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Revelation 3:7-13
In Revelation 3:7-13 is the letter to the church in Philadelphia as written by, “He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’” [Isaiah 22:22] (Revelation 3:7). The “open” door has at least two interpretations by the scholars. (1) That the most likely small but faithful church in Philadelphia has been shut out of the synagogue by the Jewish officials, but God has opened a door to a synagogue that is for His faithful followers of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 3:9 Jesus declares, “9Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie – indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” The synagogue of Satan is most likely in reference to the Jews that have rejected Jesus as Lord and Savior as they remain with a hardened heart. The Bible teaches us in Romans 2:28-29 (NKJV), “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” This is believed to be in reference to Deuteronomy 30:6 as God speaks through Moses concerning circumcision of the heart. (2) In reference to the “open” door is believed by some scholars that this is in reference to the open door to heaven for those who remain faithful until the end, as was the church in Philadelphia receiving no critical remarks from Jesus in this letter.
For those who overcome, Jesus declares in Revelation 3:10-13, “10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
This is a promise of an open door to all the faithful in heart, in Jesus Christ.
We have been studying mostly of the criticisms of the church in these letters written by Jesus to the churches of the day, but there are rewards for the faithful, as is written to the church in Philadelphia. This church was most likely a small church, as is most churches today, and is an indication that it is not the size of the church but that of the hearts of its congregation. Whatever the size of your church, keep in mind that it is the faithfulness of your heart that God is seeking – to persevere until the end – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
The church in Philadelphia was small and persecuted by those who were unfaithful to Jesus, but they remained faithful to the end and understood that it is a pure heart that is true to You in Jesus Christ. Please let this be so for us all. In Jesus name I pray, amen.