Philadelphia: For Worried People
Revelation 3:7-13
Letter Six: PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7-13
Philadelphia is the newest of the seven cities. It was located on a major trade route to Sardis and it had flourished. It was located in a fine agriculture area, especially for grapes. The god Bacchus, or Dionysus, was one of its chief deities. It was also an active earthquake area and was destroyed in the huge quake of AD 17, which also destroyed ten other major cities of the area. However, the after-shocks continued in this area and the population moved to the surrounding countryside. It was also a centre for the Emperor’s cult (as were Smyrna and Pergamum) which was possibly the source of much of the Churches’ persecution in the provinces. It was a major centre of Hellenistic culture and aggressively exported its influence. It seems to have been founded for this very purpose on the border of Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
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- Jesus says that the Church in Philadelphia has only a little power. What is an area of our life in which we don’t have full control of the outcome of things? How do you trust God in those areas of life? What have you learned along the way?
- Have you ever been discouraged when one thing after another seems to go wrong in life? What helped you?
- Jesus tells these discouraged people, hammered by earthquakes, bad government, persecution, and more, some very encouraging things:
- a. First, he tells them that he is the “true” one, meaning he will stay true and faithful. He will not betray them. How would this encourage you if you were in their situation?
b. Next he tells them he “knows your works.” How is it encouraging to a suffering, persecuted minority to hear that God knows what good they are doing?
c. He promises them that they will be “pillars.” How was this an image of comfort particularly to these people?
d. Then he says he will write on them three things: The name of God, the name of the city of God, and Jesus’ own heavenly name. It’s a poetic way of reminding them what to “tattoo” on their hearts. The worship of the true God, the hope of the eternal city, and the love of Jesus for us is where we find our strength. How is this a comfort to suffering people?
- a. First, he tells them that he is the “true” one, meaning he will stay true and faithful. He will not betray them. How would this encourage you if you were in their situation?
- When you face trials, are you more likely to pray to ask God to remove those trials from your life, or to give you the strength in the midst of those trials? Can you ask for both of these at the same time? Read Matthew 26:39 to see an example from Jesus.
- If you have undergone times of suffering, what particularly was it about your faith that was important for your endurance? Does it relate to any of the things Jesus tells the Philadelphians here?
- What can Christ’s words tell us about how to pray for and comfort those going through times of trouble?
- How does it encourage you to know that this tiny band of suffering Christians became a consistent witness of Christ, sending missionaries to the world for centuries after this was written?
WRAP UP
Take time now to pray for Christians suffering persecution around the globe, and for those we know are suffering locally as well.
