Philadelphia; Evangelizing into the Sheepfold

It occurs to me that in the country I live in, everyone thinks they are like the Philadelphian church.  Everyone wants Jesus to praise them for the good things they do, however the country where I live might instead be like the Laodiceans.  If we take a quick look backwards in time we have something to consider.  There was a time period of the council of Nicea, that the single letters written by the first century Apostles were combined or canonized.  The New Testament letters were written in Greek yet the writers spoke Aramaic.  As for the Old Testament, it was originally written in Hebrew. Because the Jews could not read Hebrew any longer the Hebrew texts were translated in 300BC which is called the Septuagint. By 405AD the canonized text was translated into Latin by Jerome.  Only the church leaders had the Latin Vulgate and the common people didn’t read Latin. It wasn’t until 1534, 1,129 years later, that Martin Luther translated the Bible into German.  When this happened, a breaking away from the Catholic Church came, and many denominations were started.  Within the next two hundred years, since the common people could read the Bible for themselves, we saw a surge in evangelization and missions.  By the 1800’s many scholars were widely teaching the Bible.  If we look at everything with our modern eyes we may well forget that there weren’t several bibles in every home in the 1200’s or the 1400’s.  The only biblical information people received was in the state run churches.  While the early churches could read the letters sent to them, the dark ages were very dark.  Church leaders lorded over the people and distorted text to fit their state run practices.  Yet when the Bible became available to everyone, a new age of enlightenment happened and the response to that was to get out and teach others.  It is hard to believe that in our history there were 1100 years that common people could not read a Bible in their own language, being solely dependent on the leadership to hear the written word of God.

This church is the most interesting of all of the seven churches.  We see here that this group was doing things well.  They used the spiritual power they had and Jesus opened a portal for them because of their faithfulness.  They are also told they will be taken out of the time of testing on the earth.

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

More properly the second part of this sentence should read ‘thus speaks the holy and true and holds the key of David and opens and none shuts and shuts and none opens’.  There are a lot of untranslated and’s in this verse denoting the figure of speech of polysyndeton, which is simply just to draw attention to each word or phrase accompanied by an and.  Keys open locks.  Jesus already said he has the keys to hell and death, now he has the key of David.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and [which/that] no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Door NT:2374 thura (thoo'-rah); apparently a primary word [compare "door"]; a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively): KJV - door, gate.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

An untranslated word –which/that- NT:3739 hos (hos); including feminine he (hay); and neuter ho (ho); probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article NT:3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that: KJV - one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who (-m, -se), etc. See also NT:3757.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Strength NT:1411 dunamis (doo'-nam-is); from NT:1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):KJV - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Word NT:3056 logos (log'-os); from NT:3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):KJV - account, cause, communication,  concerning, doctrine, fame,  have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason,  reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew,  speaker, speech, talk, thing,  none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Hast denied NT:720 arneomai (ar-neh'-om-ahee); perhaps from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of NT:4483; to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:KJV - deny, refuse.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Name NT:3686 onoma (on'-om-ah); from a presumed derivative of the base of NT:1097 (compare NT:3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) [authority, character]:KJV - called, (+sur-) name (-d).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus knows their works and has set in front of them a portal that no one can shut, and knows they only have a little miraculous power and they have kept His words and have not disavowed His Name.  What is this door or gateway that Jesus opened?  Where would it lead them if they entered?  If no one could shut it, then it cannot be closed.  We may see the answer to this portal in a few more verses.

Remember our word dunamis (from the previous blog The Christian’s Power) it is interesting that we see it here and Jesus says they only have a little miraculous power.  Mostly we saw this word power used in the context of evangelization; when people heard the message of the Lord Jesus they got saved and healed.  Salvations and healings together is a more proper understanding of dunamis power. At this point one might ask, what were their works? What things did they do right? How can we be like them?  I think the clue is in the word strength or power.  They used the gifts they had to evangelize. They used dunamis.  While that may not be all they did, we can see that if we get out and tell the world about Jesus, we are doing what the Philadelphians did and were commended for.

Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Do lie NT:5574 pseudomai (psyoo'-dom-ahee); middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood:KJV - falsely, lie.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Worship NT:4352 proskuneo (pros-koo-neh'-o); from NT:4314 and a probable derivative of NT:2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):KJV - worship.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Before NT:1799 enopion (en-o'-pee-on); neuter of a compound of NT:1722 and a derivative of NT:3700; in the face of (literally or figuratively):KJV - before, in the presence (sight) of, to.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Have loved NT:25 agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o); perhaps from agan (much) [or compare OT:5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense):KJV - (be-) love (-ed). Compare NT:5368.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The Jews who are from the synagogue of satan are here again.  How is it that they show up at this congregation too? This time those who say they are Judeans but are attempting to deceive will be forced to worship in the face of the Philadelphians feet and the liars will know that Jesus loves the Philadelphians.  When will this be? It is not during their time on earth, but will be in the future.  It is evident that when a group of people are doing what Jesus wants, they will be hindered by liars and deceivers. It must be that just like Paul’s letter to the Galatians; those who say they are Juedeans were attempting to tell the Philadelphians that they had to keep the law.  If we remember Paul’s words to the Romans that those who are weak in faith keep the law, then we realize that these people were probably strong in faith.  They probably didn’t need the law to live, and used the gifts of dunamis to increase the sheepfold, even though Jesus says they only have a small amount of power, it was enough. 

3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Patience NT:5281 hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay'); from NT:5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:KJV - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

From NT:1537 ek (ek) or ex (ex); a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Hour  NT:5610 hora (ho'-rah); apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literally or figuratively):KJV - day, hour, instant, season,  short, [even-] tide, (high) time.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Temptation NT:3986 peirasmos (pi-ras-mos'); from NT:3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity: KJV - temptation,  try.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

World NT:3625 oikoumene (oy-kou-men'-ay); feminine participle present passive of NT:3611 (as noun, by implication of NT:1093); land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically, the Roman empire:KJV - earth, world.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

To try NT:3985 peirazo (pi-rad'-zo); from NT:3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: dKJV - assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Dwell NT:2730 katoikeo (kat-oy-keh'-o); from NT:2596 and NT:3611; to house permanently, i.e. reside (literally or figuratively):KJV - dwell (-er), inhabitant (-ter).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Earth NT:1093 ge (ghay); contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):KJV - country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Because they continued in Jesus’ words of endurance, Jesus will keep them out of the season of adversity which will come over the land to scrutinize or discipline the Earths’ residents.  Jesus is taking them out before the parousia and the great tribulation start. Because they endured in his word with his name they are taken out before the disciplining of the world.  They will be raptured, gathered together, snatched out of the earth. This is the promise to His people. He put an open door in front of them so that they could be taken out of (ek) the time of adversity. Amazing! Those who are like the Philadelphians have a portal.  This is something that no man can close. Some might suggest that open door is for evangelizing, or missions; however men shut down evangelization and missionaries all the time.  Some countries do not allow proselytizing the Christian message.  Some countries imprison people who witness, and Bibles are not allowed in every country today.  Therefore since man can shut those doors, evangelizing and missions cannot be the open door.  If the door cannot be shut by man it has to be the entrance into someplace man does not have dominion over.  No man or demonic being has dominion over the gathering; it could come at any time, as long as the number of gentiles is fulfilled.  There is no pre-condition to the snatching away, but there is to Jesus’ second coming to earth. Jesus said they would not see Him again until they say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’. That is a message we might want to preach to our Jewish friends. 

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Crown NT:4735 stephanos (stef'-an-os); from an apparently primary stepho (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, NT:1238), literally or figuratively:KJV - crown.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus comes quickly, without delay.  He promises to come and it will be fast. Jesus has a crown for them, as long as no one takes it from them.  This is something that a man can take away, but a man can’t close the portal.  How can a man take away a crown?

Col 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.KJV

If a person could beguile us from our rewards by introducing idolatry into the flock, not keeping Jesus as the head of the body, then it is possible that we could lose our crown.  While crowns are different than rewards, both can be lost. 

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and [I will write upon him] the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Pillar NT:4769 stulos (stoo'-los); from stuo (to stiffen; properly akin to the base of NT:2476); a post ("style"), i.e. (figuratively) support:KJV - pillar.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

NT:2476 histemi (his'-tay-mee); a prolonged form of a primary stao (stah'-o) (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):KJV - abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare NT:5087.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Temple NT:3485 naos (nah-os'); from a primary naio (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple KJV - shrine, temple. Comp NT:2411.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Write NT:1125 grapho (graf'-o); a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:KJV - describe, write (-ing, -ten).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

City NT:4172 polis (pol'-is); probably from the same as NT:4171, or perhaps from NT:4183; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):KJV - city.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

New NT:2537 kainos (kahee-nos'); of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while NT:3501 is properly so with respect to age:KJV - new.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Cometh down NT:2597 katabaino (kat-ab-ah'-ee-no); from NT:2596 and the base of NT:939; to descend (literally or figuratively):KJV - come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The words I will write upon him do not appear in the text.  Jesus says to the overcomer that He will make them someone who stands in the temple and he won’t have to leave. Maybe they won’t have to leave as this is in reference to the fact that they left the comfort of their homes and city to evangelize others. Jesus will engrave God’s name on those people as well as the name of the city, the new Jerusalem and Jesus’ new name.  Three names will be engraved on the overcomer, God’s name, the city’s name and Jesus’ new name.  Again this is written to the churches. Let’s look at the city, the new Jerusalem.

Rev 21:2-4 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.KJV

People who are overcomers will enter the new city Jerusalem as pillars in the temple, marked for Him.  While we are warned to not let anyone steal our crown, we have to wonder is it false teaching, or letting defilement into the church that could cause people to miss out?  Yet Jesus says that they will be taken out of the time of testing that will come upon the whole earth.  At that time, the time of testing had not come, as of today we are closer but that time has still not come.  If we remember Jesus will come to judge Jerusalem, the parousia, and if that day were to come today, we would be taken out of (ek) that time of testing through the portal that he gave. 

This speaks clearly to us that we may be doing things right, but we have to endure in His work with the small amount of power we have until the end.  And when we do, a way out of tribulations will be provided and we will be given the blessing of standing and living in the temple.  We will be given three new names as well.  This is what we have to look forward to if we can live like the Philadelphians. 

End Notes

PHILADELPHIA [fill ah DELL fih uh] (brotherly love) - a city of the province of Lydia (see  Map 6, C-4) in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and the site of one of the seven churches of Asia to which John wrote in the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:11).

Philadelphia was situated on the Cogamus River, a tributary of the Hermus (modern Gediz) and was about 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast of Sardis. It was founded by Attalus II (Philadelphus), who reigned as king of Pergamos from 159 B.C. until 138 B.C. Philadelphia was a center of the wine industry. Its chief deity was Dionysus, in Greek mythology the god of wine (the Roman Bacchus).

In the Book of Revelation, John describes the church in Philadelphia as the faithful church and the church that stood at the gateway of a great opportunity (Rev 3:7-13). Christ said to this church, "See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it" (v. 8). The "open door" means primarily access to God, but it also refers to opportunity for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Still a city of considerable size, Philadelphia is known today as Alasehir, or Allah-shehr ("the city of God").

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Philadelphia  strictly Philadelphi'a (brotherly love), a town on the confines of Lydia and Phrygia Catacecaumene, 25 southeast of Sardis, and built by Attalus II., king of Pergamos, who died  B.C. 138. It was situated on the lower slopes of Tmolus, and is still represented by a town called Allah-shehr (city of God). Its elevation is 952 feet above the sea. The original population of Philadelphia. Seems to have been Macedonian; but there was, as appears from Lev 3:9, a synagogue of Hellenizing Jews there, as well as a Christian church. (It was the seat of one of "the seven churches of Asia.") The locality was subject to constant earthquakes, which in the time of Strabo rendered even the town walls of Philadelphia unsafe. The expense of reparation was constant, and hence perhaps the poverty of the members of the church. Rev 3:8. (The church was highly commended.) Rev 3:7-13. Even Gibbon bears the following well-known testimony to the truth of the prophecy, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee in the hour of temptation": "At a distance from the sea, forgotten by the (Greek) emperor encompassed, all sides by the Turks, her valiant citizens defended their religion and freedom above fourscore years. Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect, a column in a scene of ruins." "The modern town (Allah-shehr, city of God), although spacious, containing 3000 houses and 10,000 inhabitants, is badly built; the dwellings are mean and the streets filthy. The inhabitants are mostly Turks. A few ruins are found, including remains of a wall and about twenty-five churches. In one place are four strong marble pillars, which once supported the dome of a church. One of the old mosques is believed by the native Christians to have been the church in which assembled the primitive Christians addressed in the Apocalypse." Whitney's Bible Geography.)

(from Smith's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)