letter to philadelphia niv revelation 3:7 "to the angel of the church in philadelphia write:...

Letter to PhiladelphiaLetter to Philadelphia

NIV Revelation 3:7 "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.

Allusion to famous gatekeeper of King Hezekiah, Eliakim.

Key of David?Key of David?

NIV Isaiah 22:21 22 I will place on [Eliakim’s] shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 23 I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.

Key of DavidKey of David

The authority to admit or refuse one The authority to admit or refuse one into the royal palace is with these into the royal palace is with these humble Christians.humble Christians.

Christ is telling them that He is Christ is telling them that He is welcoming them to His royal courts, welcoming them to His royal courts, in spite of their poor town.in spite of their poor town.

In Isaiah, the reference was first used In Isaiah, the reference was first used for Eliakim who was the faithful for Eliakim who was the faithful administrator for King Hezekiah.administrator for King Hezekiah.


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 upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.


11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him 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 him my new name.


13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.


Crown – The Philadelphians will reign Crown – The Philadelphians will reign with Christ.with Christ.

Pillar – They will have a permanent Pillar – They will have a permanent place in Christ’s royal courts.place in Christ’s royal courts.

New name – The FULL meaning and New name – The FULL meaning and implication of Jesus’ name will be implication of Jesus’ name will be made known when He comes for us.made known when He comes for us.

We are HIS!We are HIS!


Philedelphia was established in 189 Philedelphia was established in 189 BC by King BC by King EumenesEumenes II II of of PergamonPergamon (197-160 BC). (197-160 BC). EumenesEumenes II II named the named the city for the love of his brother, who city for the love of his brother, who would be his successor, would be his successor, AttalusAttalus II II (159-138 BC), whose loyalty earned (159-138 BC), whose loyalty earned him the nickname, "Philadelphos", him the nickname, "Philadelphos", literally meaning "one who loves his literally meaning "one who loves his brother". brother".


Philadelphia was in the administrative Philadelphia was in the administrative district of Sardis (Pliny NH 5.111). It was a district of Sardis (Pliny NH 5.111). It was a great industrial city until, AD 17, when the great industrial city until, AD 17, when the city was destroyed in an earthquake. city was destroyed in an earthquake. Things were so bad, the emperor Tiberius Things were so bad, the emperor Tiberius relieved it of having to pay taxes since they relieved it of having to pay taxes since they had to raise much of their own money to had to raise much of their own money to rebuild. In response, the city granted rebuild. In response, the city granted special honors to Tiberius. A small theater special honors to Tiberius. A small theater located at the northern edge is all that located at the northern edge is all that remains of Roman Philadelphia. remains of Roman Philadelphia.


No one envied the situation of No one envied the situation of Philadelphia. The city was stilling Philadelphia. The city was stilling trying to recover from a devastating trying to recover from a devastating earthquake some eighty years earthquake some eighty years earlier. At the time, the town was in earlier. At the time, the town was in such bad shape, it was almost such bad shape, it was almost entirely abandoned.entirely abandoned.


But Philadelphia had a strong wine But Philadelphia had a strong wine industry. Situated in a steep valley, industry. Situated in a steep valley, the vine along the slopes kept the the vine along the slopes kept the city alive. city alive.


The city and population remained The city and population remained poor.poor.

Because of their faithfulness to the Because of their faithfulness to the Word, they would see some of their Word, they would see some of their persecutors from the synagogue persecutors from the synagogue converted.converted.

Eventually the city recovered…Eventually the city recovered…

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Philadelphia was a prosperous Byzantine city, called the Philadelphia was a prosperous Byzantine city, called the

"little "little AthensAthens" in the 6th c AD because of its festivals and " in the 6th c AD because of its festivals and temples (Lydus de mensibus 4.58). Presumably this temples (Lydus de mensibus 4.58). Presumably this indicates that the city wasn't entirely converted to indicates that the city wasn't entirely converted to ChristianityChristianity. Ammia, the . Ammia, the MontanistMontanist prophetess, was from prophetess, was from Philadelphia, however.Philadelphia, however.[3][3] In about the year 600 the domed In about the year 600 the domed Basilica of St. John was built, remains of which are the main Basilica of St. John was built, remains of which are the main archaeological attraction in the modern city. The Byzantine archaeological attraction in the modern city. The Byzantine walls that once surrounded the city have all but crumbled walls that once surrounded the city have all but crumbled away. A few remnants are still visible at the northeast edge away. A few remnants are still visible at the northeast edge of town, near the bus stand. The city was taken by the of town, near the bus stand. The city was taken by the Ottoman Turks in 1071 and 1093-94, but was recovered by Ottoman Turks in 1071 and 1093-94, but was recovered by the Byzantines in 1098. In the 11th to 15th centuries AD, it the Byzantines in 1098. In the 11th to 15th centuries AD, it was the seat of the doux (governor) and stratopedarches was the seat of the doux (governor) and stratopedarches (military commander) of the theme Thrakesion.(military commander) of the theme Thrakesion.

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Philadelphia was an independent, neutral Philadelphia was an independent, neutral

city under the influence of the Latin Knights city under the influence of the Latin Knights of Rhodes, when taken in 1390 by Sultan of Rhodes, when taken in 1390 by Sultan Bayezid I and an auxiliary Christian force Bayezid I and an auxiliary Christian force under the Byzantine emperor Manuel II under the Byzantine emperor Manuel II after a prolonged resistance, when all the after a prolonged resistance, when all the other cities of Asia Minor had surrendered. other cities of Asia Minor had surrendered. Twelve years later it was captured by Twelve years later it was captured by Timur, who built a wall with the corpses of Timur, who built a wall with the corpses of his prisoners. A fragment of the ghastly his prisoners. A fragment of the ghastly structure is in the library of Lincoln structure is in the library of Lincoln Cathedral. Cathedral.


In a city where rebuilding was the In a city where rebuilding was the norm, they would be an unshakable norm, they would be an unshakable pillar in the Lord’s temple in a city pillar in the Lord’s temple in a city that could not be shaken. that could not be shaken.

In an old city called Philadelphia, In an old city called Philadelphia, known for collapse, there stood known for collapse, there stood Christians would who would bear new Christians would who would bear new and everlasting names in the world and everlasting names in the world that cannot be shaken.that cannot be shaken.


Law.Law. When you are depressed that When you are depressed that you may not be much in the eyes of you may not be much in the eyes of the world and the religious the world and the religious establishment…establishment…

Gospel.Gospel. Know that Christ rejoices in Know that Christ rejoices in those who cherish His Word of grace those who cherish His Word of grace and truth and stand firm in it. They and truth and stand firm in it. They are celebrated in His temple and the are celebrated in His temple and the world to come.world to come.

letter to philadelphia niv revelation 3:7 "to the angel of the church in philadelphia write:...

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