Philadelphian believers were weak but faithful.

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Although Philadelphia was the least distinguished of all the cities visited by John and reported in Revelation 3, the name is now better known as that of a leading city in the USA.

Philadelphia in the USA played a significant role in the American Revolution as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence there in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787.

It served as the temporary capital of the United States (1790–1800) while the Federal City, Washington, was under construction in the District of Columbia. Its foundation had strong Quaker origins, having been built on land granted by Charles II in repayment of a debt to William Penn. Friendly negotiations with the Indian tribes living there gave rise to the name, which is Greek for brotherly love (from philos, ‘love’ or ‘friendship’, and adelphos, ‘brother’), which links it with its less spectacular biblical counterpart.

The ancient Philadelphia was established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon (197-160 BC) and was named in the love of his brother, who would be his successor, Attalus II (159-138 BC).

‘Philadelphia’ is Greek for brotherly love, from ‘philos’ (love or friendship) and ‘adelphos’ (brother).

Background: Philadelphia Then and Now

Ancient Philadelphia is now called Alesihir in modern-day Turkey. It was never to attain greatness in worldly terms as it was off the normal trade routes, although it was on a pass to the Eastern cities of Asia Minor. Thus it was often seen as an outpost of the Empire of the time - being dubbed a ‘missionary city’ with “open doors that would never be shut”.

At the time of the writing of the letters in Revelation there would have been around 500 Christian churches or fellowships in the whole area – but the Gospel had not spread far beyond Philadelphia so there was still great potential there.

The city was in the centre of an earthquake region and had suffered many quakes, including the great ones of AD 17 and AD 23 after which it was re-built with a grant from Rome. The main buildings were built to survive and the City Hall, with the remains of four of its great pillars, had become a centre of Christianity by the 4^th Century – in fact it still is intact; the city is a strong centre of Orthodox Christianity and remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.

When we have been to this city on a tour of the ‘Seven Churches’, visitors could see the four massive pillars that remain on this site and experience the friendly nature of the current inhabitants. Children crowd around the tourist coaches eager to display their newly learned English from school, to share details of their lives and their desire to become penfriends. Even today there is an ‘open door’!

The Message!

The words from Jesus’ message to the Philadelphians can have great meaning for us today.

Some historians have tried to liken the seven different messages to the Revelation churches to seven eras in the Church’s overall development. They have equated the letter to Philadelphia with the great European missionary movements of the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, as they saw it as having a special message for those in this era who were fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The message, though, can have continuing significance today to ensure that the Church continues to have this Commission at the centre of its outreach.

Philadelphia, now modern Alesihir, was never to attain greatness in worldly terms – but was and remains a strong centre of Christianity.

The opening salutation in the letter differs from the others – as it does not come using words from John’s opening chapter of Revelation with its powerful description of God. It comes instead from 1 John 5:20 where Jesus is described as the One who is true and who also has the ‘key of David’ (Isa 22:22). Keys are symbolic in opening up hidden secrets in our understanding - whether they are mysteries of God (Job 11:7), or mysteries that have been entrusted to us as servants of Christ (1 Cor 4:1), or mysteries requiring further revelation, as in the deep truths of the Kingdom taught by Jesus.

This message, along with the message to Smyrna, are the only two in which there are no rebukes and there does not seem to be anything that is not pleasing to God. But there are warnings: this small community would not be immune from the time of persecution coming on Christians throughout the Roman Empire. But members of this little fellowship were not to be fearful as they would be kept through these days – they would not be spared the trials and times of suffering and persecution, but would be given the strength to hold firm – no-one would be able to take the crown of life away from them.

Weak but Faithful

There are many other gems and words of encouragement in this letter that can help us in today’s world. Unusually, the words “I know your deeds” are followed by a list of commendable factors but which also includes the recognition that “you have little strength”. In fact, an understanding of our dependence on God’s strength and not on our own, could be an essential part of any strategy for real growth to take place.

The message is not promising untroubled times: obviously, just as the Philadelphians experienced unexpected (and unwarranted?) persecution from those who were nearest to them in beliefs (the Jews), so we too can expect opposition – but if we stay firm and endure patiently, our future is assured.

Though this little fellowship would not be spared trials and times of suffering, they would be given the strength to hold firm.

We are to hold on to the faith that we have, so that we will become pillars that survive the test of time and will be a support to others. We are told that “I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem…and I will also write on them my new name” (Rev 3:13). We will indeed become ‘Ambassadors’ for Christ!

Even those who have been against us will in the last days recognise the truth of God’s word. “They will acknowledge that I have loved you” – they will see God’s love for themselves.
The message to the ‘overcomers’ in each of the letters is significant. The Messiah is coming soon; if we hold onto our faith we will not lose the crown waiting for us and we will be established so firmly that we will be like pillars in the Kingdom of God.

Timeless Truths

The message to the church in Philadelphia is timeless. God has not changed. He is as powerful today as he was in the 1st Century AD and the mission he gave to his Church then is unchanged today. As we noted in our guidebook Ephesus to Laodicea, written with our prayer partners some 12 years ago: “It is still the Great Commission to take his Word to the world, to turn darkness into light, to release the captives, to set the prisoner free and to release his love into a war-torn world that believes it is only the might of human arms can solve the problems of our humanity" (p93).

The message to each one of us continues to be that God empowers the weak, and he takes the things that seem foolish in the eyes of the world and uses them to work out his purposes.

Even though we may be weak, may we be faithful – and live up to the Philadelphian slogan ‘Open All Hours - we are never closed’.

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Paul Luckraft unpacks the letter sent to believers in Sardis.

There are many letters in the New Testament, to individuals and to churches, but those in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 have special significance – they are from Jesus himself. Furthermore, they are written to churches under severe pressure. Would they survive? To be overcomers in their difficult circumstances they needed to hear from Jesus, to learn what he thought about them and what they should do to become strong again.

Illustrious Past

What kind of place was Sardis? What was it like back in the 1^st Century AD and what was its history?

Founded around 1200 BC, Sardis had an illustrious past. It was once a pre-eminent city, commanding a main trade route. As a result, it grew rich on trade, especially the clothing industry, being well-known for its woollen garments. It eventually became the capital of the small kingdom of Lydia, whose most famous king was Croesus, fabled for his wealth. It has even been suggested that coinage was first developed there.

Also from this region came the legend of King Midas. Certainly everything those in Sardis touched seemed to turn to gold – but as a result, they became increasingly affluent, materialistic, self-sufficient and proud.

Sardis itself contained a magnificent colonnaded marble road about 1500m long, running from east to west. Buildings of great splendour adorned the whole city - not just fine residences but many public buildings: a gymnasium, a theatre, public baths and a huge Temple to Artemis (Diana).

Sardis had an illustrious past – it was once a pre-eminent city that had grown rich on trade.

Wealth, Pride and Complacency

View of the 'impregnable' citadel of Sardis.

Overlooking the city was an impressive acropolis, a 450m-high fortress they called The Impregnable, which gave the citizens a sense of security and safety. If attacked they could withdraw there and survive in what they thought was a safe haven. However, history shows that on two separate occasions they got careless and were defeated.

There was only one way to attack the fortress, via a single narrow path which was hidden from the view of the attackers and which could easily be guarded. One lookout was enough. But the story goes that on one occasion the lookout dropped a piece of armour. As he went to retrieve it he inadvertently revealed the way up. Another story recounts how the guard simply fell asleep.

Whatever the truth of the legends, the reality is that twice Sardis was conquered: first by the Persians under Cyrus in 549 BC, and later by the Greeks under Antiochus the Great, 218 BC. The fall of Sardis to the Persians has been preserved in folklore as a story of misplaced trust and a lack of watchfulness (something from which to learn!). And yet, centuries later, it happened again!

Eventually the Romans took over, and a church was founded there. By the 1^st Century AD Sardis had 120,000 inhabitants and continued to flourish financially – although by now it had a reputation for bad character. The pagan philosopher Apollonius, a contemporary of the Apostle John, stated “there are no prizes among you for good character, but if you competed for the first prize in vice you would all win at once!”

The fall of Sardis to the Persians is remembered as a story of misplaced trust and a lack of watchfulness.

In AD 17, a large earthquake struck and destroyed 12 cities in the area. Sardis was badly hit, but refused help from Rome, saying ‘we can rebuild it ourselves with our own wealth!’ They had a reputation to uphold, one that said ‘we are the great, the wealthy, the impregnable city against which none could strive and prevail.’

So it was that here, in a city of wealth, pride and complacency, one of the seven Churches of Revelation had to survive and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Messiah. How were they doing?

No Words of Approval

Marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis. Now on display in New York.

Everyone had a lot to say about the Church at Sardis and spoke well of them. Everyone, that is, except the one person who really counts, Jesus. He was far from impressed. What had gone wrong? What could they do about it? What problems did they face and what did Jesus tell them to do about them?

Each of the seven letters in Revelation follows a similar pattern or structure. After the initial address and an attribute of Jesus (usually based on the vision in Revelation 1), there follow five sections. These can be summarised as: approval, accusation, advice, appeal and assurance.

However, in two of the letters there are no words of accusation (those to believers in Smyrna and Philadelphia). In another two there are no words of approval. One is Laodicea - and the other is Sardis!

Instead, Jesus starts with a devastating opening rebuke and accusation: “I know your deeds.” It seems they had no doctrinal problems and no external problems to overcome. Rather, the issues were all internal. They were comfortable, content, living on reputation - not reality. Like the guards in the past they had gone to sleep, or become careless.

They were very busy, lots of activity – but no spiritual reality, no substance. There was no shortage of projects - but no harvest, no fruit. Nothing they started was ever properly finished or fulfilled; nothing they undertook was seen through. They lacked perseverance and commitment. What they were doing seemed good in the eyes of men, but not in the sight of God. They were not fulfilling his purposes. And what little remained was about to die out, like a flickering candle. Their future was under threat. Jesus, who closes churches as well as opens them, would remove their lampstand unless they listened carefully to his advice.

Those in Sardis were comfortable, content, living on reputation - not reality. Their activity seemed good in the eyes of men – but not in the sight of God.

Five Commands

What he told them can be summarised as a series five short commands: first, wake up! Realise what is going on, and what you are like. An obvious first step, perhaps, but very necessary before you can move on to the next stage, to strengthen what you have that is still alive. Don’t let that die out! If a flame is flickering, revive it first, before trying to light others. Allow God’s spirit to work on what is still there, however faint it seems. To strengthen what we have is our first duty, rather than to abandon everything in favour of ‘new ideas’, in the hope that these will put things right again.

The third command is: remember! It is always good to recall what we first had that blessed us. The grace we first knew, the love and fervour we once had, the Gospel that saved us. Remembering how we first started and what God has done for us in the past will breathe new life into a dying situation. Go back to the beginning, remind yourself of the basics. Think again how amazing it is to be part of God’s people and what a privilege it is to be called by him.

Remembrance helps the final two commands: repent and obey! These should be constant aspects of the Christian life and of any church. Obey what you once knew was right. You did it then - do it now, again and again. And alongside this goes repentance. Each aids the other.

So: wake up, strengthen what remains, remember what you once had, then repent and obey. Solid advice, but if they did not respond, the consequences for the Church would be severe.
Jesus issued a warning that listeners in Sardis would have all understood from their city’s history. Jesus was watching, waiting, and if ignored he would steal upon them like the attackers of old. They would lose everything. This image of a thief is not a reference to the Second Coming – neither is it advocating a secret return before another final (third) one! This was about their current situation and relationship to Jesus as the head of their Church.

Strengthen what you have - if a flame is flickering, revive it first, before trying to light others.

The Overcomers

So, did they respond? Maybe for a while, but by the 4^th Century the Church in Sardis had disappeared. There are only ruins today where once it existed.

However, there is good news. The letter tells us that there was a faithful remnant and where such exists, a church can re-build. Again, in the letter Jesus used an analogy that would have been familiar to dwellers in Sardis - from their clothing industry. Some had resisted the drift and decline, and not allowed their clothes to become soiled. They still walked with Jesus and their future was assured. They would get new white clothes, worthy of their calling.

These were the overcomers, individuals who kept to the original faith and remained an example to others. Whatever church you are in, whatever state it is in, you can overcome in that situation by a personal walk with God.

The Book of Life

The alternative is drastic. Names will be blotted out from the book of life! Again, those in Sardis would have got the message. Greek cities kept registers of their citizens, and the names of those found unworthy were removed and blotted out (or, more literally, scraped off with a penknife).

But what does this mean here? Is this ‘book of life’ all who have ever lived (as in Psalm 69:28, the book from which the unrighteous are blotted out), or believers who have given up and miss out on eternal life? In Revelation 13:8 there is reference to “the book of life belonging to the Lamb”. For consistency we might expect the warning in Revelation 3 to relate to that.

Here is a controversial topic! I would recommend you do your own study through the scriptures where there is mention of more than one ‘book of life’ or ‘book of names’, and names being blotted out of such a book (for instance Ex 32:32; Dan 12:1; Phil 4:3; plus Rev 20:15, 21:27).

Where a faithful remnant exists, there is always hope that a church can re-build.

Whatever you decide, what is important is that by the end your name is still there, and for overcomers Jesus guarantees this. There is a strong double negative for emphasis, literally “I will never ever by any means blot out his name”. It cannot happen if you endure to the end.

And on an even more positive note, your name will be acknowledged before the Father. Here is the best possible reputation, better than anything amongst men. To hear Jesus call out before the Father and the angels: he/she is mine! Here’s another one of my overcomers for he/she belongs to me!

Having Ears to Hear

The final appeal is common to all the letters in Revelation, and one familiar from many of Jesus’ parables where he was seeking a response. To have ‘ears to hear’ means far more than to hear something physically. Rather, it means take heed! Now you have read the letter, consider it in detail. Listen to the Spirit! Pay attention to what the Spirit is saying about it all - the problems, the solutions, the advice, the warnings, the rewards.

It is fascinating to think that there was an occasion when this letter was read aloud for the very first time, in a real place called Sardis. What was the reaction of listeners then? But just as important is what happens every time it is read by us today. Do you hear the voice of Jesus - or is it just another letter?

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Author: Paul Luckraft

Photo Credits: Top image from Wikimedia Commons / Turkey Vision / CC BY 2.0. Acropolis image from David Lull / Flickr Creative Commons / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Column image from MBisanz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0.