[7] "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. [8] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. [9] I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. [10] Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
[11] I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. [12] Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Philadelphia: means “brotherly love” and commemorates the loyalty and devotion of Attalus (220-130BC), the city’s co-founder, to his brother Eumenes II.
He (Jesus) who is holy (Rev 3:7): Jesus is infinitely superior to any other created being (Isa 40:25). As God he surely is holy, but most importantly, he is holy as a human. Why does emphasize his holiness to this church? In the end time drama, the prophet Habakkuk sees the Holy One (Jesus) marching from Teman to Jerusalem. Jesus will march in zeal and punish the wicked nations on his way to rescue his people (the Jews?), who would be taken captive by the Antichrist’s army (Hab 3:3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13). The Holy One of God is a reference to Jesus’ authority to judge and destroy all that is wicked and evil. Fallen spiritual beings (demons and evil spirits) know this well (Mk 1:24).
He (Jesus) who is true (Rev 3:7): Jesus makes several promises to this Church. Some promises are too fantastic to believe. But Jesus is true. He does not make any false claim or give any false promises.
Jesus holds the key of David (Rev 3:7): This refers to Jesus’ authority over the Messianic Kingdom or the kingdom of heaven. He is the One who sits on David’s throne for ever and ever.
Jesus opens doors that no one can shut: The door of opportunity, the open door for evangelism, also the door to the kingdom (Rev 4:1).
Jesus shuts doors that no one can open: Satan and our enemies also open doors into our lives. The door of trials, persecution, sickness, temptation. Good news is that Jesus has the power and the will to shut these doors.
You have kept my word and not denied my name: Faithfulness to their witnessing. Especially faithfulness when they had little strength. In the absence of their own strength, they received and experienced God’s strength to do God’s work (Ambassadorship: representing and witnessing Jesus’ name).
Synagogue of Satan: unbelieving and hostile Jews (Jn 8:44; 2Co 11:14-15)
The Jews will come and fall down at the feet of Gentile believers; will acknowledge that Jesus has loved them:
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