The Seven Churches Of Asia 16

INTRO: We have come to the sixth of the seven churches of Asia as given in Revelation 2-3. It interesting that this almost entirely directly prophetic book would begin with these seven churches. But if we are right that these churches are also prophetic of the Church age, then it is not surprising. In this church we will learn some interesting things about the time this church pictures as well.

The name, Philadelphia means??? brotherly love. Some of the cities we have studied were over a thousand years old by the time they got this letter 2,000 years ago. Ephesus, for instance, was over a thousand years old when John wrote to the church in this city. It would have been a young city in the days of King Saul and David. But Philadelphia was founded only about 200 years before Christ, and is relatively young compared to some of the others.

This is the second church to which no criticism is leveled. It is true that no Christian or pastor is perfect. But it is possible, not only for a pastor, or an individual Christian, but for a church to live in such a way that the Lord is so pleased with that church that He has no criticism for that church.