Jesus’s message to the church in Philadelphia, located in Asia Minor (now Turkey), was unique from His messages to the six other churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. Philadelphia received the only message that carried no correction or rebuke but instead offered unqualified praise, mentioning specifically their good works and patient endurance in keeping His Word and not denying His name. Clearly, a church worthy of attention and study.
What Does Jesus Say to the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3)?
The apostle John received the book of Revelation, a book of biblical prophecy, while exiled on the island of Patmos located in the southeastern Aegean Sea. The opening reads, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,” (Revelation 1:1 ESV).
The word revelation in Greek is apokalypsisis, meaning an uncovering, an unveiling, a revealing of truth. The focus of this New Testament prophecy is the end times, and most readers will readily see that the word apocalypse, currently most often associated with the end of the world, derives from apokalypsisis.
John wrote this prophetic book in the form of a letter addressed to seven churches located in Asia Minor:
Jesus spoke a specific message to each. Each message to these churches followed a similar pattern. They opened with a greeting, a title or descriptor of Jesus, a summary of the church’s condition including commendations, warnings, and corrections (except the church in Philadelphia), and a promise for those who overcome.
This is His message to the church in Philadelphia recorded in Revelation 3:7-13 ESV:
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. 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. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 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, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Following the greeting, as is true with all seven churches, is the descriptor for Jesus, which in this letter is “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.” He assures the church in Philadelphia that He knows their works and has set before them “an open door, which no one is able to shut.”
Jesus commends them that while they have little power, they have kept His Word and not denied His name. He promises to make the “synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not” bow before their feet to learn that He loves the church there in Philadelphia. During the time of the early church, there was much contention against those who followed Jesus, or “the Way” that came from the Jews who didn’t accept Jesus as Messiah, other religions, and from cults or counterfeits of the new faith. These are strong words from Jesus, but deception and false religions muddy the waters for people who need to hear the true gospel.
Jesus also promises to keep the church in Philadelphia from the hour of trial coming on the whole world and assures them He is coming soon.
He urges them to hold fast to what they have.
To the conquerors or overcomers, He promises to make them pillars in the temple of God. (In this earthquake-prone area of the world, strong pillars were essential to the stability of every surviving structure.) He will write on each conqueror the name of God and the name of the city of God, the new Jerusalem and His own new name.
As with most biblical prophecy, this message likely contained messages specifically for the believers in the church in ancient Philadelphia as well as messages related to the end times still to come.
Where Was the Church in Philadelphia Located?
The ancient biblical times church in Philadelphia was named for a king’s brother. According to Titus Kennedy (Drive Thru History), “An inscription found in the ruins suggests that Philadelphia was founded at least as early as the 2nd century BC during the reign of King Eumenes II of Pergamum, who named the city after his younger brother, Attalus II, who was called Philadelphus in honor of his love and loyalty to his brother the king.” It was located in the area then known as Asia Minor, further inland and northeast of Ephesus and well west of Galatia.
Of course, early churches most often met in homes so there are few buildings that might have served as churches as we currently would recognize them, but that’s especially true in this earthquake-prone area of the world. Whatever remains of the ancient city of Philadelphia (which was conquered by the Ottomans in 1390) is buried beneath the modern city of Alaşehir, Turkey.
Americans, of course, will immediately associate the name of the ancient church in Philadelphia with the city of the same name founded by William Penn in the state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, in the Greek, means brotherly (adelphos) love (philos). There’s no specifically cited reason that Penn chose this name for the American city, although it’s clearly aspirational. Penn was a Quaker and had suffered religious persecution, so it’s believed he hoped to create a community of freedom, where people of all faiths could live together in peace.
What Is the “Open Door” Jesus Said He Has Placed before Them?
Jesus refers to Himself as “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.” Then, He promises the church in Philadelphia that He has set before them “an open door, which no one is able to shut.”
There is an ancient oracle concerning Israel in Isaiah 22:22 with similar wording that refers to a servant of the Lord named Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” This signifies a granting of honor, authority, and regional power, much as in our modern times, a person who has done an heroic deed may be bestowed “the key to the city.”
In the New Testament, references to “open doors” generally related to opportunities for ministry (e.g.1 Corinthians 16:8-9, 2 Corinthians 2:12). In Colossians 4:3-4 ESV Paul writes, “At the same time, 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.”
What Lessons Can We Learn from the Church in Philadelphia?
While this passage of Scripture requires context, understanding of biblical prophecy, and wise counsel to study and apply to truly mine its depths, there are at least four lessons every believer can take from Jesus’s message to the church in Philadelphia.
- Jesus sees us and knows our situation. Clearly, this church endured a situation that tested and tried their faith. They have suffered much due to a group of people who are not what they portray themselves to be. Jesus is gentle with them, assuring, and promises a better outcome than they are currently experiencing. Jesus warned His disciples that in this world they would have trouble, but not to lose heart because He has overcome the world. We can take that assurance for ourselves when we endure trials and are oppressed by posers and pretenders on this side of glory.
- Jesus knows our strength but also knows our faithful endurance. The church in Philadelphia had little strength or power. We may be in similar circumstances in relation to the world. Jesus tells them to “hold fast” to what they do have. Sometimes holding our ground is the win. Remaining faithful even if we’re not seeing the outcomes we desire matters to Jesus and so it should also matter to us.
- Jesus opens doors for ministry, and like Paul, we can pray for those open doors, trusting Him to keep them open and not allow anyone else to shut them. Do you have a burden for a particular group of people, a nation, or an unreached section of the world? Pray for open doors for ministry and ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers.
- Every believer is wise to read Revelation, not specifically to discern information about the end times but to better know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of these letters reveals more of His heart, His nature, and His power. They hold promises from Him for us. Revelation shows us aspects of Christ we don’t see as clearly in other books of the Bible, so it is worthwhile to read, even if all of it isn’t clear, in order to know Him more.
The heart of Jesus is for us. He died to save us, rising again to eternal life which He offers to everyone who believes in His name and chooses to turn from sin and follow Him. The church of Philadelphia reminds us that while following Him may result in suffering and trials on this side of glory, He sees us, He is with us, and He makes all things right in the coming Kingdom when we will see Him face-to-face.
**If you found this article while searching for a modern-day church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there are several online directories that can help, including:
Church Finder: https://www.churchfinder.com/churches/pa/philadelphia?
Church Advice: https://www.churchadvise.com/directory/PA/Philadelphia?
The Gospel Coalition Church Directory: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/
Image created using AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team.
This article is part of our larger End Times Resource Library. Learn more about the rapture, the anti-christ, bible prophecy and the tribulation with articles that explain Biblical truths. You do not need to fear or worry about the future!
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