In AD 17, when Jesus was just about 21 or 22 years old, a terrible earthquake destroyed much of Asia Minor. In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder wrote from Rome that it was “the greatest earthquake in human memory.” Aftershock earthquakes continued for many years after, slowing the process of rebuilding in many cities.

While about fifteen different cities were initially destroyed, the cities most affected (by the original earthquake and the aftershocks) were Sardis and Philadelphia. Neither city ever fully recovered. In order to provide relief, Emperor Tiberius waived taxes for these cities. His efforts to supply aid and support were incredibly generous.

In a gesture of gratitude, Philadelphia renamed itself “Neocaesarea” and later “Flavia”. This was a symbolic move that showed their loyalty to the Roman emperors. The cities of Asia shared a deep relationship with the Caesars, especially those cities who received so much help.

However, after the emperor Domitian came to power, he issued a decree to destory 50% of all vineyards and replace them with fields of grain. This edict destroyed the economy of certain cities, including Philadelphia. You see, the soil in Philadelphia was largely volcanic ash, high in phosphorus and nitrogen. This was excellent soil for cultivating vineyards, but poor soil for growing grain.

The city of Philadelphia, once intensely loyal to her king, had been betrayed. Her trust was found to be misplaced. And yet it is to a church in this city that Jesus writes in Revelation a letter containing no criticism. Every word in it is positive and encouraging, for this church continued to be loyal to her King. Let us read it together.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

This is what He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says:

I know your deeds. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I am giving up those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 3:7–13)

A loyal church honors her King’s holiness.

As He has in every letter, Jesus first identifies Himself with a string of appellations. He first refers to Himself as

“He who is holy” (Rev 3:7)

which may not seem like much at first. But as we read this letter, this term comes to mean more. What does it mean if Jesus is indeed holy, yet He carries no rebuke against this church? With the exceptions of Smyrna and Philadelphia, He finds none of the seven churches fully pleasing in His eyes.

Holding up against Christ’s standard of holiness means that this church chose to be holy. This didn’t happen accidentally. Most of the congregations in this series have been a mix of faithful and unfaithful members. For the body to be considered healthy, all the parts must be well. This was not a church with sin in the camp like the Israelites at Ai.

No, the Philadelphian church loved her King and respected His character. They adopted it as their own and made their personality be Jesus! Oh that we could do the same; that anyone who meets us will see not see not Andrew, nor Frances, nor John, nor Betty, nor Bruce, but Jesus!

Let us be holy like our King.

A loyal church submits to her King’s authority.

“He… who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens” (Rev 3:7)

Have you ever been around a friend who liked to quote movies? And sometimes really obscure movies? And sometimes you can tell they’re quoting something, but you’re just not always sure what? That is what reading the New Testament feels like, quite often. You notice that someone’s style changes abruptly, just for a phrase or two, and you realize they’re hoping you’ll notice something.

In this verse, Jesus alludes to an obscure (to us!) line in Isaiah.

“I will push you out of your office,
and I will pull you down from your station.

Then it will be in that day,
that I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
and I will clothe him with your tunic
and tie your sash securely about him.
I will give your authority into his hand,
and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder,
when he opens no one will shut,
when he shuts no one will open.
I will drive him like a peg in a firm place,
and he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.” (Isa 22:19–23)

Here, Isaiah prophesies that God will remove the existing ruler of Jerusalem, Shebna the scribe, and replace him with Eliakim, a priest. God uses the symbol of a key to describe the authority over Jerusalem He will give Eliakim.

This key has the power to open doors and close them. It’s the top—no one can reverse his decisions.

So when Jesus describes Himself as having this key, He reminds the Philadelphians that He has the authority. No one will come along and undo His work. Nobody will replace Jesus. This church has a King who rules over her—and His authority is directly from God.

A loyal church is proud of her King.

“I know your deeds. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Rev 3:8)

Jesus observes the deeds of every church. He knows what we do together, and what we do apart. He gave to the Philadelphians some kind of opportunity, and they walked through that door. They had “a little power”. Perhaps they were small, maybe even smaller than we are here, but they didn’t neglect their responsibility.

Why? Why did they work hard, even when they were small? Because they were proud of their King. They would do anything for Him, because they love Him and they are not ashamed of Him.

“Let not a wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might; let not a rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Yahweh who shows lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things.” (Jer 9:23–24)

We have to be this kind of people. Not brash and brazen, but bold and unafraid. We would never be embarrassed to be associated with the people we love.

[Read Matt 25:14–29]

A faithful and loyal church does not make excuses, but works hard with what she has.

A loyal church never betrays her King.

“Behold, I am giving up those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance…” (Rev 3:9–10a)

“Hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev 3:11)

They remained faithful during persecution, just like Smyrna and others.

The King vindicates His followers.

“I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.” (Rev 3:9)

We face daily opposition from those who mock and ridicule Christianity. Accusations of foolishness and backwardness fill our ears. But we are not wrong, and on the final day, we will be vindicated for our belief and trust. We will be honored for remaining faithful and loyal to our King.

“Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:9–11)

The King protects His soldiers.

“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev 3:10)

Obviously, this is not a universal promise. Smyrna was told they’d face even harsher persecution. Yet, God watches over us and He offers us more protection than we realize.

Ultimately, the true promise is in the next verse, however:

The King preserves His citizens.

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” (Rev 3:12)

All the things the loyal church committed themselves to will be preserved eternally. If you don’t like God, and you don’t like the church, and you don’t like holiness, you won’t much like heaven.

Heaven is a place where those blessings are preserved, not removed.

We’ll be forever holy.

“A pillar in the sanctuary of my God”

Part of the Temple. And yet, in the New Jerusalem as described in chapter 21, there is no Temple.

“And I saw no sanctuary in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” (Rev 21:22–24)

We’ll be forever associated with our King.

“And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God,… and My new name.”

The Christians who faithfully wore the name of their God and King will be blessed to wear it eternally. Unlike the Roman Caesars, God will never disown us or treat us with contempt if we are loyal to Him.

We’ll be forever under our King’s authority.

“The city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God”

Jesus tells them now that His rulership is not over the physical city of Jerusalem, but a new, spiritual Jerusalem. Heavenly citizenship cannot be taken away through wars and dispersions like the ones which have removed people from the physical city. This city is permanent and isn’t going to go away.

“St. Jean Church” by Sharon Hahn Darlin is licensed under CC BY 2.0