II of Pergamum, who named it after his loyal and dedicated brother, Attalus II who earned the nickname Philadelphos. Philadelphia comes from two Greek words: 'phileo' (to love) and 'adelphos' (brother).
The church of Philadelphia parallels the period of worldwide evangelistic outreach and great spiritual revival for the Church; brotherly love was prominently displayed and love for the lost demonstrated in relentless missionary endeavors.
Verses 7-8
Christ now depicts Himself differently from the introductory chapter of Revelation—as One that is holy and true. The church of Philadelphia was walking in holiness and abiding in the truth, and Christ was pleased with it. No condemnation, only commendation. Does our walk please the Lord? Do we even desire to please Him at all?
Therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Consider what I say; and the Lord give you understanding in all things. (2 Timothy 2:3-4,7)
The reference to the key of David can be found in Isaiah 22:22 where God declared He would remove Hezekiah's unfaithful steward Shebna and give the key to the house of David (the stewardship to the treasury) to Eliakim, a more honorable man. The name Eliakim means 'he whom God raise up' and indeed Jesus is the One whom God has set over His house, the Church. Do we belong to Him? Then we should live by His Spirit and not according to the desires of our flesh.
But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
Christ already said He has the key of death and hell; now He holds the key to the kingdoms on earth, and He opens and shuts the doors at will. He knows that His saints have a little strength—those who keep (delight and obey) His Word and do not deny (are not ashamed of) His Name. As a result, He has set before them an open door which no one can shut.
What is this open door? It is the opportunity to evangelize, to bring the gospel to the unsaved. A brother once shared with me that after he was converted, he could not walk down the street and look at the masses of people without tears in his eyes, because he saw them as lost souls desperately in need of God's love. Are we still loitering outside the open door, or making use of the opportunities to sow the seed while it is still day? The night is coming upon us soon...
Verse 9
Those who love and honor the Lord are often disdain or sneer at by those who love the world and give only lip service to Him. For now, the faithful remnant is despised and discounted off as irrelevant and inconsequential, but Christ will elevate them to a place of honor and prove the professing masses wrong—dead wrong. The wheat and the tares now grow alongside each other, but Christ will make a distinction for those He counted faithful one day.
Verses 10-11
Christ promises those who keep the word of His patience that He in turn will preserve them in the coming great tribulation which the world and its inhabitants will be subjected to (Luke 21:35-36).
What is this word of His patience? There are many verses that shed light on it, some of which are listed below:
In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25)
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. (James 5:7)
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)
Peter warned that in the last days there will be scoffers walking after their own lusts, and questioning the return of Christ (2 Peter 3:3-4). Among these will include believers who are so at home in the world they are not ready for Christ's return or even wish He'll never come back in their lifetime!
But Christ says He will come quickly, and He warns us to stand firm and not give in to these influences and pressures, lest we too lose our reward.
Verses 12-13
The city of Philadelphia was situated over an earthquake zone so the people were familiar with instability as they run out of collapsing buildings to safety when the grounds shook. Christ promises His faithful church that He will make them pillars in His temple which will never crumble, and they will be secured and never need to run out anymore, but will be in the Presence of God—their Rock of refuge—forever.
The overcomer will have three names written on him: the name of God, the name of the new city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, and Christ's new name. What do all these names signify?
The name of God on a believer signifies God's ownership of him, just as in ancient times a master would brand his name on his slaves. It is a seal of protection, that a true believer is off-limits to the devil and his evil spirits.
We know that whoever is born of God do not continue to live in sin, but keeps himself blameless so that the wicked one has no ground to accuse him. (1 John 5:18)
The name of the new Jerusalem is the passport or citizenship rights to the kingdom of God, along with all the privileges and benefits that only a citizen is entitled to enjoy.
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints who belong to the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)
The new name of Christ is the name that the Church, the Bride of Christ, will assume from henceforth—just as a woman who is married will take on the surname of her husband and be identified with him as one.
What's in a name? Definitely more than we can possibly realize when our eternal stake depends on it. Jesus, Name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord!
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