Revelation 3:7-13

Philadelphia is the sixth church mentioned in the book of Revelation. Along with Smyrna, it is one of only two churches that received no rebuke or correction from Jesus-only praise and encouragement.

It was located about 28 miles southeast of Sardis, situated in a fertile valley famous for its grapes and wine production. Today, the modern Turkish city of Alasehir sits over the ancient ruins.

It was the youngest of the seven cities, founded intentionally to be a "missionary city" for Greek culture and language to the surrounding regions. It was situated on a major imperial postal road, earning it the nickname "the gateway to the East."

It was heavily prone to earthquakes. A massive earthquake in AD 17 devastated the city. For years afterward, the citizens lived in constant fear of aftershocks, often fleeing the city walls to live in the open fields. This historical context makes Jesus' promise about making them a "pillar" and promising they "shall go out of it no more" deeply comforting.

"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 those who dwell on the earth."(Revelation 3:10, ESV)

This promise is simply assuring Christians that because they held fast, He will protect them through the coming judgments.

Revelation 3:1-6

Sardis is the fifth church mentioned in the book of Revelation.

It was located about 30 miles south of Thyatira.

In its prime, it was one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the world, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.

It was famous for its textile industry and for being the place where gold and silver coins were first minted under the famously rich King Croesus.

"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels." (Revelation 3:5, ESV)

To the one who wakes up and overcomes, Jesus makes three incredible promises:

1. White garments: A symbol of purity, victory, and the righteousness of Christ covering our sins.

2. The Book of Life: In ancient cities, if you committed a severe crime, your name was literally erased from the city's registry. Jesus promises that the faithful will never lose their citizenship in heaven. Revelation 20:15 - "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

3. Confessing their name: If we stand up for Jesus in a dead culture, He will stand up for us in heaven.

Revelation 2:18-29

Thyatira is the fourth church mentioned in the book of Revelation.

It was located about 40 miles southeast of Pergamum.

Unlike Pergamum (a major political capital), Thyatira was the smallest and least significant of the seven cities, yet it received the longest letter from Christ.

Today, its ruins are located in the modern Turkish city of Akhisar.

It was a major commercial center famous for its trade guilds (labor unions)—including coppersmiths, bronze workers, tanners, and dyers. (Lydia, the "seller of purple goods" in Acts 16, was originally from Thyatira).

The patron god of Thyatira was Apollo Tyrimnaios (the sun god).

The Roman emperor was worshipped here alongside Apollo as a "son of the gods."

To make a living, citizens had to belong to a trade guild. Every guild had a patron deity and hosted mandatory feasts that involved eating meat sacrificed to idols and engaging in rampant sexual immorality. Christians faced severe economic pressure to compromise.

To make a living in Thyatira, you essentially had to belong to a trade guild.

Each guild had its own patron deity and hosted mandatory feasts for its members.

These feasts involved eating meat sacrificed to idols and engaging in rampant sexual immorality.

This put immense economic pressure on Christians. To refuse participation meant risking your livelihood, losing your business, and becoming a social outcast.

The church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

Pergamum is the third church that’s mentioned in the book of revelation.

It was 100miles from Ephesus.

It was considered by some people to be Asia’s great city.

Its ruins are found near a place called Bergama in Turkey today.

It was a very educated place.

There was a massive altar to Zeus.

There were temples dedicated to Asclepius, Athena, Dionysus and zeus.

The city was devoted to the culture of emperor worship.

Pergamum built the first temple devoted to emperor worship in honor of emperor Augustus in Asia. This was built in 29bc.

"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (Revelation 2:13, ESV)

* This church lived in satan’s town. And many believers today live their lives in the towns Satan has created to trap them for the final destruction.

The church of Smyrna was purified by suffering.

The price for being a Christian in that city (Smyrna) was very, very high. It was a very anti-gospel, anti-God place.

Believers in Smyrna loved Christ and never left their first love; they continued to love Him zealously.

Persecution does not destroy the church; but it makes it strong.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10, NASB)

True faith endures to death.

The faith that pleases God is based not on convenience, but on deep and abiding conviction.

The church that left the first love.

Revelation 2:1-7

This church toiled for the kingdom of God, they never gave up on the word of God; they were active. It was a church which understood their yoke of salvation. They were persistent, hardworking.

They were intolerant of sin; they resented evil doers, they hated all that was spiritually bad.

They gave no place for evil inside church.

They had the knowledge of truth and thus they were able to discern false prophets and doctrine.

Revelation 2:4

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

The flaming love that they had for Christ on the day they were delivered from the kingdom of darkness; the day when they felt like Peter when he said that Lord you that I love you as he said three times in John 21.

The heat of the first love was gone and they left it. It’s a danger for all of the believers to persevere, know the truth, endure, have discernment, work hard, hate sin and we are capable of exposing error but leave the first love.

"For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD."But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.(Isaiah 66:2,NASB)

‌ God finds His home in a humble heart, He finds his home in a trembling heart. A heart humble before Him, a heart broken over sin before Him and a heart that trembles at His word. A humble heart, a trembling heart and a broken heart is what defines a true believer, it's what defines true Christians. God is looking for those who are in awe of his word, those who know his word, those who believe it and love it, those who obey; proclaim and defend it. One with a humble heart; a heart that trembles at his word is where God dwells, it is here where God lives.

‌ God comes to churches built with human hands because those with humble hearts come,When they come God also comes.

What price did Christ pay?

He bore our griefs.

He carried our sorrows.

He was pierced, chastened and scourged for us.

Verse 4 is our wrong attitude and Christ died in order that we have the right attitudes.

Verse 5 is our behavior, but Christ paid the price with His life that we have the right behaviors.

Verse 6 is our nature; Christ died that we have the right nature.

Many times as believers when we are saved and have spent weeks, months; years and decades in salvation we tend to shift the focus from the true message of the gospel which is the reason why Christ died, we tend to shift our focus from the price that Christ paid and put all our focus on what is meaningless. We focus on what God can give us and forget the precious gift He gave us.

Christ took the punishment of our sin.

We should have suffered for our sin but Christ took it away. He takes our sin and removes having paid for all.

The price that Christ paid is something every believer must ponder about and make it his foundation of salvation because it's indeed the foundation for salvation.

Christ was reviled and never reviled back. He bore our sins in His body on the cross.