Letter to Philadelphia

1
Letter to Philadelphia

• Rev 37-13

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Outline of Revelation

• Preparation of the Prophet His Past Vision (11
  20)
• Preparation of the People Their Present
  Condition (21 322)
• Church of Loveless Orthodoxy Message to Ephesus
  (21-7)
• Church of Martyrdom Message to Smyrna (28-11)
• Church of Indiscriminate Tolerance Message to
  Pergamum (212-17)
• Church of Compromise Message to Thyatira
  (218-29)
• Church of Complacency Message to Sardis (31-6)
• Church of Promised Deliverance Message to
  Philadelphia (37-13)

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Seven Churches of Revelation Philadelphia
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Church of Promised Deliverance To the Church at
Philadelphia (Rev 37-13)

• Background
• The city stood on a broad hill that sloped up
  toward Mount Tmolus, and with suitable
  fortifications it was easily defended.
• The city had a very specific purpose from its
  beginning to be a center for establishing the
  Greek language and customs throughout the eastern
  parts of Lydia and Phrygia. It was evidently
  very successful in this, because by AD 19 the
  Lydian language had been abolished and Greek took
  over as the only language spoken.
• Like other cities in the empire, this one was
  dominated by worship of the Greek gods. The
  primary deity here was the god of wine,
  Dionysius.

5
Church of Promised Deliverance To the Church at
Philadelphia (Rev 37-13)

• Attributes of the Speaker
• The Holy One (Psa 1610 Hab 33 Joh 669
  Acts 427, 30)
• In this context it speaks of the Messiah.
  Holiness here is not emphasizing Christs sinless
  nature as much as it is His role as Gods servant
  who is specially set apart.
• The True One i.e. Christ is the real deal, and
  absolutely faithful to His word.
• Possesses the key of David. Christ and Christ
  alone opens the way to the Davidic, Messianic
  kingdom.
• Knowledge of the People
• Christ knows their works. Before describing
  those works, He offers encouragement (38a). In
  this context, what does the open door mean?
• Now their works
• They have little power were small in number
• Yet they have kept Christs word and not denied
  Him, particularly against Jewish opposition.

6
Church of Promised Deliverance To the Church at
Philadelphia (Rev 37-13)

• State of the Church
• Christ says that He (literally) will give some
  of those who are of the synagogue of Satan,
  meaning He will give them as converts. They will
  eventually come to recognize Christ as Lord and
  bow down to the Philadelphians, acknowledging
  that they were right!
• Christ also promises that because they have been
  faithful to endure persecution just as He did, He
  will be faithful to keep them from the hour of
  testing which is about to come upon the whole
  world.

7
Philadelphias Deliverance from the Hour of Trial
Rapture of the Church
Return of Christ to the Earth
Parousia
Abomination of Desolation
3 1/2 Years
3 1/2 Years
Beginning of Birth Pangs
Great Tribulation
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Church of Promised Deliverance To the Church at
Philadelphia (Rev 37-13)

• State of the Church
• Christ says that He (literally) will give some
  of those who are of the synagogue of Satan,
  meaning He will give them as converts. They will
  eventually come to recognize Christ as Lord and
  bow down to the Philadelphians, acknowledging
  that they were right!
• Christ also promises that because they have been
  faithful to endure persecution just as He did, He
  will be faithful to keep them from the hour of
  testing which is about to come upon the whole
  world.
• The Lords Coming The Philadelphians are told to
  hold fast what they have until Christ comes He
  will take them to a place where no one can take
  their crown.

9
Church of Promised Deliverance To the Church at
Philadelphia (Rev 37-13)

• Promise to the Overcomer
• The essence of the promise is that he will be
  eternally recognized as belonging to God and will
  live forever.
• A pillar in the (spiritual) temple of God
• Gods name written on him ownership
• Name of Gods city written on him citizenship
• Christs new name full revelation of the
  character of Christ
• Command to Hear Christ bids every church to heed
  what is said to each church.

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Next Week Message to Laodicea

• Read Rev 1 - 3