Philadelphia

Philadelphia
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 
                                                                                           Revelations 3:7-13

Here Christ refers to himself as the one who hold the key of David. Jesus was of the linage of David.
It is he alone that can open the door to heaven and no one can shut them. He refers to the church of Philadelphia as having little strength yet they have kept His word and not denied His name.
Christ makes it clear that those who oppose them will one day fall down at their feet.
He states that He will keep them from the hour or trial that is coming on the world.
He encourages them to hold on to the crown they have. The reward will be a pillar in the temple of God. They will never again have to leave and God’s name will be written on them and the name of the city of God.
When I read this I think of the persecuted church around the world. The men and women who are suffering for Christ now.
There enemies will one day bow at their feet. God himself will judge their enemies.
This is encouragement to us to live pure lives. We may have little strength but we can hold on. We must hold on. The reward for out faithfulness is that Christ himself will write the name of God on our hearts.
We will become a pillar of his church and never have to leave him again.
Think about it.