The city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor was founded in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon. He named the city after his brother Attalus II, who was known for his loyalty and was nicknamed Philadelphos, meaning “lover of his brother.”

Philadelphia was located on an important trade route and quickly became a prosperous city. It was also a center of learning and culture and was home to a number of philosophers and artists.

Philadelphia was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD. The earthquake was one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history and caused widespread damage throughout the region. The city of Sardis, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, was the most severely affected, but Philadelphia was also heavily damaged. Philadelphia was rebuilt by the Roman emperor Tiberius, who was known for his generosity and his willingness to help those in need. He provided financial assistance to the city and sent engineers and architects to help with the reconstruction. The city of Philadelphia was grateful for Tiberius’ help and was renamed Neocaesarea, which means “New Caesar.” This was a way for the city’s residents to show their gratitude to Tiberius and express their loyalty to the Roman Empire.

In the first century AD, Philadelphia was one of the seven churches in Asia Minor receiving letters from Jesus in connection with the Book of Revelation. The church in Philadelphia was known for its faithfulness to Christ, even in the face of persecution.

In the 4th century AD, Philadelphia became part of the Byzantine Empire. It remained a prosperous city for several centuries but began to decline in the 11th century as a result of Turkish invasions. In 1390, it was captured by the Ottoman Turks and remained under Ottoman rule for more than 500 years. In the 19th century, the city was renamed Alaşehir. Some of the ruins of the ancient city can still be seen in Alaşehir.

The church in Philadelphia, known by Jesus for its faithfulness even though it was small and persecuted, was encouraged to stand fast. In His letter, Jesus commended the believers there for their faithfulness and promised to bless them.

He said, “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Rev. 3:8). Jesus also promised to protect the church from the coming testing and to make the believers pillars in His temple (Rev. 3:10-12).

From Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia, we see that He values faithfulness and rewards those who persevere in the true and saving faith even in the face of persecution. Though the church in Philadelphia was small and weak, the believers there were faithful to Christ, and He promised to bless them — even to give them an opportunity to bear witness to Christ and the Gospel.

This letter is a message of hope and encouragement for Christians, even if their numbers are few and they are weak.

Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia – Revelation 3:7-13

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51

When Jesus says, “‘Aμὴν, ἀμὴν,” translated as “Amen, amen,” “Truly, truly,” “Verily, verily,” or “Most assuredly,” before a statement, He is telling us to pay close attention and listen carefully. He is telling us that He is about to speak a truth that we should carefully hear and heed. And here, He begins this section of His discourse with the Jewish people using these words.

What is this truth we should hear and heed?

Jesus is “the bread of life.” How do we partake of this bread? As Jesus said, “He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” We “eat” this life-giving bread figuratively and spiritually, not with our teeth and digestive system but by faith in Jesus. And the one who places His faith in Jesus as His Messiah and Savior from sin and its condemnation “has everlasting life.”

Jesus makes clear that He is not talking about bread that only nourishes the body for a time but about bread that gives life to the soul. He said, “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.”

As God provided manna for the children of Israel to sustain their temporal, earthly bodies while in the wilderness (though He also taught them to trust in Him each day for their daily bread), so God also provided spiritual food to nourish and give life to their souls when He sent His only-begotten Son into this world a true man to win for mankind pardon, forgiveness and eternal life in communion with the Creator.

Jesus further explained, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Jesus is the life-giving bread that came down from heaven to nourish and sustain our souls. As He said, this bread that He gives is His own flesh, His own body, that He was about to “give for the life of the world.”

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God in human flesh, took the place of mankind under God’s law and kept it perfectly in His thoughts, desires, words, and deeds for fallen mankind. And then He took our sins, our guilt, upon Himself and suffered the just condemnation of God’s law against us by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross. By His death, He made full atonement for the sins of all by satisfying the condemnation of God’s law against us sinners.

And Jesus rose again on the third day, proving that God accepted His sacrifice as full payment for the sins of all so that we might place our faith in Him and His cross and receive God’s pardon, forgiveness, and the everlasting joys of heaven.

Do you partake of Jesus, the bread of life, through faith? Do you acknowledge your own sins and inability to please God and look to Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness? If so, you have eternal life in communion with God through faith in Jesus, your Savior. Through faith in Jesus, God forgives you, accepts you, and welcomes you into His everlasting kingdom.

O gracious Father, thank You for providing for us the Bread of Life, for sending Your only-begotten Son into this world to give His life for us on the cross and redeem us. Grant that I repent of my sinful ways and partake of Jesus, the Bread of Life, through faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Sardis History and Background

Sardis was an ancient city located in what is now western Turkey. It was the capital of the Lydian kingdom, one of the most powerful and wealthy kingdoms in the world during the 7th century BC. The Lydians were thought to be the first to mint coins, and Sardis was a major center of trade and commerce. Aesop (of Aesop’s Fables) is said to have been Lydian and of Sardis.

Lydia was an ancient kingdom in western Turkey. Its capital was Sardes. In Antiquity, this country was well known for its gold-carrying river Pactolus; the wealth of the last Lydian king Croesus, who had been the first to mint gold, was and is proverbial.

In 547 BC, Sardis was conquered by the Persians, and it became an important administrative center of the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great captured the city in 330 BC, and it became part of the Greek world. Under Roman rule, Sardis continued to flourish, and it was one of the most important cities in Asia Minor. It was destroyed by a major earthquake in AD 17 and rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Tiberius, leading to him being honored as the city’s founder and possibly contributing to emperor worship there and in Asia Minor.

Sardis was home to a number of important religious sites, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the largest temples in the ancient world. The city was also a major center of Christianity, and it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Sardis began to decline in the 6th century AD, and it was eventually abandoned in the 15th century. However, the ruins of the city are still impressive, and they offer a glimpse into the rich history of Sardis.

Here is a brief timeline of the major events in the history of Sardis:

• c. 1500 BC: Sardis was founded by the Lydians.
• 7th century BC: Sardis becomes the capital of the Lydian kingdom and one of the most powerful and wealthy kingdoms in the world.
• 547 BC: Sardis is conquered by the Persians.
• 330 BC: Sardis is captured by Alexander the Great.
• 133 BC: Sardis comes under Roman rule.
• 17 AD: Sardis is destroyed by a massive earthquake and rebuilt by the Romans.
• 1st century AD: Sardis became an important center of Christianity.
• 6th century AD: Sardis begins to decline.
• 15th century AD: Sardis is abandoned.

Today, the ruins of Sardis are a popular tourist destination. Visitors can see the remains of the ancient city walls, temples, and other buildings. The site is also home to a number of museums, which house artifacts from the Lydian, Persian, Greek, and Roman periods.

Ruins of Sardis: Ancient City of Sardis, Manisa | Turkish Museums

Church in Sardis

We know little about the church in Sardis except for history’s record of Melito being the bishop or pastor of the church there until his death in about 180 AD. He is said to have echoed the Christology of the apostle John, teaching that Jesus is true God and also true man. He is also said to have helped form the canon of the Old Testament Books of the Bible.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:1-6

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
Cf. Rev. 1:4; 12-13, 20; cf. Isa. 11:1-2; John 3:34; Zech. 3:9; 4:2; 4:10

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Cf. Eph. 2:1-3,11-13; Col. 2:13; Matt. 15:8-12; Ps. 78:36-37; Isa. 29:13-14; 1:10-20

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
Works not perfect or acceptable to God (Cf. Isa. 64:6; Col. 1:19-23)

3 Remember, therefore, how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Cf. 2 Pet. 3:9-18; Matt, 24:36ff.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
Cf. Isa. 64:6; Col. 1:19-23; Rev. 6:11; 7:13ff.

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Cf. 1 John 2:13-14; 5:4; Rev. 19:14; Rev. 20:11-15; Sins blotted out for believers (cf. Acts 3:19); unbelievers blotted out of the Book of Life; Those who overcome by faith will not be blotted out of the Book of life. Confessed before God the Father in heaven Cf. Mark 8:38; Rev. 2:10.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Jesus’ words in many of His parables: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 13:9).
How important this is! If you hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the churches, listen and heed His words! Your very salvation depends on it!

Application

The letter to the church in Sardis is a warning to all Christians who are going through the motions of faith but are not truly trusting and following Jesus. Our Lord Jesus calls us to wake up and “strengthen the things which remain” (3:2). We should also remember that Jesus knows our works and will reward us for our faithfulness.

Some specific ways that we can apply the message of the letter to Sardis to our own lives:
• Examine our hearts and lives to make sure that we are truly following Jesus. Are we going through the motions of faith, or are we, in faith, living our lives for Him? (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5; Psalm 139:23-24).
• Repent of any sin in our lives. Confess our sins to God and seek His forgiveness in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, our Savior (cf. Psalm 32:1-5).
• Be strengthened in our faith by reading the Bible, praying, worshiping God and hearing God’s Word regularly (cf. 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 1 Pet. 2:2; Rom. 10:17; John 6:63).
• Be involved in a faithful local church and minister to others (Heb. 10:19-25; Col. 3:16).
• Be faithful to Jesus, even when the church is dead. Remember that He sees our works and will reward us for our faithfulness (Rev. 2:10).

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Has God given our nation and people over to uncleanness, vile passions, and a debased mind because of our rejection of Him? Is this why truth no longer matters and people run headlong into sexual immorality and all sorts of wickedness and sin? Has He turned us over to our own evil ways so that we might receive the just recompense for our sins? Is He giving us the rulers we deserve in His judgment against an ungodly nation and people?

The words of Romans 1:18-32 are quite clear. You might also read Leviticus 18 in your Bible to see how God dealt with other nations and people who practiced such things.

We are on a downward spiral and headed toward judgment. It’s time to repent and turn to Christ and His Word so that we might receive God’s mercy and forgiveness and be guided in living for the God who created and redeemed us.

Romans 1:18-32

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’ And they said, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus therefore answered and said to them, ‘Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.’” John 6:41-46

How could Jesus be the life-giving Son of God, come down from heaven to give spiritual and eternal life to sinners? Jesus’ Jewish hearers stumbled over this question because they knew Mary and Joseph, His parents.

Of course, they didn’t know or grasp that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (cf. Mat. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38) and was not, therefore, the biological son of Joseph, but the Son of God and the Son of Mary. He was true God and true man.

The Gospel of John also expresses this truth in the first chapter, when it says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5,14).

Why didn’t Jesus’ hearers believe in Him? Jesus tells us: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (v. 44). Unless God reveals the truth taught in His Word, no one can come to Jesus and trust in Him as the Messiah and Savior from sin and eternal punishment.

John also teaches this truth in the first chapter of his Gospel: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:10-13).

Jesus cited the Old Testament Scriptures (Isaiah 54:13) when He said: “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45). Only those taught by God from His Word recognize Jesus as the Son of God in human flesh and place their trust in Him as their Savior. Those who neglect God’s Word or reject it cannot and do not come to Jesus in faith. It is as St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

And the only way to see the Father is to see and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Therefore, Jesus’ hearers who rejected Him and stumbled over Him in unbelief did not see or know the Father whom they claimed to worship and serve. Nor do those today who do not look to Jesus in faith as God the Son and their Messiah and Savior see or know God the Father, even if they claim to worship and serve Him! (Cf. John 14:6-11.)

And what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him in faith, trusting that He is the eternal Son of God in human flesh and that He has fulfilled all righteousness for us and made full atonement for our sins and the sins of all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross? Jesus says, “I will raise him up at the last day” (v. 44). Those who come to Jesus and trust in Jesus for pardon and forgiveness partake of the true Bread from Heaven, and Jesus nourishes their souls and keeps them in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting.

May God grant you to know and come to Jesus!

O dearest Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, grant that we hear Your Word and come to You in faith for pardon, forgiveness, and the everlasting joys of heaven. We ask this for the sake of Your redeeming sacrifice for us on the cross. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]