STUDY IN REVELATION 10
Philadelphia: The Faithful and Alive Church
Revelation, 3: 7-13
The word Philadelphia means: Brotherly love or one who loves his brother.
There is something missing in this letter. Can you guess what it is? _______________________________.
Sardis was one of two churches that didn’t receive any commendations, Jesus just went straight to the complaint. Philadelphia is the only church that did hear “BUT, I have a few things against you.”
A few facts about Philadelphia:
1. They were situated on the borders of Lydia, Mysia, and Phrygia. They had an open door to spread the gospel and they used it. This church new what it was like to be mission minded.
2.The city sat over a large earthquake fault and on A.D. 17 the area was hit by a massive quake that destroyed Sardis and 10 other cities. Philadelphia was spared total destructive but for years the city was hit by tremors that caused panic as well as walls to crumble. So Philadelphia understood what it meant to become a “pillar in the temple of God.”
3. The earthquake finally destroyed the city but due to aid from emperor Tiberius it was rebuilt. In appreciation the city changed it’s name to “Neocaesarea” which means “The new city of Caesarea.”
4. There was a Jewish Synagogue within the city limits, where the Jews thought they were the only true followers of God. They claimed ownership of the Keys of David, as well as the right to open or shut the door to God.
Verse7. Jesus describes Himself:
1. Jesus is the one who is Holy.
The word holy is a description of God Himself and Jesus is claiming the very nature of God. IS HE?
Scripture Proof: Ps. 99: 9 * IS. 6: 3 * Acts 4: 27 * Acts 4: 30 * 2Cor. 5: 21 * Rev. 15: 4
2. He is the one who is True.
The word true (alethinos) means true as opposed to false.
Scripture proof: Jn. 1: 9 * Jn1: 14 * Jn. 6: 32 * Jn. 18: 37 * 1Jn. 2: 8
3. Jesus IS the key of David.
The key of David opens and no man can shut, it shuts and no man can open.
What is the Key of David? In the Old Testament, King Hezekiah had a servant that was very faithful to him. His name was Eliakim and he was the personal secretary to the king. He was put in complete charge of king’s affairs. NO ONE could get in to see the king unless Eliakim let them in. If you wanted to see the king you had to go through Eliakim because he was the only way. Look @ Is. 22: 22
The Key of David, is the symbol of absolute authority. Jesus is the only one who has the key that locks or unlocks
the door to the very presence of God. He makes the final decision as to who lives in the city of God or who comes
in to the presence of God. You can try any number of ways but unless you go through Jesus you will not gain entrance to the throne of God. How do I know this?
Scripture proves it: Jn 5: 27 * Heb. 7: 25 * Heb. 9: 24 * 1Jn. 2: 1
Verse 8. The Commendation:
This is a picture of what the church should be and Jesus commends them for 3 things.
1. Philadelphia was reaching people for Christ. They didn’t form 15 committees to determine the best way to handle this open door, they got busy evangelizing their world. They were leading people to Jesus.
Let’s look at some possible ways they did this:
a. They went from house to house witnessing.
b. They shared with those around them at work, with their neighbors with friends even with family.
They were always looking for a chance to share the gospel.
Scripture: Mt. 28: 19-20 * Mk. 16: 15 * Jn. 20: 21 * Acts 1: 8
2. Philadelphia was faithful to the Word of God.
They obeyed the commandments of Christ.
They studied the Word of God.
They lived the Word of God.
They proclaimed the Word of God to believer and unbelievers.
Scripture: Jn. 8:51 * Jn. 14: 15-16 * Jn. 14: 23 * Jn. 15: 10,14
3. Philadelphia confessed Christ. This is more that witnessing.
Confessing means that Jesus Christ is the very center of every believers life. Jesus is the center of every meeting, every ministry, every program, even the activities of the church.
Confessing also means that the church is standing firm against any opposition. They do not allow the world to influence them nor do they let the persecution discourage them.
Scripture: Mt. 10: 32-33 * Lk. 12: 8 * Rom. 10: 9-10 * 1Jn. 2:22-23 * 1Jn. 4: 15
Verses 9-10. There is hope for the faithful church:
The record will be set right. ALL who persecuted believers, who mocked will see that Jesus Christ is really Lord and that the believers were right in trusting Him.
Scripture: Rom. 14: 11 * Ph. 2: 9-11
All believers will be delivered:
From tribulation because Jesus is coming for the church before this happens.
From the terrible judgment that is coming. Jude 14-15 * Rev. 19: 1-3
What about those who have been and will be martyred? Even death won’t win because we will be delivered from death right in to the very presence of God.
Scripture: Lk. 10: 19 * 1Cor. 10: 13 * 2Tim. 1: 12 * 2Tim. 4: 8 * Jude 24 * Rev. 3: 10
Verse 11. The Counsel:
“Hold on, I am coming quickly. Don’t let anyone take your crown.”
There is the constant danger of the church becoming, lazy, satisfied with the way things are. We can even lose our focus. After all Jesus said He would come quickly and He has been gone some 2000 years, we have plenty of time to play before He returns.
Scripture: Mt. 25: 13 * Lk. 12: 37 * Gal. 6: 9 * Rev. 2: 10
Verses 12-13. The Promises:
For those who remain faithful, Jesus promise them five things.
1. They will be made a pillar in the temple of God.
A pillar is a symbol of strength and support, so when Jesus tells them that they will be a pillar in the temple of God He is promising that they will be a permanent and important part of God’s house.
Scripture: 1Cor. 3: 16 * Eph. 2: 19-22 *1Pt. 2: 5
2. They will receive security.
There will be no more worrying about your safety, health or any of the things that plague us here. We will be free to live with God our Father and the Lord Jesus.
Scripture: 2Tim. 2: 12 * 2Tim. 4: 8 * 1Pt. 1: 5 * Jude 24-25
3. They will receive God’s name.
This a symbol of belonging. There may be many who will lay claim to our lives here by claiming our time and energy. Some may even enslave us but it won’t be like that in Heaven.
We will have God’s name as a mark of belonging to Him and no one will ever be able to touch us.
Scripture: Is. 56: 5 * Is. 62: 2 * Rev.3: 12
4. They will become citizens of the city of God, the new Jerusalem.
Scripture: Ph. 3: 20 * Heb. 12: 22 * 2Pt. 10: 10-13 * Rev. 21: 1-5
5. They will receive the Lord’s new name.
What will the Lord’s name be? No one knows but God and He’s not telling yet.
Scripture: Rev. 19: 12
We don’t have a lot of information on this subject but this we do know.
When Christ comes in all His glory, those who remain faithful will be marked as His. They will have victory through Him, including the victory over death and hell.
Scripture: Rom. 16: 20 * Rev. 3: 21 * Rev. 21: 4
STUDY IN REVELATION 10
Philadelphia: The Faithful and Alive Church
Revelation, 3: 7-13
The word Philadelphia means: love or one who loves his brother.
There is something missing in this letter. Can you guess what it is? _______________________________.
Verse7. Jesus describes Himself:
1. Jesus is the one who is .
The word holy is a description of God Himself and Jesus is claiming the very nature of God. IS HE?
Scripture Proof: Ps. 99: 9 * IS. 6: 3 * Acts 4: 27 * Acts 4: 30 * 2Cor. 5: 21 * Rev. 15: 4
2. He is the one who is .
The word true (alethinos) means true as opposed to false.
Scripture proof: Jn. 1: 9 * Jn1: 14 * Jn. 6: 32 * Jn. 18: 37 * 1Jn. 2: 8
3. Jesus IS the of .
The key of David and no man can , it and no man can .
What is the Key of David? In the Old Testament, King Hezekiah had a servant that was very faithful to him. His name was Eliakim and he was the personal secretary to the king. He was put in complete charge of king’s affairs. NO ONE could get in to see the king unless Eliakim let them in. If you wanted to see the king you had to go through Eliakim because he was the only way. Look @ Is. 22: 22
The Key of David, is the symbol of absolute authority. Jesus is the only one who has the key that locks or unlocks the door to the very presence of God. He makes the final decision as to who lives in the city of God or who comes in to the presence of God. You can try any number of ways but unless you go through Jesus you will not gain entrance to the throne of God. How do I know this?
Scripture proves it: Jn 5: 27 * Heb. 7: 25 * Heb. 9: 24 * 1Jn. 2: 1
Verse 8. The Commendation:
This is a picture of what the church should be and Jesus commends them for 3 things.
1. Philadelphia was people for Christ. They didn’t form 15 committees to determine the best way to handle this open door, they got busy evangelizing their world. They were leading people to Jesus.
Let’s look at some possible ways they did this:
a. They from house to house witnessing.
b. They shared with those around them at , with their with even
with .
They were always looking for a chance to share the .
Scripture: Mt. 28: 19-20 * Mk. 16: 15 * Jn. 20: 21 * Acts 1: 8
2. Philadelphia was to the Word of God.
They the commandments of Christ.
They the Word of God.
They l the Word of God.
They the Word of God to believer and unbelievers.
Scripture: Jn. 8:51 * Jn. 14: 15-16 * Jn. 14: 23 * Jn. 15: 10,14
3. Philadelphia Christ. This is more that witnessing.
Confessing means that Jesus Christ is the very of every believers life. Jesus is the center of
every , every , every , even the of the church.
Confessing also means that the church is standing f against any opposition. They do not allow the world
to them nor do they let the persecution them.
Scripture: Mt. 10: 32-33 * Lk. 12: 8 * Rom. 10: 9-10 * 1Jn. 2:22-23 * 1Jn. 4: 15
Verses 9-10. There is hope for the faithful church:
The record will be set right. ALL who believers, who will see that Jesus Christ is really Lord and that the believers were right in trusting Him.
Scripture: Rom. 14: 11 * Ph. 2: 9-11
All believers will be delivered:
From because Jesus is coming for the church before this happens.
From the terrible that is coming. Jude 14-15 * Rev. 19: 1-3
What about those who have been and will be martyred? Even death won’t win because we will be
delivered death right in to the very of God.
Scripture: Lk. 10: 19 * 1Cor. 10: 13 * 2Tim. 1: 12 * 2Tim. 4: 8 * Jude 24 * Rev. 3: 10
Verse 11. The Counsel:
“Hold on, I am coming q . Don’t let anyone take your .”
There is the constant danger of the church becoming, , s with the way things are. We can even lose our . After all Jesus said He would come and He has been gone some 2000 years, we have plenty of time to play before He returns.
Scripture: Mt. 25: 13 * Lk. 12: 37 * Gal. 6: 9 * Rev. 2: 10
Verses 12-13. The Promises:
For those who remain faithful, Jesus promise them five things.
1. They will be made a in the temple of God.
A pillar is a symbol of and support, so when Jesus tells them that they will be a pillar in the temple of God He is promising that they will be a and important part of God’s house.
Scripture: 1Cor. 3: 16 * Eph. 2: 19-22 *1Pt. 2: 5
2. They will receive .
There will be no more worrying about your safety, health or any of the things that plague us here. We will be free to live with God our Father and the Lord Jesus.
Scripture: 2Tim. 2: 12 * 2Tim. 4: 8 * 1Pt. 1: 5 * Jude 24-25
3. They will receive name.
This a symbol of belonging. There may be many who will lay claim to our lives here by claiming our time and energy. Some may even enslave us but it won’t be like that in Heaven.
We will have God’s name as a mark of belonging to Him and no one will ever be able to touch us.
Scripture: Is. 56: 5 * Is. 62: 2 * Rev.3: 12
4. They will become of the city of God, the .
Scripture: Ph. 3: 20 * Heb. 12: 22 * 2Pt. 10: 10-13 * Rev. 21: 1-5
5. They will receive the Lord’s name.
What will the Lord’s name be? No one knows but God and He’s not telling yet.
Scripture: Rev. 19: 12
We don’t have a lot of information on this subject but this we do know.
When Christ comes in all His glory, those who remain faithful will be marked as His. They will have victory through Him, including the victory over death and hell.
Scripture: Rom. 16: 20 * Rev. 3: 21 * Rev. 21: 4
