“See, I have set before you an open door. . .”

(Revelation 3:8 – Letter to the Church in Philadelphia)



THE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY

Philadelphia stood at the place where the borders of three countries – Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia – met. It was characteristically a border town, situated on one of the most strategic sites in the world. It was the gateway from one continent to another.

Philadelphia had been built with the deliberate intention that it might become a missionary city. It was intended that its function should be to spread the Greek language, the Greek way of life, the Greek civilization throughout the regions beyond. . .to be the missionary of Hellenism to the wide, wild lands which stretched beyond her.

It was of this that the Risen Christ was thinking when He said: BEHOLD, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR. It was the door of opportunity. Now, in the fullness of time, the door of opportunity was to bring to the lands beyond, not the gospel of Hellenism, but the gospel of Christ.

Philadelphia had another characteristic which lights up this letter written to it. It lay on the edge of ‘The Burnt Land’, a great volcanic area, which was one of the most fertile areas in the world. It was a great grape-growing area, and Philadelphia was world-famous for her vintages and her wines. Further, it was an area rich in hot springs, and Philadelphia was, and still is, a centre to which the infirm came to bathe in the medicinal waters. The products of Philadelphia’s prosperity went out to the ends of the earth; and into it there came people from many a land in search for health and healing.

(From: Letters to the Seven Churches by William Barclay)