Jesus has given instructions to four ancient churches. Here are his instructions to the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is now the town of Alesehir in Turkey.
To what does the paragraph on "come like a thief" allude? Jesus spoke in parables about returning "like a thief" (see Matthew 24: 42-44) but is that what is really meant here?
Revelation 3: 7-13, The message to Philadelphia
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.
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.
The speaker "holds the keys of David". This is a Messianic statement; the speaker (who is "holy and true") is the Messiah, in the line of the kingdom of David, the promised One who will make David's throne eternal.
Jesus gives them an "open door" that "no one can shut." A door to God? to heaven? to eternal life?
There are Jews who are not followers of their Messiah, who claim to be proper Jews but, says the speaker, they are not.
This congregation will be spared from an "hour of trial" that "tests the inhabitants of the earth."
(Walvoord claims that this sentence is "pre-trib". I find that a bit of a stretch.)
This church (in the Greek city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor) is weak but persistent and for that it is commended.
Jesus gives them an "open door" that "no one can shut." A door to God? to heaven? to eternal life?
There are Jews who are not followers of their Messiah, who claim to be proper Jews but, says the speaker, they are not.
This congregation will be spared from an "hour of trial" that "tests the inhabitants of the earth."
(Walvoord claims that this sentence is "pre-trib". I find that a bit of a stretch.)
This church (in the Greek city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor) is weak but persistent and for that it is commended.
What is available to those who persevere? They will be a "pillar" int he temple of God, with God's name written on them. And, like those in the church in Pergamum, they will receive a new name.
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