​We are continuing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation, looking at the sixth message written to the church at Philadelphia.

The scripture is Rev 3:7-13
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

In contrast to last week where we looked at the Church in Sardis to which Jesus gave some pretty strong warnings, there is no critique of the church at Philadelphia offered.  There are only positives to talk about here, in fact, this is the most positive of all the seven messages.

As with each of the seven messages Jesus begins with a greeting. Jesus identifies himself as the one who is holy and true.  These are both descriptors of God himself.  God is the only one who is holy.  He is the definition of true.  Jesus also holds the key of David - to the key of the Kingdom of God itself.  This reveals the theme of this message: an open door.  The open door is used in two different ways in this message.

The first refers to the open door of the gospel.  With his key, Jesus has opened the way to God himself.  The path to salvation is open to any and all who would come. In Philadelphia, as in many of the other early churches, many of the Christian believers were Jews.  While the doors of the kingdom of God have been opened to these believers, the doors of the synagogues have been slammed in their faces. It is ironic that in the city of brotherly love, Jews are attacking their religious siblings, the Christians. Despite this discouragement the doors to the kingdom are wide open and the rewards are there for those who would make the journey. Jesus speaks in Matthew 7:13-14 of two doors available to all people.  One gate is wide and on a broad easy path, however this easy path leads to hell.  The other gate is narrow and the path is challenging, but it is open to all people and it leads to heaven.

The second meaning of the open door refers to a door of opportunity in Philadelphia. “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut” (Rev 3:8).  There is an open door in Philadelphia for the sharing of the gospel. Philadelphia was on the main highway from Europe to Asia and of the seven churches in Revelation it was most ideally located as a strategic point to share the gospel. I’ve often wondered about Merritt in this regard.  We are ideally situated at the confluence of major highways and many people pass through Merritt.  Just something to chew on.

The church in Philadelphia is also in an ideal situation to share the gospel.  They are not struggling with false doctrines, they are not comfortably complacent; they are spiritually alive, they are holding tightly to Jesus. Yet, even in this church that receives so much praise, Jesus says “I know that you have little strength.” It is possible that this church struggled to be influential because of the local cultural conditions.  As with many of the other early churches, Christians would have been on the fringes of society, often ridiculed, persecuted and denied business opportunities and positions of influence. This does not mean this church is ineffective, it simply points back to Jesus. Human strength is limited.  Jesus has unlimited power!  Only by relying on him can we move forward. A church with little strength, and seemingly, little influence, but a full reliance on Jesus can make a big difference! Jesus calls his church beyond their own strength so that they must rely on him and not themselves. Following Jesus is not about being safe.  It is about trusting him.  There is an open door of opportunity, Jesus’ call is to seize the opportunity.

Jesus finishes the message with some great encouragement for the Philadelphians and for us. He encourages them to hold onto what they have.  Despite the challenges, waiting on Jesus is worth it.  Jesus says that believers will be pillars in the eternal temple with God.  In Philadelphia names of municipal leaders who had accomplished great deeds were inscribed on pillars of local temples.[1] Jesus goes one better.  “The inscribed name signifies identification and ownership. To those who have little influence because of being ostracized, Christ promises recognition in his kingdom worthy of the most noble hero in any society.”[2]

Next Jesus promises “Never again will they leave it.” Philadelphia was in an active volcanic field.  The city was severely damaged in a major quake in AD 17.  Earthquakes were common and people in Philadelphia were often fleeing out of the city.  Jesus is saying that he is the rock and the security of all people.  He is unshakable and totally reliable.  They will no longer have to flee from the city, which should have been their secure home. In the storms and earthquakes of life, Jesus is the solid foundation for all who will trust in him.  All believers are identified with Jesus and they will receive his name. Jesus offers significance, safety and identity for all who will trust him.  The door is open.


[1] Darrell Johnson Discipleship on the Edge pg 108
[2] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1152

We are continuing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation. These 7 letters in Revelation “reflect the full spectrum of faithfulness and faithlessness present in every age of church history.”[1] This time we are looking at the fifth message written to the church at Sardis. 

The text is Revelation 3:1-6.  “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This is the shortest of the seven messages; despite its short length this message is a little scary.  In other messages Jesus begins with some positives and encouragements for the local church before moving to dealing with problems.  However, this is one of two of the seven messages that contains no commendations from Jesus.  Jesus dives right into the problems in the church in Sardis.[2]

Historically this was a large and wealthy church.  It had a reputation for being alive. It was big, busy and looked impressive.  However, Jesus identifies this church as spiritually dead. Maybe the church had great plans and ideas, but never followed though.  Perhaps they are busy and complete many activities, but the activities have become an end in themselves. Finally, perhaps the church is busy with a lot of programs, but they are not reaching out in evangelism.  This all boils down to a simple lesson.  Our faith and our churches are always in danger of losing vital connection to Jesus.  If we do not remain vitally connected with Jesus at some point we will lose contact with him.

Unlike the other churches in Revelation, the problems in Sardis are not false teachings or doctrinal errors.  The problem is a simple matter of obedience.  They know what is true but are comfortably complacent in a wealthy culture and are not living what they know to be true.[3] The church at Sardis is in serious trouble but hope is not lost.  Jesus addresses the situation. 

“Wake up”
The church at Sardis got in trouble because it fell asleep.  Historically the city at Sardis was never conquered by direct assault.  It was built on a mountain and highly defensible.  However, twice it fell when climbers got into the city and opened the gates from within.[4]  “The history of Sardis teaches us that we are never more in danger of falling than when feeling comfortable and at ease.”[5]  The call is to remain constantly vigilant. 

“Strengthen what remains”
Though the church at Sardis is dead, a little remains.  Maybe this is just the outward motions of faith, Sunday services and programs.  These things can be re-invested with the vital energy provided only through Jesus if they turn back to him.  The point is that the activities of the church cannot be an end in themselves.  For example: we sing worship songs on a Sunday morning.  The volume, style and musicianship are far less important than that people are genuinely worshipping Jesus and drawing close to him. 

“Remember what you received”
All believers have received the gospel and the Holy Spirit.  Much like we learned in the message to Ephesus, get back to first love.  Invest in a relationship with Jesus. In the beginning of this message Jesus introduces himself as the one who holds the seven spirits of God.  Just as we have discovered with the 7 churches, the number seven here is symbolic.  It means the complete fullness of the Spirit of God. Believers need to receive the completeness of the Spirit.  As Pentecostals we have long recognized that nothing much is accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is he who leads and energizes the church. 

“Hold it fast”
Again, get back to basics.  Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not a one and done deal.  We need to be filled everyday. If two people in a marriage stop communicating and responding to each other, eventually the relationship will die.  It is no different with our relationship to the Holy Spirit.

“Repent”
Finally, Jesus commands the church at Sardis to repent.  As we talked about in the message to Pergamum, to repent means to literally change one’s mind, to turn and go the opposite direction. There is a sense of urgency to this message.  Things are bad, changes need to be made immediately. Yet, by returning to a vital connection with Jesus, the church can be re-invigorated.

This message challenges us to examine our own churches and lives. Are we vitally connected to Jesus? Just as we go to the doctor for a check up and the doctors checks our vital signs; churches and believers also need to check vital signs. Do we see evidence of the fruit of the Spirit?  If the Holy Spirit were to vanish from our churches and our lives tomorrow, would we notice? Vital sign checks help diagnose one’s spiritual condition.

This message ends with hope. A few believers in Sardis have remained faithful. The promise is that those who remain connected to Jesus will be dressed in white with him, symbolizing purity and uncompromised convictions. Secondly, the names of those who walk with Jesus will never be blotted out of the book of life. In ancient cities names of citizens were written in a book; when they died, their names were blotted out.[6] Jesus is saying that those names in his book will never be blotted out if they remain loyal to him. This is an incredible encouragement and promise of eternal life with Jesus. In a church that was comfortably complacent, Jesus calls for a return to a vibrant relationship with him.  The promise is eternal life with him.  It’s worth it!


[1] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 521
[2] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 521
[3] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary 1999, pg 1565
[4] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 100
[5] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge pg 100
[6] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1149