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Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 30

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia"

Text: Revelation 3:7

THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia was the name of its founder, Philadelphus or Attalus II. The original plan was to spread the Greek language and culture Many wild tribes were in Phrygia and Philadelphia was meant to the culture centre. There were many temples in the city of Philadelphia.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says 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””.
Revelation 3:7

1. The Church in Philadelphia.

a) Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven cities mentioned in Asia Minor.

b) A church was founded and it thrived.

2. The Lord Jesus was gloriously described.

a) “He who is holy”.

i) The Church had understood its mission.

ii) It must remain holy and not become compromised with the world.

iii) The Lord Jesus was presented to the Church as One who is holy.

iv) This was special to the church because it had practised holiness carefully.

b) “He who is true”

i) The Church at Philadelphia was the second church that was not rebuked.

ii) Like the Church at Smyrna, the believers had been true to their faith in God.

iii) The Lord Jesus revealed Himself as One who is true in recognition of the Church that had remained true and steadfast.

c) “He who has the key of David”

i) The word “key” speaks of the authority the Lord Jesus possessed.

ii) The key of David would be a reference to the authority the Lord has as King.

iii) The Lord was the mighty King whose authority is absolute.

d) “He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

i) This is a description of the majesty of the Lord as King.

ii) If He were to open the door then no one can shut it.

iii) If He were to shut the door, then no one can open it.

iv) This was an uplifting word to the Church at Philadelphia for they need not fear those who were seeking to intimidate their ministry as a church.

v) No one would be able to shut the door if the Lord has opened it for the Church to step in to fulfil their ministry.

vi) The final authority lies with the Lord as the almighty King.