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7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True - David's key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open - speaks:
(the following is from www.easyenglish.bible)
"Verse 7 Philadelphia was at the east end of a broad valley. The soil in the valley was good for agriculture. Philadelphia was on the main road from Sardis to the port near Smyrna. So, there was much trade in the city. Philadelphia was also famous for its many temples. The inhabitants of Philadelphia had many parties for their gods.
The name Philadelphia means ‘love of a brother’. There were two brothers, Eumenes II and Attalus II. One of them first built this city. Attalus so loved his brother that they called him Philadelphus (lover of his brother). The name of the city came from this name for Attalus.
Jesus says that he is holy and true. The Jews knew that only God is really holy. And they would understand that this phrase described the Christ. They expected that Christ would come. But they did not recognize Jesus as that Christ. Jesus writes as God and as the true Christ.
The person who holds the key has the power. David was a great king. He ruled the nation called Israel. God chose David to be king over his people. One of the names for the Christ was the son of David. The Christ will be king in heaven and on the earth. He will rule over all people and things. Jesus is that king and he has that power.
A person with a key has the power to open or to close a door. So, the key means Jesus’ power. And the door means the events that Jesus controls. So, with that key, Jesus can open or shut any door. No person can open a door that Jesus has shut. No person can shut a door that Jesus has opened. Jesus is in control of all that happens.
Verse 8 Jesus has opened a door for the Christians in Philadelphia. This door means the right to enter into the kingdom of God. Nobody can shut this door on them. Those who belong to Christ can go in there. And the Lord was also giving them the opportunity to tell other people about Christ. All who believe the gospel belong to Christ. It is as if they go through the door to eternal life.
This church was small and weak. It did not have a major effect on the city. However, the members of this church pleased the Lord. They believed the word of God and they obeyed it. People tried to force them to deny the name of Christ. But they would not. They were loyal to Jesus at all times.
Verse 9 There were many Jews in Philadelphia. The building where they came together was a synagogue. They thought that they were God’s people. They said that they were Jews. They were born Jews. But a real Jew is one who believes in Jesus as the Christ.
The Jews in Philadelphia caused much trouble for the church. They were fierce enemies of the church. They denied the Lord Jesus and they spoke against him. The enemy of Jesus is Satan. So, Jesus called these Jews the synagogue of Satan. They said that they were real Jews. That was not true. They were lying. If they were real Jews, they would not oppose God’s work.
Jesus will show to these Jews that he loves the church. Then they will come. They will fall down at the feet of the Christians. They will know that they were wrong. They will repent of the trouble that they caused. They will believe that Jesus is the Christ of the Jews.
Verse 10 The Christians in Philadelphia had obeyed what Jesus taught. They had been loyal to him. They suffered because they belonged to the Lord Jesus. But they did not disappoint the Lord. They were strong in their belief.
The Lord will come to be the king of the whole earth. He will set up his kingdom here. But immediately before that, there will be a terrible time. It will last for three and a half years. There will be a strong and evil king. His name is Antichrist. He will rule for this period. Then Jesus will come and punish him. This period is the time of trouble.
Starting in chapter 6, we read about the things that will happen in those three and a half years.
The Lord promised to protect his church from the time of trouble. This may mean that the Lord will take them out of the time of trouble. Jesus may remove the church from the earth before this time starts. But it might mean that he will protect them from damage during the time of trouble. Christ will come for his church but we do not know when.
Verse 11 The Lord said that he was coming soon. This did not mean ‘quickly’. Instead, it means ‘with no delay’. Many people expected the Lord to come soon in time. That is not what the Lord meant. God the Father has fixed the date. Nobody knows that date except the Father. When that day comes, Jesus will come.
Until Jesus comes, the Christians must continue to believe in him. And when Jesus comes, he will come with great power. He will take his people from the earth. They will then always be with the Lord.
The crown is the prize for the winner in a race. All who remain firm to the end are winners. Christians must be careful so that nobody will cause them to fail.
Verse 12 In Philadelphia there were earthquakes. Sometimes it was dangerous to remain in Philadelphia. The people had to leave the city and live in temporary homes.
Those who overcome will be like columns in the temple of God. Earthquakes will have no effect on them. They will be safe from all dangers. They will live with the Lord and they will never have to leave.
The Lord Jesus will write three names on them. These are the name of God, the name of the city of God and his own new name. They will belong to God. They will be citizens of the New Jerusalem (chapter 21). And they will always be with Christ himself.
Verse 13 The church in Philadelphia was a good church. The Spirit’s message was to them, and to all who are like them."
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