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And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens (Revelation 3:7, ESV).
Philadelphia was the sixth waystation on the postal road from Ephesus to Laodicea. Whoever was delivering the Apostle John’s Book of Revelation letters to the seven churches of Asia is now thinking, “Just Philadelphia and then Laodicea, and my task is complete.”
Philadelphia was a small but important city, founded by the Greeks as an outpost from which they could spread Greek culture eastward into Phrygia, Galatia, and the vast Parthian Empire (modern Iran and Iraq).
I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name (Revelation 3:8).
Evidently, the believers in Philadelphia had an open door. I believe that in keeping with the spiritual DNA of the city, the open door involved spreading the gospel to the east. Open doors are a significant theme in the New Testament.
And when they [Paul and Barnabas] arrived and gathered the church [in Antioch] together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
When I [Paul] came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:12, emphasis added).
Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison – that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak (Colossians 4:3-4, emphasis added).
Today, we pray for open doors for a good job, a good spouse, a parking space in a crowded parking lot, or cheap tickets to this year’s Ohio State vs. Michigan game — okay to ask these requests, but not the context of “open doors” praying in the New Testament.
The letter to the Church of Philadelphia has no rebuke. While Ephesus is warned for losing its first love and Laodicea for being lukewarm, but God says to the church in Philadelphia…
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God (Revelation 3:10-12a).
Philadelphia kept its first love and was not lukewarm because they continued as faithful witnesses for Jesus in their city and beyond. They walked through open doors for sharing the gospel. I believe that churches throughout history that kept the task of preaching the good news of Jesus stayed vibrant, but in my city now and in other cities throughout America, inner cities are littered with the relics of church buildings from denominations that have lost their first love for Jesus as Lord.
Let’s remember what Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:5…
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Jesus says today as He said to the church of Philadelphia, “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown” (Revelation 3:11).