Follow along with today’s message. Use the blank spaces for fill-in notes and use the to add your own. Select “Email” at the bottom of this page to send a PDF to yourself.
Philadelphia: The Enduring Church
Revelation 3:7-13
The city of Philadelphia, located about 25 miles South of Sardis, was founded by colonists from Pergamum between 159-138 BC. (Philadelphia is Greek for one who loves their brother). Strategically placed to border 3 regions of Asia minor. But it was not a Garrison town or a gatekeeper for defense purposes. Philadelphia was created to be a missionary of Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia. Philadelphia did this so well that it is said the Lydians forgot their own language by 19AD and were living as Greeks.
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.
This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
and what he closes, no one can open:
8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.
10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.
13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”—Revelation 3:7-13 (NLT)
Paul warns the Thessalonians, “And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.”—2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NLT)
Through our faith in Jesus Christ our Crown of Life is
Your relationship with Jesus is not based on the belief of
Jesus did not promise to
Jesus reveals four promises to those who holdfast and are victorious in Him:
- Jesus will make each one “pillars in the Temple of my God,” never again to leave the temple of God. This promise uses a contrast between the ongoing Earthquakes in the region to the solid faith of the people.
- Jesus will “write on them the name of my God.”
- Jesus will “write on them the name of the city of God.” (Renamed the city multiple times to honor rulers like Ceasar with Neocaesarea.)
- Jesus will “write on them my new name.” (When the New Jerusalem comes to the earth)
When the world seems to be against you, remember that the God of the Universe chose
Next Week: The SEVEN Churches of Revelation: Laodicea - The Lukewarm Church (Revelation 3:14-22)