To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷ “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in ·Philadelphia [a city in the Roman province of Lydia in western Asia Minor]:

“This is what the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David [^Cthe resurrected Jesus; holding the key of David signifies access to the king; Is. 22:22], says. When he opens a door, no one can close it. And when he closes it, no one can open it [^CJesus controls access to God]. ⁸ I know ·what you do [your works]. I have put an open door before you, which no one can close. I know you have little ·strength [power], but you have ·obeyed my teaching [^Lkept my word] and ·were not afraid to speak [^Lhave not denied] my name. ⁹ Those in the synagogue ·that belongs to Satan [^Lof Satan] say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews; they are liars. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet, and they will ·know [acknowledge; learn] that I have loved you. ¹⁰ You have ·obeyed my teaching [^Lkept my word] about ·not giving up your faith [endurance; perseverance]. So I will keep you from the ·time [hour] of ·trouble [trial; testing] that ·will come [or is about to come] to the whole world to test those who live on earth.

¹¹ “I am coming ·soon [quickly]. ·Continue strong in your faith [^LHold on to what you have] so no one will take away your crown [^Cwreath indicating honor or victory; 2:10]. ¹² I will make those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] pillars in the temple of my God [^Can image of stability and security close to the glory of God], and they will never have to leave it [^Cfrequent earthquakes often forced Philadelphians to live outdoors]. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God [^Cthe believers’ eternal dwelling place; see chs. 21—22]. I will also write on them my new name. ¹³ Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.