Many times, we think that having a weak faith means we are disobedient. In this daily devotional, Pastor Steve explains that the two are not necessarily linked.
Devotions in the Pastor Steve Sermon Series
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3: 7-13 ESV)
In this devotion, we are continuing our study of the Seven Churches of Revelation with the church in Philadelphia. Just one more church to go after this one, and we will be finished with this study.
Background about Philadelphia
Philadelphia was situated in the foothills of the Timolus Mountains, open to fertile plains in the east. One of the main problems with this city, however, is that it repeatedly had severe earthquakes that left it weak and impoverished.
Purpose
One of the main purposes of this passage of Scripture is that it serves to encourage Christians who seem to be weak and powerless to realize that their true strength is in Christ. So, it’s intended to be a comforting message.
The interesting thing about it is that, unlike the churches we’ve looked at already, this church has no disapproving words to it. Keep this in mind as we go through the passage and remember that the Kingdom of God does not depend on human strength or wisdom, but on God’s power and authority.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of this when he wrote, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (II Cor. 12:10 NLT).
The Study
Jesus introduces Himself in this letter beginning in the first part of verse 7 as: …” the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. ‘”
The Key of David is referring to Jesus the Messiah, Who is successor to David’s royal line. So, indeed, He would be the one who holds the key of David. Many times, in the New Testament we see Him referred to as “the son of David”.
- “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Mt. 1: 1 ESV).
- “A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely'” (Mt. 15: 22 ESV).
- “… What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David'” (Mt. 22: 42 ESV).
Jesus goes on to say in the second part of verse 7 that what He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open. As the gatekeeper of heaven, Jesus has authority to open and close the way to heaven.
In Matthew 16:13-19, it says, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven'” (ESV).
Clearly, this shows that Jesus does hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Only the gatekeeper gets to hold the keys to the gate and allows whomever he desires to enter in.
Interestingly enough, Jesus promises the keys to the kingdom as well. I don’t believe that they were allowed to decide who gets to come into heaven. However, they are, as we are, to tell all the world how to get to the gate.
He Knows Our Works
In verse 8, Jesus tells the church that He knows their works. He also points out to them that He has opened a door to them, that no one can close and that He knows that they have but a little power.
It’s interesting that Jesus tells them of this marvelous opportunity that they have, because He has opened the door to them.
Even though He is aware that they have but little power, He has opened it for them anyway. This shows that it doesn’t matter how much power we have. It’s all up to him.
Little power is like the city of Philadelphia itself. The Christians there were not prosperous, and they lacked status and power.
But Christ had opened a door for them to claim his status and authority. Despite their weakness, the Philadelphia church obeyed Christ’s word and did not deny him under pressure.
Satan’s Synagogue?
In verse 9, it mentions “those who belongs to Satan’s synagogue…” It’s believed that the Christians had suffered greatly by the treatment of anti-Christian Jews.
In that time, captives were often forced to bow down and prostrate themselves before their conquerors. The church’s human enemies will ultimately acknowledge that Christians are the ones God loves.
Romans 14:11 says, “For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God” (NLT). This is not simply a threat.
No, it is a promise from Jesus to all His believers. This will, in fact, happen.
Because They Obeyed Him
Where Jesus mentioned in verse 10, “Because you have obeyed my command…”, He promised them, and us, that He will protect Christians who persevere through trials and from the great time of testing. During our struggles through trying times, it’s easy to wonder if Jesus even knows what we are going through or if He’s going to do anything about it.
I promise you that Jesus does know and that He will do something about it. Perhaps not on our timetable, but His timetable will be the exact time.
In every trial we go through, there is a lesson to be learned from it. It has been said that the quicker you learn the lesson, the faster the trial will be over.
I think that’s true sometimes, but there’s other times we are taken through things that will last our entire lifetime. We won’t see the solution to it this side of heaven. We still have that promise.
He Is Coming Soon
Verse 11a shows that Jesus encourages the Philadelphia church by telling them He is coming soon. The Bible tells that a 1000 years is as a day and a day is as a 1000 years to the Lord.
I am coming soon could mean years from now or it could even be today. We don’t know. That’s why we should always be ready to go and yet keep living our lives as God has ordained for us to.
When you take into consideration the meaning of “soon,” consider the following:
Soon has a meaning of suddenly or quickly. Meditate on the following scriptures today:
- “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5: 2 NLT).
- “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Lk. 17: 26-27 NLT).
- “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created'” (II Pet. 3: 3-4 NLT).
We Must Hold on Until the End
The second part of verse 11 tells us of the importance of holding on until the end. Christians must hold on.
We must persevere in difficulty so we will not lose our crown. The crown is our expected reward in Heaven.
I’m Going to be a Pillar?
Well, that IS what the first part of verse 12 says … “will become pillars in the temple…”, but not literal pillars, because pillars are a part of the temple holding up the roof. You would never be able to leave it.
But think about it this way. Those who are victorious will become the foundation of the temple.
Supporting the Temple with Your Entire Being
You will never want to leave it. We who are victorious will never have to leave the temple. Therefore, we become pillars of the temple.
Is God Going to Write His Name on Me?
As the second part of verse 12 speaks to us, Jesus says He will… “write on them the name of my God …” (Rev. 3: 12 ESV). God’s name upon us describes that we are His, that He owns us.
Think of it as a “Holy Brand” if you will. It shows Who we belong to.
The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 6: 20 “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (ESV). We do not belong to ourselves if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We were purchased with his shed blood.
How much more when we enter the kingdom of heaven?
The City Name of the New Jerusalem, Too?
The reason it is so important to mention the city name also is that it gives Christians who have persevered, who are victorious, security in knowing that they are God’s. We can enjoy the peace and comfort that comes with that.
The New Jerusalem is not a realm constructed by humans, but God’s gift from heaven. I am not exactly sure of the significance of having the name of the city written on us, but surely, it means that we belong there because we have been victorious until the end.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to know the comfort of having Your name written upon our hearts. Help us to reach a victorious end in You. Amen.
What do you think?
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