THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7-13

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  
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 this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door 
which no one can shut, because you have a little power, 
and have followed 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—
I will make them come and bow down before your feet, 
and make them know that I have loved you.

‘Because you have kept My word of perseverance, 
I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, 
that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, 
to test those who live on the earth. ‘I am coming quickly; 
hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

‘The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar
in the temple of My God, and he will not 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 one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Philadelphia was a city in Asia Minor (present day Turkey) located on the Imperial Post Road, an important trade route. Located in the Lydian valley, earthquakes were abundant.  In 17 A.D., the city was devastated by one of the most powerful earthquakes up to that point in human history, and the damage was substantial. Tremors went on for years. These shocks made most of Philadelphia’s citizens paranoid and ruined their sense of peace. They were always on edge, waiting for the next quake to destroy their buildings and homes. It wasn’t unusual for people in Philadelphia to cower in fear and bolt from the city into open spaces when they felt shaking. 

Jesus described Himself to this church in Revelation 3:7 as “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.”  This description emphasized Jesus’ holiness, His sovereignty, and His ultimate authority.  Jesus was saying, I am Messiah, and I am solid, strong and in control.  Consider what this would have meant to a people who lacked a sense of peace because of the threat of earthquakes.  Jesus was saying, “I am your peace.”  

While Jesus acknowledged this church’s weakness (“you have a little power”), He also acknowledged that despite their weakness, they have followed His word, and have not denied His name.  The word “followed” (tereo) means to guard from loss or injury by keeping the eye upon; to observe.  When they could have doubted God because of the unsteadiness of their circumstances, they didn’t.  They faithfully endured and persevered and that did not go without notice.  

Jesus encouraged these believers to faithfully persevere and blessings would follow.  That same encouragement is ours today.  Through the power of the Spirit of God within us, we can choose to focus on Him instead of on our “earthquake” circumstances.  Jesus modeled this for us – “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,  despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)  He made it through the physical and emotional pain of the cross by looking toward what was coming – “sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  The very next verse in Hebrews 12 says, “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  

Through the power of the Spirit of God within us,
we can CHOOSE to focus on Him 
instead of our “earthquake” circumstances.

Focus matters.  If we choose to look horizontal, we are also choosing “weariness and loss of heart”.  But on the flipside, if we choose a vertical focus we are promised “peace…not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” (John 14:27)