In this riveting episode of ‘Hope for Today,’ David Hawking delves into the profound messages found within the book of Revelation, particularly focusing on the church in Philadelphia. Journey through the rich history of this ‘city of brotherly love,’ where ancient trade routes converged and resilience against past adversaries stands as a testament to its deep faith. Discover the promises of open doors and divine protection promised to those who hold steadfast to God’s word.
Here in a matter of, let’s say, roughly 30 years, look at what’s happened. I mean, it’s enough to make you a post-tribulationist. Are we in the tribulation? Sometimes people say, well, what if it is a tribulation? Well, I can change my view, no problem. I like to say to people that if you really want to go through the tribulation, you need counsel. There’s a lot of terrible judgments and plagues that are coming in the tribulation. And yet some of what we see now is like what is described.
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This is Hope for Today with David Hawking. On today’s program, we open to one of the most remarkable messages in the book of Revelation. Jesus is speaking to the church in Philadelphia, a small group of believers who had little strength but never let go of God’s Word. In the passage, no rebuke, no criticism, just praise and a promise, an open door that no one can shut. Faithfulness always matters. And in a world that’s falling apart, Jesus is still looking for those who will stand. So open your Bible to Revelation chapter 3, verses 7 through 13, as David Hawking begins this powerful message called Open Doors. Just before that, Matt and I have got something that may just help you take our current radio series in Revelation to the next level.
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Matt? A most helpful tool we have for you is my dad’s original sermon notes, his outlines for the messages in our current radio series through Revelation.
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Matt, these provide key points, references, and an outline that will help listeners keep track along with David and get the most out of our daily study time for the series.
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The Revelation sermon notes are just $10 by download or PDF CD. Go to davidhocking.org or call on Canada at 1-888-75-BIBLE. In the U.S., call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE. And Bible by the Numbers is 242-53.
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And also, please know that your resource purchase or donation right now will help the Ministries of Hope for today and make you a co-laborer in the work with us. Go ahead and turn to Revelation 3, verses 7-13. And here’s David with day one of Open Doors.
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God opens doors and God shuts doors. And some of us are trying to get through them. Amen? Some of us are trying to knock down the doors God’s already shut. And some of us are scared to death to go through the doors God’s already opened. Revelation chapter 3, verse 7. 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, 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.” Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who 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. 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. Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Now, a little background about Philadelphia, a city of brotherly love. Two Greek words, phile, translated friend. It’s a word for love, the love of a friend. And adelphia, or adelphos, brother, brotherly love. Philadelphia was located about 25 miles southeast of Sardis. in a beautiful valley. And having been there, I can attest to that. It’s still gorgeous today. And it was a great trade route. So a lot of people are going to go through Philadelphia. In Byzantine times, it was the greatest city and trade center of the whole country. The road of the imperial government, you’ve heard of the Appian Way, the road of the imperial government in modern-day Turkey, evidence still of that road. But that road of the imperial government of Rome came from Troas. on the coast of the Aegean Sea to Pergamos, down to Sardis, and then to Philadelphia, and then shot out in all kinds of regions. So it was a very crucial city in terms of travel. The name Philadelphia comes from the loyalty to Attalus II, who was king of Pergamos, to his brother, King Eumenes. And it was kind of a gift and mentioned the love that those brothers had for one another. The original purpose of the city was to spread the Greek language and culture and manners throughout the Asian provinces, such as Lydia, Phrygia, Mysia, and so forth, which are mentioned in the Bible. By 20 AD, the Lydian language, which had dominated the area, ceased to be used and was replaced by Greek. So now we’re about 70, 75 years into Greek culture. And Philadelphia was a city that was instructed by the Roman government and used to spread the Greek culture throughout all the Asian provinces. So it’s a very crucial city. How interesting then, because of that fact, that the message about open doors is in this letter to the church at Philadelphia. Now the earthquake that we mentioned previously that hit other cities in 17 AD, one of the most severe earthquakes of all human history. It was very severe, of course, also in Philadelphia. Strabo, some of you may have read him if you’ve ever taken any ancient history, Strabo says that the aftershocks, especially in Philadelphia, continued for several years and left the people in a constant state of panic. Volcanoes, by the way, in this area have erupted frequently. And I noticed when I visited the area, a tremendous amount of visible black lava rock all over. And that combined with the greenery of this beautiful fertile countryside, it was indeed a beautiful scene. In gratitude for the support of this city to the Roman government and the Roman Senate, the Roman Senate literally voted to rebuild the city. And interestingly, and I believe this is another reason why God chose to give us the message and connect it with Philadelphia. Interestingly, that they decided to change the name of the city to Neo-Caesarea, meaning the new city to Caesar. And what do we read in verse 12? That God’s going to write upon us the name of our God and the name of the city of our God, not the new Caesar, but the new Jerusalem. And you can’t help but make that connection very powerful. The people didn’t like the new name, and they went back to Philadelphia. This city, interestingly, resisted Muslim influence. It remained Christian clear until the 14th century A.D. Arthur Gibbon, who wrote The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, pays eloquent tribute to this city for its resistance to the Muslim invasion. And he called it, listen to this, right out of Arthur Gibbon, he called it a standing pillar of And I read in verse 12, him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God. It’s interesting the many connections related to this. Greek culture abounded in this city, as we said before, and it was often referred to in ancient history as Little Athens. And the reason for that was because of the magnificence of its temples and its public buildings. People who would go to Philadelphia were astonished. And even some of the ruins today tell us of the beauty of that ancient city. Now the coins that we have found from this area reveal that they worshipped the gods of Ephesus, Artemis, the multi-breasted god of sex and fertility. They also worshipped Asclepius, the god of healing, the serpent god of Pergamos. They also worshipped Dionysius, which is the god of wine and revelry, or we would say today partying. The main crop of the area is still the same as it was in ancient times. It’s grapes. And the Roman poet Virgil spoke of the excellence of the wine produced in Philadelphia. That’s still true today. It’s a very fertile area, and again, their main crop is grapes. Interestingly, this is a city that there’s no condemnation of, as you read the letter. And today, the city still exists. It still stands. This really fascinates me. The city today is called Allah Shahu. Now, when I saw this sign, it just fascinated me because that word means city of God. And I read in verse 12 again that God’s going to write on us the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem. It is a fascinating city to say the least. And it was the gateway into the whole ancient world of the Asian provinces. and thus the message is very, very interesting in connecting that. Well, let’s get into the message, and if you like to take notes and outline, we’re going to deal with at least four things. Number one, let’s start with the person who delivers this message to us. Look at verse 7 and 8 again. The person who delivers this message to us. Of course, we’re talking Jesus Christ, and there are three things that I would point out to you. One is his character. It says, he that is holy… Turn over to chapter 6, please, and look at verse 10. In discussing the martyrs who have lost their lives for their faith in Christ, they cry out in verse 10 of chapter 6 and say, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? The reason why I point this out is that that connection with waiting for the vengeance of God, mentioning the holiness of God, Lord, why don’t you do something about the mess we’re in? The faithfulness of God. You are true. You are genuine. We can count on you. Lord, do something. You have that scene in Philadelphia. Because in Philadelphia, he says, I’m going to keep you from the hour of temptation that’s going to come on the whole world. Lord, why don’t you do something? I’m going to. God’s going to bring his judgment during the tribulation period. And to Philadelphia, he says, I’m going to keep you from that. Now, number two, in addition to his character, look at his control. Here is a very, very difficult passage to understand. Look at verse 7. He that hath the key of David… He that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. The key of David. And there are all kinds of fanciful interpretations about this key of David and what is being meant here. Well, I believe it’s a quotation from the Old Testament. Turn to Isaiah chapter 22. Isaiah chapter 22. Now you understand that the promise was given to David the ancient king of Israel, that a son of his would sit on the throne of Israel and rule forever. And of course, that’s the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. The key of David then has got to be connected with the messianic hope and the promise of that king and his kingdom. In Isaiah chapter 22, it mentions this key of David that we believe is quoted here in Revelation chapter 3. Begin at verse 20. It shall come to pass in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle. I will commit thy government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Now verse 22. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder. So he shall open and none shall shut. He shall shut and none shall open. So obviously this is what’s being quoted in Revelation chapter 3. Keep reading. I will fasten him like a nail in a sure place. And he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. and they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even all the vessels of flagons. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, be cut down, and fall, and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off, for the Lord has spoken it. Now this is a difficult passage, and I’m simply going to summarize for you, but I believe it’s messianic, and it’s talking about the coming Messiah, who is the nail fastened in the sure place, the one who will have the glorious throne, and all the glory of his father’s house, David, will hang on him. But the interesting thing in verse 25, it’s predicting that he will be rejected and will be cut off. The cross is in Isaiah 22, 25. But anyway, back to Revelation chapter 3. Do you remember that when Peter gave his great confession in Matthew 16, Jesus said to him, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. And it says, I will give you the keys of the kingdom. You remember that it was Peter that went to the house of Cornelius, the Gentile, opening up the whole gospel to the Gentile world. Apparently Peter was given the key that, so to speak, in a metaphor, that unlocks the message of the gospel to the Gentile world. What I believe here in Revelation chapter 3 that we have is what many have concluded is a missionary challenge to the church, that there’s a world that needs Christ. Philadelphia is to foster the Hellenistic culture in the whole world. God takes that and uses it as an illustration that we also are to see God opening doors as well as shutting them, and we are to see the opportunities that are available to us to promote the message of the coming kingdom of God. The key of David is the Messiah himself. He who has the key of David. He opens and no man shuts. He’s talking about opening a man’s heart so that he can enter the kingdom of God. John 6.37 says, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. I have the key. I open it up to those who receive it. I shut it to those who will not receive it. I’m in absolute control of it. Interesting, his control of even the matter of our salvation. His character, his control. Third, look at his challenge. Verse 8, I know thy works. He said that to every one of these churches. I know what you’re doing. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Now Christ has the key of David. He’s the one that controls the entrance of the gospel into our hearts. We have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God. But who opens that door so we can come in? It’s like in Acts 16, when Lydia of the church in Thyatira was over in the city of Philippi, and Paul spoke to these people who were praying by the riverside. It said, The Lord opened her heart. Who opens your heart? The Lord does. The Lord opens the heart. And the Lord is the one who’s in control. Jesus says, I have the key of David. But now he says, behold, I have set before you as a church an open door. What an opportunity. And no one can shut it. For thou hast a little strength and has kept my word and has not denied my name. The challenge to this church is a challenge we all need to hear. Turn back to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. The opportunity is now. 1 Corinthians chapter 16, Paul laid this on us in verse 8 and 9. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great door and effectual, meaning God’s really working, is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Don’t think you won’t be opposed. There are many adversaries, but there’s an open door. God says. It’s effectual. He’s working in it. That’s an opportunity. And there are many adversaries. Yes, there always have been. But we need to take advantage of the opportunities. I set before you an open door. It’s effectual. God’s working. And yes, there are many adversaries. And who knows how long the door is going to be open. Go back to Revelation chapter 3. The challenge to them, I’ve set before you an open door. Why pick on Philadelphia? Why not say there’s an open door in front of Thyatira? Perhaps because of the background we gave you and the connection there. But he gives reasons right here in the text. And let’s just look at them because maybe they apply to our hearts. Three reasons why they were chosen. One, they were dependent upon the Lord’s strength. Are we? They were dependent upon the Lord’s strength. He said, you have a little strength. And literally the word for in the text is the word because in Greek. Because. This is the reason why he said, I’ve said before, you know, because you are dependent upon the Lord’s strength. You have a little strength. God does not need many. God saves by few, not many. Secondly, they were dedicated to God’s word. It says you have kept my word. Dedicated to God’s word. Third, they were devoted to the Lord himself. You have not denied my name. And I looked at that. That is a wonderful message to take in your heart if you don’t get anything else. Three reasons why God put an open door of opportunity in front of these people. One, they were dependent upon the Lord’s strength, and we better be too. We need the strength of the Lord. to face what we have to face. And two, they were dedicated to God’s word. And three, they were devoted to the Lord himself. You can’t find anything any more simple than that to describe the kind of people that God wants to use to reach this world.
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That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. David will be back to close out our time, but first we want to tell you about a book by David that has never been more applicable when it comes to the current state of our world. Matt?
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True freedom is inseparable from recognizing God’s absolute sovereignty and his righteous standards. This belief was very much a part of America’s founding fathers, and it provided guidance to correct that which was flawed. Today, however, we face an alarming crisis. Like so many nations, we are drifting far from biblical moorings.
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There’s a daily onslaught of news showing the erosion of morality and the abandonment of God’s absolute truth.
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For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. That’s Jeremiah 2.13. But Matt, there is still hope.
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Amen. Our Lord graciously invites us to repentance. Humility and back to righteousness.
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2 Chronicles 7.14 You know, this is a critical moment for spiritual renewal.
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It’s a time to rekindle our dedication to God’s eternal commandments. Yeah, to once again shine brightly as a beacon of righteousness. That is it. That is it. Well, we strongly encourage folks to get a copy of your dad’s book, David Hawking’s book, Whatever Happened to Morality? This month, we’ll send it to you as our thanks for your gift donation of $20 in support of Hope for Today’s Ministry.
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It provides timeless biblical guidance on reclaiming our spiritual heritage and shares hope for getting back on the path back to God and his everlasting truth.
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Whatever happened to morality? Our thanks for your gift donation, $20 or more this month. And while you’re at it, be sure to get your copy of David’s amazing study notes for the same series. They’re a great way to get the absolute most out of the book of Revelation. And they help you follow along as David teaches here on radio. The notes, they’re available by download. You can make the purchase and download them, get them within seconds, or by calling us for the print version. Either way, just $10. The phone number, 875-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And our website to purchase and download, davidhawking.org. By the way, if you prefer to get in touch with us or send a donation by mail, you can write to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today at Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. Well, as promised, once again, here’s David.
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In the book of Revelation, we’re in chapter 3 at the Church of Philadelphia. The Bible begins this message at verse 7, when he says, “…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.” Well, that’s a quotation from the book of Isaiah, and we’re talking about the Messiah of Israel. Wow. I wonder if we really understand that open doors and opportunities for the gospel are being engineered and monitored by the Lord himself, the Messiah. And that’s why he says, “‘I’ve set before thee,’ verse 8, “‘an open door.'” And no man can shut it. You have a little strength. You’ve kept my word. You’ve not denied my name. So there are some positives here. And some people believe that this is a church that has no negatives. But I believe there are negatives in every one of these messages. And these are churches that existed in Asia Minor. That’s western Turkey. And some of the archaeological ruins are still there. And I hope that you have had an opportunity to either see them or hear about them. I’ve been there in Turkey many times to the seven churches. And every time, I think, this is a real tremendous trip. God bless you.
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Thank you, David. And before we go, a suggestion here. Share this daily radio broadcast with a friend. The gospel is just too good to keep to ourselves. So invite a friend to listen along with you. You know, it could just be the very thing that they need. at this time in their life. And we know that God will bless you for being willing to take just a moment out of your busy day to tell a friend or a loved one about the Bible study time here on Hope for Today. Next time on the broadcast, Jesus continues his message to the church in Philadelphia. a church with little strength but great faithfulness. We’ll look at the promises he makes to those who hold fast, who refuse to deny his name, no matter the pressure. Don’t miss this powerful continuation of Open Doors, right here on Hope for Today.
In this riveting episode of ‘Hope for Today,’ David Hawking delves into the profound messages found within the book of Revelation, particularly focusing on the church in Philadelphia. Journey through the rich history of this ‘city of brotherly love,’ where ancient trade routes converged and resilience against past adversaries stands as a testament to its deep faith. Discover the promises of open doors and divine protection promised to those who hold steadfast to God’s word.
