The Message to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of the holy one, the true one,
    who has the key of David,
    who opens and no one will shut,
        who shuts and no one opens:

8 “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

The whole region of Turkey was and is subject to earthquakes – but the area around Philadelphia (Philadelphia in Turkey – not the US) was and is especially so. So, the promise in vs. 12 was poignant to the small struggling group of Christians in Philadelphia. Those who remain faithful will be a pillar in the temple of God, and they will never have to leave the temple. One of the aspects of being an earthquake zone is that the tremors drive people out of their homes to live in the streets, so buildings don’t fall on them. The promise is those who remain faithful to Jesus will eventually be in a secure place that they will not ever have to leave.

While the future promise is full of hope, the present was not good news for the Christians of Philadelphia. They are weak in numbers and in resources, but Jesus has placed before them a door to opportunity, a door to ministry, a door of following him. Jesus invites them to go through the door, weak and struggling as they are, to discover where he is leading them. The opponents who insult and deride, are to be ignored, for the voice that matters, is the voice of Jesus.   

The application to the situation of the church in Canada is not hard to make. We often feel weak, having no energy or strength left to do the things we did before, to be the church we were before. We are overwhelmed by what has been lost. Just as Jesus invited the church in Philadelphia through the door that he had opened for them, Jesus has opened doors for the church in Canada, for the church in our community, and we are invited to step through the door following the voice of Jesus.

PRAYER:

Lord God, we are held secure in your hand, teach us to trust you to hold firm. Show us the doors you are opening for us, that we may follow you in hope of what you are doing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.