The Church of Brotherly Love
Revelation 3:7-13
28 miles southeast of Sardis is the city of Philadelphia. The city was name after a king of Pergamum, Attalus Philadelphus who built it.
Philadelphia = brotherly love which occurs seven times on the Bible:
Rom. 12:10, 1 Thessa. 4:9, Heb. 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 1:7 (2 times), Rev. 3:7
The Church of Smryna and Philadelphia are the only two which receive no rebuke from the Lord. They both speak of persecution and love.
What an encouraging letter unto a church that obviously love the Lord and the brethren.
1. The Promise
See: Vs.7-8 He that hath the key of David
Mention: Rev. 1:18 He the Lord has the keys of hell and of death
What is the key of David?
See: Isaiah 22:20-24 Eliakim the son of Hilkiah is given the key to the house of David and rights to all the possessions of it.
Point: It is God that open doors that no man can shut and shut door no man can open.
This is primarily referring to His working in the life the Christian!
You are given the right unto the spiritual treasures of the Lord!
What causes the Lord to bless us in this manner?
a. For thou hast little strength
This could be a reference to not trusting in ourselves but relying on the power of God upon our lives!
Mention: 2 Cor. 12:10 For when I am weak then I am strong
b. Thou hast kept My Word Open doors are ministry opportunities
God blesses obedience! Acts 14:27, 1 Cor. 16:9, 2 Cor 2:12, Col. 4:3
c. Thou hast not denied My name
Joseph comes to mind when I think of his situation and yet God set before him an open door for him to walk into.
2. Their Protection
See: Vs.9-11 I will keep thee from the hour of temptation
Hour of Temptation: The Tribulation
There are some that teaches that the Church will go through the Tribulation Period, but here we are given this great promise from the Lord that we will not.
See: 1 Thessa. 1:10 We will be delivered from the wrath to come
It is clear in studying the Bible that the church will be taken out of this world prior to the tribulation period.
See: 2 Thessa. 2:1-9 Those who say they are Jews and are not (Those that say they are Christians and are not)
Mention: Rev. 4:1 The rapture just prior the tribulation period
Vs.9 He will make the lost of this world give obeisance unto His children
Mention: Isaiah 49:22-23 The Gentile nation unto the Jew at the millennial reign
Mention: Romans 14:11 and Phil. 2:10-11
3. Their Position
See: Vs.11-13 He that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of My God
A pillar: Gal 2:9 Peter, James and John referred to as pillars
“I will write upon Him the name of My God…”
Rev. 22:4 The name of the written on our foreheads
Vs.11 That no man take thy crowns (rewards)
Mention: 2 John 8 look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but receive a full reward.
“New Jerusalem” See: Rev. 21:1-3, 22
See: Hebrew 11:16 The bible speaks of a new heaven and a new earth.
