6th City Philadelphia

Revelation’s Diamond Word for Philadelphia: “Hold fast to what you have!” (Rev. 3:11).

In the newest of Revelation’s seven cities (founded c. 160 B.C. ), noted for its vineyards and trade guilds, we find Christians thriving once again in an important commercial center. The cities of Revelation show us that Christianity grew as a vibrant current of God’s Gospel Promises in the swelling rivers of Roman commerce and religious activity.

In an unusual twist, we find no call for repentance for Philadelphia. Instead, we read, “Hold fast to what you have that no one may take your crown”(3:12). What’s going on? Some sort of siege the (“hour of trial”) is just around the corner. What clues point signal what this will be?

First we look at what Jesus calls himself: “He who opens and no one shall shut ; and who shuts, and no one opens” (Rev. 3:7). That phrase first appeared in the Book of Isaiah (22:21), referring to Eliakim, the palace overlord in the days of King Hezekiah of Judea (715-687 BCE). The King sent him out to hear the military threats from the powerful Assyrian king, Sennecharib, who threatened to wipe out Jerusalem with an Army of 185,00 men.

Eliakim reported the threats back to King Hezekiah who ripped his clothes and donned sackcloth and ashes to appear before the Lord as a penitent. He prayed desperately for the deliverance of his people.

The day of the siege, King Hezekiah climbed the paraments to see the entire Assyrian army dead outside Jerusalem’s walls. The angel of the Lord had struck them down ( II Kings 19:35) .

This event was immortalized by Lord Byron, in one of my favorite poems, “the Destruction Sennecharib”: “The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold,” he began, “and his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold.” At the end, when the whole Assyrian Army lay dead, the bard continued, “And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord.”

Some “siege” will come to the Christians in Philadelphia. Maybe it will be similar to one I once experienced.

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Many years ago, one of my Jezebels led an Assyrian charge to drive me out as Pastor of the church. I went to two older women, my personal Eliakims, who said, “ Hold fast to what you have, Pastor. Pray, preach the Gospel and visit people.” So, I did. One Sunday, my opponents all sat together, kibitzed during the whole sermon, then arose and strolled out the door. We never saw them again. They had melted like snow.

Some kind of hostile Army is about to descend on Philadelphia. The Lord told the Philadelphians, “Hold fast to what you have; that Army will melt like snow in the glance of the Lord.”