Revelation 3: 8-10
As with the Smyrna church, Jesus didn’t rebuke the Philadelphia church. It had not compromised nor fallen into apostasy. It was praised for its faith in God’s word and in Christ. To help it spread the faith, for it was not strong in that area, Jesus reminded the church of His deity, showing that He held the “key of David.” The church understood this Old Testament term. It was an allusion to Eliakim, the faithful steward of the king. What he opened, nobody shut. Eliakim was given a royal key, giving him full authority over the royal palace and storehouse (Isaiah 22: 22).
Jesus holds full authority with access to all the rich promises of God in the heavenly storehouse. And with His ability to open and shut doors, He opened a door of opportunity for the church. The church understood the meaning of the door He opened. They were familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul, in which he had used the “open door” term:
“Opened a door of faith to the gentiles.” (Acts 14: 27).
“A wide door for effective service has opened to me.” (1 Corinthian 16: 9).
“May God open up to us a door for the world, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4: 3).
Jesus opened a door for the church to go forth as missionaries preaching the gospel. And it was a door that no one could shut. There was no need for the church to be afraid to venture forward, for Jesus would take care of the opposition.
The church’s biggest problem was Jews who slandered and caused the church to be persecuted. According to Jesus, though, they were Jews in name and flesh only. The real Jew is one inwardly by faith (Romans 2: 29). That’s further reinforced by Galatians 3: 29. “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
The Philadelphia believers, then, inwardly and spiritually, were the real Jews – the chosen of God.* The persecuting Jews, in name and flesh only, were part of the synagogue of Satan. They would one day be made to admit, as they bow down and confess Jesus as Lord, that the Christian church is God’s beloved bride.
The Philadelphia church was encouraged, knowing that Jesus would be dealing with its enemies. Those in the synagogue of Satan would not be able to close the door. Furthermore, because of the church’s patience and steadfastness in faith, it had put itself in a position of being protected from the hour of trial that will come upon those who dwell on the earth.
That’s a reference to the end-time. That’s because “those who dwell on the earth” is a phrase that consistently refers to the wicked (Rev. 6: 10; 8: 13; 11: 10; 13: 8; 14: 6; 17: 8). Plus the “hour of trial” refers to God’s judgment poured out upon the wicked prior to Jesus return (Rev. 16).
Incidentally, this is one of several indicators that the church is on the earth during the time of tribulation. It won’t be whisked away to heaven in a secret rapture before the hour of trial, as some have suggested. Christ will protect His people through the judgments. That was His pattern; His method of operation when He sent plagues once before. For example, that’s what He did for ancient Israel when it was protected through the plagues that fell on Egypt. And this is what He promises for His people when the end-time judgments are poured out (Daniel 12:1).
As for the Philadelphia church being set in history as a representative model, it is emblematic of the church age of the 18th and 19th centuries. In that period, Protestantism was revived. The door was opened, the church became missionary in character, and the gospel spread to the world as never before. There were various movements that carried the saving grace of God’s word – organizations like the British Bible Society and the American Bible Society; plus individuals like David Livingstone, John and Charles Wesley, William Miller, George Whitfield, and many others.
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*Pls. read The Chosen People of God Are in Jesus. Click here.