Most current church members relate to Jesus Christ's letter to the Church of Philadelphia as described in Revelation 3:7-13, often considering it the best among the seven churches of Asia. Recent church members gravitate toward believing that the Savior speaks directly to them through His words to Philadelphia, though this self-evaluation raises questions about bias and spiritual pride. We must examine if Philadelphia is truly a faithful church, if it has faults, and if every Christian should strive to embody its characteristics. Jesus Christ, who is holy and true, alone possesses the key of David, holding the authority to govern the church and to open and shut doors before it, as stated in Revelation 3:7. This symbol emphasizes His vital position as High Priest and Mediator, granting access to a relationship with the Father, rather than reflecting the power of those who are spiritual Philadelphians. The church, like Philadelphia, appears to have had an open door, though this likely signifies Christ's role in maintaining heavenly access rather than just evangelistic reach. Philadelphia exhibits fine characteristics, such as keeping God's Word and upholding Christ's name, yet Revelation 3:8 reveals it has only a little strength. This weakness is evident in the apostasy, offense, and deception that have thrived during the church's scattering, showing that it is Christ's strength, not the Philadelphians', that empowers the church's faith and accomplishments. Additionally, Philadelphia is beset by those who claim to be spiritual Jews but are not, revealed as wolves in sheep's clothing who led many astray, though Christ promises these harmful individuals will ultimately worship before the faithful, as noted in Revelation 3:9. God will protect those of Philadelphia who patiently cling to His Word from the world's coming hour of trial, as mentioned in Revelation 3:10, and a remnant will faithfully endure to the end despite faint spiritual strength. True Philadelphians, though having little strength, possess the doctrinal truth, devotion, obedience, and grace from God to attain salvation if they hold fast, according to Revelation 3:11. However, mere association with Philadelphia is not enough to receive its rewards, as Christ admonishes them to overcome the world, their nature, and satan, growing to produce godly fruit to please God and maintain their relationship with Him, as emphasized in Revelation 3:12. If they do, entrance to His Kingdom is an absolute promise.

The letter to the church in Philadelphia, as found in Revelation 3:7-13, stands out among the seven letters in the early chapters of Revelation as the most positive and uplifting communication from Jesus Christ. Unlike the letter to Smyrna, which focuses on suffering and martyrdom despite the faithfulness of its members, the message to Philadelphia is one of commendation and encouragement. It serves as a biblical expression of "good job, keep it up!" to a church that has remained steadfast and faithful. Jesus Christ identifies Himself to the Philadelphians with significant titles—He who is holy, He who is true, and He who has the key of David, opening and shutting with unmatched authority. These titles establish the theme of likeness to Christ, highlighting that the Philadelphians mirror His character despite their limited strength. They have taken full advantage of the access to salvation He has granted them, remaining obedient and righteous, not denying His name. Geographically, Philadelphia in Asia Minor was a city of strategic importance, situated on trade routes and known as the gateway to the east. Founded around 140 BC to spread Greek culture, it was a prosperous center of commerce and agriculture, particularly renowned for its wines. However, its location in a seismically active region made it vulnerable to devastating earthquakes, such as the one in AD 17, which led to widespread fear and depopulation as residents avoided the city due to aftershocks. This historical context of instability is reflected in Christ's promise of eternal security, assuring the Philadelphians that they will be pillars in the temple of God and will go out no more. The name Philadelphia, meaning brotherly love, commemorates the loyalty of Attalus II to his brother, King Eumenes II of Pergamum. Names hold significant importance in the letter, as Christ promises to write upon the faithful the name of His God, the name of the city of New Jerusalem, and His new name, contrasting with the city's history of changing names under different rulers. This promise underscores an eternal identity tied to Christ. The church in Philadelphia, though small, was of high quality, with enemies outside rather than within, specifically those who claimed to be Jews but were not, termed the synagogue of satan. Christ commends the church for their perseverance and assures them of protection from coming trials due to their faithfulness. He exhorts them to hold fast to what they have, ensuring no one takes their crown, emphasizing the need to endure to the end. Historically, despite this commendation, the church in Philadelphia faced challenges after the letter was written. Over 50 years later, external pressures from aggressive Judaism led some members to overemphasize prophecy, contributing to the rise of the Montanist heresy around AD 150. This movement, marked by ecstatic visions and claims of new prophecy superseding Christ's authority, along with strict legalism, deviated from the church's initial faithfulness. This serves as a cautionary note that even a highly praised church did not maintain its likeness to Christ over time, highlighting the difficulty of enduring in faith. The rewards promised to the Philadelphians reflect their likeness to Christ, including becoming pillars in God's temple, bearing His names, and being fully immersed in His identity for eternity. This underscores the ultimate goal of their faithfulness—eternal unity and identification with Him.