The title of this series on New Testament churches is based upon the movie from years ago entitled, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”This approach does not fit the church in Philadelphia, for there was nothing bad or ugly known about this church. What a joy it would have been to have been part of the body of Christ in this ancient city.
The city of Philadelphia. While we can think of this city as an ancient one, this was not the way it was seen in the first century. It had been built about 150 B.C. as a center to spread the Greek language and culture in a place where it was not well known, and it accomplished its purpose. In A.D. 17, there was as great earthquake in the area, followed by many aftershocks. The emperor Tiberius helped in the restoration of the cities impacted, and the citizens of Philadelphia renamed the city Neo-caesarea—The New City of Caesar. There was also a large Jewish population which opposed the church as it served the Lord. The Jews thought they were God’s chosen people, but the church knew better.
The church in Philadelphia, faithful in the midst of adversity. As the Lord does in each of the letters to the seven churches, He reminds them that He knows their works. In spite of the opposition, they had persevered, keeping His word and not denying Him. The Lord saw their faithfulness and promised them that their faith would lead to great blessings.
The church in Philadelphia with an open door of opportunity. Those aftershocks from the earthquake created an air of uncertainty. Many were so fearful that they would not stay in their house which might be destroyed and were constantly leaving their homes with every aftershock. The Lord told the church that He was about to open a door before them that would remain open and provide for the growth of the church.
The early church used the idea of an open door for evangelism (see 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3; Acts 14:27). This church was promised that the Jews would come to realize that the church was now the true Israel of God and that, with the destruction of the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, there was a New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, and they were its pillars inscribed with a new name, the name of God! The Jews thought they were His chosen one, but when the worst tribulation came against Jerusalem and that holy city with its holy temple ceased to exist, the situation totally changed. It was the church which became His temple and His name was given to all men of every nation.
Think again of what a blessing it would have been to be part of the church in Philadelphia with its open door!
