Message to Philadelphia

“And to the angel of the church in (A)Philadelphia write:

(B)He who is holy, (C)who is true, who has (D)the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

(E)I know your [a]deeds. Behold, I have put before you (F)an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and (G)have not denied My name. Behold, I [b]will make those of (H)the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them (I)come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that (J)I have loved you. 10 Because you have (K)kept (L)My [c]word of perseverance, (M)I also will keep you from the hour of the [d](N)testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole [e](O)world, to [f]test (P)those who live on the earth. 11 (Q)I am coming quickly; (R)hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your (S)crown. 12 (T)The one who overcomes, I will make him a (U)pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the (V)name of My God, and (W)the name of the city of My God, (X)the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My (Y)new name. 13 (Z)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:8 Or deeds (behold...shut), that you have
  2. Revelation 3:9 Lit give
  3. Revelation 3:10 Or instruction
  4. Revelation 3:10 Or temptation
  5. Revelation 3:10 Lit inhabited earth
  6. Revelation 3:10 Or tempt

The Message to the Church in Philadelphia

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
    the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
    and what he closes, no one can open:[a]

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon.[b] Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:7 Isa 22:22.
  2. 3:11 Or suddenly, or quickly.

To the Church in Philadelphia

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of (A)the holy one, (B)the true one, (C)who has the key of David, (D)who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you (E)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. Behold, I will make those of (F)the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, (G)I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that (H)I have loved you. 10 (I)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 (J)those who dwell on the earth. 11 (K)I am coming soon. (L)Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize (M)your crown. 12 (N)The one who conquers, I will make him (O)a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him (P)the name of my God, and (Q)the name of the city of my God, (R)the new Jerusalem, (S)which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own (T)new name. 13 (U)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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Message to Philadelphia

“And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Philadelphia write:

“These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens:(A)

‘I know your deeds. See, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, for you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not renounced or denied My name.(B) Take note, I will make 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 [without any doubt] that I have loved you.(C) 10 Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.(D) 11 I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith]. 12 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will make him a [b]pillar in the temple of My God; he will most certainly never be put 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 descends out of heaven from My God, and My [own] new name.(E) 13 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:7 Philadelphia (modern Alashehir, Turkey) was a commercial center located on elevated ground overlooking the fertile plain of the Hermus (Gediz) River. In 189 b.c. the king of Pergamum established Philadelphia and named the city to honor his brother.
  2. Revelation 3:12 Like the common phrase “pillar of the community,” this is a metaphor of great honor, but far more so. The statement that the one who overcomes will never leave the temple is assurance that he will never lose the privilege of being in the presence of God and serving Him.

To Philadelphia

Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True—David’s key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open—speaks:

“I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.

“And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they’re forced to acknowledge it’s you that I’ve loved.

10 “Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test.

11 “I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.

12 “I’ll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I’ll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God’s City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name.

13 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

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