My Bible Blog: Revelation 3:7-13

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia:

Jesus says: If I open a door, no man can shut it. If I close a door, no man can open it. I have set before you an open door that no man can close, for you have kept my word and not denied my name. I will keep you from the hour of temptation that will overcome the world. I will come quickly. Hold fast. He that overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of God, and I will write on him the name of God and the name of the city of God.

I’ve often wondered if the church in Philadelphia was meant as a symbol of America. After all, (our) Philadelphia was where the Declaration of Independence was signed. In a literal sense, it was a church in the ancient of days, but its description truly reminds me of the United States. Our country was founded on biblical principles and was fought for and won for freedom’s sake, the freedom of religion being one of those freedoms we now take for granted.

Though our country is becoming less recognizable by those biblical principles, we are still a country that has a majority of believers. We are trying to hold strong, keep God’s word, and so far we have refused to deny His name. He has promised to keep us from the hour of temptation and has promised to reward the ones who overcome. Whether or not this letter is also meant for us as a country, one thing is clear, we need to hold fast to God and refuse to be overcome by the world.