THE 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION

We are continuing in our series focussing on the 7 letters to the 7 churches of Revelation. In the letter to Philadelphia, which represents the faithful church, you will find no rebuke of the church. This was a small church, but mighty in the Spirit. It was by no means perfect, but one that listened to the Spirit of God and, in that, found God’s blessing.

A DOORWAY

Philadelphia (meaning brotherly love) was a prosperous city south of Sardis. It gained a reputation as a missionary city. Its name was given to honour Attalus II, because of his loyalty to his elder brother, Eumenes II, king of Lydia. The original purpose of this key city was to make it a centre for spreading Greek culture, language, education, and philosophy to the uncivilised tribes that lay outside its borders in the Asian provinces. It became the first city with a highway running from Europe to the East; and so it literally became