Lesson 10: The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘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. Behold, 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 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, 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 about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’


Jesus’ description of Himself – He who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut and shuts so that no one can open.

Conditions – Founded as a center of Greek culture and language, this church was probably a daughter church of Ephesus

Commendation – I know your deeds, I have put before you an open door which no one will shut.

Concern – Note, no concern.

Command – Hold fast to what you have so no one can take your crown.

Counsel – Overcomers will be made pillars in God’s temple and will never leave it again; God’s name will be written on him.


 Please note that for this church (as we also saw in the letter to the church at Smyrna) Jesus has no concern for something this church is doing wrong. This doesn’t mean this church was perfect; it just means this church was following Jesus’ teaching with all their hearts.

This church in history is what we often call the “Missionary Age.” Missionaries from many countries went to live in other countries where they could teach and preach the Bible to people who had never heard. This was also a time of many evangelists traveling across the world and bringing many to faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus said to this church, He had given them an open door that no one would be able to close!

Jesus’ promise to us even today is that even the gates of hell cannot stop us when we reach out to others to tell them about Jesus (Matthew 16:18-19). We must not let fear stop us from doing so (John 16:33).