The Church of Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7-13 (ESV)
Backstory
It was founded by Attalus King of Lydia (this area of Asia Minor) who’s nickname or honorary moniker was Philadelphos or “one who loves his brother” because of his close relationship with his elder brother who was king of the area before him. Philadelphia was founded as a “missionary” city, not in a religious sense but political one as border town to help spread the Greek language and culture not fully assimilated yet beyond Lydia, and it was quite successful in that endeavor.
Exegesis
Intro (Three discriptions of Jesus)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Holder of the
1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV) a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Promise of
The Philadelphian Church’s faithfulness: They had kept God’s Word through patient Perseverance. Like Philadelphia had endured hardship after the earthquake and came out the other side even stronger, the church there through the hardships endured would find themselves triumphant
Romans 9:6 (ESV) ‘But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ‘
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Something to look
Those who conquer will be made pillars in the house of God.
This a reference to a common practice of that city and other’s like it,
that if a magistrate or person of some service to the community died
in faithful service, depending on the temple they worshipped at, a
pillar would be erected with their name on it. Because of the
earthquakes and tremors that pillar would help support the structure
from future devastation.
2 Peter 3:8-10 (ESV) But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Revelation 21:9 (ESV) Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God