Philadelphia


The sixth of the seven churches to receive a letter from John. Philadelphia was a city in the Roman province of Asia in western Asia Minor. The last ruler of the kingdom of Pergamum, Attalus II, bequeathed his holdings to Rome when he died in 133 B.C. Philadelphia29 was in the heart of the former kingdom, and for this reason was never considered a military colony.30

The Hermus River Valley, where Sardis was located, is joined to the central Asian plateau by the Cogamus River Valley. Philadelphia stood in the latter valley about 26 miles from Sardis. This is the path by which trade and communication from the harbour of Smyrna and from Lydia and the north-west regions are maintained with Phrygia and the East. It was at that time an important route from Ephesus to the East...Moreover, the Imperial Post-Road of the first century, coming from Rome by Troas, Pergamum and Sardis, passed through Philadelphia and went on to the East; and thus Philadelphia was a stage of the main line of Imperial communication.

The earthquake in A.D. 17 destroyed 12 cities, including Sardis and Philadelphia. Sardis seems to have suffered the most at the time of the earthquake, but Philadelphia experienced frequent aftershocks for a long time afterward.

Strabo wrote that Philadelphia was “ever subject to earthquakes,” and that incessantly the walls of the houses are cracked, different parts of the city being thus affected at different times. For this reason but few people live in the city, and most of them spend their lives as farmers in the country, since they have a fertile soil.

Emperor Tiberius helped Philadelphia rebuild after the earthquake. Philadelphia and other cities showed their gratitude by erecting a monument in Rome commemorating the event. In addition, Philadelphia showed its gratitude by voluntarily changing its name to Neocaisarea (“New Caesar”). During the reign of Vespasian (A.D. 69 to 79), Philadelphia changed its name to another imperial title, calling itself Flavia. In the 3rd century A.D., Philadelphia earned the epithet “little Athens” for its worship of pagain deities.

In summary, Philadelphia was distinguished from the other cities by several characteristics: first, it was the missionary city: secondly, its people lived always in dread of a disaster, “the day of trial”: thirdly, many of its people went out of the city to dwell: fourthly, it took a new name from the Imperial god.

In John’s letter to Philadelphia, he began with the words of the Holy One: The expression “open door” is a Pauline metaphor that means the opportunity for missionary work is upon you.31Philadelphia, therefore, was the keeper of the gateway to the plateau; but the door had now been permanently opened before the church, and the work of Philadelphia had been to go forth through the door and carry the gospel to the cities of the Phrygian land.

Recurring aftershocks from the earthquake in A.D. 17 made the people afraid to live in the city, which had a reputation for being dangerous. With reference to the past, Philadelphia’s faithful Christians were promised safety “from the hour of trial,” and also, “he who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it.“ (Rev. 3:10-12; emphasis added) Finally, “there will be a name written on the victorious Christian, which will be the name of God and the name of the ‘Church,’ and the new name of Christ.”

When a Philadelphian read those words, he could not fail to discover in them the reference to his own city’s history. Like all the other cities he read the words as an engagement that the Author will do far better for his own, everything that the enemy [Satan] tries to do for the pagan city.

Philadelphia (Bible Study)

Rev. 3:7-13. “The Church in Philadelphia is small and weak. But she has been faithful in persecution, and she is promised many converts, especially from among the Jews. Christ will guard this Church from the time of trial that is coming.”
Rev. 3:8. An “open door” is set before the faithful Christians in Philadelphia.
Rev. 3:9. Those who profess to be Jews in name only will bow down before the feet of the faithful.
Rev. 3:10-12. Faithful Christians are promised a crown of glory in the Kingdom of God, “and never shall he go out of it.”



Revelation 3:7-12
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;
8: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9: Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11: Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.