Church in Philadelphia— So called from Attalus Philadelphus, its builder. It is distant from Sardis about twenty-seven miles to the south-east, and is called by the Turks Alah-shahr, or "the Beautiful City," on account of its delightful situation; standing on the declivity of the mount Tmolus, and having a most pleasant prospect on the plains beneath, well furnished with divers villages, and watered by the river Pactolus. It still retains the form of a city, with something of trade to invite people to it, being in the road of the Persian caravans. Here is little of antiquity remaining, besides the ruins of a church dedicated to St. John, which is now made a dunghill to receive the offals of dead beasts. However, God has been pleased to preserve some in this place to make profession of the Christian faith, there being above two hundred houses of Christians, and four churches. Next to Smyrna, this city has the greatest number of Christians, and Christ has promised a more particular protection to it. Doddridge observes upon the expressions he that is holy, he that is true, that this being so peculiarly the prerogative of God, it is to be admired that no greater stress should have been laid upon it, in proof of the Deity of our blessed Redeemer, &c. See ch. Revelation 6:10. The expression he that hath the key of David, is an allusion to Isaiah 22:22 where the prophet promises to Eliakim, under the symbol of the key of the house of David, the government of the whole nation. See Job 12:14.Revelation 1:18. The words that follow, shew that Christ's power is absolute. David is very often, in the prophets, a type of the Messiah. See Jeremiah 30:9.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 3:7
Revelation 3:7
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;