Free Grace Women

Introduction: 

In Rev 3:7-13, Jesus turns his attention to the Church at Philadelphia. Also referred to as “The Faithful Church,” this group of believers is one of only two out of the seven—the other being the Church at Smyrna—who receive no rebuke, and only commendation, from the Lord. Founded in 189 BC, and situated at the junction of several roads leading eastward, the city was known as the “Gateway to the East.” For its many temples, it also garnered the nickname of “Little Athens.” But despite those important-sounding titles, the city was locked in a constant battle for survival. In the year 70 A.D., an earthquake struck Philadelphia, causing its near demise. The Roman Empire funded efforts to rebuild, but the money was insufficient to repair the damage sustained from the effects of ongoing aftershocks. For years the city was in a constant state of turmoil as buildings collapsed and were reconstructed, only to topple again. 

Description of Christ:

Jesus’ letter to the Church in Philadelphia opens with this unique description of Him:

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens…” (Rev. 3:7)

In addition to living under the perpetual threat of earthquakes the believers at Philadelphia suffered neglect at the hands of their Roman overlords. Government corruption led to poor administration of the city, and the believers there could not reliably depend on help coming their way. In contrast, Jesus reminds this loyal church that He is holy (His ways are perfect), and true (He’s faithful and honest). In other words, when no one or nothing else in this world can be depended on, He can! The Lord goes on to describe Himself as the one who “opens and no one shuts,” and shuts and no one opens,” highlighting for these overlooked brethren the fact that He is the One with access to everything they need, and the authority to give it. 

Works: 

In this portion of the letter, the Lord once again employs door imagery to buoy the spirits of these troubled but trusting believers, stating:

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it” (Rev. 3:8a).

Before proceeding to praise them for their works, He reminds them that ultimately,  authority and access are His—and His to give. Various interpretations have been suggested regarding the meaning of Jesus’ usage of door symbolism here. The context of the passage should dictate the interpretation. The Lord is speaking to believers and the benefits that they have access to, by walking faithfully. This should remain distinct from the gift of eternal salvation.  Jesus’ reminder is followed by a recognition of their works and an acknowledgment of the challenges they’ve faced in accomplishing them:

“…for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Rev. 3:8b).

The Lord’s language here is so tender as He highlights the fact that while this church had little outward or ostensible strength, they had remained steadfast. Once again, each of these letters seeks to remind its readers of the Lord’s intimate acquaintance with their particular plight. However, it should be noted that this also suggests that even faithful believers are not immune to the temptation to deny the Lord (Luke 22:54-62).

In verse 9, Jesus identifies the source of potential temptation to “deny [His] name,” pointing out  “those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie…” This is the same group of non-believing Jews that Jesus mentioned in his letter to the Church at Smyrna. Apparently, this group targeted both churches for their belief in and loyalty to Christ. And yet, despite the obstacles they faced, the believers at Philadelphia did not falter in their obedience to God’s Word. What an unbelievable reminder this can be to us that even when we feel weak and beaten down by this world—perhaps then most of all—we can flourish in HIS strength and overcome (See 2 Corinthians 12:10). 

In the second part of verse 9, Jesus goes beyond merely acknowledging these believers’ ability to withstand opposition, promising them, “…indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” In his article, “Here Comes the Son: Learning From the Church at Philadelphia,” author Philippe Sterling states:

“The false religionists who persecuted believers will one day bow before them…”

What a comfort to realize that one day we who stand strong for Christ will be vindicated before the world and honored in the sight of those who sought to shame us! 

The Lord continues his appraisal in verse 10: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Regrettably, some commentators interpret this verse to mean that if a person does not persevere in faith and good works, they will not be kept from the hour of trial (presumably the Rapture), and will thus prove that they were never born again. However, author John Niemelä offers a salient alternative. In the above-mentioned article by Philippe Sterling, the author comments:

“John Niemelä provides a grammatical analysis of Rev 3:10 that disconnects the promise from the command to persevere. He gives this punctuation of the text (note the first period, which is a comma in most texts): “I have loved you, because you have kept my command to persevere. I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (John C. Niemelä, “Revelation 3:10 and the Rapture: A New Departure,” Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (Spring 2017), 37)”

This grammatical resolution makes perfect sense, and lines up with the plethora of other Scriptures which assert that the Lord will show special preference for those faithful followers who keep his command to persevere—not in terms of salvation, but in terms of rewards for obedience. Also, it’s important to note that punctuation wasn’t added until centuries after the original text was written; so we must not take the separation as a given:

Rebuke/Instructions:

While no rebuke is issued, in v. 11, Jesus provides both a reminder and an instruction, stating “Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Here Jesus is nudging them across the finishing line, cheering them on with the promise of his soon return. It’s important to understand that “crown” here does not signify eternal life. Eternal life is a free gift that can never be lost once received by faith. This crown is the right to reign with Christ and is a reward bestowed on those who persevere in faithfulness until the end of their lives. Instead of quitting early and forfeiting that crown, the Lord wants them to take hold of their reward. 

Reward:

If they hold fast, more than one reward is theirs for the taking: In the first part of verse 12, Jesus promises, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. In the same article, Sterling suggests, “This reward could involve a special nearness to God the Father and God the Son and a prominent supportive position in the administration of the New Jerusalem and of the new creation.” It seems likely as well that the Lord is encouraging these believers to take heart in the fact that while earthly kingdoms (and cities) crumble, what is done for the Lord will stand for eternity. And whatever position we secure in the Lord’s “cabinet,” if you will, will be a permanent assignment. In the second half of verse 12, the Lord assures them, “I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” These special labels are like seals of approval, extolling the unique virtues of the one who bears them. In the Grace New Testament Commentary’s chapter on Revelation, Robert Vacendak writes:

“The honor God confers on the overcomer in eternity will be as wonderful and real as if God himself inscribed a literal mark on him that reads, “This is my beloved servant in whom I am well pleased” followed by His autograph. Since faithful believers openly confessed the name of Christ throughout their lives (cf. 3:8), Christ will identify them as his victorious ones forever.” 

In a world that is constantly changing, it’s such a relief to consider that not only will the Lord reward our faithfulness and obedience, but those rewards—be they crowns, labels, or otherwise—will never be taken away! The momentary struggles we face to overcome here will pale in light of the permanence of His gracious rewards in eternity. 

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