City of brotherly love
The letter to the church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) is a wonderful letter of encouragement. Philadelphia and Smyrna are the only two of the seven churches in Asia Minor to whom no condemnation is given. But while there is no rebuke needed, we ought not to assume that things were easy in Philadelphia. It faced many of the same challenges that assemblies often face today, especially those works where there seem to be only a small number of believers struggling on. And yet, the Lord commended them for their faithfulness.
In considering the names of Christ used in this letter we see some truths that extend well beyond the believers in Philadelphia. They are transcendent truths that describe His character when dealing with His Church in every time and locale. We’re given three such ideas relating to His character.
He that is holy, He that is true: The letter begins with a description of two of the attributes of God. The Lord Jesus is spoken of as holy and true. These terms are often used of Jehovah, and Christ was certainly well within His right to claim them. Although we as believers strive for these attributes, only God possesses them fully and effortlessly.
We think of holiness, and would long to be holy as the Scriptures command. But He is uniquely holy. Totally set apart from the taint of sin left by the world and the devil (both of which are referenced in this letter), the Lord Jesus provides the necessary power and example for believers to be holy as well.
With the deception of those who were “of the synagogue of Satan” (v. 9) it would be reassuring for those in Philadelphia to realize that the One they were serving was true. Christ is spoken of in the NT as being the “true light” (Jn. 1:9), the “true bread” (Jn. 6:32), the “true vine” (Jn. 15:1), the “true witness” (Rev. 3:14), the “true God” (1 Jn. 5:20) and the “minister of the… true tabernacle” (Heb. 8:2) in heaven.
It is also interesting to note the words Scripture uses in tandem with truth to describe our Saviour. His judgments are “true and righteous” (Rev. 16:7; 19:2). The Thessalonians turned to Him who is “the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). His witness, His Name, and His Words are “true and faithful” (Rev. 3:14; 19:11; 21:5). The enemy seeks to undermine the work of God by distorting the truth. Their commendation was that they had kept His Word (Rev. 3:8). They had embraced the truth under difficult circumstances. A reminder that they labored for Him who is Truth would have stirred them up (as it should us!) to a greater appreciation of who He is, and why the struggle was worth it.
He that hath the key of David: Keys in Scripture speak of authority. Here Christ is spoken of as holding the key of David (v. 7). A similar wording is used in the prophecy of Isaiah (22:20-25) regarding Eliakim (whose name suitably means “God will establish”), the son of Hilkiah. He served during the reign of good king Hezekiah in Judah (2 Ki. 18; Isa. 36). We’re told little about him but we realize that, as a result of his faithfulness, he was promoted to a position “over the house” of Judah (Isa. 22:20-23; 36:3). He follows on the heels of Shebna (Isa. 22:15-19), who seems to have been demoted to a position of scribe because of his lack of faithfulness, with Eliakim taking his place.
Eliakim is used as a picture of Christ but, as with all pictures, he is imperfect. Even though he was faithful and was once established “as a nail in a sure place” (Isa. 22:23), Eliakim could not serve forever, and was eventually removed (Isa. 22:25).
How much greater authority would the One who is the fulfillment of this picture have in His Church? Christ is forever faithful, and will never be removed. Eliakim was given the key of David over the Old Testament house of Judah for a time. But Christ eternally holds the key of David, indicating His supremacy in His Old Testament house. And now we are reminded of His pre-eminence in His New Testament house, the Church (1 Tim. 3:15).
The Lord Jesus is the administrator of not only what gets done in His house, but also who will do the work. We are encouraged by the knowledge that Christ has delegated authority to others. He gave the Israelites the key of knowledge in His Law, but their teachers abused that authority (Lk. 11:52). He gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 16:19) for the proclamation of the gospel. And He even gave an angel the key to the Abyss (Rev. 9:1; 20:1). The Lord is quite willing to entrust many responsibilities to His followers, despite their frailties and weaknesses. But He ultimately holds the final authority. It is not given to a failing nation, an imperfect church, or even an angel from heaven. The final authority is His alone.
He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth: Having recognized that He maintains the authority, the final statement made about His work is that He “openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth.” This is a fundamental role of Christ with respect to His church in Philadelphia— and anywhere else. He is the One who opens doors and He is the One who closes them. We must recognize both of these functions. Sometimes the Lord closes a door, and we ought to be sensitive enough to His guidance to humbly accept it. We certainly ought not to abandon a work lightly, but if the Lord has closed a door, we must recognize and accept it.
Happily, the situation is often the former, as it was in Philadelphia. The Lord is in the business of opening doors of faith (Acts 14:27), gospel work (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12), utterance (Col. 4:3), and service (Rev. 3:8). There are not many who would suggest that the problem in the church today is that there are so many avenues of service being explored that the Lord continues to have to shut doors. More often, He is well pleased to open them for willing servants.
As we seek to serve Him, we ought to pray that He would guide us to the doors that He has gone before and opened, so that our service might be in harmony with His plans rather than vainly pounding on doors that have been divinely shut. The church at Philadelphia must have been profoundly encouraged by the knowledge that omnipotence held open their door of service. No enemy could hope to thwart their work.
But the knowledge that Christ had opened the door also contained another lesson—a lesson in thankfulness and humility. It wasn’t the virtue or power of the church that had opened the door, or that now kept the door open. The open door was a gift from the Master, and He was to receive all of the glory for it. So it is with us today. It is easy to spot the flaws of a church, but (believe it or not) churches can have strengths, too! After all, they are a work of the Lord—surely we don’t expect them to be universally bad, do we? It is a disservice to the Lord to ignore the good points of an assembly. We ought to be quick to recognize its strengths. Not in order to take credit for them (that would be worse than ignoring them), but for two essential reasons: that we might thank Him for His goodness to us, and that we might humbly petition Him to keep the door open.
An assembly’s successes ought to lead us to glorify the Lord for His magnificent ability to work even through poor sinners like us. And the humble acknowledgement that every good thing comes from Him ought to be the antidote to self-reliance. As with Israel before us, the moment we attempt to take credit for the Lord’s work, the Lord will close the door in order to show us just how impoverished we are without Him. Continued success in the Lord’s work can only come from continued acknowledgement that He is the One who opens doors and keeps them open.
I know thy works: One final note of blessing was given to Philadelphia: the Lord knew their works. He also knew that they had little strength. The words used for works and strength in this passage bring out contrasting ideas. Work is a function of labor, toil, and effort. The word for “strength” carries with it the idea of miracles, powers, and abilities. The Lord said they only had a “little” of these—not the abundance that seemingly thriving churches had in places like Corinth (1 Cor. 1:5) or a few miles down the road in Laodicea. Yet to these churches little commendation is given. But in this little group in the middle of Asia Minor, the Lord was keenly aware of their works. It was not a matter of ability or gift there; nor was it a matter of power or influence. What did the Lord require from them to accomplish His purposes? Hearts willing to serve and hands willing to work. He would supply the necessary ability, strength, and power.
So it is with local gatherings today. Many are struggling on with perhaps only a handful of faithful believers. The world would ask why they don’t just pack it in. The reasons are the same now as they were in the church of Philadelphia. He is holy and true. He holds the key. And He has provided an open door that no one can shut. For those who are willing to be faithful and labor for what He alone can accomplish, only eternity will tell what God can do with “a little strength.”
Written by Steve Gonder