Revelation 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; PHILADELPHIA - in Lydia, 28 miles southeast of Sardis, built by Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamus, who died 138 AD It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius (Tacitus, 'Annals,' 2:, 47). The connection of this church with Jews causes the address to have an Old Testament colouring in the images. It and Smyrna alone of the seven, the most afflicted, receive unmixed praise. HE THAT IS HOLY - as in the Old Testament, "the Holy One of Israel." Jesus and the God of the Old Testament are one. God alone is absolutely holy [ hagios (G40), separate from evil, perfectly hating it...

7-13 The same Lord Jesus has the key of government and authority in and over the church. He opens a door of opportunity to his churches; he opens a door of utterance to his ministers; he opens a door of entrance, opens the heart. He shuts the door of heaven against the foolish, who sleep away their day of grace; and against the workers of iniquity, how vain and confident soever they may be. The church in Philadelphia is commended; yet with a gentle reproof. Although Christ accepts a little strength, yet believers must not rest satisfied in a little, but strive to grow in grace, to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Christ can discover this his favour to his people, so that their enemies shall be forced to acknowledge it. This, by the grace of Christ, will soften their enemies, and make them desire to be admitted into communion with his people. Christ promises preserving grace in t...

_Epistle to the Church at Philadelphia._ Verse Revelation 3:7. _HE THAT IS HOLY_] In whom holiness essentially dwells, and from whom all holiness is derived. _HE THAT IS TRUE_] He who is the fountain of truth; who cannot lie nor be imposed on; from whom all truth proceeds; and whose veracity in his _Revelation_ is unimpeachable. _HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID_] See this metaphor explained, Matthew 16:19. _Key_ is the emblem of authority and knowledge; _the key of David_ is the regal right or authority of David. David could _shut_ or _open_ the kingdom of Israel to whom he pleased. He was not bound to leave the kingdom even to his eldest son. He could choose whom he pleased to succeed hi

AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA - See the notes on Revelation 1:20. THESE THINGS SAITH HE THAT IS HOLY - This refers undoubtedly to the Lord Jesus. The appellation holy, or the holy one, is one that befits him, and is not infrequently given to him in the New Testament, Luke 1:35; Acts 2:27; Acts 3:14. It is not only an appellation appropriate to the Saviour, but well adapted to be employed when he is addressing the churches. Our impression of what is said to us will often depend much on our idea of the character of him who addresses us, and solemnity and thoughtfulne

EXPOSITION REVELATION 3:1 _The epistle to the Church at Sardis. _This Church is one of the two which receives unmixed reproof. Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no blame; Sardis and Laodicea receive no praise. Sardis lies almost due south of Thyatira, on the road to Philadelphia, between the river Hermus and Mount Tmolus. It had been in turn Lydian, Persian, Greek, and Roman, and, like its last Lydian king, Croesus, had been celebrated for its wealth. The auriferous stream Pactolus, in summer almost dry, flowed through its marketplace; but its chief source of wealth was its trade. In A.D. 17 "twelve famous cities of Asia fell by an earthquake in the night … The calamity fell most heavily on the people of Sardis, and it attracted to them the largest share of sympathy. The emperor [Tiberius] promised ten million sesterces (£85,000), and remitted

AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA WRITE,.... Of the city of Philadelphia, Revelation 1:11; According to the Apostolical Constitutions m, one Demetrius was ordained bishop of this church by the Apostle John; but this is not to be depended on; nor is it known who this angel was: however, certain it is there was a church in this place in the "second" century, in the times of Ignatius, who wrote an epistle to it, and which then had a bishop or pastor over it, whom he mentions n, though not his name. And in the same century twelve Philadelphians suffered martyrdom at the same time Polycarp did o; and in the "third" century a church remained in this place; and also in the "fourth", since a bishop of this church was in the council at Nice; and in the "fifth" century, a presbyter of Philadelphia was in the synod at Ephesus under Celestine; and in the "sixth" century, a bishop of th

ANGEL (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

CHAPTER 3 Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea _ 1. Sardis: The reformation period (Revelation 3:1)_ 2. Philadelphia: The faithful remnant (Revelation 3:7) 3. Laodicea: The indifferent and apostate Church (Revelation 3:14) Revelation 3:1 . We have traced briefly the decline during the 1450-1500 years of Church history. The climax is reached in Thyatira, prophetically the Roman abomination and apostasy. In Sardis we see the progress of evil stayed. Roman Catholicism, as already mentioned, is a fixed and unchanging religious system. Rome will yet have for a brief season a startling rev

REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. These letters are addressed to individual churches, but their messages are intended for the Church as a whole. In every letter there occurs the phrase, He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches....

_PHILADELPHIA_ STOOD ABOUT TWENTY MILES FROM SARDIS AND WAS THE SECOND CITY IN IMPORTANCE IN THE PROVINCE OF LYDIA. IT IS FIRST MENTIONED IN REVELATION, AND THE PRAISES BESTOWED UPON THE CHURCH SHOW THAT IT WAS WORTHY OF. CITY OF _BROTHERLY LOVE._ THOUGH THE OLD NAME HAS BEEN LAID ASIDE BY THE TURKS, THE CITY STILL HAS THREE THOUSAND HOUSES AND. CHRISTIAN POPULATION. THERE ARE SAID TO BE FIVE CHURCHES IN THE PLACE, AND IT IS THE SEAT OF. GREEK BISHOP. THE SEVEN CHURCHES.--At the time when John wrote there were hundreds of churches in existence. On the Asiatic Continent many had been founded in Judea, Syria, and elsewhere, and in the district of which Ephesus was the commercial metropolis, and which was especially designated as _Asia,_ we know that in the last quarter of the first century there were not only the seven churches named, but Colossae, Hierapolis, and perhaps many more. Why th...