07/12/25 // Revelation: The Church in Philadelphia // Peter Williams

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/354059/episodes/18311899-07-12-25-revelation-the-church-in-philadelphia-peter-williams.mp3

Peter continued our series on Revelation, looking at the letter to the church in Philadelphia.

Peter's slides (in PDF format): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g9e-vNNBg-HOYr53RkRt1WERkP5epge8/view?usp=drive_link

Peter's notes (in PDF format): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J_DzbkStOsJD-Mhe878dLGwKtEAdE9dp/view?usp=drive_link

[Very edited below]

Revelation 3:7-13

Philadelphia named after a king of Pergamum.

Also means brotherly love 

Agricultural area, which is afflicted by earthquakes, including ad37

Now called alasehir, city of god in Arabic. There are ruins there but no current church listed.

Romans used Philadelphia as the eastern outpost of the empire.  

It was a missional post for the promotion of Roman values.

Only church that Jesus has no complaint about

Pillars

The Philadelphian city had unstable pillars from the earthquakes. 

We are promised crowns, to be pillars, and new name which is our heavenly identity in Christ.

Prophecy for citp.

Before the pandemic, promise of pillars.

During pandemic Matlock 100 to 50, Buxton 100 to 30.

God has sent us pillars. You know who you are! The job we were given as leaders was to raise them into place! We need to do that. We need to release more leaders. Forgive us in our slowness.

V12

Signature of God - write on them a new name

The synagogue Jews were not authentic followers.

A signature shows it's authentic 

A signature shows it's owner. (Andy on foot of woody)

A signature shows authority.

When you sign a cheque you are giving authority to the person to take your money. 

Jesus has promised the Philadelphians that they though weak will have his strength. They have His authority 

A signature shows the guarantee. We have a guarantee of heaven. 

Your identity in Christ supercedes all other identities. Race, colour, language, occupation, sexuality etc 

So what?

Jesus wants us to know we are saved, and that we won't need to suffer the tribulation 

Jesus wants us His church to lean into His teaching, remaining true to it, and not to waver.

Jesus wants us His people to know our salvation, not to doubt that, and in that be an ambassador for Him in the world in which we live, because, time is short.