The Persevering Church at Philadelphia

The human body can overcome many challenging feats of strength and endurance. If you have ever done any serious physical training regimen, like running or weightlifting, you know this to be true. If you have practiced for a 10K or a marathon, you know the strain and anxiety when you reach that last mile. You are so close to completing the course, and yet you feel like quitting or slowing down. But it’s precisely at that moment that you need to expend your last ounce of strength to complete the race. The same is true for weightlifting. If you have a certain set of repetitions to complete, you know the argument that goes on in your head when you are about to finish – can I do one or two more reps? That challenge to your body is an effective way to increase what your body can handle.

Scripture compares our Christian lives to a race. Like an athlete, we must exercise the virtue of perseverance. We must endure the challenges of this life, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and holding on to our faith in him. Many of these churches we have examined in Revelation 2 and 3 failed to endure. While some believers still resided in these churches and were promised blessings in the future, Christ also threatened to close these churches for their tolerance of false teaching and sensual lifestyles. This was not the case in Philadelphia. Like the church of Smyrna, Philadelphia was a church that endured much suffering and persecution. Christ commended them for their perseverance without giving any negative assessment or pointing out any sinful tendencies.

Some Background on the City

Philadelphia lay 25 miles southeast of Sardis, the fifth church on the route that the messenger traveled to circulate John’s letter. The city’s topography was mountainous; as such, it could be easily defended, though it was not founded for that purpose. The story of the city’s founding is fascinating. Historians are not sure whether it was established by the king of Pergamum, Eumenes II, or his younger brother, Attalus II Philadelphus. The city would have been founded during their reigns between 159 and 138 BC. The name of the city undoubtedly originated with Attalus. He was given this name because he had a reputation for loyalty and devotion to his brother. Indeed, the name literally means “lover of his brother.”

He demonstrated his loyalty to his older brother on two occasions. Once when Eumenes was away from home, it was falsely reported that he had been assassinated. When Eumenes returned to the surprise of all, Attalus gladly gave the throne back to his brother without any conflict. The second instance did not happen once, but multiple times. Apparently, the Roman empire had an interest in Attalus becoming king. They tried to motivate him to get rid of his brother. Attalus repeatedly refused these attempts. He certainly lived up to his name as a man of brotherly love.

Philadelphia also enjoyed economic prosperity. It resided at an important trade juncture for the Roman empire. It was often known as “the gateway to the east.” It based its economy on agriculture and industry, which also contributed to its prosperous financial state. The area was also known for its vine-growing industry.

This naturally led them to worship of the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. Alongside the worship of Dionysus usually came an abundance of festivals and celebrations, complete with merriment and debauchery. In addition, the city’s inhabitants also integrated their worship with the imperial cult. They established a cult for Emperor Tiberius’s adopted son, Germanicus, to show their bona fides with Caesar worship. Thought there is no archeological evidence, John tells us there was a Jewish presence in the city, enough for the formation of a synagogue.

Philadelphia also enjoyed a unique position as a cultural center for Greco-Roman civilization. Because it was seen as a gateway to the east, the Greeks used the city to bolster their own culture in the region. This was largely successful, as the native language of the region disappeared and gave way to the Greek language. It would later be known in the 5th century as “Little Athens.”

The city of Philadelphia had a thriving economy at different points in history, but it was hampered by its proclivity to natural disasters. The city was near a fault line, so it suffered from frequent earthquakes, the greatest of which was in 17 AD. Twelve different cities in Asia suffered from this event, but Philadelphia was especially devastated. The empire offered enough financial support in the rebuilding of the city that the citizens established a cult to the emperor’s son and even changed the city’s name to Neocaesarea.

A Personal Introduction from Christ

Typically, John’s description of Christ references his grand vision from chapter 1. In this case, he references the OT, specifically the prophet Isaiah. These two terms together of one who is holy and true highlights Christ’s divine nature. In Isaiah, Yahweh is often called “the Holy One of Israel.” In Revelation 6:10, these two words are also used to reference God.

The word “true” may distinguish Jesus as the Messiah, the genuine heir of David. It underscores his rightful position as the Davidic king who can assume David’s throne over Israel. This contrasts with the Jews in the synagogue who tried to refute the claims of Jesus as Messiah. In spite of their false claims, Jesus is the true Messiah who has a rightful claim to the Davidic line.

Related to this idea, this description of the Lord may be intended to highlight his messianic role. He is the only one set apart (holy) for this role and he will be faithful (true) to complete it. With this perspective in mind, it is easy to see how this would comfort the Philadelphian church. As they dealt with persecution and oppression from the Jews of the city, Christ’s faithful completion of his messianic role would be a great encouragement to them.

In the next description of Christ, we see him as the one who holds the key of David. This references Isaiah 22:22. In this passage, God pronounces judgment on a man named Shebna, the treasurer to King Hezekiah. God wanted another man named Eliakim to take his place.

A key in ancient times represented complete control over a royal house. God tells Eliakim that he lays on his shoulder the responsibility of fulfilling his role in David’s royal house. John uses this passage to refer to Jesus. He has complete, exclusive rights to admit or refuse entrance for anyone into the kingdom of God. If he shuts the door or opens it to anyone, no one can change that.

John may also imply a contrast with the local synagogue. The Jews did excommunicate Christian Jews from their gatherings because they did not appreciate their allegiance to Jesus as Messiah. In opposition to that, Jesus as the true Messiah is saying though these believers cannot enter the synagogue, he will give them access to his Father’s kingdom.

A Positive Assessment of the Church’s Spiritual Condition

Before Jesus gives a positive assessment of the church and its works, he opens with a word of encouragement. Christ has set before this church an open door that no one can shut. What door is he talking about? Some try to connect this statement with Jesus’ metaphor of himself as “the door” in John 10. Others claim that Jesus foreshadowed for the church future opportunities for gospel witness (cf. 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12; Col 4:3). Neither of these options seems to fit with the overall message to Philadelphia, nor do they offer encouragement to a church suffering under the weight of persecution.

The more likely understanding of the door connects to the opening description of Jesus as the one who holds the key of David. As Messiah, David’s rightful heir, he alone has the authority to include or exclude individuals from the kingdom. The door, then, represents access to the millennium. To this church that has remained faithful under the threat of Jewish oppression and societal marginalization, Jesus assures them that their place in his kingdom is secure. The synagogue of Satan claimed falsely that their teaching gave entrance to God’s heavenly kingdom. In this opening word, Jesus inspires confidence in his people that the kingdom is theirs no matter what false teachers say. He holds open the door for them, and no one can shut them out.

In his evaluation of the church’s works, Christ points out what seems to be a negative trait: they have “little strength.” Some have taken this to mean that the church members had weak spiritual lives. But this would not fit with the usual positive assessment of the church’s good works. This statement probably refers to the few members that the church had, maybe even to their limited socio-economic standing in the community. As a result of their small number, the church did not have great influence in the city.

Despite these apparent weaknesses, the church remained faithful to Christ’s word and did not deny his name. This indicates that this church had been tested at some point in the recent past. The exact nature of that test we do not know, but it likely involved the Jews compelling believers to deny their faith. Though small in number and influence, the church remained steadfast and would not renounce their allegiance to Jesus. We can take great comfort from this example. The size and influence of a church is not as important as its stand for God and his truth. No matter how big or small we are, we must remain true to the word of God.

A Promise of Personal Blessing

Skipping over any negative comments, the Lord offers many promised blessings to the church because of their perseverance in the face of adversity. Though all of these blessings will occur in the future, Christ offers them to this church to inspire hope and confidence as they face persecution. The first blessing relates to the synagogue of Satan. The Lord referenced the same group in the letter to Smyrna. In Smyrna, the Lord charged this faction with blasphemy. In Philadelphia, the charge seems to be more serious. Not only have they lied about being Jews who follow the true God (they did not), but they oppressed believers and claimed their way granted access to God’s kingdom. They were Jewish by name but had no allegiance to Yahweh. Instead, their actions showed their satanic influence.

As the church endured the onslaught of attacks and false teaching from this group, Christ assured them that they would not have to endure for long. In the future, he would give them this faction. The first word make in verse 9 is the Greek word “to give.” He would give them the synagogue of Satan by making them come and worship at the feet of these believers. This language comes out of the OT prophets, like Isaiah, who wrote that in the future kingdom of God on earth, the Gentiles would bow down before Israelites because they wanted to know the one true God (Isa 45:14; 60:14).

In these passages, the Gentiles come to Israel as servants seeking to worship their God. In our text, however, the situation is reversed. Christ promises that Jewish people in the synagogue of Satan will approach the Gentile believers of this church because the Jews will want to worship the true God once again. While the Jews considered themselves to be the true Israel that kept the traditions of Moses, Christ will show them how far they have removed themselves from worshipping their God. He will show them that he has reserved his love for his church, the small remnant of believers in Philadelphia who have stayed true to their faith in spite of opposition from Jewish people.

Many debate whether this passage indicates that the Jews in this satanic synagogue will actually be saved. I am not sure Christ guarantees all unbelieving Jews will return to him, but we know many will. Paul tells us in Romans 11:26, all Israel will be saved. He also wrote in Philippians 2:10-11 that every knee, including Jews, will bow to Jesus as Lord. The Jews of this satanic synagogue had refused these believers entrance into their gatherings and, consequently, into the kingdom of God. But the true Messiah, the one who holds the key of David, guarantees his saints access to his kingdom. One day, the same Jews who oppressed and marginalized these believers will grovel at their feet to worship the true Messiah and acknowledge his love for the church.

The second blessing Christ offers to the church of Philadelphia is protection from the hour of trial. He gives his protection because they have kept his “command to persevere.” In other versions, this is translated as “the word of my patience.” In Christ’s estimation, this church has endured their suffering in this life just as he endured his. They persevered in spite of the opposition. To reward them, the Lord would keep them from the hour of trial. We believe this trial refers to the Tribulation period, a seven-year span in which God will judge the world for its sin before the Lord Jesus returns to set up his kingdom.

Several indications in the passage make this clear. For one, Jesus clarifies that this is not just a trial, but an hour of trial. That means the trial will occur for a specific period of time. Second, he says everyone on earth will experience this trial. Indeed, the passages about the Tribulation period show us that the whole earth will endure the judgment of God through plagues, famines, and other natural catastrophes. Finally, this trial is meant to test those who dwell on the earth. Through this period, God will test the world by pouring out his wrath and showing those who rebel against him how much he hates sin.

How will Christ keep his people from this hour of trial? We believe this will occur through the rapture, an important end times event in which Christ will take all believers out of this world to be with him in heaven. Though this event is not mentioned in the passage, it seems clear that to protect believers from this future period of judgment, Christ must remove them. Paul tells us as much in an important passage in 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

As we continue to study Revelation, we will look further at these important concepts of the Tribulation and the rapture. It is enough to say here that Christ comforted this church by telling them that as a reward for their patience through the trials of this life, he would not let them endure the hour of his wrath. While God judges the unbelieving world for seven long years, his people will enjoy the blessings of heaven in the comfort of his presence. God’s judgment has not come yet, so Christ kept his promise to the church of Philadelphia. That same promise applies to Faith Baptist Church of Corona, and to every local congregation that continues faithfully heeding the words of our Savior.

In addition to his protection, Christ also promises his coming as a motivator for this church. He assures them he will come quickly. For other churches, like Ephesus (Rev 2:5), Pergamum (2:16), and Sardis (3:3), Christ’s coming was almost a threat. It was seen as an imminent danger of Christ shutting down these churches because of their failure to be what Christ had called them to be. In Philadelphia, his coming is a comforting reality for the future. While they endured persecution and oppression now, soon Christ will come back for his own.

Until he returns, their job was to hold on tightly to what they had – their perseverant spirit and their faithfulness to Christ’s words. If they ever let go of that, they would risk losing their crown. This is the only blessing in this letter that comes with a warning. Philadelphia hosted its own games and festivals, so the believers listening to this letter would have known what it meant to lose a crown of reward. If they wanted to keep their spiritual reward, their duty was clear: hold on tightly to the enduring faith you have in your Savior. He is coming back soon, and the only way to prepare is to not let go of all the rich blessings you have in him.

Christ ends this message to the church of Philadelphia with blessings for overcomers. As we have seen in previous weeks, this refers to believers in general. Using metaphorical language, Christ likens his overcomers to pillars in the temple of God, and they will “go out no more.” A pillar represents stability and permanence. The Lord is encouraging this church that they have a permanent place in his Father’s kingdom. This may have been a special comfort to inhabitants of this city since they were accustomed to living in temporary shelters from frequent earthquakes and volcanoes. In God’s heavenly kingdom, there will be no temporary homes, no FEMA shelters, and no stadiums packed with homeless families after devastating natural events. In the New Jerusalem, we will have a permanent dwelling place with God. It is true there is no temple in this city (Rev 21:22), but God himself is the temple and his people serve as pillars.

The final blessing given to believers is three names written on them – the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Christ. Having the name of God identifies a person with God. Aaron the high priest in the OT had a golden plate on his forehead with the inscription HOLY TO THE LORD (Ex 28:36-38). God’s people mentioned in Revelation will also have his name written on their heads (Rev 7:3; 14:1).

The name of the city implies the right of citizenship in God’s kingdom. This city, called New Jerusalem, will come out of heaven after Christ judges the world and makes a new heaven and earth (Rev 21:10). This church had access to this city, as do all believers, no matter what false teachers may claim. Bearing the name of Christ indicates a special relationship with him. Many believe that having Christ’s name written on us means that we will understand the true nature and significance of his character. Whatever it means, I am looking forward to being identified with God, his city, and his Son.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t allow the pressures of false religion to move you away from Christ.

The believers in Philadelphia faced the recurring threats and oppression of the synagogue of Satan. These people pretended to follow God and have all the answers for life’s questions. But in the end, they were empty and offered nothing but lies. In fact, their deceit would only lead to their eventual turning to Christ in the future, whether freely or by compulsion.

Many believers face these same pressures today. They live daily with the marginalization, oppression, and even threats of their family, neighbors, and coworkers. If that is your experience, let the example of Philadelphia encourage you: don’t give up and don’t give in. Giving in to the pressures of false religion only leaves you with the same emptiness and shallow lifestyle they have. By the grace of God, endure and keep standing for your faith, because one day those same people who threatened you will kneel before their creator.

• Rest in Christ’s protection and presence in the future, especially in suffering.

When we suffer, it is easy to think about our current situation and keep our eyes in this earthly realm. But the circumstances of this life do not give us the whole picture. Scripture gives us the broader perspective that Christ is coming one day to rescue us from the judgments he is going to pour out on this sinful world. We will see him face to face and enjoy his presence forever. When you suffer, remember what Christ has in store for you. You will be with him for eternity; you won’t have another place to call home, because home will be where God is. You will have a permanent identity with him that everyone can see. Everyone will know you belong to him. These truths give us the confidence to persevere in the face of adversity.

---

Christian Acosta is the Outreach and Discipleship Pastor at Faith Baptist Church of Queens, NY. This post first appeared on Shepherd Thoughts. We republish it with permission.