“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; Act II scene ii lines 47-48
I love teaching Shakespeare. I’m that teacher most students hate because I randomly quote Shakespeare all the time and remain persistently enthusiastic while my students either sleep or roll their eyes. For me, Shakespeare equals fun because of his master storytelling. His plots and characters and word choice are timeless. Everything about his writing makes him relevant in our current culture, and that is a hill I will die on!!!
But what is in a name? Juliet speaks these words after she learns Romeo is the son of her family’s sworn enemy. (How many times have you seen a movie with this plot? See - still relevant. Will’s the original.) Juliet falls head over heels in lust with this kid only to learn he is the forbidden fruit. Juicy stuff. So, names are important.
I prayed and considered and fretted and finally settled on what I thought were perfect names for my daughters. Being a writer, I am all about alliteration and hyperbole (the repetition of consonant sounds and exaggeration) Both girls have significant others now, and I really hope they will both be son-in-loves. However, neither girl wants to take on the name of their beloved. Maybe I named them too well! I laugh when they grumble about the possibility of a name change, but I can’t imagine not being a Counts. I’ve had that name fourteen years longer than I ever was a Files.
Background on the Church of Philadelphia
Poor little Philadelphia was a city with an identity crisis. I have not talked much about the earthquakes that plagued this region of the world. Think Mount Vesuvius. The tectonic shifting that caused the eruption that eviscerated Pompey remodeled the landscape of the entire area. Poor Philadelphia collapsed not once, not twice, but three times. With each catastrophic event that devastated the city, the citizens kept plugging away and rebuilding.
So why did they keep coming back? Why not move to a safer area?
Philadelphia was considered the gateway to Asia Minor. If a tradesman wanted to take a land route to Galatia, Cappadocia, Antioch, Caesarea, Jerusalem, they traveled through Philadelphia. As can be imagined, if a city operates as an important oasis on a long journey, many people want to be in control. So with each earthquake, a new, dominant power came in, rebuilt, and renamed. First, it was called Neocaesarea, next Flavia, and finally the city of brotherly love - a crossroads for many cultures. But since so many passed through, not many stayed. The trade was robust but the consistent population, small.
So how does Jesus greet this little church?
“This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open” Revelation 3:7 NLT
I take for granted the ability to lock my home and protect my belongings. But after visiting the region, I realized that the majority of merchants lived above where they sold their goods and bore the responsibility of protecting what was theirs. Not many people had anything other than an animal hide to function as a door. A metal lock with an actual key didn’t exist for the everyday person. Not even the king’s palace had lockable doors. Maybe the treasury did. And so did the gate to the city. Once the sun went down, the city gate got locked, and the citizens slept safe and sound behind the city wall. As an American, the idea of thanking God for a lockable door has never even crossed my mind. But in this time period, only the most important, and trustworthy individuals of the city possessed a key to unlock the gate. The safety of the community depended on it!
Philadelphia was no exception. As the gateway to Asia Minor, the number of strangers and travelers entering and exiting the city daily made the protection of the permanent residents even that much more important. I don’t know for certain, but I suspect not everyone was welcomed into Philadelphia even with its name meaning brotherly love. We know from the story of the Good Samaritan that prejudices and biases based on race existed. We know Jesus calls the Jews present in the city "Satan's synagogue" because they accepted no outsiders. So when Revelation says, What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open, the concept was revolutionary. Jesus is the ultimate key to the very kingdom of God. This idea held so much importance, John repeats it in verse 8.
So what would be Philadelphia’s reward for their obedience and willingness to spread the Gospel? Jesus promises them, “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.” Revelation 3:10
That right there is why people don’t like studying Revelation - the great time of testing. The King James version calls it the hour of temptation. The CSB calls it the hour of testing. The NIV calls it the hour of trial. I could go on and on, but even the translations can’t agree on what to call what is to come. We simply know it’s not going to be good, and we want to know as Christians, can we get a free pass from having to endure it?
Bottom line - we don’t know. The Church at Philadelphia was promised they would be protected when God determines who belongs to this world. But if the citizens proved to love Jesus, let’s take a closer look at the promised reward.
All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. Rev 3:12a There is a reason we have the phrases pillar of the community or pillar of the church. The pillars function as the support structure, the vital piece that keeps the whole thing from falling down! And never having to leave! I think of this every time I see my dad in the nursing home now. He begs to be taken home. My heart breaks because I know that is not possible. But the idea of a permanent place in my heavenly home provides much needed hope in this difficult season of life. I am remineded that no matter how much I wish to be excluded from the time of testing, we all still live in a broken world and suffering comes whether we want it or not.
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name. Rev 3:12b And there it is. Jesus’ personal nod to this tiny church just as he has personalized his message to all the others. He will write not one, not two, but three names on the Church at Philadelphia. No matter what shakes the earth or rattles their bones, they are so clearly identified as His, there is no question to whom they belong. No worrying about a name change here!
Anyone who has endured a loved one not knowing his/her name needs to find the hope provided for the Church at Philadelphia. Names are important. Some days dad knows me. Some days he thinks I’m mother. Some days no recognition sparks in his beautiful blue eyes. Right now, hearing him call me Nancy is the sweetest sound I can imagine. But I never have to worry about what my Savior calls me. He has given me a new name - Beloved Forever. Thanks be to God.
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