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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_3:7-13
7"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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 out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Rev_3:7 "He who is holy, who is true" Rev_3:7 is a series of four descriptive clauses describing Jesus with titles for YHWH. "Holy" was used 30 times in Isaiah to describe YHWH. John usually substituted the term "righteous" (cf. Rev_15:3; Rev_16:7; Rev_19:2). "True" was often used of YHWH (cf. Isa_65:16; Jer_10:10; 1Jn_5:20; Rev_15:3; Rev_16:7; Rev_19:2). The first two, "holy" and "true," are used again of God in Rev_6:10. The term "true" in Greek meant "true as over against false," but in Hebrew it meant "faithful or trustworthy." Jesus is surely both (cf. Rev_3:14; Rev_19:11; Rev_21:5; Rev_22:6).
▣ "who has the key of David" This is an allusion to the royal Davidic Messiah of 2 Samuel 7, but particularly of Isa_22:22, from where this exact imagery is drawn.
▣ "Who shuts and no one opens" This refers to the preaching of the gospel (see note at Rev_3:8).
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Rev_3:8 "I have put before you an open door which no one can shut" This is a perfect active indicative and a Perfect passive participle. This refers to either
1. preaching opportunities (keys, cf. Mat_16:19)
2. entrance into the Messianic banquet (clothed in white, cf. Rev_3:4)
3. a divine opportunity for service (cf. Act_14:27; 1Co_16:9; 2Co_2:12; Col_4:3)
▣ "because you have a little power" This is the first of three reasons why Jesus opened such a wonderful door of opportunity. This is the only one of the seven churches to which Jesus had nothing negative to say.
▣ "and have kept My word" The verb tense (aorist active indicative) implies a particular time of persecution or a decisive act of obedience. They had "little faith," but they used it well!
▣ "and have not denied My name" This may be a reference to the persecution caused by the demands of the Concilia, local supporters of the Emperor worship (cf. Rev_2:13).
Rev_3:9 "I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan," This may refer to Jewish opposition to the gospel. The Church, not unbelieving Jews, is the true people of God.
▣ "I will make them come and bow down at your feet" This is an allusion to Isa_45:14; Isa_49:23; Isa_60:14, which initially spoke of the Gentiles coming into the Jewish nation, but because these so-called Jews rejected the Messiah they would come to bow to these Gentile believers to show God's love to them (cf. Isa_43:4; Isa_43:9). This is a good example of how the NT in general, and John in particular, has modified the OT prophecies concerning Israel. John uses a text that originally saw the Gentiles coming to a restored Jerusalem to worship YHWH, but in the new age of righteousness this geo-political image is expanded to include a believing world (Jew and Gentile) having unbelieving Jews come and bow down! This universalization of Israel and Jerusalem shows that Revelation, far from substantiating a literal fulfillment of OT prophecies to a Jewish nation, has transformed them (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13). This is the "mystery of the gospel hidden from the ages"!
Rev_3:10
NASB "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance"
NKJV, NJB "Because you have kept My command to persevere"
NRSV "Because you have kept my word of patient endurance"
TEV "Because you have kept my command to endure"
This may be a reference to Joh_8:51 or Rev_17:6. Jesus is not promising to keep His church from persecution because in the letters to the seven churches persecution, even death, was occurring.
Rev_3:10 refers to a world-wide judgment of God on unbelievers. It is crucial to distinguish between the "tribulations" believers endure in faith and "the wrath of God" that falls on an unbelieving world.
Interpreters differ over how the church will be spared amidst this eschatological judgment:
1. some see the church as going through it protected by God (cf. Joh_17:15)
2. others see this as pointing toward a secret rapture of believers before this period
I prefer #1. God's people were not spared persecution and death during the first few centuries in a Greco-Roman culture or the continuing persecution and death as the gospel spread, nor will they be spared the end-time birth pains of the New Age. Persecution has always purged and strengthened the church!
The literary unit of chapters 2-3, in which the Church experiences persecution, is followed by the literary unit of heaven, in which the martyred Church prays for revenge. This "wrath of God" is given in stages of severity (seals-1/4, trumpets-1/3, bowls–total destruction), each stage given for the purpose of calling the lost to salvation. God's ultimate wrath, the second death, the lake of fire (cf. Revelation 20), is no longer for redemption, but is totally punitive.
The persecuted church becomes the victorious church and the persecuting unbelievers experience persecution! God is in control! See Special Topic: Perseverance at Rev_2:2.
▣ "to test those who dwell on the earth" This phrase is used repeatedly throughout to refer to a settled state of rebellion by unbelievers (cf. Rev_6:10; Rev_18:13; Rev_1:10; Rev_12:12; Rev_13:8; Rev_13:12; Rev_13:14; Rev_17:8). God wants them to repent and believe (cf. 1Ti_2:4; 2Pe_3:9), but they will not, even amidst the expanding judgments of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. See Special Topic: Greek Terms for Testing at Rev_2:2.
Rev_3:11 "I am coming quickly" This is a continuing emphasis upon the immediacy of the Lord's coming (cf. Rev_1:1; Rev_1:3; Rev_2:16; Rev_22:7; Rev_22:12; Rev_22:20). The early church expected the immediate return of the Lord. This is the hope of every generation of Christians. See Special Topic: Soon Return at Rev_1:3.
▣ "hold fast what you have" This is a present active imperative, meaning "continue to hold fast" as the aorist active imperative of Rev_2:25 focused on a decisive act of holding fast (see Special Topic at Rev_2:2). As believers hold on to God, He will hold on to them (cf. Gal_6:9). This is the covenant relationship of God's sovereignty and mankind's mandated response!
Salvation is an initial decision of repentance and faith (cf. Mar_1:15; Act_3:16; Act_3:19; Act_20:21) followed by lifestyle repentance and faith, obedience, service, and perseverance. All of these items are necessary for mature Christianity.
▣ "crown" This is another reference to the stephanos crown mentioned in Rev_2:10. It was a reward for faithfulness.
Rev_3:12 "He who overcomes" See note at 2.2.
▣ "I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God" Philadelphia was in an earthquake area; the metaphor of a pillar conveyed the concept of stability. Prominent citizens' names were inscribed on the pillars of the temples in Philadelphia. The term "temple" here is a term (naos) from the verb "to dwell" and was used of the place where deity's very presence dwelt. The overcoming believers will never have to leave God's presence (cf. Psa_23:6; Psa_27:4-6).
This may be a metaphor because apparently there will be no temple in the new age (cf. Rev_21:22).
▣ "I will write on him the name of My God" Notice the five-fold repetitions of "My" in Rev_3:12. This is a wonderful acknowledgment of intimacy with God. The name symbolized ownership (cf. Rev_7:3; Rev_14:1; Rev_22:4).
▣ "the new Jerusalem. . .new name" Revelation picks up on the prophecies of Isaiah.
1. new things, Isa_42:9; Isa_43:19; Isa_48:6 (Rev_21:5)
2. new song, Isa_42:10 (Rev_5:9; Rev_14:3)
3. new name, Isa_62:2; Isa_65:15 (Rev_2:17)
4. new heaven and new earth, Isa_65:17; Isa_66:22 (Rev_3:12; Rev_21:1).
The new heavenly city, Jerusalem, is also prophesied in Isa_40:2; Isa_40:9; Isa_41:27; Isa_44:20; Isa_44:28; Isa_52:1-2; Isa_52:9; Isa_62:1; Isa_62:6-7; Isa_65:18-19; Isa_66:10; Isa_66:13; Isa_66:20 (Rev_21:2; Rev_21:10). It is the metaphor for the presence of God among His people. The OT prophecies have been universalized. New Jerusalem is not a city in Palestine, but the promise of a new age of righteousness.
Rev_3:13 See note at Rev_2:6.