The Church in Philadelphia vs. the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:7–22)

 

The Church in Philadelphia vs. the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:7–22)

Revelation 3:7 Write to the angels of the church in Philadelphia, saying: “He who is holy and true, who holds the keys of David, who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open,”

Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds; behold, I have placed an open door before you, which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept my words and have not denied my name.

Revelation 3:12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out of there again; and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which has come down from heaven from my God, and my new name.

Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds; you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were either hot or cold.

Revelation 3:16 Since you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:17 For you say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not lack a single thing,” but you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Revelation 3:18 I urge you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may become rich; and white garments to wear, that you may be covered with the shame of your nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. 

Aspect	Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7–13)	Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14–22)
Meaning	Brotherly love; recovery to the intrinsic essence of the church—God’s inward nature as love (1 John 4:8); standing on the ground of oneness; walking the narrow way of life ordained by God.	A deformed Philadelphia; the church that fell after the recovery; spiritual pride, lukewarmness, loss of reality.
Differences	Focuses on quality: life, love, Christ, the Lord’s word, and the Lord’s name.	Focuses on form: doctrine, history, outward appearance; believes it is rich but is actually poor, blind, and naked.
Characteristics	1. Has “a little power” yet is faithful. 2. Keeps the Lord’s word; does not deny His name. 3. The Lord opens the door with the key of David. 4. Being built as pillars with three names: God’s name, the name of the New Jerusalem, and the Lord’s new name. 5. Rich toward God.	1. Lukewarm—neither cold nor hot. 2. Spiritual pride—believes it is rich, but is wretched, poor, blind, and naked. 3. Lives on past history without present reality. 4. Needs gold, white garments, and eye-salve.
Explanation	• Philadelphia is a “qualitative recovery,” restoring the church to God’s inward essence—love. • Christ uses the key of David to open doors outwardly and inwardly, transforming believers to be pillars. • The three names signify becoming “the New Jerusalem” and “Christ in new significance.”	• Laodicea was once Philadelphia but lost love and life and fell into lukewarmness. • Pride comes from past experiences that no longer match present reality. • Remembers former glory but ignores current condition.
Examples	• Mary of Bethany—did what she could (Mark 14:8). • Paul—preached Christ, not himself (2 Cor. 4:5). • Elders loving one another and their families (Witness Lee’s final word).	• Churches that rely on testimonies, history, or doctrines without current burning love or life. • Outwardly active but inwardly empty.
Application	• Stand on the ground of oneness by loving all the brothers. • Pray-read and muse on the Word, storing it in the heart. • Call on the Lord’s name; openly confess “Jesus Christ is Lord.” • Be faithful with “the little power” you have. • Stay burning, fresh, and inwardly living before the Lord.	• Do not rely on past experiences or historical successes. • Avoid dead knowledge, forms, and doctrines. • Repent, be zealous, boiling, and regain the enjoyment of Christ. • Receive the eye-salve (the anointing Spirit) to heal spiritual blindness.
Burden	• To build up the Lord’s dwelling and become pillars in the New Jerusalem. • To walk the way of life, love, and oneness. • To value life above work; quality above quantity.	• To warn against lukewarmness and pride. • To buy gold (faith), white garments (Christ lived out), and eye-salve (the Spirit).
Prophecy Guidelines	• Prophesy with life, love, and reality; minister Christ, not doctrines. • Exalt the Lord’s name alone. • Supply Christ as life, not opinions or forms. • Encourage the saints to love one another.	• Expose lukewarm and proud conditions. • Call the saints back to reality, burning, and enjoyment of Christ. • Encourage the saints to “buy” gold, white garments, and eye-salve.
Conclusion	• Philadelphia represents God’s present recovery. • Overcomers become pillars with the three names—God’s name, New Jerusalem, and the Lord’s new name. • They become “Christ in new significance.”	• Laodicea is the fallen form of Philadelphia. • Only by repenting, being zealous, and opening the door to the Lord can one be an overcomer. • Overcomers will sit with the Lord on His throne in the kingdom.
Expanded Verses	Rev. 3:7–13; 1 John 4:8; Mark 14:8; 2 Cor. 11:2–3; Rom. 10:9–13; Phil. 2:11; Rev. 21:2, 9–10; Rev. 22; Rom. 8:2; Luke 18:27; Gen. 28:12–19; Ps. 119:11,15; Neh. 8:5–6.	Rev. 3:14–22; Matt. 5:3; Isa. 57:15; Gal. 6:3; Job 42:5–6; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor. 15:45b.

 

Core Points Summary:

1.      Philadelphia = love, life, oneness, reality; Laodicea = pride, lukewarmness, emptiness.

2.      Philadelphia is the way of life ordained by God; Laodicea is the fall after the recovery.

3.      Philadelphia is rich toward God; Laodicea is rich in doctrine but poor in reality.

4.      The Lord desires overcomers who become pillars built into the New Jerusalem.

5.      The warning: do not rely on past history—stay burning, fresh, and living today.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, The Most Important Aspects, Week 7: Entering Through the Narrow Gate and Walking Through the Narrow Path That Leads to Life, the Blessed Glory of the Kingdom Forever.