143 Seven Churches of Revelation: Philadelphia - The Enduring Church

The city of Philadelphia (Turkey, not Pennsylvania) was considered the gateway to the whole central plateau of Asia Minor. Jesus used this strategic point of geography to give the church there this spiritual challenge: “I have placed before you an open door.” 

Doors not only symbolized protection from something but opportunity for something. Jesus wanted these believers to recognize the huge potential that lay before them and to see themselves as missionaries to aggressively spread the Good News. 

This optimism that Jesus had is rather surprising when you consider the makeup of this church.  Most scholars believe the members of the church at Philadelphia were from the lower classes of society. Many, in fact, were quite poor. Just ordinary people in a little crossroads of a town.  Which explains His words, “I know you have little strength….” 

Beyond economic weakness, they also faced social vulnerability. Jews who embraced Jesus as Messiah were removed from the rolls of the synagogue, and as a result lost their privileges and protection. 

But Jesus sees that these believers are not only suffering, they are suffering faithfully. 

• There’s a difference between suffering and suffering well.

• Suffering can either be a greenhouse where faith grows or a desert where faith dies.

•  God can send a message out of a mess.  And God can give a testimony out of a test.

•  What you stand to gain as you endure suffering will far eclipse whatever you might have lost.

There’s an open door of opportunity to show a watching world how believers can cope as no others.  And there’s an open door of welcome that is literally out of this world.

Text: Revelation 3:7-13

Originally recorded on June 2, 2013, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.

We are grateful to Ada Bible Church and Pastor Jeff Manion for generously sharing their teaching resources for this series.