The Church in Philadelphia

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Isaiah 6:1-3
• Hymn — Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin — Isaiah 53
• Assurance of Pardon — Isaiah 55:6-7
• Scripture Reading — Ezra 5
• Hymn — Revive Thy Work, O Lord
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
• Sermon
• Hymn — All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
• Gloria Patri

---

Sermon Title: The Church in Philadelphia

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

I. The True People of God Have a True and Lasting Witness

A. Christ identifies himself as the holy and true one who holds the key of David

1. The key of David imagery comes from Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim is a type of Christ as royal steward
2. Christ — not the synagogue of Satan — is the one who determines who belongs to the messianic kingdom
3. In John 15:1, Jesus calls himself the true vine; he is the true Israel, the true David

B. Christ sets before the church an open door of witness (Revelation 3:8)

1. The phrase "open door" throughout the New Testament refers to an opportunity for gospel witness (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:8-9)
2. Philadelphia has many adversaries in the synagogue of Satan, yet the door of witness remains open

C. The witness of the church results in the conversion of persecutors (Revelation 3:9)

1. Language drawn from Isaiah 60:14 — those who afflicted will come bowing low
2. In Romans 11, Paul explains that natural branches (Jews) cut off through unbelief can be grafted back in through faith in Christ
3. Even a small Jewish remnant coming to faith is cause for rejoicing; God has always preserved a remnant (Romans 9, Romans 11:7)

D. The power of a church rests not in numbers or prominence but in the faithful proclamation of the Word

1. Philadelphia had little power and few prominent members, yet kept Christ's word and did not deny his name
2. Where two or three are gathered in Christ's name, he is present; one little word shall fell the evil one (Luther)

II. The True People of God Have a True and Lasting Endurance

A. Christ promises to keep the church from the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10)

1. "Those who dwell on the earth" is a technical term in Revelation for unbelieving idol-worshippers
2. "The whole world" is often an idiom for large swaths of people, not necessarily every individual on earth
3. The Greek word for "keep from" (tēreō ek) appears elsewhere only in John 17:15, where Christ prays not that the Father take them out of the world but keep them from the evil one

B. Christ spiritually preserves his people through tribulation, not from physical danger

1. Christ intercedes as high priest for his people, as in Luke 22:31 — Satan demanded to sift Peter, but Christ prayed for his faith
2. Tribulation has a twofold effect: it exposes wickedness and primes the wicked for judgment, and it exposes the faithful who do not bow to the gods of this world

C. The church is called to think eschatologically, not politically or temporally

1. Christ says, "I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown." (Revelation 3:11)
2. We live between the times — Christ has inaugurated the kingdom; we await its consummation
3. 2 Peter 3:8-10 — with the Lord a day is as a thousand years; the Lord is not slow but patient, not wishing any to perish
4. The proper response to suffering and calamity is not despair but Maranatha — "Come quickly, Lord Jesus"

D. Suffering confirms and deepens the Christian's experience of God's love

1. Romans 5:3-5 — suffering produces endurance, endurance character, character hope; hope does not put us to shame because God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
2. True love is sacrifice; as we suffer for Christ, the Spirit speaks louder the promises of Christ to us

III. The True People of God Have a True and Lasting City

A. The overcomer is promised to be made a pillar in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12)

1. In contrast to the synagogue of Satan, the persecuted faithful become pillars not in a false house but in God's own temple
2. The church as living stones and pillars echoes 1 Peter 2:5

B. God places his name upon his people, signifying his eternal presence with them

1. Ezekiel 48:35 — the name of the city shall be "The Lord Is There"
2. The Aaronic benediction in Numbers 6:24-27 — the high priest puts God's name upon the people
3. Christ, the final and ultimate high priest after the order of Melchizedek, places the name of Yahweh upon his people once and for all

C. The new Jerusalem is the true and free city, in contrast to the present Jerusalem in bondage

1. Galatians 4:25 — the present Jerusalem corresponds to Hagar and slavery; the Jerusalem above is free and is our mother
2. Romans 2 — a true Jew is one inwardly; circumcision is a matter of the heart
3. Hebrews 11:16 — the old covenant saints desired a better, heavenly country; God has prepared for them a city

D. The people of God await the day when heaven and earth are united and they dwell as living pillars in the presence of the Lamb

1. Christ the priest-king seated in the heavenly Jerusalem intercedes and rules for his people now
2. We look for a new heavens and new earth where Christ will reign with no enemy and no competition
3. The proper posture of the church: hearts panting like the deer for streams of water, longing for the coming of Christ — "Behold, I am coming soon"