The Faithful Church

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Revelation 3:8

"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.

NKJV

The sixth church addressed in the Book of Revelation is the church in Philadelphia.  The ancient City of Philadelphia was founded in the second century B.C. by Attalus king of Pergamum.  He named it Philadelphia in honor of his predecessor Eumenes Philadelphia.  The city was strategically located in a fertile river valley on the main road from Sardis to Laodicea.  (1)

God commends this church for keeping His Word and not denying the name of Jesus.  Jesus tells them that He knows their works and that He has set before them an open door that no one can shut (Revelation 3:8).  However, Jesus also acknowledges they have little strength.  The Greek word translated as little is mikros, which sounds like micro a something very small.  (2)  The word translated strength is dunamis, sounding much like dynamite or dynamic meaning something very powerful.  (3)

If we were to use the literal translation of these words, we would arrive at the conclusion that Jesus is condemning this church for its weakness and lack of power.  However, we must also take scripture in its context.  In Revelation 3:7, Jesus tells this church that he opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.  He then in Revelation 3:8 tells them that He has set before them an open door.  The passage goes on in Revelation 3:9 to promise that those of the synagogue of Satan will be made to come and worship before their feet. 

Therefore, when taken in context, we cannot conclude that Jesus is condemning the Church in Philadelphia for its weakness.  Instead, I believe Jesus is reminding them that even with their little strength, their faithfulness to God and His Word are more than enough to open up doors for the church as well as bringing victory over the synagogue of Satan. 

Another reference to the synagogue of Satan is found in Revelation 2:9 the letter to the church at Smyrna, the persecuted church.  This synagogue is a reference to unbelieving Jews standing in opposition to Christians.  (4)  In the Church at Smyrna, the synagogue of Satan became a source of persecution.  However, in the letter to the Church at Philadelphia, Jesus promises that they will one day bow at their feet.  This is most likely in reference to when everyone shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ and everyone shall bow before Christ (Romans 14:11).

The Church in Philadelphia was likely experiencing persecution from the unbelieving Jews in their city and feared persecution like the church in Smyrna.  Perhaps they believed they were weak and could not overcome them.  Taken in this context, Jesus reference to their little strength is not a condemnation for their weakness but a promise that even their little strength or faith was more than enough to overcome the powerful forces against them (Matthew 17:20). 

Just as the ancient Church in Philadelphia might have feared the powerful forces posed against them by the Synagogue of Satan, the church today faces powerful opposition.  Christians in many parts of the world today face the threat of death for their faith from radical Islamists like ISIS.  Other Christians face the threat of death from tyrannical governments like that in North Korea and parts of China. 

In nations like the United States where there is Constitutional protection to freely practice ones religion, there is a soft persecution brewing.  Even though this persecution does not threaten death to believers, believers still live in fear that their expression of faith may result in a financial penalty or loss of livelihood or property. 

The threat of persecution can make us feel weak and powerless like the Church in Philadelphia but with only faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20), even mountains of persecution.  It was this small amount of faith, imparted to us when the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sin, which resulted in the moving of mountain of sin that separated us from God.  It is therefore no problem for the mountain of the fear of persecution that holds us back from being moved as we exercise our seemingly small amount of faith. 

Join me in praying that the body of Christ will grow and become aware of the power it possesses with its seemingly small level of strength.  Pray that we will begin to mightily use the weapons of warfare afforded us in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-20) for a lost and dying world, a world believing it possesses all the power, needs to be brought to the realization that Jesus is Lord.  Pray that these lost individuals, many of whom are our friends and family, will come to this knowledge before it is too late so they can join us for eternity with Christ and escape the judgment of Christ. 

Finally remember that where we are weak, Jesus is strong (2Corinthians 12:10).  Also, remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ facing persecution.  Pray they will remain strong and faithful knowing that in the end, the Kingdom of God will reign. 

1. BibleGateway. The Message to Philadelphia. www.biblegateway.com. [Online] BibleGateway. [Cited: November 1, 2015.] https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Message-Philadelphia.

2. Biblehub. 3398. mikros. biblehub.com. [Online] Bible Hub. [Cited: November 1, 2015.] biblehub.com/greek/3398.htm.

3. BibleHub.com. 1411. dunamis. www.biblehub.com. [Online] Bible Hub. [Cited: November 1, 2015.] biblehub.com/greek/1411.htm.

4. biblestudytools.com. Smyrna. www.biblestudytools.com. [Online] BibleStudyTools. [Cited: September 30, 2015.] www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/smyrna.html.