I don't want to spend a lot of time on History here today in that we have much to say with regard to the letter that Jesus is writing here to the Church of Philadelphia. This church was known as the Revived Church, It was a church of peoples from the faith of Judaism, and from the faith of Roman Catholicism and returned to the teachings of Christ alone as taught by the early church there at Ephesus.

As for the History - it is enough to know that this church was a vibrant and Live church all the way up to the 13th century when the Selger Turks came in and Brutally Murdered the Christians there. It is said that while there was an  amphitheater there, and those that are from that city know it, they still to this day do not like to speak of it because of the BRUTAL slayings of the Christians that went on there. In fact, it is said that the only evidence that proves there was once an amphitheater even there is a portion of a pillar now hidden amongst some trees. No one talks about it nor directs people to it as they are ashamed of what took place there.

Philadelphia was a small Turkish town. The Greeks of the time referred to it as a heathen or pagan city - until they got hold of it of course. 

Situated some 150 miles inland from the coast, she is known as the door to the east and the Orient. Anyone who travels East or West must come through the city of Philadelphia. That's an interesting point and we will be speaking about that a bit later on.

Our Lord had no word of condemnation. (Same as Smyrna)

The city of Philadelphia is actually located in a beautiful Valley - different than most of the other cities we have spoken of being built at the top of an Acropolis. Philadelphia had an acropolis but the city was built down in the valley at the foot of the mountain range there.

Lush with Vineyards, and other foliage, and is said to be very beautiful next to the backdrop of the Mountain Range just behind her.

Philadelphia was said to mean "Brothery Love". This is interesting on two points, one of which I will mention now and the other I will mention later. It's name is derived from Attalus II (159-138 BC), whose truth and loyalty to his brother Eumenes won him the name of Philadelphus (meaning "brotherly love").

Now Our Lord begins this letter to The Church at Philadelphia by saying:

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Rev 3:7 (KJV)

Now friend, I want to stop here and mention that He First reminds us that He is Holy. Notice that He "says" that He is Holy.

• He was Holy in His Birth, (and we know that as the angel of God said to Mary, "that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God". Ref., Luk 1:35)

• He was Holy in His Life, for He was full of the Holy Ghost (Ref., Luk 4:1) and Luke also tells us there in that same chapter and the 14th verse,
  "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee." Then we know that ...

• He was also Holy in His Death. Paul says there in Philippians 2:8- 1, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

• We know also that He was Holy is His Resurrection, Hebrews 4:15 tells us, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Yes, my friend, He was Holy in His birth, and He was Holy in His Life. he was Holy in His death and He was Holy in His resurrection. Lastly, 

• He is Holy In His Present Priestly Office Today. Paul says there in Hebrews 7:26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (KJV)

We Are also told here that He is True.

John 14:6 tells us that He is "The way the Truth and the Life".

That word "truth" here means "perfection". In other words, it was not Moses that gave "true" bread, but Jesus. John 6:32, 33 says,

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." (KJV)

Then he says here that "...he that hath the key of David;"

Now, this is a departure from having the key to Hades and death that we saw there at the beginning of the book, and this was done for a reason. He is speaking here of His Regal claim to the Throne of Jerusalem - or His father David. He came for His own and his own received him not. But of this New Jerusalem there will be no end. and He will be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Now this next part...

"...he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;" goes hand and glove with verse 8 and I want to continue that now...

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Rev 3:8 (KJV)

"A door that openeth, and no man shutteth" was not a door cast in time. This was an eternal and Holy phrase speaking of the provision of the Lord God for evangelism.

Historically speaking, Philadelphia was considered to be the door to the East and beyond. Anyone that would travel eastward from Ephesus would have to go through Philadelphia. In fact, those that would come to Ephesus or the  Coast for any reason from the East would need to come through Philadelphia. So she was "historically" "...the door that was open, that no man shutteth".

But there was more to it than that. Even now in the city of Philadelphia there are many who know and love the Lord - even though they have to do it "underground" - but they are there. But during the early periods of the city of  Philadelphia, the church there became the door of evangelism, and I'm going to pick that back up here in just a second. But I wanted to make mention here of that next verse which I think carries with it a description of the purpose and the pleasure of God in this little Church here at Philadelphia. He says,

"And thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name"

Can I stop for just a minute and say how much that sounds like In The Garden. Friend, we have very little strength by the world's ideals and standards. In fact, we barely get enough people to vote for us at the Topsites every day to be in the top two or three, and that's out of thousands who have signed up to receive these FREE devotional writings over the years. Then I can honestly say that we certainly have no wealth to pass along to anyone. Most of the time Osella and I are making up the difference every month just to keep the door open, but OH FRIEND, PRAISE THE LORD! That is what He has designed In The Garden for. He has made us "an open door" to witness for Him over the internet. Anyone who comes to In The Garden comes through that "door of evangelism". We are not some great big ministry that has horded or amassed fortunes to build great buildings, but our foundation is merely a doorway. Our pews are the very chair you are sitting in right now as you listen or read these words I am saying. The anointing of the Lord on this Ministry is not in my righteousness or that of Osella, but in the factor that "He alone" is Holy, and we are assured that His Word will not return unto him void. We are confident that it shall accomplish that which He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto He has sent it and said it; (Ref., Isaiah 55:11) and That's enough for us here at In The Garden. Sure, it becomes difficult at times because we do not get to shake your hand and to bless you and literally lay hands on you and pray for you and fellowship with you. But to be an open door through which weary travelers from all over the world may enter and find God; and we thank Him AND YOU, for that opportunity.

He goes on to say,

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Rev 3:9 (KJV)

If you remember, there was a time when Paul said,

"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom 2:28,29 (KJV)

The way that the Romans handled the rising population of the Jews, being a religious sect which called themselves "The Children of the Living God", was to colonize them into groups and to send them out to these places in the far- east.

Now, It was unknown to the Romans, nor would they care if they had known, but many of these Jews had long left the profession of Judaism and had become Christians and there were many who were sent out in these colonized groups to towns just such as Philadelphia. It was these groups (or I  should say, some of the converted Jews that were in these groups) as well as the Christians who had been commissioned by The Lord Jesus to go to the ends of the earth and preach the Gospel, that "opened the doors" to India and to the Orient through this church here in Philadelphia. She became a strong Tower for the Lord which is part of the reason why the Selger Turks came in and brutally killed off the Christians there in the Church, but Praise the Lord - He still had a remnant. In fact Jesus goes on to say,

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Rev 3:10 (KJV)

Now, this is extremely Important to see this. Remember that this is considered the Church of Reformation. This, and the Church at Sardis, was the Church that believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Even In Sardis there was a remnant that yet believed . . . and He is telling those that

"...still hold to the Word of Patience", meaning the continued message of Salvation to a lost and dying world, that He will

"...keep then from the hour of temptation". What He is referring to here is the Great Tribulation, and He is saying that He will keep the Church from that Hour speaking here of the Rapture of Revelation Chapter 4 verse 1.

And The Lord says here,
"Behold, I come quickly:" Rev 3:11 (KJV)

That the word "quickly" is not referring to "soon" as some have mistaken. We know that He "is" coming soon because of the signs of the times, however, the word "quickly" here denotes coming "suddenly". He will come as a thief in the night as has been written in several places in the Scriptures... so he tells them to

"... hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

This was one of two churches mentioned in the Bible that did not receive a condemnation from the Lord, but had for their crown the blessed witness of the Christ. There were those then and those now who would like to steal the  Truth and Witness of Christ from the Church, but Jesus encourages them and us to "hold fast that which we believe", and to let no man take it from us or cause us to doubt. He is coming and, for those who "hold fast" and overcome the temptations of those to "change our minds" and our hearts and belief systems with regard to Jesus, He says He will "make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven  from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." verse 12

Now I want to say quickly in closing here that you and I are the pillars of the Temple of God. What we say and what we do in these last days will make the difference in someone's life - as well as our own. If we live in faith and have an evangelistic spirit about us, we will show forth the hope and promises of God to be true. If we life a life of fear and doubt and mope around as if there is no hope, we will be allowing Stan to steal the Truth of God - even the faith of God from those who might otherwise believe. Be men and women of faith dear ones and allow No man to take Thy Crown, which is promise of an eternal life with Christ.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."