PHILADELPHIA: Faithfulness unto Eternal Rewards
I. PRIMARY MESSAGE: FAITHFULNESS TO JESUS NOW RESULTS IN ETERNAL HONOR
A. Jesus invited the faithful in the Church of Philadelphia to have positions of honor in His eternal government over the
earth related to their obedience in this age. Jesus will open a door of blessing (v. 8) to them that includes vindication
before their enemies (v. 9), grace to walk in victory in the most difficult time in human history (v. 10), and a place of
authority and intimacy with God in the age-to-come (v. 11-12). They were invited to reign with Jesus in the greatest
levels of light and communion with God as the highest human expression of glory and greatness.
B. The overcomer is one who sustains mature obedience to Jesus in their life to the end.
C. Jesus promised John government in the age-to-come related to his obedience.
27 We (the apostles) have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" 28 Jesus said, "…in the regeneration,
when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. (Mt. 19:27-28)
D. In this letter, Jesus developed the dynamic promise that John captured in Jn. 14:21-23. Jesus promised to
manifest Himself to those who obey. This promise will unfold for billion of years.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved (God’s pleasure
openly displayed) by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him…23 We will come to him and make Our
home with him. (Jn. 14:21-23)
E. Rev. 3:7-13 is based on the prophecy that Isaiah gave about Shebna, King Hezekiah's chief leader being removed
from his government position to be replaced by Eliakim (Isa 22:15-25). God promised to place on Eliakim’s shoulder the
“key to the house of David” so he could open and shut the doors of the royal resources to release God’s will in the
kingdom of Israel.
22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his (Eliakim’s) shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he
shall shut, and no one shall open…25 In that day…the peg (Eliakim’s position) that is fastened in the secure place will
be removed… (Isa. 22:22, 25)
II. PROMISE FOR OVERCOMERS: 8 PROMISES
8 See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it…9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of
Satan...indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 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. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your
crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name. (Rev. 3:8-12)
A. Promise #1: See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it – Jesus set before the saints at
Philadelphia the invitation to governmental positions of honor in His eternal government (Millennium then the Eternal
State) related to their obedience in this age. He also offered them open doors in the spirit that give them access to the
revelation of God’s heart.
B. Promise #2: I will make them come and worship before your feet – vindication of the faithful before the unbelievers
who persecuted them by paying homage to them in the Millennium (Isa. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14). They will bow their knee to
Jesus in the presence of the people they persecuted in the first century. The false Jews will do homage at the feet of the
Philadelphian church in the age-to-come.
10 At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth…11 and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…. (Phil. 2:10-11)
14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at…
your feet; and they shall call you The City of the Lord. (Isa. 60:14)
C. Promise #3: I will make them…to know that I have loved you – the Father will reveal to the nations the fact that He
loves His people. These unbelieving Jews will witness Jesus’ love towards these people on the last day.
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me,
and have loved them as You have loved Me. (Jn. 17:23)
D. Promise #4: I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more – to be a pillar is a position
of honor and authority in the Millennial Kingdom. Pillars speak of stability, firmness, beauty and permanency. A pillar
bears the weight of the building.
E. All believers are part of God’s spiritual temple (Eph. 2:21-22), but some will be pillars who hold a position of
authority, responsibility and honor in the Millennium.
9 When James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars… (Gal. 2:9)
1. The saints in Philadelphia were offered the reward of being a pillar in the Temple. They will have a significant
load bearing role of authority that is permanent for all eternity. This speaks of their governmental assignment as His
“standard bearers”.
2. In the ancient world, when one served their city in special way, a pillar was built in their honor and placed in one
of the pagan temples with their name written on it. Pillars were built in the ancient world to honor people. Jacob set a
pillar on Rachel’s grave (Gen. 35:20). God allows “pillars of remembrance” of great devotion to the Lord. There will be
in the land of Egypt in the Millennium (Isa. 19:19).
F. Jesus promised them that they would never be removed from their place of honor. In Isa 22:15-25, Eliakim was
exalted, yet, it was a temporary promotion that came to an end (Isa. 22: 25).
G. Pillars beautify buildings while bearing their weight and recalling past deeds of greatness.
H. The 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 apostles will have their names written in the New Jerusalem.
12 She had a great and high wall with twelve gates…and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes
of the children of Israel…14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb. (Rev. 21:12-14)
I. The pillars in God’s earthly temple and tabernacle give us insight into this promise.
1. Solomon put two large bronze (brass) pillars in the porch of the Temple giving them personal names
(l Kgs 7:13-21; 1 Kings 7:15-22; 2 Chron 3:17). He named one pillar Jachin (stability), and the other Boaz (strength).
These were probably "large fire altars" that burned incense to God. Each had shafts in which the oil basin on top drained
that they might function like a lampstand (1 Kings 7:41; Zech 4:3). These immense incense stands illuminated the
facade of the Temple recalling the two beautiful and glorious pillars of fire and cloud that led Israel through the
wilderness. These pillars were beautified with gold, chains, pomegranates, and lilies.
2
. Moses was instructed to put 20 brass pillars on each of the three sides of the Tabernacle, thus, totaling 60 pillars
(Ex.27:10). They built pillars at the door of Tabernacle that were overlaid with brass and at the second Veil that were
overlaid with gold (Ex. 26:32, 37).
3. The pillar of cloud and fire was a moving pillar that guided Israel in the Wilderness (Ex. 13:21-22; 14:19-24; 33:9).
4. Israel established 12 pillars at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Ex.24:4).
J. Promise #5: I will write on him the name of My God – to have the name of God on us means that we are recipients
of His desire, authority, and partnership and revelation of His heart and beauty. To have God’s name on us speaks of
deep revelation of His heart and mind given to us.
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (Rev. 22:4)
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: “I will put My laws into their hearts,
and in their minds I will write them…” (Heb. 10:16)
1. Aaron, the high priest, wore on his forehead a golden plate with the engraving "HOLY TO THE LORD"
(Exod 28:36-38). The saints are sealed on their foreheads (Rev. 7:1; 14:1) with the name of Jesus. God’s name will
be written on their foreheads (Rev. 22:4).
2. Jesus refers to the Father as "My God" four times in this verse to emphasize His relationship. Jesus explicitly
says, “the name of My God”. This is priestly terminology that does not minimize Trinitarian theology nor lend to
subordinationism or arianism, but reveals Jesus’ function as a Man in His priestly office.
K. Promise #6: I will write on him the name of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from My God – authority in the City and ability to comprehend it. Some are given the key to a city or are called
a father of that city to honor their connection to that city. This points to their unusual authority, commitment and
understanding of that city.
L. Promise #7: I will write on him My new name – revelation of Jesus’ heart and beauty. Jesus’ new name speaks of
a fuller revelation of Jesus as seen in Rev. 19:12.
12 He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. (Rev. 19:12)
M. Summary Promise #5-7: the greatest place of intimacy available to the human spirit is seen in Jesus writing three
names on the heart and mind of the faithful. The name of the Father, the New Jerusalem and Jesus’ new name. In
Rev. 2:17; 3:5 the believers name is emphasized as one part of their relationship with Jesus. Here it is God’s name
being emphasized.
N. Promise #8: I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell
on the earth – Jesus promises to keep us spiritually vibrant and protected from sin as well as God’s judgment in the
End-Times. The hour of trial was a specific period in the first century in which persecution from the Roman Empire
increased greatly on the known world as a partial application. This prophetically pointed to the Great Tribulation.
III. BEING KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL (REV. 3:10)
10 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. (Rev. 3:10)
A. This is the most debated verse in the Scripture about the timing of the Rapture. The debate on this passage
hinges on how we understand "from". The "hour of trial" is the Tribulation. The two main interpretations of “being kept
from” the hour of trial are being “preserved in the midst of it” (post-tribulation Rapture) or being “removed from the
scene of it” (pre-tribulation Rapture).
B. In this passage, Jesus is promising power and victory to the Church during the Tribulation which will be the most
glorious and difficult hour in history (post-tribulation Rapture position). Jesus promises deliverance by the grace of God
in the greatest hour of testing. He promises a “spiritual keeping” that enables us to obey God faithfully in the midst of
Satan’s attack (temptation and persecution) and a “physical keeping” from God’s judgment on the wicked in the
Tribulation. Christians will not experience the outpouring of God’s wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).
9 God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through…Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:9)
C. In John 17:15, Jesus did not pray that believers be “removed from the scene” but “preserved in victory in the
midst” of trouble by being enabled to stand strong before Satan’s attack. Jesus specifically asked that His disciples not
be taken or removed from the world but to stand strong.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (Jn. 17:15)
D. I have never heard a pre-tribulation Rapture teacher emphasize the “conditional aspect” of this promise which is
to preserve in obedience. According to this passage only those who persevere will be kept from the hour of trial. If this
passage refers to the pre-tribulation Rapture then any who fail to persevere in obedience will miss the Rapture. Thus,
only the faithful will be raptured. However, that is not a biblical concept. Scripture clearly states that all Christians, faithful
and unfaithful are raptured at the same time (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:16-17; 5:9).
E. Jesus promises spiritual protection which often will include physical protection as the Lord supernaturally shields in the
midst of the fire of His judgment or by causing His judgment to pass by a geographic area. The ultimate protection is
against their crown of victory being lost (v. 11).
34 Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 It will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch…and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things…and to stand before the
Son of Man. (Lk. 21:34-36)
F. The church will be on earth in these difficult days experiencing Satan’s rage with persecution. However, the
Church will be kept from the hour of trial coming on the unbelieving world which is Jesus’ judgment.
13 Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…16 taking the shield of faith…
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Eph. 6:13-16)
G. Many will find protection from God’s wrath and plagues sent on the Antichrist and his followers. God’s protection
against His judgment will require that people live close to Him to hear His voice. God will give an anointing to be faithful
and to receive direction in the End-Times
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…3 Surely He shall
deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence…5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste
at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you…
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 He shall give His angels charge over you
to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You
shall tread upon the lion…the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. (Ps. 91:1-14)
H. Saints will be kept in the midst of the trial as seen throughout the Scriptures.
(1) Noah was preserved in the midst of the Flood (Gen. 6-8).
(2) Lot was preserved from the fire that fell on Sodom (Gen. 18-19).
(3) Israel was preserved in the midst of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 4-12).
(4) Daniel was preserved from the lions while in the lion’s den (Dan. 6).
(5) The three Hebrew youths were preserved from the fire, but not from the furnace (Dan. 3).
(6) Paul was not saved from prison but in prison as the door was opened by God (Acts 16).
I. This hour of testing is for the people of the "whole world" (oikoymenes, inhabited earth). “Those who live on the earth"
is who the test is directed towards. This refers to unsaved earth-dwellers (Rev. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10 [2x]; 13:8, 14; 17:8) as
contrasted to believers whose citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). The hour of trial is directed towards the entire non-
Christian world, but the believer will be kept from it, not by the Rapture at this time but by the spiritual protection against
the forces of evil in other words, the entire non-Christian world. Believers will also be kept from it, not by the Rapture but
by the increase of spiritual protection against Satan’s attack.
J. The pre-tribulation Rapture teaching sees this as being removed from the earth during the Tribulation by the
Rapture. They see this as being kept from a specific “time period” of trouble on earth instead of yielding to compromise
in sin or persecution.
K. The pre-tribulationsist see this as a promise of being exempt from "the hour of trial". However, this overlooks the fact
that the apostles walked in the trials as the Church has done throughout all Church history. It is inconceivable that when
the Church is most purified and glorified in all history it would be exempt from being proven faithful in enduring Satan’s
attack.
L. The Philadelphian church was faithful in a present trial and thus, Jesus will be faithful to them in the time of greater
trial. A promise of the Church being raptured before the trouble leaves us the problem of answering why so many saints
are martyred during the Great Tribulation. If God’s plan is to allow martyrdom of the saints then why would the Church be
gone in this hour.
M. All the saints in the Tribulation will not be exempt from all physical harm of Satan’s rage as many will be martyred.
However, they will be kept from God’s judgments (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; 11:33-35; 12:7, 10; Rev. 6:9-11; 7:9, 14; 9:21;
11:7; 13:7, 15; 16:5-7; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2; Mt. 10:21-22, 28; 24:9; Lk. 12:4-7; 21:16-19; Jn. 15:18-16:4).
N. We are not afraid of physical death because it holds no eternal significance to us. Our great reward is the power
to love and be loyal in the midst of persecution and temptation. This promise assures the faithful who had endured
persecution that they would receive even greater grace to avoid failure during "the hour of trial". The greatest joy and
desire of the End-Times is to be found faithful. They were encouraged to bear their present difficulties knowing it is
preparing them for the anointing of God to walk in greater faithfulness in the time of greater difficulty.
IV. HOLD FAST TO OBEDIENCE: SO THE CROWN IS NOT LOST
11 I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev. 3:11)
15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved… (1 Cor. 3:15)
8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully… (2 Jn. 8; NIV)