The Church of Philadelphia was probably the second most faithful of the seven Churches of Revelation. The featured map on this page shows the location of Philadelphia as compared to the other Churches of Revelation and the Island of Patmos, from where John wrote the Book of Revelation. Interestingly, the map shows the network of Roman roads, valleys, and rivers located in the region.[1] Philadelphia was located in the very fertile Cogmas River Valley.[2] It was an agriculturally prosperous region, but the area was subject to frequent earthquakes.[3] In AD 17, the city was destroyed by a severe earthquake.[4] Aftershocks made the city nearly uninhabitable for several years after the major earthquake.[5] The ancient writer Pliny (AD 23/24 -79) thought that the earthquake was one of the greatest disasters in human history.[6] Because of the earthquake, Emperor Tiberius relieved the city of taxes/tribute for five years.[7] The Philadelphians were survivors. I would not be surprised to find that many of the Philadelphians displayed characteristics of fortitude and toughness.
John was directed to write to the pastor of the Church at Philadelphia: “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…” (Rev. 3:7). The idea of the “key of David” is an allusion to Isaiah 22:15-22. During the reign of King Hezekiah, Shebna functioned as a Prime Minister under King Hezekiah (who reigned over Judea from BC 716-697).[8] As Prime Minister, Shebna was described as holding and governing with the “key of David”, meaning the legitimate authority of the Crown. King Hezekiah was in the legitimate line of King David. Shebna functioned under Hezekiah’s authority and therefore, he exercised great and authentic authority. However, Shebna was guilty of some type of infidelity to Hezekiah, and therefore, he was stripped of his position and power. Isaiah said of Shebna, “…You shame of your master’s house. I will depose you from your office, [a]nd I will pull you down from your station” (Isa. 22:18-19).
The historical example of Shebna had great significance for the Israelites of the First Century, particularly for the time period between AD 30-70. The leadership of Israel had rejected and crucified their Messiah. They had 40 years to repent, but instead, they persecuted the burgeoning Church, which was comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. Like Shebna, the hierarchy and custodians of Judea’s political authority were going to be stripped of their authority and power. This happened in AD 70 when the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem.
John then wrote to the Philadelphians, “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 kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Rev. 3:8). Although not characterized as particularly strong in faith, many in Philadelphia had remained faithful, and they were still positive towards the Word of God. They had not denied their Lord. The open door is symbolic of the spiritual life that is available to every believer who remains positive to his or her Lord.
John then wrote to the Philadelphians, “Behold, I will cause 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 at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you” (Rev. 3:9). The original followers of Jesus were around 120 Jews (Acts 1:15). In spite of persecution, their numbers grew and spread. In Antioch, they were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). For the first 30 years or so, Christians were viewed as just a small sect within the much larger Jewish faith. As I indicated in my book Eyes to See The Revelation, A Spiritual Journey, there were as many as six to eight million Jews within the Roman Empire, which had a population of around 60-70 million.[9] There were around one million Jews in both Asia Minor and Palestine.[10] At the same time, the Christians were steadily growing, but they were relatively small in number as compared to the population of Jews within the Roman Empire. The Apostle Paul’s life serves as a concrete example of how burgeoning Christianity was persecuted by the much larger Jewish and pagan populations. This is a major theme of First Century Christianity and the Book of Revelation. The conflict between Christianity and Judaism was centered on the conflict between the Old and New Covenant. Paul and the anonymous author of Hebrews boldly proclaimed that circumcision, Sabbath observance, special feast days, and sacrificial offerings were no longer necessary. Many Jews and Gentile Christians struggled with this new reality. How could the words of Paul change 1400 years of Judaism? It seemed like such an affront to Moses. The Advocates of the Old Covenant (my designation) were strongly opposed to the teachings of the New Covenant. It is not hard to see that many would want to stop the advance of Christianity at any cost. Of course, even Paul set about to destroy Christianity until his confrontation with Christ on the road to Damascus. In my opinion, had they lived in the First Century, a vast majority of the Christians living today would have joined in the ancient effort to destroy the burgeoning Christian faith. Most humans are dominated by emotions, tradition, and a herd mentality.
However, there is usually a small group of faithful believers. I refer to them as the Fraternity of Faithful Believers. They have always been a minority. In the Old Testament, they were called a faithful remnant (Isa. 20:20-22). Jesus Christ is still seeking a faithful remnant. The Book of Revelation was written to encourage the formation of a faithful remnant during a time of great historical pressure and tribulation. With my book and this blog and podcast, I seek to do the same.
As discussed before, the immediate context of the Book of Revelation included Nero’s persecution of Christians, which started around the late fall of AD 64. Many Christians were devoured by wild animals to appease the Roman lust for blood and entertainment. Others were burned as human torches to light Nero’s garden parties. Some were crucified; others had their heads removed by a Roman executioner. The leadership of nascent Christianity was destroyed. Paul and Peter were executed. James had been illegally executed by the Sanhedrin a few years earlier. Think about the impact of such deaths upon every Christian. The message was clear to every believer. The life of every Christian was held in jeopardy. The prayers of faithful believers poured forth to God in this tremendous hour of need and desperation, and God answered their prayers. First, a war broke out between the Romans and the Jews in AD 66. Then there were rumors heard around the Empire that legions were rebelling against Nero in Gaul, Spain, and Africa. Under such pressure, Nero committed suicide on June 9, AD 68. Thereafter, civil war erupted across the Roman Empire. There was absolute chaos for over a year until Emperor Vespasian consolidated his power. Then Vespasian ordered his son, Titus, to complete the subjugation of the Jews in Palestine. Jerusalem was completely destroyed in AD 70 (one of the greatest tragedies in human history), ending all Jewish sacrifices until this very day. Undoubtedly, these events brought relief to beleaguered Christians around the Roman Empire. With such animosity expressed between the Romans and Jews, there was little time or reason for Jews or Romans to give much focus to the persecution of Christians. For the humble who sought to interpret these historical events, many concluded that God was indeed protecting a small minority within the Roman Empire, who were known as Christians.
John then wrote, “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). The Greek word hypomone, means “perseverance.”[11] To advance in the spiritual life, one must have perseverance over many years. There will be opposition and ostracism. Sometimes there is hostility. There will always be potential distractions and deceptions. In spite of the persecution against them, the Philadelphians persevered. As noted above, the period of time between AD 64 to AD 70 was a period of great tribulation and testing. Fortunately, the Philadelphians were protected and isolated in the Cogmas River Valley, and therefore, they avoided the severest tribulation and persecution.
Jesus told the Philadelphians, “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Rev. 3:11). As discussed in other blog posts, the Crown of Life is promised as an award to victorious Christians. Victorious Christians remain faithful to the end of their lives. The Book of Revelation also calls them the 144,000. This is a symbolic number used to describe the eschatological people of God. I suspect that they will actually number in the millions. The 144,000 are carved out from the generations of mankind. They will rule with Christ.
Jesus then instructed, “He 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” (Rev. 3:12). Again, the overcomer or victorious Christian will receive a special designation for all of our eternal future, but there is also a present potential spiritual reality. A pillar is a person or thing that provides an essential and reliable support for something like the Church.[12] According to New Testament theology, we, the Church, are God’s temple. Now, God is in us, and we are in God. There is a double indwelling. Being that we are designated as servants of God, we bear his name. The servants of God also bear the name of His city, the New Jerusalem. This verse is strong evidence that the New Jerusalem should be understood as a spiritual place that we can occupy now. We can enjoy life in the New Jerusalem now. It is a place where we enjoy fellowship with God and other servants of God. It is a place of fruitfulness and blessing. It is a place where the spirit flows forth from beneath the throne of God. The throne of God is representative of the authority of God. If we do not accept God’s authority over our lives, we will never enjoy life in the New Jerusalem. It can be a present spiritual life. As servants of God, we bear his name now in this fallen world.
John concluded, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:13). If we are not sensitive to the Spirit, we cannot live the New Covenant Spiritual Life. We must walk by the Spirit, wherein the Word is a light to our feet, trusting in Christ Jesus, while having no confidence in our inherent capacity to live this new supernatural way of being.
[1] Free Bible Images. “Maps: Seven Churches of Revelation.” https://freebibleimages.org/illustrations/seven-churches-maps. Accessed 15 Feb. 2021.
[2] “Philadelphia.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freedman, vol. 5, O-Sh, Doubleday, 1992.
[3] “Philadelphia” The Anchor Bible Dictionary
[4] “Philadelphia” The Anchor Bible Dictionary
[5] “Philadelphia” The Anchor Bible Dictionary
[6] “Philadelphia” The Anchor Bible Dictionary
[7] “Philadelphia” The Anchor Bible Dictionary
[8] “Shebna.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freedman, vol. 5, O-Sh, Doubleday, 1992.
[9] Gentry, Kenneth. The Beast of Revelation. American Vision, 2002, p. 46.
[10] Gentry, p. 46.
[11] “G5281 – hypomonē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 Feb, 2021. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5281&t=NASB>.
[12] “Pillar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillar. Accessed 15 Feb. 2021.
