Bird's-eye view
The letter to the church in Philadelphia is one of two letters, the other being to Smyrna, in which the Lord Jesus has nothing but commendation. This is a church that was faithful in the face of intense opposition, and as a result, they are given glorious promises of vindication, preservation, and eternal honor. The central theme is the absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ. He holds the key of David; He alone opens doors of opportunity and shuts doors of opposition. The church in Philadelphia was not a powerhouse by worldly standards; they had but "a little power." But their fidelity to Christ's word and name was the thing that mattered, and for this, Christ promises them an open door for the gospel that their enemies cannot shut. He promises that these same enemies, the Judaizers of the "synagogue of Satan," will be brought to acknowledge that Christ has loved this faithful church. And most critically, in the context of Revelation, He promises to keep them from the "hour of testing" that was about to come upon the whole world, a clear reference to the covenantal judgment that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is a letter of profound encouragement to all Christians who feel small and beleaguered: faithfulness to Christ is the key to His favor, and His sovereign power is the guarantee of our ultimate victory and security.
Outline
- 1. The King's Commendation to Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)
- a. The Speaker's Royal Authority (Rev 3:7)
- b. The Open Door of Opportunity (Rev 3:8)
- c. The Vindication Over False Brethren (Rev 3:9)
- d. The Promise of Preservation (Rev 3:10)
- e. The Exhortation to Persevere (Rev 3:11)
- f. The Reward of the Overcomer (Rev 3:12)
- g. The Call to Hear (Rev 3:13)
Context In Revelation
This sixth of the seven letters continues the pattern of addressing the real, historical circumstances of first-century churches in Asia Minor. Philadelphia stands in stark contrast to its neighboring church of Laodicea, which follows, and which is rebuked for its lukewarm complacency. Philadelphia, like Smyrna, faced intense external pressure, particularly from the local Jewish community that was hostile to the Christian gospel. This letter serves as a crucial anchor for the preterist understanding of the book. The promises of a "coming quickly" and preservation from an "hour of testing" that is "about to come" are tied to a specific, imminent historical event. This event, the tribulation surrounding the Jewish War of A.D. 66-70, provides the context for much of the apocalyptic imagery that follows in the rest of the book. The letter to Philadelphia shows that Christ is not just concerned with far-future events, but with the immediate struggles of His people, and that His promises have tangible, historical fulfillments.
Key Issues
- The Key of David
- The Open Door
- The Synagogue of Satan
- The Hour of Testing
- The Meaning of "Coming Quickly"
- The Pillar in the Temple
- The New Jerusalem
The Sovereign's Open Door
One of the central temptations for any church, especially a small one, is to begin measuring its effectiveness by worldly metrics. We look at our budget, our attendance numbers, our influence in the community, and we can easily become discouraged if we have just "a little power." But the message to Philadelphia turns this way of thinking on its head. The crucial variable is not the church's strength, but Christ's. He is the one with the key. He is the one who sets before us an open door. Our task is not to be mighty, but to be faithful. The Philadelphians had kept His word and not denied His name. That was their part. In response, Christ, the true King, exercises His sovereign authority to give them an effective field of ministry that no one, not the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and not the Roman Caesar, could shut down. This is a profound encouragement. The success of the gospel does not depend on our clever strategies or our cultural clout. It depends on the faithfulness of the church and the absolute, unimpeachable sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ, who opens doors that stay open.
Verse by Verse Commentary
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: This is what He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says:
Jesus begins by identifying Himself in terms that are directly relevant to the church's situation. He is holy and true, the very definition of faithfulness, in contrast to the lies of their opponents. But the central image is the key of David. This is a direct quote from Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim is given the key to the house of David, symbolizing total authority over the kingdom. Jesus is claiming to be the ultimate Eliakim, the true heir to David's throne. He, and He alone, has the authority to grant access to or exclude from the Kingdom of God. His decisions are final. When He opens a door, it cannot be shut, and when He shuts one, it cannot be opened. This is a declaration of His absolute monarchy over the affairs of His people.
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Christ knows their works, and He commends them. The "open door" He has given them is the direct result of His authority with the key of David. This is a door of gospel opportunity, of missionary success, of kingdom advance. And the basis for this gift is not their impressive strength, but rather their faithful weakness. They have "a little power," meaning they were likely small, not wealthy, and without political influence. But they had what mattered most: they clung to His word in a time of doctrinal confusion, and they did not deny His name in a time of persecution. Faithfulness in weakness is the combination that unlocks the sovereign blessing of Christ.
9 Behold, I am giving up those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
Here Jesus addresses their primary antagonists. The phrase synagogue of Satan is not a racial comment; it is a theological one. These are ethnic Jews who, by rejecting their Messiah, have placed themselves in opposition to God's covenant plan. They claim to be Jews, the people of God, but they are not, because the true Jew is one who has been circumcised in the heart (Rom 2:29). By persecuting the church, they are doing the work of Satan, the accuser. The promise is one of stunning reversal and public vindication. Echoing Isaiah 60:14, Jesus says these opponents will be forced to bow before the church and acknowledge that God's covenant love rests upon these Christians. This is not about the church lording it over them, but about God's truth being made manifest in history.
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
This is a pivotal verse for understanding the timeline of Revelation. Because they have persevered, Christ promises to preserve them. The hour of testing is the great tribulation that Jesus prophesied in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24), the period of covenantal judgment upon apostate Israel that was "about to come" upon the oikoumenē, the inhabited world of the Roman Empire, and specifically upon the land of Israel. The purpose was to "test those who dwell on the earth," a phrase in Revelation that refers to the ungodly, the unbelieving land-dwellers. The promise to "keep you from" this hour does not mean a secret rapture out of the world, but rather a divine protection through the trial. This was fulfilled when the Christians in Judea heeded Jesus' warnings and fled Jerusalem before its destruction in A.D. 70.
11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
The imminence of the judgment reinforces the call to persevere. "I am coming quickly" refers to His coming in judgment against that first-century generation, just as He promised in Matthew 24:34. This is a historical coming, not the final Second Coming. Because the end of that particular trial is near, they are to hold fast to their faith and faithfulness. The "crown" is the victor's wreath, the reward for finishing the race. It is something that can be forfeited through apostasy, so the exhortation is a serious one.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And 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 My new name.
The promises to the overcomer are rich with imagery of permanence, identity, and intimacy. First, he will be made a pillar in God's temple. In the new covenant, the people of God are the temple, so this means a secure, permanent, and foundational place in the very presence of God. There is no more threat of exile; he "will never go out." Second, he will be marked with a threefold name, signifying his eternal identity. He is marked with the name of God the Father, showing he is God's possession. He is marked with the name of the New Jerusalem, showing he is a citizen of God's heavenly kingdom. And he is marked with Christ's own new name, signifying an intimate relationship with the triumphant King. This is the ultimate security: to belong wholly to the Father, the Son, and their eternal City.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The letter concludes with the standard formula, reminding us that this message, though addressed to a specific church in a specific time, contains timeless principles for all churches. The call to faithful perseverance in the face of opposition, and the glorious promises of Christ's sovereign protection and reward, are for every believer in every generation to hear and take to heart.
Application
The letter to Philadelphia is a potent tonic for the fainthearted. We live in a time when the church in the West often feels it has but "a little power." We are culturally marginalized and often find ourselves on the defensive. The temptation is either to compromise with the world to regain influence, or to retreat into an ineffective pietism. Philadelphia shows us the third way: steadfast faithfulness to the word of God and the name of Jesus, regardless of our apparent strength.
We must learn to trust in the authority of the One who holds the key of David. The success of our mission does not depend on us. Christ is the one who opens doors for the gospel, and when He opens them, no earthly power can shut them. Our job is to be ready to walk through those doors with courage. We must also recognize that opposition, even from those who claim a religious heritage, is to be expected. But we should not fear, because Christ promises to vindicate His faithful people. Our ultimate security is not in this world, but in our promised status as permanent pillars in the temple of our God. We are citizens of a heavenly city. We bear the name of our God. Therefore, let us hold fast to what we have, knowing that our King is sovereign and His promises are true.