The Church in Philadelphia Revelation 3:7

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos”, the “church in Thyatira” and “the church in Sardis”. In chapter three and verse seven of Revelation, John shared the way Jesus addressed “the church in Philadelphia” where we read:

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

The verse reads, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, ...”. John began with the words, “and to the angel” which means “and to the messenger, envoy, one who is sent and by implication a pastor” “of the church” or “pertaining to an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting” “in Philadelphia” which refers to “a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, situated near the eastern base of Mount Tmolus, founded and named by the Pergamene king, Attalus II Philadelphus which means brotherly love” “write” or “delineate or form in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”. “These things” or “that which John is about to write” “says” or “speaks, utters, declares and proclaims” “he that is holy” or “Jesus who is pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated”, “he that is true” which means “Jesus who is veracious and sincere which is opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended”. Jesus, who is “holy and true” makes the following “declaration” to the “church in Philadelphia”.

The verse goes on to say, “... he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;” John continued,“the that has the key” which means “Jesus who holds, owns and possesses the power to open and shut that which locks or unlocks” “of David” which refers to “pertaining to King David who was the second king of Israel and the ancestor of Jesus Christ”, “he that opens” or “Jesus who opens up”, “and no man shuts” which means “and no person whether male or female withholds, shuts up, obstructs and is devoid of pity”; “and shuts” or “withholds, shuts up, obstructs and is devoid of pity” “and no man opens” which means “and no person whether male or female opens up”. Jesus who “holds the keys to hell and death” is referred to before the “church in Philadelphia” and has power over “opening and shutting” the way.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we notice Jesus' address to the “church in Philadelphia” and the reference to Him being “holy and true” as well as “owning the keys” that both open and close the way before men. John mentioned “hell and of death” as being within His power, and God Almighty exalted Him to that position after He died for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead three days later. Everyone who receives Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” shall know His power over “hell and death”, and they suffering of each of them shall be removed. The “holy and true” Jesus “saves”, and He is willing and able to have a relationship with every person who accepts His offer to them.

Next time we see John share what Jesus will do with “the church in Philadelphia” “because” they “have kept the word” of His “patience”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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