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Our Vision

The Seven Churches Of Asia

The Name “Philadelphia”

When the name “Philadelphia” is mentioned most people think of the city name “Philadelphia” that is in Pennsylvania. However, that city was named after another city that is discussed in the Bible, the city of “Philadelphia” in Asia.

Strongs Greek Dictionary

φίλος phílos, fee’-los
properly, dear, i.e. a friend; actively, fond, i.e. friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.):—friend.
ἀδελφός adelphós, ad-el-fos’
from G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphýs (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1):—brother.
φιλάδελφος philádelphos, fil-ad’-el-fos
from G5384 and G80; fond of brethren, i.e. fraternal:—love as brethren.
Φιλαδέλφεια Philadélpheia, fil-ad-el’-fee-ah
from Φιλάδελφος Philádelphos (the same as G5361), a king of Pergamos; Philadelphia, a place in Asia Minor:—Philadelphia.

“To Know That I Have Loved Thee”

There are seven churches in Asia that are mentioned in the book of Revelation. Only one of the seven is a church that Jesus says he loves. It was the church of Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love.

Revelation 3:7 (KJV) ¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Revelation 3:8 (KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Revelation 3:9 (KJV) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Revelation 3:10 (KJV) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Revelation 3:11 (KJV) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 3:12 (KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 3:13 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

A Brief Summary Of The Seven Churches Of Asia

The Seven Churches Of Asia PDF Chart

As we read about the seven churches that were mentioned in the Book of Revelation we notice that not all churches were being obedient and faithful to what God has written in the Bible. Jesus had nothing good to say about two of them (only rebuke), three were partly good and partly bad, and two of them had no rebuke from Jesus at all.

The Two Bad Churches: Sardis, Laodicea

  • Nothing good was said about them (spiritually dead and poor).
  • They both were big and seemed to be successful in the eyes of the world (physically alive and rich).
  • They were large churches but Jesus was outside asking to be let in.
  • Not under persecution.

The Three Partly Good Churches: Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira

  • Ephesus, Left thy first love
  • Pergamos, Balaam & Nicolaitans
  • Thyatira, Jezebel

The Two Good Churches: Smyrna, Philadelphia

  • Nothing bad was said about them.
  • They seemed to be unsuccessful in the eyes of the world.
  • They were small churches.
  • Under persecution.

The Only Church That Jesus Said He Loved: Philadelphia

  • This is the only church that God said he loved.
  • they kept God’s Word (they used the right Bible and were doctrinally sound),
  • they didn’t deny His name (they had the courage to stand up for what was right even if it meant to stand alone).

Our Vision

A Church That Loves God

We are trying to model our church after the church of Philadelphia. There were two main reasons why Jesus loved this church.

  1. they kept God’s Word,
  2. they didn’t deny His name.

Our vision is to have a congregation of believers:

  1. who are keeping God’s Word,
  2. who won’t deny His name.

A Church That Reaches The Lost

Matthew 28:16 (KJV) ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

Matthew 28:17 (KJV) And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

Matthew 28:18 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Matthew 28:19 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 28:20 (KJV) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is the last command that Jesus gave to the apostles. It was a command that defined the work of the church. The first step is to “go”. The next three steps are not possible without doing the first. We have a vision to “go” to all nations and teach them about the true God, Jesus Christ.