Philadelphia: Freedom Through Christ

The sixth church that John is instructed to send a letter to is the one in Philadelphia. Christ pictures Himself as He who is holy and true, who has the key of David (Messianic authority). He praised them for their deeds that showed they were faithful and favored. There is no problem described regarding this church. The prescription for this church involves one command: hold fast (stay faithful with determined effort) what you have (your Godly position), in order that no one take your crown (reward). He promises that He would keep them from the hour of testing (trial/temptation) that would come soon, and that all overcomers will be made pillars in the temple of God (given positions of key responsibility in the new Jerusalem) and have three names written upon them (the name of My God [ownership], the name of the city of My God [citizenship], and My new name [leadership]) - probably on their foreheads (22:4).