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PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

•Area of major wine production

•Sir William Ramsay said that Philadelphia was a “missionary city”

•Area of major wine production

•Sir William Ramsay said that Philadelphia was a “missionary city”

•Unstable city, built in zone of frequent earthquakes

•The name had been changed twice, but always reverted to Philadephia

•Unstable city, built in zone of frequent earthquakes

•The name had been changed twice, but always reverted to Philadephia

•Along with Smyrna, the only cities to receive no criticism from Christ

•Along with Smyrna, the only cities that have a thriving Christian community today

•Along with Smyrna, the only cities to receive no criticism from Christ

•Along with Smyrna, the only cities that have a thriving Christian community today

Revelation 3:7-13

• The Holy One, the True One

• Holds the Key of David

• “I know…”

From the Risen Christ

A Challenged Church

•They have little strength

•They have remained faithful

•They are an example of patient endurance

The Open Door•What Jesus opens, no one can

shut

•He holds the keys to death and Hades (1:18)

•No one can keep Christians from their final goal

‣No one but themselves! (3:11)

The Coming Trial

•The faithful would be protected against the trial coming on “those who live on earth”

•Christians must stay alert to not have their crown stolen

He Who Conquers

•He who conquers will be a pillar in the temple of God

•He will be marked as belonging to God

No one can keep us No one can keep us from the prize that from the prize that God offers… no one God offers… no one but us!but us!

No one can keep us No one can keep us from the prize that from the prize that God offers… no one God offers… no one but us!but us!