Finally, we get a reprieve from all of the negativity as the church in Philadelphia was faithful to the Lord! For just a brief moment, we can put out of our minds those sharp rebukes and calls for repentance and focus on a more positive and uplifting message. The Philadephia church of Christ, along with the church in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11), were the only two faithful congregations among the seven that were addressed by Christ.
As Christ introduces Himself at the beginning of this letter, He says, "These things says He who is holy, He who is true, 'He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens'" (3:7). We know that Christ is holy. We are told in 1 Peter 1:16 to be holy even as He is holy. We are to imitate the holiness of Christ; we are to be consecrated and devoted to spiritual things. We also know that Christ is true. He is the epitomy of truth.
But what does it mean that He "has the key of David?" Well, we all know that David is a type of Christ (Christ being the anti-type). Over and over again in the Old Testament, it was written that the Christ would sit "upon the throne of David" (Is. 9:7). Jesus is the seed of David (Rom. 1:3), and as we see in places like Acts 2, Jesus, as a descendant of David, did indeed arise to sit on David's throne in heaven.
Christ has the key of David in the sense that He is able to open and shut doors. In Revelation 3:8, Christ continues to use this same wording: "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." One might interpret this to mean that Christ had opened up doors of opportunity for the saints in Philadelphia, or one might argue that this was the door unto eternal rest. Either way, the key represents power and authority, and we are reminded that Christ, as King, is in control.
The Lord goes on to say that they had "a little strength." This is not a slam on the church in Philadelphia. Really, Jesus is commending the saints here. Despite all that they had endured, they were still faithful; they had overcome despite the obstacles in their way.
And what obstacles did they face? Revelation 3:9 says, "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." Oddly enough, this same statement is found in Christ's address to the Smyrna congregation, the only other faithful congregation among the seven found in Revelation 2-3. Apparently, there were wicked Jews who had been giving the Christians a hard time. Christ is here reminding the faithful saints that these individuals would indeed be punished, and ultimately they would humble themselves before the saints. Honestly, I don't know how this was fulfilled or what exactly it means that the Jews would worship before their feet, but I do know that this had to provide a great deal of comfort to the persecuted Christians...to know that their enemies would be judged.
Revelation 3:10 is also very interesting. Jesus says, "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." In reading the book of Revelation, it is obvious that an hour of trial was coming. God was going to judge the enemies of the church (which judgment would affect the whole region), but even before that, the saints still had more persecution and suffering to endure (Rev. 6:10-11). The saints in Philadelphia, however, would escape that trial. Again, I don't know how this was fulfilled, but I know that it indeed happened. Because they had endured so much already, Christ knew that they could not bear much more, and therefore He showed them mercy by excepting them from the tribulation to come.
Christ reminds them in verse 11 to hold fast what they had, that no one would take their crown. The crown here represents the salvation that comes at the end of a faithful life (Rev. 2:10). Their crown could be taken away from them if they did not hold fast. So this is a reminder to remain faithful. Those who do overcome, Christ says, "I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name" (vv. 12). What wonderful promises! The faithful can anticipate a home in heaven (the ultimate temple, or dwellingplace, of God). We will finally possess the New Jerusalem, which here is another allusion to heaven (described later in Rev. 21). These highly symbolic descriptions of what is to come ought to recall to our minds the fact that we are "sojourners andd pilgrims" (1 Pet. 2:11) on the earth. This world is not our home. Our home is in heaven...with God.
We learn here in this passage that there are some Christians who endure so much for the cause of Christ. Yet they are promised rest and comfort. And yes, faithfulness is possible even in the face of seeminly insurmountable obstacles. Let us all endure and seek that heavenly reward!
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